Last edit by: WineCountryUA
By 2023, UA has returned to the more traditional pre-COVID schedule update process. There are still some closer in changes but far less than during the COVID era.
UA publishes a schedule for 330 days in advance (called Beginning of Schedule) andin the past would make tweaks quarterly and things would be fairly settles 3-4 months out. Updates would occur Friday evening / Saturday morning (Chicago time). Routine additions could occur anytime.
Present updates are every Friday and sometimes mid-week usually focused on the next month and farther out.
Check Your UA Itineraries for Schedule Changes and what to do after one
20 Oct 2021
However, during the COVID era, UA has gone to a more dynamic and shorter-term setting of schedule (as has the other carriers). Presently UA, while UA is still publishing a schedule for 330 days in advance it reflects pre-COVID operational levels and is considered just a placeholder schedule. Then 3-5 weeks prior to a month, UA makes a major update of that month's schedule.
Examples (Major updates)
The October 2020 schedule was updated 4-5 September 2020
The November 2020 schedule was updated 2-3 October 2020
The December 2020 schedule was updated 30-31 October 2020
Holidays can move the major date a week earlier or later.
Weekly updates are still generally done over night Friday-Saturday (Chicago)
UA does not publish a summary of most schedule changes but a variety of sources below do and summaries / links of those sources can be found in this thread & wiki.
Always crosscheck with UA's Travel Notices , Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel waivers and information, www.united.com/coronavirus as the situation is dynamic
Other Resources and Statistics
Archive: COVID19 UA-Schedule {Archive}
new Archive : UA-Schedule changes {Archive}
UA publishes a schedule for 330 days in advance (called Beginning of Schedule) and
Present updates are every Friday and sometimes mid-week usually focused on the next month and farther out.
Check Your UA Itineraries for Schedule Changes and what to do after one
Examples (Major updates)
The October 2020 schedule was updated 4-5 September 2020
The November 2020 schedule was updated 2-3 October 2020
The December 2020 schedule was updated 30-31 October 2020
Holidays can move the major date a week earlier or later.
Weekly updates are still generally done over night Friday-Saturday (Chicago)
UA does not publish a summary of most schedule changes but a variety of sources below do and summaries / links of those sources can be found in this thread & wiki.
Always crosscheck with UA's Travel Notices , Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel waivers and information, www.united.com/coronavirus as the situation is dynamic
Other Resources and Statistics
- CDC Travel Notices (Worldwide)
- US State Department Advisories (Search or Click "Date Updated" to Sort by Date)
- US State Department - COVID-19 Country Specific Information
- John Hopkins' Incident Map
- Worldometer Statistics
- WHO Page on Covid-19
- IATA Latest Travel Document News
- UA's Page to Query TIMATIC Database (an IATA database with the current documentation and entry requirements worldwide
Archive: COVID19 UA-Schedule {Archive}
new Archive : UA-Schedule changes {Archive}
UA System Schedule changes
#46
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 821
It will be AC's responsibility to get you to WAW, although UA may be willing to help also. You should not need award space, although some agents may insist upon it anyway. (*A rules are very clear on this, but they're not always obeyed). LAX is a relatively small hub for UA, particularly TATL, so if they can't get you onto LH or LX you may be looking at an extra connection on the East Coast. AC may also try to route you back through YYZ.
If it looks like you may have issues, I'd be prepared by looking to see what alternate *A flights have inventory so you can be prepared to ask.
If it looks like you may have issues, I'd be prepared by looking to see what alternate *A flights have inventory so you can be prepared to ask.
Checked online the AC flight been pushed back 1 hour so left me 8 mins to transit in LAX now I guess I can call in ask any flights 155k miles I want? (better transit from SFO/DEN since it's a UA hub?), actually I would prefer to travel 3 days earlier do you think that will ask too much or worth a try? Just want to be prepared before call in.
If they won't change the date I'm thinking of wait for last-minute transpacific business class space https://princeoftravel.com/guides/wh...m-award-seats/, do you know if United still release these seats nowdays?
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,350
Thank you! just got a email "We’re trying to reach you with an important message about your upcoming flight. Please give us a call at 1-888-825-7684 as soon as possible."
Checked online the AC flight been pushed back 1 hour so left me 8 mins to transit in LAX now I guess I can call in ask any flights 155k miles I want? (better transit from SFO/DEN since it's a UA hub?), actually I would prefer to travel 3 days earlier do you think that will ask too much or worth a try? Just want to be prepared before call in.
If they won't change the date I'm thinking of wait for last-minute transpacific business class space https://princeoftravel.com/guides/wh...m-award-seats/, do you know if United still release these seats nowdays?
Checked online the AC flight been pushed back 1 hour so left me 8 mins to transit in LAX now I guess I can call in ask any flights 155k miles I want? (better transit from SFO/DEN since it's a UA hub?), actually I would prefer to travel 3 days earlier do you think that will ask too much or worth a try? Just want to be prepared before call in.
If they won't change the date I'm thinking of wait for last-minute transpacific business class space https://princeoftravel.com/guides/wh...m-award-seats/, do you know if United still release these seats nowdays?
UA may well offer last-minute award space, but I don’t really see how TPAC space helps you very much. You’re unlikely to be able to do anything like YVR-SFO-NRT-FRA-WAW without paying a bunch of extra miles.
#48
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,103
Thank you! just got a email "We’re trying to reach you with an important message about your upcoming flight. Please give us a call at 1-888-825-7684 as soon as possible."
