May 7, 2022, 3:00 pm

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Active thread; UA-Schedule changes; +25% TATL 2022 capacity, Q2 TPAC down 65% vs 2019; June changes

UA publishes a schedule for 330 days in advance (called Beginning of Schedule) and in the past would make tweaks quarterly and things would be fairly settles 3-4 months out. Updates would occur Friday evening / Saturday morning (Chicago time). Routine additions could occur anytime.
20 Oct 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by EWR764

In the earnings call today, UA noted that has been transitioning back to its 'normal' (pre-pandemic) 90-day schedule load process, which should be complete in the very near future.

Quote:

Originally Posted by UA Insider

The only thing constant is change and at United Airlines, some of the fees associated with changes related to flying are gone for good. The carrier announced today that it is permanently getting rid of change fees on all standard Economy and Premium cabin tickets for travel within the U.S., effective immediately. And starting on January 1, 2021, any United customer can fly standby for free, regardless of fare type, on a flight departing the day of their travel, a first among U.S. carriers, while MileagePlus® Premier® members can confirm a seat on a different flight on the same day with the same departure and arrival cities as their original ticket if a seat in the same ticket fare class is available.

United is also extending its waiver for new tickets issued through December 31, 2020, to permit unlimited changes with no fee. This policy applies to all ticket types issued after March 3, 2020 and is valid for domestic and international travel.

The new change fee policy applies to all standard Economy and Premium cabin tickets for travel within the U.S. 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and customers will not be limited in the number of times they adjust their flights.

Additionally, United is giving customers more flexibility to change their flights on the day of their travel so they can head home if a meeting ends earlier or enjoy a few more hours on vacation. With the ability to list for same-day standby for free, customers will now have an option to take a different flight with the same origin and destination airports as their original itinerary if space is available at departure. This enhanced option will be available to all customers for travel within the U.S. and to and from international destinations beginning on January 1, 2021. Customers who want to switch flights will be able to add themselves to the standby list through United’s award-winning mobile app, on united.com or at the airport no later than 30 minutes prior to departure for domestic flights and one hour before departure on international flights.

The carrier is also improving the travel experience for its MileagePlus members including waiving all redeposit fees on award travel for flights changed or cancelled more than 30 days before departure and allowing all MileagePlus Premier members to confirm a different flight on the day of their travel. As a way to thank MileagePlus Premier members for their loyalty, beginning January 1, 2021, all Premier members will be able to confirm a seat for free on a different flight with the same departure and arrival cities as their original ticket. This expanded option will allow MileagePlus Silver members and above to confirm a new seat in the same ticket fare class if space is available. Earlier this year, United announced that it will extend status for MileagePlus Premier and United Global Services® members through January 2022. United also reduced thresholds for Premier qualification by 50 percent for each status level, to make reaching an even higher status tier easier.

For more information on United’s new flexible travel policies, visit https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/change-fee.html.

Quote:

Change is here. Change fees are gone.We’re permanently getting rid of change fees for most Economy and premium cabin tickets for travel within the United States. This includes Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more

For all other destinations, change fees are waived through December 31, 2020. See terms and conditions

Quote:

We’re extending electronic certificatesTo give you more flexibility when you travel, electronic certificates are now valid for 24 months from the date they were issued. This includes all currently valid electronic certificates and all new ones issued on or after April 1, 2020.

This policy change will automatically appear, but it may not be reflected everywhere right away. We’d appreciate your patience as we work to make that happen.

Quote:

Award flight redeposit fees waived

We’re waiving redeposit fees for award flights issued on or before December 31, 2020, that are canceled at least 30 days before the departure date. You can also change your award flight with no fee. Learn more about changing or canceling your award flight.

International travel advisories and waivers

For more information about international travel:

View our current travel waivers
See our country-specific travel updates
Search by destination for passport, visa and health requirements provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for detailed information on coronavirus by country[/quote]

CARES service exemptions for United
United Exemption 042520 FINAL ISSUED.pdf
United Airlines 2nd Exemption_051220_FINAL ISSUED.pdf
latest (tentative) -2020-5-5 Order to Show Cause

Other Resources and Statistics

COVID19 UA-Schedule {Archive}

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Aug 12, 2020, 8:49 pm

#3001

emcampbe

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2006

Location: SFO/SJC

Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold

Posts: 14,891

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIH

Appreciate you tracking the stats. I wonder what the threshold is that we have to get to before I can get a pre-noon arrival into the NYC area from Chicago? I'm having to take DL for the first time in my life because the earliest UA can get me to EWR or LGA is Noon most days!

