Oct 4, 2022, 12:12 pm
Last edit by: jcturnbull
With a price drop, the most obvious approach, change flight to the same flight and get a credit, does not work. UA blocks this approach (May 2023, is this still true?)
Exception -- if the original booking was in the last 30 days, you can call UA and ask for a repricing. Normally there is a $50 service fee for this.
The next obvious approach to cancel, get a FFC and use the FFC to make a new booking. That also is blocked. The FFC can not be used for the same flights in the same cabin. 2023 update: this seems to work in my experience, already done for several trips this year as of March 2023.
So with those roadblocks
Cancel, get a FFC and use that to book a similar priced flight -- different day or time or even route.
Then cancel this new booking, get a new FFC and use the new FFC for the lower priced desired booking. That should work and you should get a FFC for the price drop.
Another approach is to cancel the original booking and get a FFC and save for a different future trip. The using other credits or cash rebook the priced decrease trip. This does leave you loaning UA some funds but for frequent travelers that may not be for that long
***NEW***
Exception -- if the original booking was in the last 30 days, you can call UA and ask for a repricing. Normally there is a $50 service fee for this.
So with those roadblocks
Cancel, get a FFC and use that to book a similar priced flight -- different day or time or even route.
Then cancel this new booking, get a new FFC and use the new FFC for the lower priced desired booking. That should work and you should get a FFC for the price drop.
Another approach is to cancel the original booking and get a FFC and save for a different future trip. The using other credits or cash rebook the priced decrease trip. This does leave you loaning UA some funds but for frequent travelers that may not be for that long
***NEW***
Earlier this morning I got a Google Flight alerts letting me know that the price of a flight I'm tracking had dropped by $40. With 4 of us on the flight, that made it worth my while to look at repricing. I was a little surprised when I went into my flight, chose Change Flight, saw that the flight I was on was available for selection and it showed the refund amount. I was able to go through the whole flow and get the difference refunded. I did have to select new seats but that's fine. Is this something new, or is it because this particular ticket was booked as Fully Refundable instead of my normal booking of non-refundable flights? I just don't recall ever being able to select the flight that I'm already booked on and getting any difference back (either refunded or as a credit).
Best way to handle UA price drop
May 5, 2021, 8:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Programs: UA, AA, BONVOY, HH
Posts: 1
Best way to handle UA price drop
Recently purchased two OW TUS-HNL UA First Class for June. United changed equip to wide body: bigger plane = more first class seats = dropped prices. The difference is about $300 per ticket. Do I:
1) Call to beg to get a refund credit and are there any processing fees (used to be $50, sometimes waived)
2) Is this a strategy?: Change itinerary to a different date and then a few minutes later, change again, back to the date I want, at the lower rate? (Will United's computers know what I have done?)
Thanks I'm a UA newbie.
1) Call to beg to get a refund credit and are there any processing fees (used to be $50, sometimes waived)
2) Is this a strategy?: Change itinerary to a different date and then a few minutes later, change again, back to the date I want, at the lower rate? (Will United's computers know what I have done?)
Thanks I'm a UA newbie.
May 5, 2021, 8:27 pm
#2
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,861
Welcome to FT, POI
You can not flight change to the same flight online. You could change to another and the change back or you can call where the agent can process the request.
For a non-refundable flight you will get a FFC (Future Flight Credit) for the decrease (1 year to use). You will not be eligible for a refund to the original form of process.
As change fees have been dropped, there will be no fee for doing this.
Recently purchased two OW TUS-HNL UA First Class for June. United changed equip to wide body: bigger plane = more first class seats = dropped prices. The difference is about $300 per ticket. Do I:
1) Call to beg to get a refund credit and are there any processing fees (used to be $50, sometimes waived)
2) Is this a strategy?: Change itinerary to a different date and then a few minutes later, change again, back to the date I want, at the lower rate? (Will United's computers know what I have done?)
Thanks I'm a UA newbie.
1) Call to beg to get a refund credit and are there any processing fees (used to be $50, sometimes waived)
2) Is this a strategy?: Change itinerary to a different date and then a few minutes later, change again, back to the date I want, at the lower rate? (Will United's computers know what I have done?)
Thanks I'm a UA newbie.
For a non-refundable flight you will get a FFC (Future Flight Credit) for the decrease (1 year to use). You will not be eligible for a refund to the original form of process.
As change fees have been dropped, there will be no fee for doing this.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 5, 2021 at 8:34 pm
May 6, 2021, 7:27 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,092
If the 'recent' purchase is within 30 days then the not so well-known UA rule should apply where you can get a refund of the fare difference less $50. Not heard that this was discontinued. I have even gotten a full refund before ... but YMMV. I have also been offered an ETC for the full difference. Definitely call and ask what options they can offer w/ the price drop; getting $250 back per ticket should be one of the options.
May 6, 2021, 7:32 am
#4
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Jun 17, 2022, 11:36 am
#5
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,641
Does this policy still exist despite fare rules indicating forfeiting residuals on a cheaper itinerary or does the forfeit provision not apply if ticketed itinerary drops in cost? Thanks.
Jun 17, 2022, 11:40 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,422
I can confirm that as recently as last week, I was able to get FFC for a flight change despite the 'residual is forfeit' language. In my case, I cancelled the trip, which generated an FFC, and then I started from scratch and added that same FFC during the booking process. If canceling and rebooking isn't an option, changing to an alternate flight, and then changing back, should also work.
Jun 17, 2022, 1:37 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,621
If the 'recent' purchase is within 30 days then the not so well-known UA rule should apply where you can get a refund of the fare difference less $50. Not heard that this was discontinued. I have even gotten a full refund before ... but YMMV. I have also been offered an ETC for the full difference. Definitely call and ask what options they can offer w/ the price drop; getting $250 back per ticket should be one of the options.
Jun 17, 2022, 1:47 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
I can confirm that as recently as last week, I was able to get FFC for a flight change despite the 'residual is forfeit' language. In my case, I cancelled the trip, which generated an FFC, and then I started from scratch and added that same FFC during the booking process.
Jun 17, 2022, 2:27 pm
#9
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
Jun 17, 2022, 2:34 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Jun 17, 2022, 3:06 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,621
Jun 17, 2022, 5:23 pm
#13
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,861
Jun 17, 2022, 11:36 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,891
agreed. They are clearly not incentivized to make it simple. The slightly more time consuming change and change back, or cancel and use the FFC to rebook are the best options. A small PITA to do the extra steps but easy enough to do online without any help needed. Sometimes better to do the easy thing with no agent interaction then to work to convince an agent about something that should be pretty common sense, but they won’t do by default.
Jun 23, 2022, 5:32 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Charlotte NC USA
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA Exec Plat, Alaska 75k, IHG Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 863
What is best practice for rebooking a United paid fare when the price drops significantly, please?
We have tickets that cost $430 each that are now $330 each. I would "change" the flight to the new ticket, but it only lets us upgrade from economy to refundable economy, wiping out most of the savings.
TIA for your help, and sincere apologies if I missed a post on this!
We have tickets that cost $430 each that are now $330 each. I would "change" the flight to the new ticket, but it only lets us upgrade from economy to refundable economy, wiping out most of the savings.
TIA for your help, and sincere apologies if I missed a post on this!