Cancelling UA Thanksgiving Travel?
Nov 19, 2020, 11:16 pm
#31
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Latin America and USA
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold
Posts: 456
We bought Mrs. IMissthe747 a nice UA871/872 TPAC and a few domestic flights to visit some (non-COVID but terminally) sick family in the USA. I felt terrible about her going, but it was important to her and so she had my full support.
She was supposed to fly to the USA earlier this week. Thankfully she called the trip off. We are safe and happy here in Asia, but miss Thanksgiving with family for sure.
She was supposed to fly to the USA earlier this week. Thankfully she called the trip off. We are safe and happy here in Asia, but miss Thanksgiving with family for sure.
Nov 19, 2020, 11:48 pm
#32
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
Thread Topic is not about travel shaming ans/or COVID concerns shaming -- those are topics for OMNI land.(or no where). Such posts have been removed.
This thread was started to learn if others were changing their UA travel plans due to recent increase in COVID activitiy. Feel free to discuss your plans without commenting / shaming others.
WinCountryUA
UA coModerator
This thread was started to learn if others were changing their UA travel plans due to recent increase in COVID activitiy. Feel free to discuss your plans without commenting / shaming others.
WinCountryUA
UA coModerator
Nov 19, 2020, 11:52 pm
#33
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,998
Work Must Get Done!
I've got a job to do, so I will be traveling over the holiday. I don't get paid for staying home.
I just hit 100K miles on UA this year and over 25K on AA and I believe the airlines are doing a good job with risk mitigation. Hertz is doing good as well.
Everybody really needs to think carefully about relative risk. If you're going to a frat party after a football game, you are likely taking a significant risk. If you are going to Thanksgiving dinner with a handful of family and friends, the risk is far less. In a free society, the decision is up to the individual and they shouldn't be criticized for exercising their freedoms. Trying to shame people for their behavior didn't help during the AIDS crisis and it won't help here.
I just hit 100K miles on UA this year and over 25K on AA and I believe the airlines are doing a good job with risk mitigation. Hertz is doing good as well.
Everybody really needs to think carefully about relative risk. If you're going to a frat party after a football game, you are likely taking a significant risk. If you are going to Thanksgiving dinner with a handful of family and friends, the risk is far less. In a free society, the decision is up to the individual and they shouldn't be criticized for exercising their freedoms. Trying to shame people for their behavior didn't help during the AIDS crisis and it won't help here.
Nov 20, 2020, 3:59 am
#34
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,452
While the "surge" isn't going to impact my plans, the California partial shutdown likely will - may not return between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I've been through PHX T4 literally dozens of times this year (most recently last Friday). While the A and C terminals can be a mess (especially C), UA baggage claim was truly special.
I've been through PHX T4 literally dozens of times this year (most recently last Friday). While the A and C terminals can be a mess (especially C), UA baggage claim was truly special.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Nov 20, 2020 at 11:19 am Reason: Leave OMNI comments for OMNI forum
Nov 20, 2020, 5:36 am
#35
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: AUS, ORD, SFO, SIN
Programs: United 1K 2MM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 50
I flew ORD to SFO on Wednesday night and ORD was the emptiest I've ever seen it at 6:30pm. Ever since July, I've been traveling a normal schedule which is about a flight every 10 days or so and feel that UA is doing great with everything. The good thing now is that some PZ space is opening up that I'd never seen before like on that ORD to SFO flight, there was PZ space in a 787!
Nov 20, 2020, 7:01 am
#36
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAD/ARN
Programs: UA Plat/*G, Marriott LT Gold, Global Entry
Posts: 164
Planning to fly DCA-ORD next week, we went back and forth several times on going but finally decided yesterday that we'll go ahead with it. Some factors in our favor: only four people total, all low-risk adults, and all of us have been in effective isolation the past couple of weeks and plan to continue isolating after we get back home. We are also skipping the hotel and staying with family - I know hotels are probably not that bad, but seems like an unnecessary risk. Also plan to skip checked bags, use face shield + KN95, take wipes/sanitizer, etc.
I don't think it's wrong to want to see family, but I would strongly encourage anyone considering it to at least evaluate the risks and give it some serious thought. For us, if we were mixing more than two households, or I didn't trust some in attendance to properly isolate/wear masks, or someone was high-risk I would be much more inclined to cancel.
Glad to hear it, going through ORD has been my biggest concern although I'm sure it'll be busier next week. I purposely booked a 9pm return flight to try and avoid the worst of it.
