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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Feb 6, 2020, 9:14 am

#436

davistev

Join Date: Apr 1999

Location: Philippines

Programs: CebGo 5J, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Alaska 100K

Posts: 4,696

Quote:

Originally Posted by fumje

So you flew the SFO-HKG part, and then you had the HKG-SFO part cancelled on you in the mean time?

Yes - Exactly.

Feb 6, 2020, 9:18 am

#437

scracer14

Join Date: Mar 2014

Location: CLE

Programs: UA Gold, DL DM, UA 1K, MR PP

Posts: 352

Quote:

Originally Posted by HNLbasedFlyer

Weak demand due to 1) Honk Kong protests and 2) Coronavirus fears = force majeure.

This one is actually a fairly clear case.

Protests were hardly unforeseen, and weak demand due to coronavirus isn't really clear cut for HKG especially if other airlines are still operating... Force majeure is not intended to cancel contracts simply because they went from profitable to unprofitable due to unforseen circumstances.

Feb 6, 2020, 9:20 am

#438

davistev

Join Date: Apr 1999

Location: Philippines

Programs: CebGo 5J, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Alaska 100K

Posts: 4,696

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsloan

You're missing the point here. There's a much greater chance of success if you do ask them to fly you from HKG to SIN or TPE or wherever. Now you're operating within the terms of their contract.

Thanks James. Excellent idea. I will ask if they can put me on the SQ flight to SIN or the OZ flight to ICN connecting to UA. It is worth a call.

Last edited by davistev; Feb 6, 2020 at 9:34 am

Feb 6, 2020, 9:29 am

#439

HNLbasedFlyer

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: HNL

Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold

Posts: 6,447

Quote:

Originally Posted by scracer14

What you or I believe isn't relevant. It is what UA believes. If they cancel a flight and give you a refund you don't exactly have much recourse.

Feb 6, 2020, 9:30 am

#440

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,413

Quote:

Originally Posted by scracer14

Again, UA is not claiming force majeure. They're treating this as a schedule change / irregular operations.

In fact, force majeure would be more restrictive; irregular operations allows for a customer refund (to the original form of payment) if the passenger doesn't eventually reach the destination. A force majeure event allows UA to give an ETC instead (although, in practice, I suspect they'd give a refund).

Anyway, the answer to the question is yes: if UA is unable to provide an alternative that meets the passenger's travel needs, they are absolutely within their rights under the contract to issue a refund, even if that means that the passenger is stranded at their destination. That's poor customer service and results in bad PR, so they try not to do it, but they're within their rights to do so if necessary.

Feb 6, 2020, 9:56 am

#441

paperwastage

Join Date: Jun 2012

Posts: 3,383

Quote:

Originally Posted by davistev

Thanks James. Excellent idea. I will ask if they can put me on the SQ flight to SIN or the OZ flight to ICN connecting to UA. It is worth a call.

Justa note, routing roles do usually permit hkg-sin-usa (usually KA or TR, no SQ though)

So if you find one that works, sure. Change fee covered, routing is valid

Hkg-icn-usa is covered too, but usually additional fee if flying on oz

Ymmv if y can get a valid routing/fare bucket since a lot of flights from hkg are cancelled

Feb 6, 2020, 10:36 am

#442

threeoh

Join Date: Sep 2014

Posts: 2,531

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitethunder

Just read UA is cancelling HKG now too until Feb 20th

Quote:

Originally Posted by davistev

I have a March 3rd flight on HKG-SFO confirmed and United will not allow me to re-route as my flight departs after Feb 20th.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fumje

So you flew the SFO-HKG part, and then you had the HKG-SFO part cancelled on you in the mean time?

Quote:

Originally Posted by davistev

Yes - Exactly.

Ok maybe I got confused in the crostalk, but this is not exactly what has happened. United has not cancelled the March 3rd HKG-SFO flight -- in fact, they are currently selling tickets on it. Or maybe they cancelled your frequency but are willing to accommodate you on the other United flight the same day. United has not suspended flights to HKG on the date you are travelling.

It's pretty clear:

now - Feb 20: all flights cancelled
Feb 21 - Mar 31: flights currently planning to operate, but waiver in place.

The waiver is super clear, it says:

(1) Change of dates only with no fee or fare difference, or
(2) Change of cities with no fee but yes fare difference, or
(3) Full refund without penalty

I think that's generous and don't fault United here. You're asking for a totally different ticket, and they are willing to either transport you as ticketed, transport you as ticketed but on any other date, or give you a full refund for you to find your own way.

