Is United trying to pull one over on me re denying a refund on a Z fare?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Posts: 16
Is United trying to pull one over on me re denying a refund on a Z fare?
I booked 2 tickets in Business from Newark to Delhi, India for November, 2020. One ticket I used miles for and the other I paid over $4000 for. It was a class Z. I thought when I booked it in February 2020 that you could cancel it for $400. The ticket I used miles for could be re-deposited. I called today and they confirmed that I could re-deposit the ticket I used miles for, but told me my only choice on my paid Z fare ticket was to get a travel certificate good for 2 years. I have nothing.in writing to show what I saw when I booked as to cancellation fee but would hope someone more knowledgeable to let me know if UA is trying to film flam me or if that is the rules? If Im stuck with a travel certificate, does it have to be used for a single flight, or is it like a credit that can be used until the money runs out?
#2
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You might be confusing cancellation w/ a change fee. Normally, a figure of $400 refers to the cost (in new money) to use the full value ($4000+ in your case) of a cancelled or changed int'l itinerary. You don't pay $400 to get your $4000 returned to you in cash, you pay $400 in new money to use the $4000 for another ticket purchase.
#3
Moderator: United Airlines
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What you need to do is download the fare rules from united.com. (this should be an option when viewing the itin online) and look in the penalities section (or post them here). (this will reflect the terms of the ticket you purchased).
Additionally if you have any connecting flights, their fare rules are important as the most restrictive applies to the entire ticket.
However, this is likely a misunderstanding on what cancel means vs refundable -- they are not the same.
An ETC can be used multiple times until exhuasted (but only for UA operated flights). It will be good for two years.
#4
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,345
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...eptionPolicies
the change waiver should apply to OP's scenario (have to trigger cancel by august 31st)?
or wait to see if the deadline extends again, no guarantees. typically nonrefundable tickets (but cancellable), conveted to ETC have to be used within 12 months. it's only 24 months now with the current policy/waiver
do note that UA is flying EWR-DEL daily now, so chances of a cancellation/schedule change is low (unless india closes flights again)
the change waiver should apply to OP's scenario (have to trigger cancel by august 31st)?
or wait to see if the deadline extends again, no guarantees. typically nonrefundable tickets (but cancellable), conveted to ETC have to be used within 12 months. it's only 24 months now with the current policy/waiver
do note that UA is flying EWR-DEL daily now, so chances of a cancellation/schedule change is low (unless india closes flights again)
#5
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But yes the change fee will be waived if done by 31 Aug.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 24, 2020 at 9:07 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,186
I booked 2 tickets in Business from Newark to Delhi, India for November, 2020. One ticket I used miles for and the other I paid over $4000 for. It was a class Z. I thought when I booked it in February 2020 that you could cancel it for $400. The ticket I used miles for could be re-deposited. I called today and they confirmed that I could re-deposit the ticket I used miles for, but told me my only choice on my paid Z fare ticket was to get a travel certificate good for 2 years. I have nothing.in writing to show what I saw when I booked as to cancellation fee but would hope someone more knowledgeable to let me know if UA is trying to film flam me or if that is the rules? If I’m stuck with a travel certificate, does it have to be used for a single flight, or is it like a credit that can be used until the money runs out?
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...eptionPolicies
the change waiver should apply to OP's scenario (have to trigger cancel by august 31st)?
the change waiver should apply to OP's scenario (have to trigger cancel by august 31st)?
OP: I did a quick search for a Z fare for EWR-DEL that would have been current in February 2020. I don't see any with a $400 cancellation or change fee. However, the Z fares that I see are refundable, for a $500 fee, or changeable, for a $450 fee.
But the change fee is currently waived -- so, if you were to change this ticket -- say, to EWR-FLL -- the entire difference should be refunded... assuming your fare rules are the same as the ones that I found. That's why it's very important to read them.
Also, refundable vs. nonrefundable will show up on your original receipt, in the endorsements. A refundable ticket says something like CXLFEE/CHGFEE/REFUNDABLE, whereas a non-refundable fare say something like NONREF/0VALUAFTDPT/CHGFEE (I forget the exact sequences, but they're something like this). What's on your receipt?
#7
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Also, refundable vs. nonrefundable will show up on your original receipt, in the endorsements. A refundable ticket says something like CXLFEE/CHGFEE/REFUNDABLE, whereas a non-refundable fare say something like NONREF/0VALUAFTDPT/CHGFEE (I forget the exact sequences, but they're something like this). What's on your receipt?
Best solution for OP as mentioned is to look at the penalties section of the fare rules for the ticket. UA may be (but isn't required to be) more generous than the fare rules but can't be less generous.
#8
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
united.com > Advanced Search > Unrestricted fares.
There are select markets where fully unrestricted fares are generally not offered - in that case, this search method may not result in fully unrestricted fares.
#9
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Wait until the last minute (or the last day the wavier is valid for) incase the flight gets cancelled. Otherwise, it does not sound like your ticket is refundable (unrestricted)
#10
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Moderator note
In order to add a bit more info as to the OP's concern, I added some detail to the thread title. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator.
#11
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There's far too little information available to know. OP needs to reply with the original endorsements, fare rules, fare basis code, or, at a minimum, the entire itinerary, including dates of travel and date of purchase. Based on my initial investigation, there is an excellent chance that OP can get most of the purchase price refunded, but I can't say for sure without additional information.
#12
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Based on historical fares, I agree - the ticket is almost certainly refundable minus penalty, and full marks for creativity in using the change fee waiver to refund the residual
#13
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#14
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I currently have three residual credits for $0.40 - $12.82 attached my M+ account for small changes I have made to my flights in the last year.
#15
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If the fare is refundable, the difference should be refunded. I've personally done exactly what I suggested here, and I received a refund to my original form of payment for the difference between the original fare and my newly-booked fare.
That sounds like the behavior for a non-refundable fare when the residual is returned.
That sounds like the behavior for a non-refundable fare when the residual is returned.