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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Mar 3, 2020, 8:51 pm

#871

fatlasercat

Join Date: Feb 2015

Location: SFO

Programs: UA 1MM 1K, BA Gold

Posts: 430

Quote:

Originally Posted by hscottm

So I remember when plus points came out there was something about once you requested an upgrade, and maybe if it cleared?, you couldn’t get the points back. Fuzzy on details..

That is only applicable to Skip-the-waitlist, but it's not really available. And it's not like you need to skip anything these days...

Mar 3, 2020, 8:56 pm

#872

sincx

Join Date: Sep 2008

Posts: 812

Quote:

Originally Posted by exerda

I wonder if agents will be flexible at all on the ticketing window? I have a trip later this week I'd like to move, but it was booked last week. Guess I will have to call in and see, without expecting much.

Still, kudos for the generous terms; it makes me much more confident to book some late-April international travel.

Call and ask.

I just called to inquire about the possibility of changing an upcoming reservation that has a connection in Switzerland (which, as you may notice, is located just north of northern Italy). The agent told me that they've been instructed to provider customers with itineraries that are "close to" a waiver with flexibility on a case-by-case basis, which for my case was to offer to waive the change fee, but not credit the fare difference. I'm still thinking about exactly what routing to change to, so I hope UA doesn't change its mind when I call again.

Mar 3, 2020, 10:42 pm

#873

Mike Jacoubowsky

Join Date: May 2003

Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)

Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since

Posts: 8,824

As someone else noted, it's not clear what happens if you can cancel a ticket and rebook a lower fare and receive any credit for the difference. The only reference is to having to pay more for a higher-cost flight.

So what we don't know yet is if this would be a good strategy for booking a summer fight to... wherever. France, in my case. Could you book a fare now and, if fares drop, rebook at the new lower price and retain the difference as a credit? If I were United, this would be a neat trick to tie up customer $$$ almost like a prepaid travel program.

Mar 3, 2020, 11:15 pm

#874

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,365

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Jacoubowsky

Could you book a fare now and, if fares drop, rebook at the new lower price and retain the difference as a credit?

For fares that allow residual credit, I would think the answer is yes, but I don't think we'll know for sure until somebody tries it. For fares that don't allow residual credit, I suspect the answer is no. BE aside -- I really don't know what to expect there, since those fares aren't normally changeable in the first place -- UA does file a few tickets where the fare rules specify that any residual is void.

Mar 3, 2020, 11:21 pm

#875

spin88

Join Date: Feb 2008

Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT

Posts: 6,526

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Jacoubowsky

If I were United, this would be a neat trick to tie up customer $$$ almost like a prepaid travel program.

This is exactly what United did. They are hopping to get in revenue now, which they can book this quarter and if they have to then give "credit" in another quarter they will deal with it then.

And this is a good idea. E.g. I have an event to go to in April in Austria, was planning on booking a few weeks ago, but held off. I am not really interested in waiting until a few days before, paying $4K for each ticket, I would just not go. But also not interested in eating the $2K ticket now. But I might just buy the tickets and see, provided I can then use the $2K/ticket later.

UA is much better off to get the revenue now, and to miss out and then have to compete for the $$$ in the fall.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 3, 2020 at 11:58 pm Reason: repaired quote

Mar 3, 2020, 11:24 pm

#876

uastarflyer

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Aug 2003

Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond

Posts: 60,155

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

The last of the US majors to offer this, but also the most generous terms.

WN offers this 24/7/365, and they are very major.

Glad UA is doing it for 25 days though.

Mar 3, 2020, 11:33 pm

#877

spin88

Join Date: Feb 2008

Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT

Posts: 6,526

Quote:

Originally Posted by uastarflyer

Glad UA is doing it for 25 days though.

I have been traveling, just noticed that AA did this on 3/1, but limited to 3/1-14, then Delta did a change fee waiver for international flights on 3/2. What UA did - last - is actually the most generous of the bunch.

My guess is that UA is getting hit the worst (given where their hubs are, and their TPAC network) but was the slowest to move here. So they went big.

Mar 3, 2020, 11:49 pm

#878

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,365

Quote:

Originally Posted by spin88

This is exactly what United did. They are hopping to get in revenue now, which they can book this quarter and if they have to then give "credit" in another quarter they will deal with it then.

That's... not really how accounting works. They won't recognize the revenue until it's earned (by flying it, or having it expire unused). It stays off of the books until that point. I'm sure they will earn some money off of the float (although with interest rates so low, I doubt it will be much), but I suspect they're more worried that planes will fly empty than they are trying to goose quarterly figures.

Mar 3, 2020, 11:55 pm

#879

uastarflyer

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Aug 2003

Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond

Posts: 60,155

Quote:

Originally Posted by spin88

I get it but my point is free cancel is a standing feature at WN. It should be the norm not the exception.

Mar 4, 2020, 12:17 am

#880

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

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

Posts: 56,420

Quote:

Originally Posted by uastarflyer

I get it but my point is free cancel is a standing feature at WN. It should be the norm not the exception.

I'm afraid there's no place for "should" in any realistic discussion of airfare pricing.

Mar 4, 2020, 3:05 am

#881

yonatan

Join Date: May 2000

Location: WAS

Posts: 1,069

Does the definition of eligible tickets being on 016 stock mean that a change fee would be waived even on a ticket where the outbound is on UA but the return is on a different *A carrier, as long as it was issued on 016 stock? Can UA really waive a change fee on another carrier's fare that would presumably be credited to the benefit of the other carrier? Or do change fees always go to the carrier on whose ticket stock the ticket is issued even if it's another carrier's fare that is being ticketed, so it's really UA's to waive on an 016 ticket?

Mar 4, 2020, 4:48 am

#882

bhunt

Join Date: Feb 2012

Programs: Hertz PC

Posts: 657

How are credit cards with trip interruption insurance handling this situation? If there is travel advisory to a country will they refund money compared to airline just giving you a credit toward future travel?

Mar 4, 2020, 4:55 am

#883

Mister P.

Join Date: Dec 2016

Posts: 639

Waiver also for award travel?

Hi, I have read the wiki at the top but haven't seen any info on this, does United change / cancellation fee waiver apply also to award travel and, in particular, for award tickets on other Star Alliance carriers? Thanks

Mar 4, 2020, 4:55 am

#884

RNE

Join Date: Sep 2005

Location: JZRO

Posts: 9,169

Quote:

Originally Posted by Absolute

It's great marketing for them, especially as they're waiving change fees... But not allowing full refunds. They're locking in money upfront, as cancellations provide a credit towards a future flight.

I'm not booking overseas travel without a cash-back refund option. There's no telling where covid-19 is going, when it will get there or how long it will stay.

NOTE: I'm not afraid of contracting the virus. My concerns are 1) being quarantined abroad. 2) being stranded abroad when the U.S. bans return flights. 3) being stranded abroad when flight crews refuse to fly. 4) destination disruptions like closed sites and attractions, cancelled cultural events, business shutdowns, local transit interruptions, etc.

Mar 4, 2020, 4:58 am

#885

cfischer

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2005

Location: BOS/EAP

Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat

Posts: 31,978

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister P.

waivers apply to all UA tickets