View Poll Results: What do you think of the recent UA changes in Changes fees?
Good idea: No Domestic Change fee w/ no rebooking residual AND No Standby fee/Free SDC all elites




148
64.35%
Good idea: No Domestic Change fee w/ no rebooking residual but NOT No Standby fee/Free SDC all elite




25
10.87%
Good idea: No Standby fee/Free SDC all elite but NOT No Domestic Change fee w/ no rebooking residual




18
7.83%
Neutral /don’t care about either




30
13.04%
Don’t like / think either is a good idea




9
3.91%
Voters: 230. You may not vote on this poll
Change Fees "Gone For Good"(WW ex-USA,non-BE), credit for lower fare!, Intl&BE waiver
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#391
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.85MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 60,071
I think there are two different new policies
One on lower fare residuals -- in the recent posted examples there has been no mention of a fee. (and none of the competitors have a fee)
and a second on refunds -- the refund one is puzzling as it appears to make all fares refundable, some with a fee.
One on lower fare residuals -- in the recent posted examples there has been no mention of a fee. (and none of the competitors have a fee)
and a second on refunds -- the refund one is puzzling as it appears to make all fares refundable, some with a fee.
#392
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 16,347
Well, they've updated their No Change Fee page: https://www.united.com/ual/en/US/fly...hange-fee.html
It says you "may" get the residual back... and then in the terms and conditions at the bottom, it repeats the "may," and then merges it in with the current waiver (BE through 4/30, everything else through 5/31).
I'm sure that the intent is that this policy will apply to all "no change fee" tickets beyond those dates (e.g., US origin), but they really need to work on less confusing messaging.
The fare rules haven't been updated yet.
It says you "may" get the residual back... and then in the terms and conditions at the bottom, it repeats the "may," and then merges it in with the current waiver (BE through 4/30, everything else through 5/31).
I'm sure that the intent is that this policy will apply to all "no change fee" tickets beyond those dates (e.g., US origin), but they really need to work on less confusing messaging.
The fare rules haven't been updated yet.
#393
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA LT GS | UA LT Club | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,002
I just experienced it today. Booked SFO-GSP two days ago. Had to change return date and new fare was $30 lower. Was issued a new $30 ETC and agent was nice enough to consolidate that ETC with the larger ETC that sits in my account.
Wow!!! It was only $30 but it felt good!
I bet ending change fees and refunding residual increases UA's NPS by 30+ points. UA's NPS is currently at 10 while SW's NPS is at 62. Kirby doing good things!
Wow!!! It was only $30 but it felt good!
I bet ending change fees and refunding residual increases UA's NPS by 30+ points. UA's NPS is currently at 10 while SW's NPS is at 62. Kirby doing good things!
#394
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 16,347
So, after taking a screenshot of the policy, just in case, I booked a couple of speculative non-refundable tickets today. (UA probably could have had my cash a year ago if they hadn't written the 'residual ignored' language). There's something new on the website; I get a new redemption option for UA-operated flights:
(Emphasis mine).
I don't see anything new on the app, though -- perhaps because I don't have one of these newfangled credits.
That said, I suspect we're in for waves of confusion if they're going to have two different products both called "Future Flight Credit." 🙄
Future flight creditsIf you've been issued future flight credit, you should have received an email that includes a confirmation number that you can use to book a new trip. Learn more about travel credits
To use your unused flight credit, go to My Trips and find your original reservation to begin your new flight search.
If you received a future flight credit from changing your flight after April 1, 2021, you can apply the credit when booking a new trip on our mobile app. This option will be offered on united.com soon.
To use your unused flight credit, go to My Trips and find your original reservation to begin your new flight search.
If you received a future flight credit from changing your flight after April 1, 2021, you can apply the credit when booking a new trip on our mobile app. This option will be offered on united.com soon.
I don't see anything new on the app, though -- perhaps because I don't have one of these newfangled credits.
That said, I suspect we're in for waves of confusion if they're going to have two different products both called "Future Flight Credit." 🙄
Last edited by jsloan; Apr 3, 21 at 10:21 am Reason: typo
#395
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Programs: UA Plat-2MM, Marriott Life Titanium, Hyatt something
Posts: 1,877
It doesn’t sound like this will be offered to direct booking individual customers.
#396
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 16,347
Between this wording and the new consumer policy page on United.com, it sounds like the refund for a fee is for travel agents so that corporate customers can choose not to track all the canceled ticket credits by paying the fee. For example, my organization spends a good deal of time and effort tracking these and there is breakage on canceled tickets that don’t get reused. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get this as an option in my organization when we don’t have clear plans to rebook a trip.
It doesn’t sound like this will be offered to direct booking individual customers.
It doesn’t sound like this will be offered to direct booking individual customers.
It makes little sense to give such a valuable option only on agency-purchased tickets, given that UA and the other airlines have spent the better part of two decades trying to undercut travel agents and move to a direct sales model.
