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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Apr 17, 2021, 11:29 am

#3661

EWR764

Join Date: Jan 2005

Location: New York, NY

Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott

Posts: 9,454

Quote:

Originally Posted by HNLbasedFlyer

Fair enough - but I'm surprised they've done 2 HNL-DEN red-eyes only 1 hour apart - I'd think they could do a morning flight to get late afternoon/early evening connections for people that are red-eye adverse - a 7am would get folks in roughly 5:30pm

I agree... in theory a daylight eastbound DEN would be awesome to connect with the ~6pm bank at DEN, but I think it would have to be ***just*** a bit too early of a Hawaii departure (probably 6:30am) to make most connections legal. A midday eastbound with late night arrival would cater only to the local market, which itself is sizable but UA does a ton of connecting traffic over DEN to the Islands, so I suppose that's why UA went with the double all-nighters. Just the same, as for most the flat bed is highly desirable on a redeye.

The interesting thing is that while the overall capacity increase isn't huge (77G vs. Polaris 772+76L), only about 100 or so seats, the premium capacity increase is nearly fourfold, and more than 5x if PP is factored in. Clearly, United is expecting lots of higher-end Hawaii traffic this summer, with international premium leisure substantially off the table.

Apr 17, 2021, 1:40 pm

#3662

DCAview

Join Date: Apr 2002

Location: New York, N.Y.

Posts: 309

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfischer

Indeed, more changes last night.

I just got a cancelation this afternoon for a mid-July NAP-EWR flight. I had little expectation that the flight would go, but I am surprised that United pulled it now - I would have expected them to make a decision for July in a month or so.

Apr 17, 2021, 1:46 pm

#3663

susiesan

Join Date: Mar 2005

Location: Kansas City, MO

Programs: AA Gold

Posts: 3,649

I jus booked award tix with flight segments on MCI-ORD flights in June. Within one day of booking the tickets the aircraft was changed from an A310 to an Embraer. So far, the flights have not been cancelled so I still have tickets and seats on the plane, just not as comfortable.

Apr 17, 2021, 3:29 pm

#3664

dinoscool3

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: PIT

Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold

Posts: 9,926

It appears the changes yesterday were all in July/August?

Apr 17, 2021, 3:57 pm

#3665

LifetimeGS

Join Date: Feb 2020

Location: BOS/SFO

Programs: United 4MM GS, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Lifetime Diamond

Posts: 307

Quote:

Originally Posted by susiesan

If it's to an E170 or E175 from the A319, just as comfortable IMHO...if it's to a E145 definitely less comfortable

Apr 17, 2021, 4:00 pm

#3666

iflyabunch

Join Date: Nov 2014

Posts: 128

I had an IAH-NRT direct flight booked for June knowing it was likely this flight would be pulled off the schedule again and changed to IAH-SFO-NRT. However, on the Wednesday night update, it was changed to IAH-DEN-NRT on UA143. I looked at FR24 and couldn't find any DEN-NRT flights going back 3 months, so I'm assuming this has been reinstated for the June schedule. Does anyone have any insight on if this will stick, or should I be prepared for another change?

Apr 17, 2021, 11:05 pm

#3667

SPN Lifer

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2002

Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)

Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum

Posts: 15,059

When booking flights, the safest move to avoid schedule changes would seem to be to select flights that have already been operating for a long time.

Of course, this would not apply to newly reinstated destinations, and may not include one's preferred aircraft type or routing.

Life involves trade-offs. Some prefer to take risks for what they want. Others lower their standards in favor of greater predictability.

Apr 18, 2021, 7:48 pm

#3668

glbltvlr

Join Date: Jun 2015

Posts: 710

Quote:

Originally Posted by Repooc17

In terms of UA hubs, here is my observation of recovery process:

Way ahead group: Denver

This! Just did my first UA trip in 18 months. CR2s,CR7 and A319. All full to the gills. Wait lists that weren't cleared. Walking through Denver on two separate days, it was as busy as I've ever seen it (and I've spent a couple of nights sleeping on the floor there). Hot sandwiches or a snack box in F, but by the time the FA got to me it was a cheese sandwich or the box.

As an aside, UA is really using the DEN A concourse now. All the Skywest CR2s are in the dungeon at the west end of A. Plus I had a connection to an A319 in A. Nice view of construction over on C. That's going to be great for non-UA when it's done.

Apr 19, 2021, 8:22 am

#3669

villox

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: London

Programs: UA GS

Posts: 2,438

Quote:

Originally Posted by villox

My June 4 EWR-ATH flight was just canceled. EF shows however that from June 3-10, it’s only the Friday flight that was dropped. I switched to Saturday for now. Still holding out hope that it sticks, as Greece seems to be intent on reopening.

Well, with today's announcement, it looks like they really will be resuming EWR-ATH June 3. Not sure why the June 4 was dropped from the schedule; maybe they just want one extra day to iron out any kinks from the first flight on June 3?

Apr 19, 2021, 10:43 am

#3670

FlyingHoustonian

Join Date: Oct 2007

Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between

Programs: United Global Svs, AA PlatPro, WN RR, AZ/ITA Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG

Posts: 3,548

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCAview

Same, I had a flight to NAP via EWR in August and it just got cancelled; Not thrilled but not surprised either.

Apr 19, 2021, 11:18 am

#3671

DCAview

Join Date: Apr 2002

Location: New York, N.Y.

Posts: 309

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinoscool3

It appears the changes yesterday were all in July/August?

Plus a touch into September, though I'm not sure how far. I have a flight in the first week of September that had a schedule change.

Apr 19, 2021, 1:43 pm

#3672

mattg85

Join Date: Oct 2016

Programs: UA Platinum, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold

Posts: 205

Quote:

Originally Posted by villox

same goes for EWR-KEF route. Starts June 3 but nothing on June 4 and then back daily June 5. Weird

Apr 19, 2021, 2:28 pm

#3673

villox

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: London

Programs: UA GS

Posts: 2,438

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattg85

same goes for EWR-KEF route. Starts June 3 but nothing on June 4 and then back daily June 5. Weird

It probably has to do with crew positioning. They’d have no crew to operate a return on June 4 so they are just leaving the plane on the ground for the June 5 return. So the June 3 flight probably carries a second crew to rest an extra day for the June 6 return.

Apr 20, 2021, 6:13 am

#3674

glbltvlr

Join Date: Jun 2015

Posts: 710

Quote:

Originally Posted by glbltvlr

CR2s,CR7 and A319. All full to the gills. Wait lists that weren't cleared. Walking through Denver on two separate days, it was as busy as I've ever seen it (and I've spent a couple of nights sleeping on the floor there).

And Kirby on CNBC this morning saying domestic demand for leisure markets is exceeding 100% of pre-Covid levels. CNBC notes that with capacity reduced, prices increasing week by week. Kirby claims their yields are still below historical levels, but that of course is driven by reduced business demand.

Apr 20, 2021, 2:15 pm

#3675

fumje

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2015

Posts: 11,470

Quote:

Originally Posted by glbltvlr

I think they need a "high F" domestic fleet (e.g., A320 with 20F, 739 with 24F) for current leisure demand, at least based on how they are pricing F. However, it's hard to guess how long this will last.