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
|
|||
#781
#782
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 13,711
Take SDC before the changes this year - UA premiers (Gold+) have this benefit for free. *G don’t - at least as advertised, though in practice, this seemed to be SOP. Upgrade lists are also likely not ordered as advertised all the time - no way for laymen like us to verify 100%, but evidence points to many situations that lead many to appear it’s not.
Like I said, I don’t know that this kind of precedent applies here - just saying that theoretically, the system may not be programmed as the rules are listed. YMMV.
#783
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 570
If I buy an Air Canada ticket via United, whose change/cancellation policies apply to the ticket, Air Canada's or United's? And does it matter if it's a codeshare, vs a purely Air Canada marketed flight (there's a mix of both available for purchase on routes YVR-LAX)?
#784
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: 60,080
Note As YVR-LAX orignates outside UA's no-change fee zone, a newly issued ticket will have change fees
#785
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 570
If Issued by UA, UA's rules. This a bit interesting as a partner's fare rules may include change fees but UA has been using UA's policy for those situations
Note As YVR-LAX orignates outside UA's no-change fee zone, a newly issued ticket will have change fees
Note As YVR-LAX orignates outside UA's no-change fee zone, a newly issued ticket will have change fees
1. Book a round trip on United metal using Travel Bank.
2. Immediately modify the booking to LAX-YVR-LAX (step 1 necessary since otherwise you couldn't use Travel Bank to book Air Canada flights directly, but I tested and confirmed a book-and-modify works). This trip is governed by United's rules regardless of whether it's United metal with a United flight number, AC metal with a United codeshare flight number, or AC metal with an AC flight number.
3. A few days before the trip, if I've decided on a different outbound flight, cancel just the outbound LAX-YVR leg and get a refund of that portion of the ticket back to Travel Bank. Or if the event I'm going to winds up not happening, be able to cancel the entire itinerary back to Travel Bank.
Basically I want to lock in the YVR-LAX flight now while it's cheap, but want to retain the flexibility to cancel back to Travel Bank in case the thing I'm going to gets cancelled again; it's already been pushed back from January to July because of COVID restrictions in British Columbia. If it happens I know exactly what YVR-LAX flight I need, and I can guesstimate which LAX-YVR flight I'll want, but may want to book a different LAX-YVR flight, potentially not on a *A airline, depending on when other people are getting in. So I'd want to both 1) be able to cancel without a fee and 2) have it go back to Travel Bank with the 5 year expiration period and not just wind up with a travel credit with a 1 year expiration period, I'd rather just wait and potentially pay a little more later if I'd be getting back travel credit upon cancellation. Especially since who knows if the event winds up getting delayed again.
#786
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: 60,080
Any "refund" after 24 hours or non a refundable ticket will be a FFC, not travel bank
#787
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 570
Oh that's annoying, I would have thought the ticket would just get split and each half of the ticket would retain the original pricing given that the prices do get presented to you in terms of per-leg pricing while booking, I wouldn't have expected a repricing in that scenario. There's no way to do it that doesn't involve repricing the YVR-LAX leg? Moot in this specific situation between the fact that I'm not willing to take a FFC instead of a Travel Bank refund and if there's truly no way to avoid the repricing, but that's an unexpected gotcha so good to know how that works for the future.
#788
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: 60,080
Oh that's annoying, I would have thought the ticket would just get split and each half of the ticket would retain the original pricing given that the prices do get presented to you in terms of per-leg pricing while booking, I wouldn't have expected a repricing in that scenario. There's no way to do it that doesn't involve repricing the YVR-LAX leg? ....
For non-refundable tickets there is no refund (outside 24 hours of purchase) on a voluntary change, just future flight credit / FFC.
#789
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Sky
Programs: AA, AC, AS, BA, VS
Posts: 125
For the aforementioned YVR-LAX ticket (issued after 2022-02-01), what is the change fee? I cannot find it anywhere on united.com.