I guess whatever we were at today would be one threshold. There was a 7am from ORD to both LGA (10:14am arrival) and EWR (10:11am arrival). Seems those options are before noon.

Aug 13, 2020, 12:19 pm

#3002

Hawkeyefan

Join Date: Jan 2014

Location: Rochester, MN

Programs: UA Silver, Hilton HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat

Posts: 1,830

I've got a domestic itinerary for mid October that falls under the no fee chg/cancel policy in effect. Let me clear this up: are you allowed a ONE TIME change to the itinerary? Also, should you cancel and receive the FFC, and apply that to a new booking, and then should happen to cancel THAT itinerary, would you receive a new FFC? What I am asking is, is there a way you can be out $$ by booking/cancelling successively while under the current fee free protocol?

If no catches, not sure why anyone would simply change their booking if they could only do it one time. Cancel and do a new one, right?

Aug 13, 2020, 12:43 pm

#3003

WineCountryUA

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: 66,859

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkeyefan

I've got a domestic itinerary for mid October that falls under the no fee chg/cancel policy in effect. Let me clear this up: are you allowed a ONE TIME change to the itinerary? ,,,

for purchases since 3 March you are allowed a no free change (no fare drop refund) in the following 12 months. Once you make that change, future changes depend on the fare rules of the new purchses.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkeyefan

, should you cancel and receive the FFC, and apply that to a new booking, and then should happen to cancel THAT itinerary, would you receive a new FFC? ...

Depends on the fare rules / waivers at the time of the second change

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkeyefan

What I am asking is, is there a way you can be out $$ by booking/cancelling successively while under the current fee free protocol?

no refund on fare drops

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkeyefan

If no catches, not sure why anyone would simply change their booking if they could only do it one time. Cancel and do a new one, right?

No refund on fare drops so if the fare is higher on the second change but below the original, you would be out of pocket additional funds

Once you make a change, you have a new ticket with potential new rules / waiver. Today's rules / waivers do not carryover.

Aug 13, 2020, 3:24 pm

#3004

jjmoore

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: LBB

Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓

Posts: 2,820

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkeyefan

I have opted to convert all of my cancelled flights to ETC's (electronic travel certificates). This allowed me to combine the value of all of my ETC's into one (tickets from my wife and myself, and a few inlaws).... this makes is so much easier to book tickets with that flight credit, and I can spend that credit on myself, my wife, or anyone else I wish to purchase a ticket for.

Make sure to keep close tabs on each ETC (I use a spreadsheet to organize these things).... it gets a bit tricky when there are several of them issued.

Aug 14, 2020, 4:22 pm

#3005

milemonkey

Join Date: Jan 2005

Posts: 930

My flight which was booked with a "No Change Fee" waiver dropped by $150 per ticket. I called UA to cancel or change and rebook the same flights with the difference applied to an ETC. The agent insisted this could not be done. She even tried by cancelling my whole itinerary and temporarily lost it!

I called back an hour later and another agent claims to have done it. He even quoted me the amount of the ETC, although I can't tell if anything has been done as I have nothing which shows any changes. Do I just have to wait to see if I get the ETCs?

Aug 14, 2020, 5:06 pm

#3006

WineCountryUA

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: 66,859

Quote:

Originally Posted by milemonkey

Bookings made after 2 March have a fare rules -- "no redisdual refunds". meaning no refunds on a change to a lower fare. Very clearly stated in the waiver

Quote:

Tickets: For tickets issued March 3 through March 31, 2020, customers will be permitted to change without paying a change fee to a flight of equal or lesser value for travel up to 24 months from the original ticket issue date. For tickets issued between April 1, 2020, and August 31, 2020, customers will be permitted to change without paying a change fee to a flight of equal or lesser value for travel up to 12 months from the original ticket issue date.If the new flight is priced higher, the customer may change for no change fee but must pay the fare difference. If the new flight is priced lower, the customer may change without paying a change fee but no residual value will be given.

A workaround was to cancel for an ETC and then make a new booking with the ETC, the delta remains on the ETC is is usefully for a different book. However, you can no longer do that online and takes an agent -- and then in may take a few weeks to get the ETC.

Note ETCs are now visible online in your My Account

Do you have the lower fare itinary in your My Trips? What total fare is displayed ?

Aug 14, 2020, 5:24 pm

#3007

italdesign

Join Date: Nov 2006

Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum

Posts: 3,727

Hi all. I've read the rules but am a little confused. Here's my situation: booked a flight, on March 9, to Hawaii for Dec (paid with CNB Crystal points). Hawaii's situation is increasingly worsening, and while I might wait a bit before making changes, I wanted to understand my options today.