Anything's possible, to be sure, but I don't see the logic behind that from UA's perspective.
#397
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: USA
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 12,867
So from what I'm reading for a regular ticket purchaser, no change fees on non-BE fares through May 31, 2021. So I could use an ETC, cancel the flight, and get the FFC turned into another ETC? Thanks!
#398
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.85MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 60,071
There is no published policy that FFCs can be converted to ETCs and it must be agent initiated and above a certain $$$ amount appears it is reviewed. UA is doing this once again but they have already shut it down once before due to abuse. So yes, you might be able to this is extend an ETC for another two years, but if UA sees too much of this, UA could eliminate the option once again.
#399
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: USA
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 12,867
There is no change fees for non-BE, ex-USA beyond 31 May 2021 - "forever". The 31 May deadline is for trips originating outside of the USA (&Mexico or the Caribbean).
There is no published policy that FFCs can be converted to ETCs and it must be agent initiated and above a certain $$$ amount appears it is reviewed. UA is doing this once again but they have already shut it down once before due to abuse. So yes, you might be able to this is extend an ETC for another two years, but if UA sees too much of this, UA could eliminate the option once again.
There is no published policy that FFCs can be converted to ETCs and it must be agent initiated and above a certain $$$ amount appears it is reviewed. UA is doing this once again but they have already shut it down once before due to abuse. So yes, you might be able to this is extend an ETC for another two years, but if UA sees too much of this, UA could eliminate the option once again.
#400
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 16,347
Thanks for the clarification. Am I only the one who has had problems with the website using FFC? Is it better to search for a flight then click the box that says FFC as opposed to going to the FFC and then searching? The strategy of trying to use from the FFC page failed for me.
The option to use "FFC" from the search results is new and appears to refer to some new product UA is rolling out to capture the residuals left over when someone does a flight change to a cheaper flight. If you choose it, it'll tell you "if you want to use FFC from prior to April 1, start from the reservation with the attached credit."
If you're not able to get the system to work properly via the change flight tool on the website, call.
#401
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA LT GS | UA LT Club | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,002
I just went through the process on a post-April 1st itinerary and was issued the new FFC vs ETCs. The agent tried to explain the new FFCs in detail:
The Bad:
1. No more ETC
2. No transferability
3. No combinability
4. Given there is no combinability, there is no more date-pushing (meaning new expiration date is most favorable of combined cert dates)
The Good:
5. Can use multiple towards a single itinerary (up to 10 she said)
6. Can pull from multiple accounts (3 from yours, 3 from spouse), so you don't have to split the locator to use from multiple accounts
7. Can be used on partner itineraries as long as one segment is UA
8. The FFCs show up in the account of the recipient and the booker. So I can see my spouse's FFCs if I booked the itenerary
9. FFCs now show up as a payment method in the app booking flow. For multi-passenger FFCs, both passengers show up!
I can live with all this, in exchange for no change fees, and reclaiming residual!
The Bad:
1. No more ETC
2. No transferability
3. No combinability
4. Given there is no combinability, there is no more date-pushing (meaning new expiration date is most favorable of combined cert dates)
The Good:
5. Can use multiple towards a single itinerary (up to 10 she said)
6. Can pull from multiple accounts (3 from yours, 3 from spouse), so you don't have to split the locator to use from multiple accounts
7. Can be used on partner itineraries as long as one segment is UA
8. The FFCs show up in the account of the recipient and the booker. So I can see my spouse's FFCs if I booked the itenerary
9. FFCs now show up as a payment method in the app booking flow. For multi-passenger FFCs, both passengers show up!
I can live with all this, in exchange for no change fees, and reclaiming residual!
Last edited by spartacusmcfly; Apr 5, 21 at 12:27 pm Reason: Added #8 & #9
#402
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.85MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 60,071
Thanks for the clarification. Am I only the one who has had problems with the website using FFC? Is it better to search for a flight then click the box that says FFC as opposed to going to the FFC and then searching? The strategy of trying to use from the FFC page failed for me.
Issues with UA's online rebooking: Missing flights, higher prices, changed cabin, ..
#404
#405
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K 2MM
Posts: 1,044
Received FFC for residual amount
Did a flight change today for a future trip that resulted in a lower fare. The residual of $191 was immediately issued as a FFC and displayed on both .com and the App. Very happy to see this happen!
One note; as is too often the norm, the flight change errored out on .bomb. I called the 1K line, got a very good agent that knew about the policy change and poof it got done. Just one data point, but happy to see the change.
One note; as is too often the norm, the flight change errored out on .bomb. I called the 1K line, got a very good agent that knew about the policy change and poof it got done. Just one data point, but happy to see the change.
Last edited by bluedemon211; Apr 6, 21 at 12:36 am