1k-all-the-way

Thanks for the info!

UA_Flyer

My mid-May (orginally scheduled as first day of service) SFO-MEL flight was cancelled. I had to call to get refund. UA did not try to rebook me.
Settle for SFO-SYD-MEL (UA-VA) instead.
I will fly to MEL again in July, and hope the scheule sticks this time.

docbert

Paid or award for the original booking? For a paid ticket they should have had no issues rebooking you SFO-SYD(UA)-MEL(VA, QF or JQ) if you'd asked.

UA_Flyer

It was paid. The GS agents (two) enouraged me to take flights in June and did not really respond my request to book on alternative routing.
I ended up just cancel to get a refund, and book the alternative routing myself.

sabbasolo

We were booked on paid tickets in Feb on SFO-MEL - UA wouldn't rebook beyond SYD - even though we are 1K and spoke to both a supervisor and 1K desk. Now the VA partnership wasn't in effect yet, but I still don't know if they would cover SYD-MEL today.

phkc070408

I just changed our return MEL-[SFO}-EWR and changed it to SYD-[LAX]-EWR the following day. We'll spend the extra half day in MEL and fly to SYD that night. It's an award ticket so I don't see much to gain by waiting for the flight to get cancelled.

Also, since we fly once per year if that, and this is our first time in the Polaris seats, getting good seats is something we value, so we made the change while good seats to us were still available on the SFO flight.

docbert

All but the cheapest UA fares allow domestic travel within Australia on any of VA/QF/JQ, and have for countless years. It's possible you were on a fare that didn't allow it, but they should have been able to rebook you into a slightly higher fare (in the same class) that allows it.

eg, looking at SFO-MEL in July the cheapest fare is a T class, TLX74SB7 for $859 which is UA metal only, whilst TLX74SG2 allows travel on VA/QF/JQ for $869 - $10 more!

I can see how an agent strictly following the fare rules wouldn't have allowed the change if you were on the UA-metal-only fare, but a 1K agent and supervisor not allowing it is just poor form from United...

Award flights are obviously a different thing altogether. I had a partner award into BNE last year that was removed from the schedule, and the best UA could do was to open a seat for me on the direct SFO-SYD - but that makes perfect sense as awards flights don't allow travel on any of the AU carriers.

brian77

Apologies if this is answered somewhere -- does anyone know what time the United check-in counter opens at SYD these days?

UAinAUS

3 hours prior to departure for all flights out of SYD

nw6338

mistake post

eng3

I ran into a similar issue. If I try a change on the website to my reservation to add a JQ or VA segment, it actually costs less depending when I check. When I call in (because I want to retain my cleared upgrade), #1, it took a while even to find the option, but then they say it will be like $500 extra, #2 they say they can't keep my upgrade.

Though now that I think of it, it may be better if I book JQ/VA on my own. I have no idea what my baggage allowances (carryon, checked) and seat selection would be with what UA books. If I need to add extras, I may not be able to do it online because the ticket isnt booked through them. I know it is alot more when adding at the airport. Booking through UA is about half the cost. Does anyone have any experience with booking JQ or VA via UA? what type of ticket do you get in terms of carry-on, checked bags, seats. I see JQ upsells carry-on size, checked bag, and seats.

EDIT: Based on this Jetstar GDS Guide it sounds like all include a 20kg checked bag but not seat or extra carry-on allowance. I don't know how to decipher VA agency info

nw6338

Do we think SFO-MEL will be operating by June (ie pushed back again)? should I proactively change to LAX/SFO-SYD ? I don't want the flight to get canceled/pushed back and then get a refund and have to buy up to a much higher J fare. Will UA automatically move me to SYD flight if MEL is canceled? What about award bookings in J?

Thanks

DELee

Not sure what you're asking: SFO-MEL vs. SYD-MEL?

David

nw6338

Sorry, made a huge typo in post above. Do we think SFO-MEL will be operating by mid/late June or is it suspected to be pushed back again? I don't want the flight to cancel next month and have to get a refund and pay more to fly SFO-SYD. If SFO-MEL cancellation happens, will UA rebook SFO-SYD?

phkc070408

We were scheduled MEL-SFO-EWR on an award flight in early August that I changed to SYD-EWR the following day. While I wanted to fly out of MEL I didn't want to take the chance. It's an award ticket so the mileage rate was the same and the taxes were a matter of a few dollars. The constant pushback just indicates to me that the route is not.a priority for UA at the moment.