According to my reservation on united.com, it says: "A travel waiver is in effect for your reservation. View the waiver details to understand your options for fee-waived changes. If you’d like to make a change, select Change flights below. If you're not ready to change now, select Cancel options to view your options for future flight credit, or refunds, if applicable."

However, when I click on Cancel Options, it doesn't mention anything about waived fees. It just says: "Future flight credit: Please use confirmation number XXXXXX to return to this cancelled reservation in My Trips and make changes for a future trip. Change fees will apply when you use the future flight credit unless you qualify for a change fee waiver."

Could someone translate this into what refund/change options I have, including deadlines and other restrictions? For example, if I am eligible for free cancellation for voucher, how long is it good for. Thank you.

Aug 14, 2020, 5:36 pm

#3008

WineCountryUA

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: 66,859

Quote:

Originally Posted by italdesign

Hi all. I've read the rules but am a little confused. Here's my situation: booked a flight, on March 9, to Hawaii for Dec (paid with CNB Crystal points).
....
Could someone translate this into what refund/change options I have, including deadlines and other restrictions? For example, if I am eligible for free cancellation for a voucher, how long is it good for. Thank you.

Due to how you purchased, you will have to deal with the TA (CNB?) you booked with. UA will not provide direct credit in many of these cases booked via credit card points.

Talk to the channel you used to book the tickets.

Aug 14, 2020, 7:11 pm

#3009

canadiancow

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Sep 2012

Location: SFO

Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond

Posts: 44,354

Bought a P fare SFO-VIE round-trip many months ago.

There are several flight cancellations on the PNR right now.

However, travel to VIE is not possible, but ZAG is. Any chance I can make a change to destination (and dates slightly, but same dates work) with no fare difference? I'm not paying a 2 week advance purchase fare when I bought this trip with a 90 day AP. Or if I could use fares in place at time of ticketing, as most SFO-Europe fares are pretty similar.

I can get a refund, but I'd rather take this trip (safer than here, and I'm temporarily moving away from SFO after).

There's a GS on the PNR, but that doesn't seem to be helping given the quality of the GS line these days (today's thought we were going to Vienna, Australia).

Aug 14, 2020, 7:30 pm

#3010

WineCountryUA

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: 66,859

Quote:

Originally Posted by canadiancow

If all on UA metal likely. However, partner flights will complicate this greatly.

Aug 14, 2020, 8:07 pm

#3011

italdesign

Join Date: Nov 2006

Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum

Posts: 3,727

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

Silly question - the latest UA policy reads: "If the customer decides to change or cancel the flight they booked between March 3, 2020 and March 31, 2020, they can retain the value of the ticket to be applied to a new ticket without a change fee for travel up to 24 months from the original ticket issue date..... Fare Validity: This applies to all tickets, all UA fare types, all destinations, all points-of-sale, all travel dates available for sale, provided ticket number starts with 016."

Is OTA not considered "all points-of-sale?"

Aug 14, 2020, 8:48 pm

#3012

canadiancow

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Sep 2012

Location: SFO

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Posts: 44,354

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

If all on UA metal likely. However, partner flights will complicate this greatly.

Okay we just need to HUCA then, thanks. Some partner metal will be necessary unless UA is currently flying to crotia, but I can certainly try to put the TATL on UA and the short hop on a codeshare.

Aug 14, 2020, 9:09 pm

#3013

WineCountryUA

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: 66,859

Quote:

Originally Posted by italdesign

Yes BUT .... you purchased with points, not cash -- this complicates the matter and you need to deal with the TA / credit card . There is no chance for an ETC and the flight change / credit needs to be handled via the TA. UA will allow the TA to do the no change fee but they will generally want you to do that with the TA. Hence the odd messages you are seeing.

Aug 15, 2020, 10:59 am

#3014

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,419

Quote:

Originally Posted by italdesign

Is OTA not considered "all points-of-sale?"

Point-of-sale, in airline parlance, refers to the country where the purchase is made.

Incidentally, you bolded the part that said "changes fees will apply" but not the part that said "unless you qualify for a change fee waiver," which you do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

Precisely. UA can take over an agency-owned ticket, but they may impose a $50 fee to do so. And for a points-based ticket, any fare difference that applies is going to be computed as the difference between what the agency paid and the current retail price. These points programs often have access to discounts that the general public doesn't, since they buy in bulk, so the fare difference may be more than you'd expect.

Aug 15, 2020, 4:05 pm

#3015

italdesign

Join Date: Nov 2006

Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum

Posts: 3,727

Thanks. So if I go thru OTA for cancellation, what should I expect - points refund?