The fare rules suggests no change fees, but my brain and eyes are getting crossed from trying to decipher them. Under penalties:
The fare rules suggests no change fees, but my brain and eyes are getting crossed from trying to decipher them. Under penalties:
//// CHANGE FREE OF CHARGE //// -- -- BEFORE DEPARTURE OPTIONS - -- BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY AND WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY CANCEL OF TICKETED RESERVATIONS OF A WHOLLY UNUSED TICKET - TRAVEL MUST BEGIN WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUE DATE EXCEPTION - FOR TICKETS ISSUED ON/BEFORE 12/31/21 TRAVEL MUST COMMENCE BY 12/31/22 -- THE NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT OF THE TICKET BEING EXCHANGED REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE AND CARRIED FORWARD IN THE ENDORSEMENT BOX OF THE NEW TICKET
#790
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 217
As a UA gold, if I book an economy ticket and use a MUA to upgrade to J that costs $600 copay and 30k miles what will be the penalty if I have to cancel?
I know the value of the economy ticket will be given as a credit, how about the $600/30k miles?
I know the value of the economy ticket will be given as a credit, how about the $600/30k miles?
#791
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: 60,080
If you cancel / change the flight, the upgrade miles and copay will be refund. If you cancel the upgrade but not the flight, there will be a redeposit fee for the miles, the cash will be refunded.
#792
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 13,711
For the aforementioned YVR-LAX ticket (issued after 2022-02-01), what is the change fee? I cannot find it anywhere on united.com.
The fare rules suggests no change fees, but my brain and eyes are getting crossed from trying to decipher them. Under penalties:
The fare rules suggests no change fees, but my brain and eyes are getting crossed from trying to decipher them. Under penalties:
//// CHANGE FREE OF CHARGE //// -- -- BEFORE DEPARTURE OPTIONS - -- BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY AND WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY CANCEL OF TICKETED RESERVATIONS OF A WHOLLY UNUSED TICKET - TRAVEL MUST BEGIN WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUE DATE EXCEPTION - FOR TICKETS ISSUED ON/BEFORE 12/31/21 TRAVEL MUST COMMENCE BY 12/31/22 -- THE NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT OF THE TICKET BEING EXCHANGED REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE AND CARRIED FORWARD IN THE ENDORSEMENT BOX OF THE NEW TICKET
CANCELLATIONS TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE IN CASE OF NO-SHOW/REFUND. NOTE - -- TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE -- TAX - US/ZP/XF - WILL NOT BE REFUNDED -- THE NON-REFUNDABLE CANCELLATION AMOUNT OF THE TICKET BEING EXCHANGED REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE AND CARRIED FORWARD IN THE ENDORSEMENT BOX OF THE NEW TICKET FOR TICKETING ON/BEFORE 31MAR 22 CHANGES BEFORE DEPARTURE CHANGES PERMITTED FOR REISSUE. NOTE - -- -- //// CHANGE FREE OF CHARGE //// -- -- BEFORE DEPARTURE OPTIONS - -- BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY AND WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY CANCEL OF TICKETED RESERVATIONS OF A WHOLLY UNUSED TICKET - TRAVEL MUST BEGIN WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUE DATE EXCEPTION - FOR TICKETS ISSUED ON/BEFORE 12/31/21 TRAVEL MUST COMMENCE BY 12/31/22 -- THE NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT OF THE TICKET BEING EXCHANGED REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE AND CARRIED FORWARD IN THE ENDORSEMENT BOX OF THE NEW TICKET -- QUALIFYING CURRENT DAY FARE CANCEL OF TICKETED RESERVATIONS OF A WHOLLY UNUSED TICKET / CHANGE TO 1ST TICKETED FLIGHT COUPON -- REPRICE USING --CURRENT FARES-- IN EFFECT TODAY -- PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. UA FARES ARE USED EXCEPT EOU/ERU 2. FARE BREAK POINT CHANGES ARE PERMITTED 3. VALIDATE ADVANCE RESERVATION REQUIREMENTS 4. ADVANCE RESERVATION/TKG IS MEASURED FROM REISSUE DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT -- -- RESIDUAL VALUE WILL BE IGNORED/FORFEITED ON NON-REFUNDABLE FARE TICKETS -- COLLECT FARE DIFFERENCE IF APPLICABLE -- -- CHANGES DOWNLINE - -- RESERVATION CHANGES TO TICKETED DOWNLINE DATE / FLIGHT // SAME BOOKING CODE // SAME FARE BASIS CODE / SAME FARE CLASS // KEEP THE FARE -- REPRICE USING CURRENTLY TICKETED/HISTORICAL FARE PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET - -- 1. NO CHANGE 1ST FLIGHT COUPON / NO CHANGE TO FARE BREAKS 2. ALL TRAVEL REMAINS DOMESTIC 3. SAME UA FARE USED EXCEPT EOU/ERU 4. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET INCLUDING RES/TKG 5. VALIDATE ADVANCE RES/TICKETING FROM ORIGINAL TICKET DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT -- -- REFUND NOT APPLICABLE EVEN REISSUE -- RESERVATION CHANGES TO TICKETED FARE BREAK POINT CHANGE PERMITTED / OR REMAIN THE SAME / BOOKING CODE CHANGE -- A. CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - USE FARE IN EFFECT TODAY - CURRENT - DAY TARIFF B. ALL OTHER FARE COMPONENTS - USE TICKETED FARE. PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET -- 1. NO CHANGE TO FARE BREAKS UP TO THE FIRST CHANGED FARE COMPONENET 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. UA FARES ARE USED EXCEPT EOU/ERU 4. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 5. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM NEW TKT ISSUE DATE IF CURRENT FARES / FROM PREVIOUS TKT ISSUE DATE IF HISTORICAL FARES TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT -- RESIDUAL VALUE TO BE IGNORED / FORFEITED -- COLLECT FARE DIFFERENCE IF APPLICABLE -- AFTER DEPARTURE CHANGES PERMITTED FOR REISSUE. NOTE - -- -- //// CHANGE FREE OF CHARGE //// -- -- AFTER DEPARTURE CHANGE OPTIONS - -- -- AFTER DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY AND WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY OF A PARTIALLY USED TICKET - TRAVEL WILL BE VALID FOR TRANSPORTATION FOR ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE ON WHICH TRANSPORTATION COMMENCES AT THE POINT OF ORIGIN AS DESIGNATED ON THE ORIGINAL TICKET -- THE NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT OF THE TICKET BEING EXCHANGED REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE AND CARRIED FORWARD IN THE ENDORSEMENT BOX OF THE NEW TICKET -- REPRICE USING CURRENLTY TICKETED/HISTORICAL FARES -- PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- -- TICKETED DOWNLINE DATE CHANGE / FLIGHT CHANGE // SAME BOOKING CODE // SAME FARE BASIS CODE / KEEP THE FARE -- 1. NO CHANGE TO FARE BREAKS 2. ALL TRAVEL REMAINS DOMESTIC 3. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT 4. UA FARES ARE USED EXCEPT EOU/ERU 5. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE INCLUDING ADVANCE RESERVATION/TICKETING 6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT -- REFUND NOT APPLICABLE EVEN REISSUE -- -- FARE BREAK POINT CHANGE PERMITTED / OR REMAIN THE SAME / BOOKING CODE CHANGE -- REPRICE AS FOLLOWS - -- A. FULLY FLOWN FARE COMPONENTS - USE FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TICKET WAS ISSUED B. CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - USE CURRENT FARES IN EFFECT TODAY EXCEPT EOU/ERU C. UNCHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - USE CURRENTLY TICKETED FARES -- 1. ALL TRAVEL REMAINS DOMESTIC 2. UA FARES ARE USED 3. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 4. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM NEW TKT ISSUE DATE IF CURRENT FARES 5. FROM PREVIOUS TICKET ISSUE DATE IF HISTORICAL FARES TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT -- -- RESIDUAL VALUE TO BE IGNORED / FORFEITED ON NON-REFUNDABLE FARE TICKETS -- -- COLLECT FARE DIFFERENCE IF APPLICABLE --
#793
#794
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: أمريكا
Posts: 26,352
Looking at booking an ex-USA roundtrip ticket to Europe, that includes a LH-operated segment on the return (under UA codeshare). The fare rules say "change free of charge" - is there any loophole I'm missing here because there's a non-UA segment that would result in a change fee for changes in advance of departure?
It's a relatively expensive ticket and I'm booking somewhat speculatively, so I don't want to end up losing if/when I need to make a change.
It's a relatively expensive ticket and I'm booking somewhat speculatively, so I don't want to end up losing if/when I need to make a change.