Jan 20, 2021, 12:13 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Welcome to this thread to ask your basic, simple questions about United Airlines, its operations, or the MileagePlus program. We know that the airline is complex and we’ve created this thread for new and veteran members to ask those basic questions about United Airlines that you think must have an easy answer but just can’t find it or aren’t sure where to look.

UA Moderator Team
Ocn Vw 1K, l'etoile, J.Edward, goalie, Pat89339, WineCountryUA

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Use this thread for a simple, basic question. Moderators may move posts to a new / existing thread if appropriate.
Any member who can post a constructive, patient answer is welcome to reply.

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Mar 14, 2021, 9:54 am

#61

tr3k

Join Date: Oct 2018

Posts: 1,656

If cancellation options page for the reservation shows an option for "cancel for credit" and an option for "refund to the original form of payment", does it mean I can select "original form of payment" and will actually get a refund? Or is this simply a selection, and later based on the "rules for this reservation" I may get no money back?

I don't know if this reservation is/is not refundable (international business, discount booking class, no idea what the rules are), and also there may have been a few schedule changes I previously accepted.

Mar 14, 2021, 10:56 am

#62

fumje

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2015

Posts: 11,461

Quote:

Originally Posted by tr3k

If it shows going back to original form of payment as an option, you will actually get it back to the original form of payment. Some of the schedule changes are severe enough that they enable the refund that way. I advise taking a screenshot or printout just to have some record for following up in case there's a hitch, but they aren't trying to trick you with fare rules or something.

tr3k likes this.

Mar 20, 2021, 8:06 am

#63

pjs

Join Date: Mar 1999

Location: Alpharetta, GA, USA

Posts: 948

Hi all,

First ever United flights coming up in July (had over 600 flights but I live in ATL so that explains it some). I am Premier Silver thanks to Marriott Titanium. Wife and I flying LIH-DEN-ATL in economy on award ticket. Is there any chance we can get upgraded to economy plus via status on day of flight? If not, I don't think it's worth $128pp for the space on the LIH-DEN flight. We'll just deal. Thanks!

Mar 20, 2021, 9:32 am

#64

WineCountryUA

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: 66,854

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjs

As a Silver you will get free access to E+ on checking (Gold and higher have access at booking). You will be able to freely select any available E+ seats starting 24 hours before departure.

On UA we don't call E+ access upgrading there is no change to the ticket. (This is different from DL C+ process)

pjs, jsloan, SPN Lifer and 1 others like this.

Mar 20, 2021, 12:34 pm

#65

pjs

Join Date: Mar 1999

Location: Alpharetta, GA, USA

Posts: 948

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

Thanks! I read that companions on award tickets make you ineligible for upgrades but I figured that included E+ so I'm glad to hear it doesn't for UA. Probably will be at the bottom of the list anyway but you're saying there's a chance...

Mar 20, 2021, 12:42 pm

#66

WineCountryUA

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: 66,854

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjs

I believe you are misunderstanding and mixing this up with how DL C+ works.

You and your companion at check-in will be able to select E+ seats -- there is no list. Check-in and select the seats. The only issue will be which seats are available. These are not considered upgrades and using that term upgrade will just confuse folks on the UA side. UA handles this different than DL C+.

E+ is the same cabin, same fares as the rest of economy. This is a UA preferred seat fee waived for elites.

Upgrades to first on award is only available to GS (the invite only level) or those primary cardholders of select Chase UA credit cards. no companions and there will be a waitist that may not clear until just before boarding.

pjs and jsloan like this.

Mar 21, 2021, 10:05 am

#67

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 56,459

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

Upgrades to first on award is only available to GS (the invite only level) or those primary cardholders of select Chase UA credit cards. no companions and there will be a waitist that may not clear until just before boarding.

And the chance of a Silver upgrade on either LIH-DEN or DEN-ATL would be nil.