I don't think it's wrong to want to see family, but I would strongly encourage anyone considering it to at least evaluate the risks and give it some serious thought. For us, if we were mixing more than two households, or I didn't trust some in attendance to properly isolate/wear masks, or someone was high-risk I would be much more inclined to cancel.
Glad to hear it, going through ORD has been my biggest concern although I'm sure it'll be busier next week. I purposely booked a 9pm return flight to try and avoid the worst of it.
Nov 20, 2020, 7:47 am
#37
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Planning to fly DCA-ORD next week, we went back and forth several times on going but finally decided yesterday that we'll go ahead with it. Some factors in our favor: only four people total, all low-risk adults, and all of us have been in effective isolation the past couple of weeks and plan to continue isolating after we get back home. We are also skipping the hotel and staying with family - I know hotels are probably not that bad, but seems like an unnecessary risk. Also plan to skip checked bags, use face shield + KN95, take wipes/sanitizer, etc.
I don't think it's wrong to want to see family, but I would strongly encourage anyone considering it to at least evaluate the risks and give it some serious thought. For us, if we were mixing more than two households, or I didn't trust some in attendance to properly isolate/wear masks, or someone was high-risk I would be much more inclined to cancel.
Glad to hear it, going through ORD has been my biggest concern although I'm sure it'll be busier next week. I purposely booked a 9pm return flight to try and avoid the worst of it.
I don't think it's wrong to want to see family, but I would strongly encourage anyone considering it to at least evaluate the risks and give it some serious thought. For us, if we were mixing more than two households, or I didn't trust some in attendance to properly isolate/wear masks, or someone was high-risk I would be much more inclined to cancel.
Glad to hear it, going through ORD has been my biggest concern although I'm sure it'll be busier next week. I purposely booked a 9pm return flight to try and avoid the worst of it.
Nov 20, 2020, 8:00 am
#38
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: EDI, FRA, DTW, BCN
Programs: Flying Blue Silver, LH M&M, BAEC
Posts: 43
I wouldn't worry about the actual flight, but Grand Traverse and Leelanau county are a COVID mess right now, a friend who is a public health nurse in Northern lower MI says she can't keep up, and it's about to explode once everyone gets back from deer camp. if it was me, I'd cancel.
Nov 20, 2020, 8:48 am
#39
Join Date: May 2014
Programs: UA 1K, AA Gold, DL Silver
Posts: 410
I was originally planning to fly LAX to Aruba (via EWR), but my return via PTY on COPA was cancelled and there were no viable alternatives. I rebooked to St Croix, via EWR. I am not even remotely concerned about any excessive exposure on the ground in VI, as I will be traveling solo, wearing a mask, and avoiding people altogether unless I am purchasing food/drinks. All of my flights are in lie-flat J, so I will have some social distancing on the plane (along with an N95 mask). Unfortunately, the recent spike has put my plans in peril due to the inevitable travel restrictions and potential flight cancellations. It is about as social-distancing friendly of a trip as possible (aside from a trip to the wilderness in my own backyard), but a trip with four 3 to 5+ hour flight segments is certainly not risk-free. The irony is that if I stay home, I will just end up visiting the in-laws on Thursday, which is exactly what we are supposed to be avoiding right now. As things stand right now, I am still planning to go ahead, but there are still 6 more days for things to fall apart.
Nov 20, 2020, 9:53 am
#42
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAD/ARN
Programs: UA Plat/*G, Marriott LT Gold, Global Entry
Posts: 164
Although worth noting travel restrictions if you are headed into Chicago as opposed to surrounding area. If coming from either DC or VA, there is a 14-day quarantine with a "test out" option with a pre-arrival test. Strongly adviseable even for those where it is not required.
Nov 20, 2020, 1:22 pm
#43
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Whatever you decide, I would not cancel until shortly before travel. Flights are cancelled or significantly delayed for all kinds of reasons and if your flight is cancelled or significantly delayed, you are due a refund rather than a funny money credit. No reason to cancel earlier as you do just as well at T-2 (hours) as T-2 (days).
Nov 20, 2020, 1:31 pm
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,043
One benefit to cancelling at T-2 (days) vice T-2 (hours) is to foreclose the possibility of IT interruptions that preclude super close-in online cancellation.
Nov 20, 2020, 3:44 pm
#45
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Meh. Chances of a 120-minute hold time are nil. If it did happen, I would send off a webform which is time-stamped and deal with the fallout afterwards.