Now things may change between now and Mar 3, but that's how it stands now.

Feb 6, 2020, 11:31 am

#443

Long Zhiren

Join Date: Feb 2008

Posts: 734

Quote:

Originally Posted by threeoh

The waiver is super clear, it says:

(1) Change of dates only with no fee or fare difference, or

Actually, not totally clear. I phoned a rep to try to reschedule an SFO-HKG-SFO itinerary that begins March 5. Phone rep says the no fee or fare difference is only available for reschedule up to April 30. Beyond that, you pay the fare difference. But that was the phone rep a few days ago before all HKG flights were cancelled Feb 8-20.

My original return flight was an HKG-SFO evening flight which was canceled entirely.
I tried rescheduling using the website, but no go. I will need to phone in again.

Totally clear! Except when it's not clear.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 6, 2020 at 2:06 pm Reason: repaired quote

Feb 6, 2020, 12:23 pm

#444

Eclipsed830

Join Date: Jul 2018

Location: TPE<->SFO

Posts: 98

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlasercat

I went ahead and called to try. No luck. Asked really nice multiple times, but she just kept repeating that the waiver doesn't include these cities "yet". I guess I'll just wait till the last minute.

Yeah, I'm not 1k and normally fly EVA for this route.

Sadly I tried on both Twitter and calling in without any luck... they wanted $500, plus fare difference. I completely forgot about change fees when I booked this ticket because the Asian carriers rarely charge them.

I told my wife if a waiver comes up, I'm going to do it otherwise I'll just take my regular flight as scheduled.

Feb 6, 2020, 12:37 pm

#445

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 56,466

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eclipsed830

I completely forgot about change fees when I booked this ticket because the Asian carriers rarely charge them.

Which ones? I fly CX, JL, TG, and PG with some frequency, and they all impose change fees. The JL ticket I purchased on Saturday (X fare) is subject to a 4000 THB change fee.

Feb 6, 2020, 1:12 pm

#446

Long Zhiren

Join Date: Feb 2008

Posts: 734

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

Which ones? I fly CX, JL, TG, and PG with some frequency, and they all impose change fees. The JL ticket I purchased on Saturday (X fare) is subject to a 4000 THB change fee.

It's been a while, but I've never been charged change fees on Air China, China Air, China Southern and Singapore. Haven't tried changing on the ones listed above. With everybody getting more and more stingy, it wouldn't surprise me if they all did now.

Feb 6, 2020, 1:16 pm

#447

narvik

Join Date: May 2010

Location: AVP & PEK

Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM

Posts: 6,356

Quote:

Originally Posted by Long Zhiren

It depends on fare specifics, but I normally see small change fees or cancelation charges with CA and other Chinese carriersv much lower than UA anyway.

Feb 6, 2020, 1:17 pm

#448

Eclipsed830

Join Date: Jul 2018

Location: TPE<->SFO

Posts: 98

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

Which ones? I fly CX, JL, TG, and PG with some frequency, and they all impose change fees. The JL ticket I purchased on Saturday (X fare) is subject to a 4000 THB change fee.

Well I shouldn't have made such a generalization, but I've never been charged a change fee on China Airlines and EVA. Maybe it's a Taiwanese airline thing? China Airlines was interesting because they could only change the return flight, and only after the first leg is flown... but otherwise it isn't an issue and it takes 3 minutes over the phone.

Feb 6, 2020, 1:23 pm

#449

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,413

Quote:

Originally Posted by narvik

It depends on fare specifics, but I normally see small change fees or cancelation charges with CA and other Chinese carriersv much lower than UA anyway.

It depends upon the route. The lower change fees by Asian carriers are the reason that UA's Y change fees to Asia are often $120. They're $300 to Europe.

Feb 6, 2020, 1:26 pm

#450

threeoh

Join Date: Sep 2014

Posts: 2,531

Quote:

Originally Posted by Long Zhiren

It's all right there:

If you are looking for an exception to the rules that is something else and totally understandable. But the rules are pretty clear.

(a) Move your flight for free to any HKG-SFO flight before Apr 30
(b) Change your flight to a completely different ticket e.g. to/from a different city, pay fare diff but no change fee
(c) Get a full refund

Your evening flight may have been cancelled but United is selling tickets on that route on that date and on adjacent dates. They have not suspended service (though they may).

If my FRA-EWR flight is cancelled I don't expect to be put on a FCO-EWR flight.