Checked online the AC flight been pushed back 1 hour so left me 8 mins to transit in LAX now I guess I can call in ask any flights 155k miles I want? (better transit from SFO/DEN since it's a UA hub?), actually I would prefer to travel 3 days earlier do you think that will ask too much or worth a try? Just want to be prepared before call in.
If they won't change the date I'm thinking of wait for last-minute transpacific business class space https://princeoftravel.com/guides/wh...m-award-seats/, do you know if United still release these seats nowdays?
Checked online the AC flight been pushed back 1 hour so left me 8 mins to transit in LAX now I guess I can call in ask any flights 155k miles I want? (better transit from SFO/DEN since it's a UA hub?), actually I would prefer to travel 3 days earlier do you think that will ask too much or worth a try? Just want to be prepared before call in.
If they won't change the date I'm thinking of wait for last-minute transpacific business class space https://princeoftravel.com/guides/wh...m-award-seats/, do you know if United still release these seats nowdays?
#49
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,453
Some good news here, I think. Received a schedule change for Hawaii in May... noticed during my habitual morning checking of the reservations.
However, this time I actually had an email from United about it, sent out concurrently with the schedule change. It's a minor change but, if it is consistent, is a long due QOL fix.
However, this time I actually had an email from United about it, sent out concurrently with the schedule change. It's a minor change but, if it is consistent, is a long due QOL fix.
#50
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,120
#52
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,120
#53
formerly 1984SW
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,058
Since usually all we hear is bad news about seat assignments being canceled/changed during a UA schedule change, I'm happy to report that one of my April reservations just had a flight number change (IAH-LAX, with the same 739 equipment) and my seat assignment stuck. i.e I have the same seat as I had before the schedule change. See, sometimes it does work! 👍🏼
#54
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 821
You can call in and ask for anything that you see when you do a miles search on United’s website, regardless of the number of miles. Moving travel by three days probably won’t be allowed unless that’s the only reasonable flight combination (and even then you might get pushback). And, yes, I’d avoid LAX to the extent possible; you’ll have more UA options through ORD or SFO.
UA may well offer last-minute award space, but I don’t really see how TPAC space helps you very much. You’re unlikely to be able to do anything like YVR-SFO-NRT-FRA-WAW without paying a bunch of extra miles.
UA may well offer last-minute award space, but I don’t really see how TPAC space helps you very much. You’re unlikely to be able to do anything like YVR-SFO-NRT-FRA-WAW without paying a bunch of extra miles.
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,350
call in tonight some interesting things: since my original flight AC YVR-LAX is AC economy, rep said my new flight YVR-SFO UA has to be economy even though UA Busi is available, and during the calls LHR-WAW LO seats is gone I ask to route through AMS but rep said have to route through LHR .......so in the end they can't put me on flights 3 days earlier instead put me on flights 2 days earlier
Not being able to change a connection point doesn't make a ton of sense. I get the sense that agents have been instructed to be more strict after schedule changes, but they haven't told us exactly what they're being strict about (and different agents seem to have different interpretations). I've read some reports that agents have claimed that you can't change carriers after a schedule change, but this is the first time I've heard anyone claim that you can't change connecting airports.
It seems like you got an acceptable compromise, but you can still work to improve it if you want. Keep an eye on inventory for the day you actually want to travel; if some new inventory opens up there, you should be able to snag it.
Good luck!.
#56
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: UA Platinum, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 201
Flying LHR-IAH next Wednesday through ORD. Just had a text from UA stating UA929 is canceled and will be rebooked. Flight is not showing in flight search but booking currently looks intact.
Two questions:
1. Should I wait for UA to rebook or should I call?
2. I successfully applied PlusPoints to both legs with confirmed upgrades. Will UA honor this on rebooked flight even if PZ space isn’t available?
Seemed like load for the flight was light so perhaps why it has been canceled…
Two questions:
1. Should I wait for UA to rebook or should I call?
2. I successfully applied PlusPoints to both legs with confirmed upgrades. Will UA honor this on rebooked flight even if PZ space isn’t available?
Seemed like load for the flight was light so perhaps why it has been canceled…
#57
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,447
UA should auto rebook you. I would wait a day or two and see what happens. If the rebooked itinerary is not satisfactory, or if you're concerned about alternative flights selling out in J, UA should rebook you on a reasonable alternative flight of your choice (e.g., LHR-IAH nonstop) in PZ, regardless of availability.
#58
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: UA Platinum, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 201
UA should auto rebook you. I would wait a day or two and see what happens. If the rebooked itinerary is not satisfactory, or if you're concerned about alternative flights selling out in J, UA should rebook you on a reasonable alternative flight of your choice (e.g., LHR-IAH nonstop) in PZ, regardless of availability.
#59
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,932
UA may call you, instead
Flying LHR-IAH next Wednesday through ORD. Just had a text from UA stating UA929 is canceled and will be rebooked. Flight is not showing in flight search but booking currently looks intact.
Two questions:
1. Should I wait for UA to rebook or should I call?
2. I successfully applied PlusPoints to both legs with confirmed upgrades. Will UA honor this on rebooked flight even if PZ space isn’t available?
Seemed like load for the flight was light so perhaps why it has been canceled…
Two questions:
1. Should I wait for UA to rebook or should I call?
2. I successfully applied PlusPoints to both legs with confirmed upgrades. Will UA honor this on rebooked flight even if PZ space isn’t available?
Seemed like load for the flight was light so perhaps why it has been canceled…
Good luck.
#60