Regular Economy FFC cannot be used for Basic Economy/BE FFC can't be used for Economy
Nov 2, 2017, 1:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,347
Regular Economy FFC cannot be used for Basic Economy/BE FFC can't be used for Economy
Just called to free the trapped money from a PNR and was given this crap. I doubt the fare rules mentioned BE in Nov16! I am livid. Is this legal? Here's what I told Premier Voice:
Hello,
I recently changed this ticket for a friend and was told by xxxxx (HNL Web Support) that the residual value cannot be applied to a basic economy fare.
As BE fares were not invented back in November 2016, I challenge this assertion.
Please refund the fare difference of 23 dollars.
Thank you.
sexykitten7
3NOV17 Update: I got the money back as an ETC. Surprised is an understatement!!!
Hello,
I recently changed this ticket for a friend and was told by xxxxx (HNL Web Support) that the residual value cannot be applied to a basic economy fare.
As BE fares were not invented back in November 2016, I challenge this assertion.
Please refund the fare difference of 23 dollars.
Thank you.
sexykitten7
3NOV17 Update: I got the money back as an ETC. Surprised is an understatement!!!
Last edited by sexykitten7; Nov 3, 2017 at 11:12 am Reason: Update
Nov 2, 2017, 3:30 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
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Posts: 12,521
A friend of mine (non-FF) also was told the same a few weeks ago.
Since he got a full refund/voucher for a Cuba flight, he didn't push it, but he didn't even book the BE flight - so UA lost some revenue there.
I fail to see UA's logic here - why not use a voucher from a refund/issue on something that can't ever be refunded?
Since he got a full refund/voucher for a Cuba flight, he didn't push it, but he didn't even book the BE flight - so UA lost some revenue there.
I fail to see UA's logic here - why not use a voucher from a refund/issue on something that can't ever be refunded?
Nov 2, 2017, 5:27 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 215
Just called to free the trapped money from a PNR and was given this crap. I doubt the fare rules mentioned BE in Nov16! I am livid. Is this legal? Here's what I told Premier Voice:
Hello,
I recently changed this ticket for a friend and was told by xxxxx (HNL Web Support) that the residual value cannot be applied to a basic economy fare.
As BE fares were not invented back in November 2016, I challenge this assertion.
Please refund the fare difference of 23 dollars.
Thank you.
sexykitten7
Hello,
I recently changed this ticket for a friend and was told by xxxxx (HNL Web Support) that the residual value cannot be applied to a basic economy fare.
As BE fares were not invented back in November 2016, I challenge this assertion.
Please refund the fare difference of 23 dollars.
Thank you.
sexykitten7
Apr 19, 2021, 12:51 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,525
FFCs from Standard Economy cannot be used for Basic Economy
Had an FFC last year from a standard economy ticket. Went to apply it to a ticket for the same passengers later this year and wanted Basic Economy as it was $105 cheaper per person than Standard Economy. The system would not let me apply it and when asking United via Twitter, they said that it is a policy that Standard Economy FFCs cannot be used for Basic Economy tickets. Was a bit miffed as this policy is not published anywhere on their website, even the webpage marked "Travel credit | Policies".
Their reasoning was that BE is non-changeable or cancelable, however it is not that way currently and was not when I booked and cancelled my original ticket. They acknowledged it as such but refused to offer anything except the option to pay for Standard Economy at the regular price.
Just putting this out there in case anyone else is wondering why they cannot book a BE ticket with their Standard Economy FFC.
Their reasoning was that BE is non-changeable or cancelable, however it is not that way currently and was not when I booked and cancelled my original ticket. They acknowledged it as such but refused to offer anything except the option to pay for Standard Economy at the regular price.
Just putting this out there in case anyone else is wondering why they cannot book a BE ticket with their Standard Economy FFC.