E+ may well be possible, best to check-in at the earliest possible opportunity.

pjs likes this.

Mar 21, 2021, 3:38 pm

#68

Jed33d

Join Date: Jun 2008

Programs: AS, UA, AA, Hyatt Globalist, and Marriott Silver

Posts: 278

Hello! Traveling from PAE-DEN-CZM and return next month. Schedule change on the flight down moved our PAE departure back from 14:00 to 8:40 AM (same day) and the email says we can take the change or be eligible for a refund. I haven't accepted the change yet as I want to keep our options open until right before the trip in case something comes up and we can't travel. I figure I might as well keep the refund option open as long as I can. My question.....is there a cutoff (besides right at trip departure time) for me to accept the change or request the refund? I'm not looking to run this all the way up to departure, but within that week of departure. Thanks for the insight!

Mar 22, 2021, 5:49 pm

#69

mahasamatman

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: 52,140

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jed33d

is there a cutoff (besides right at trip departure time) for me to accept the change or request the refund?

Even if you accept now, all options are still open.

Mar 23, 2021, 1:11 pm

#70

wpcoe

formerly 1984SW

Join Date: Aug 2008

Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

Programs: UA

Posts: 1,058

i'll interject with a question here that I've wondered about. On his LIH-DEN-ATL as a Silver, the free Y+ seat selection will begin a T-24 based on the LIH departure time, no? Will local DEN-ATL Silvers be able to select free Y+ seats several hours earlier than he can? (Ditto for folks with a West Coast-to-DEN inbound connection.)

Mar 23, 2021, 3:13 pm

#71

pjs

Join Date: Mar 1999

Location: Alpharetta, GA, USA

Posts: 948

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpcoe

I would think I would be able to select DEN-ATL at the same time as LIH-DEN so just about earlier than anyone else on the fight not connecting from Hawaii. But I could be wrong again.

Mar 28, 2021, 6:43 am

#72

shdflyer

Join Date: Nov 2008

Posts: 403

Award Search Result shows 32.5k miles, Trying to Purchase shows 45k

I need to book a OW award ticket for a family member for a very specific day and flights. Not flexible.
SHD (Shenandoah, VA) 8:20 am to RDD (Redding, CA) 5:10 pm on June 20.
Cash price is $600+, so I want to burn miles.
The award search results page shows 32.5k for the above routing.
But when I click through to purchase it shows the cost as 45k.
This is a glitch, it has been like this for days.
All the other routings I looked at on the same day show 32.5k in both places.
Since the 45k is clearly a glitch, can I call and ask for the rate desk, or is there a better strategy?
Thanks!

Mar 28, 2021, 11:18 am

#73

WineCountryUA

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: 66,854

Quote:

Originally Posted by shdflyer

I need to book a OW award ticket for a family member for a very specific day and flights. Not flexible.
SHD (Shenandoah, VA) 8:20 am to RDD (Redding, CA) 5:10 pm on June 20.
...
Since the 45k is clearly a glitch, can I call and ask for the rate desk, or is there a better strategy?
Thanks!

Perhaps the 32.5K for those flights are the glitch. If you look at the individual flights, UA1742 IAD-SFO, is X0 XN0
So any suggestions using UA1742 are potential in error. The suggestions with a extra stop in DEN seem be bookable and same total travel time.

Web Support would probably be a better place to start vs Rate Desk -- as Rate Desk will focus on the lack of X space.

jsloan, SPN Lifer and shdflyer like this.

Mar 28, 2021, 4:01 pm

#74

Repooc17

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2017

Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold

Posts: 10,505

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

Perhaps the 32.5K for those flights are the glitch.

Other flight options, - e.g. 6am departure, can be purchased at 32.5K.

Mar 28, 2021, 6:40 pm

#75

fumje

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2015

Posts: 11,461

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

You never want the Rate Desk — they will always give you something you don't like!

iluv2fly and shdflyer like this.