Apr 19, 2021, 1:09 pm
#5
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Yes, this has been true for some time. There appears to be a system barrier around Basic Economy tickets
In instructions to TA
In instructions to TA
**United Basic Economy fares booked in "N" class must remain in "N" class when eligible for self-service rebooking due to unacceptable schedule changes or irregular operations. If "N" class is unavailable, please contact United’s Customer Contact Centers for assistance. Rebooking into an ineligible booking class may result in the issuance of a debit memo. For non-Basic Economy fares, do not rebook into "N" class.
Apr 19, 2021, 2:45 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,525
Yes, this has been true for some time. There appears to be a system barrier around Basic Economy tickets
In instructions to TA
In instructions to TA
Apr 19, 2021, 3:04 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Posts: 32,412
It's just a little annoying that they don't actually let passengers know that until it is time to rebook and the option isn't there. Heck, your link doesn't even cover FFCs, just IRROPs and schedule changes. It also makes total sense in that it essentially says "When a standard economy ticket change needs to occur due to schedule change/IRROPs, don't put that pax in Basic".
Apr 19, 2021, 4:18 pm
#9
Moderator: United Airlines
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The ability to do this has vary over the past year. it seems recently agents have been more willing. Without going into the details, just ask for an ETC since your are unable to get the rebooking you desired and needed an ETC to rebook.
Apr 20, 2021, 9:25 pm
#10
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Some older post covering the restriction from using FFC to purchase BE fares
So today I learned from an agent that I can't change from a non-basic economy ticket to a basic economy ticket.
For example, I have a fully changeable F ticket - I cannot later change that to a BE ticket with a different itinerary. Can only refund and then rebook a new itinerary in BE. Strange.
For example, I have a fully changeable F ticket - I cannot later change that to a BE ticket with a different itinerary. Can only refund and then rebook a new itinerary in BE. Strange.
Indeed, a quick search of the fare rules for a BE ticket (from the penalties section) shows the situation:
I don't know why it's there, and I don't remember seeing it before, but it's clear that it's not a matter of a missing pricing system: UA has clearly written this text to exclude doing a ticket exchange to a BE ticket.
NO UNUSED TICKET MAY BE USED TOWARD THE PURCHASE
OF A BASIC ECONOMY TICKET.
-------
NO RESIDUAL VALUE MAY BE USED TOWARD THE PURCHASE
OF A BASIC ECONOMY TICKET.
OF A BASIC ECONOMY TICKET.
-------
NO RESIDUAL VALUE MAY BE USED TOWARD THE PURCHASE
OF A BASIC ECONOMY TICKET.
May 19, 2021, 12:47 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: IL
Programs: UA Gold, DL Silver, Hertz PC, Avis Pref+, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,120
Cannot access BE on UA.com with flight credit
Have tried this a few times - when I try to book with a future flight credit, I can only see economy and up fares - BE is not shown at all.
Is it just me or is this some sort of restriction on flight credits...?
Is it just me or is this some sort of restriction on flight credits...?
May 19, 2021, 10:10 am
#13
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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It is in the fare rules and these are instructions UA provides to TA
**United Basic Economy fares booked in "N" class must remain in "N" class when eligible for self-service rebooking due to unacceptable schedule changes or irregular operations. If "N" class is unavailable, please contact Uniteds Customer Contact Centers for assistance. Rebooking into an ineligible booking class may result in the issuance of a debit memo. For non-Basic Economy fares, do not rebook into "N" class.
May 19, 2021, 11:21 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 12 stops from ORD
Programs: UA, AA, DL
Posts: 992
I tried to use a flight credit towards purchasing a basic economy ticket online but it would only apply the credit towards regular economy fares. So credits can’t be used towards basic econ fares?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 19, 2021 at 11:33 pm Reason: Moved to subject thread
May 19, 2021, 11:32 pm
#15
Moderator: United Airlines
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Posts: 67,193
It appears UA has that restriction. Note it also seems to be true that FFC from BE can only be used for BE rebookings.