May 7, 2022, 3:00 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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}

Closed Thread Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 7, 2020, 3:49 pm

#1096

username

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: May 2001

Posts: 10,971

Quote:

Originally Posted by UAalltheway

Additional info on ticket flexibility: UA phone rep said that in their meeting today they were told that these March flexible tickets allow only ONE change, you can't change it multiple times over the year.

In a way, it makes sense. They don't want to hand out a "free change for a year" credit. However, what happens if you re-use it and another waiver is issued for the new trip? I would think you can take the 2nd waiver in that case. Then you wonder come next March, would they be stuck with a bunch of unhappy customers...

Mar 7, 2020, 3:53 pm

#1097

susiesan

Join Date: Mar 2005

Location: Kansas City, MO

Programs: AA Gold

Posts: 3,649

I just noticed that better flights are now available for award tickets I have for June 23 MCI-YYZ-DUB-CPH. I am assuming it is due to all the people cancelling their vacations to Europe for this summer. I can go MCI-ORD-BRU-CPH with 2 hours less time traveling and in Polaris on the overnight TATL segment. Is UA waiving the change fees for award tickets? I tried to change online, website can't do it. I called to ask about changing the tickets but hold time was going to be 90 minutes. I will call back later tonight when maybe less people are calling. But if UA won't waive the change fee and allow me to get thee better flights then I won't bother calling and wasting my time. I'm not willing to spend hundreds of dollars in charge fees just to knock 2 hours off my total travel time. I would be changing from partner flights on AC and SK flights to UA flights.

Mar 7, 2020, 3:57 pm

#1098

PsiFighter37

Join Date: Mar 2015

Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)

Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC

Posts: 9,005

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartacusmcfly

Not if they implement the schedule change wisely. Hourly transcons should move to one every ~3 hours. Replace the 757s with 777s and you're flying full flights with 1/3 the fuel, 1/3 the crews, and 1/3 the maintenance. They'll be fine if the adjust wisely. We'll know shortly when the new schedule loads...

They only change the schedules weekly - so if UA didn't do it this weekend, they should surely be planning on doing so by next weekend, I would have to think.

Anyone know if LHR is still strictly enforcing the 'use it or lose it' policy for their slots? I have to imagine that UA would love to dial back flying planes there, and probably downgauge as much of the ORD/EWR/IAD-LHR flights to sCO 752s in the interim.

Mar 7, 2020, 4:26 pm

#1099

UAalltheway

Join Date: Aug 2005

Location: SFO

Programs: Free Agent, Any Status is Accidental

Posts: 1,395

Quote:

Originally Posted by username

I would also imagine that if you cancel and take funds as an ETC, and then use the ETC to book a new ticket within the refundable window, that new ticket should also still be flexible as it is booked within the flexibility window, right?

Mar 7, 2020, 4:33 pm

#1100

cerealmarketer

Join Date: Feb 2002

Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC

Posts: 4,599

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartacusmcfly

Don't need a 777 apparently....for April flights they took the three 7, 8, and 9pm EWR-SFO departures and consolidated them into one 28J 757 at 7:30pm.

There are now $500 P fares floating on the transcons in April.

Mar 7, 2020, 4:35 pm

#1101

uastarflyer

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Aug 2003

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

Posts: 60,174

I’m sorry but this thread is moving fast. The 10% domestic reductions loaded - is that through a certain date after which the schedule is fully loaded again?

Mar 7, 2020, 4:48 pm

#1102

PsiFighter37

Join Date: Mar 2015

Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)

Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC

Posts: 9,005

Quote:

Originally Posted by uastarflyer

I’m sorry but this thread is moving fast. The 10% domestic reductions loaded - is that through a certain date after which the schedule is fully loaded again?

It should be loaded through end of April, but the memo from Oscar did state it was likely to be extended through end of May as well. They might need to cut more at the rate the news is moving.

Mar 7, 2020, 5:12 pm

#1103

FlyerTom111

Join Date: Feb 2014

Posts: 514

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsiFighter37

They need to waive the use it or lose it with slots. Airlines need to cut back and not fly empty planes and burn fuel for no reason. I loved flying on an empty plane from SFO to EWR this week but I know it’s not healthy for United to do that. If airports are worried about contractual obligations then just make the airlines pay 80% of their landing fees to keep their slots but don’t force them to fly.

Last edited by FlyerTom111; Mar 7, 2020 at 5:37 pm

Mar 7, 2020, 6:02 pm

#1104

emcampbe

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2006

Location: SFO/SJC

Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold

Posts: 14,891

Quote:

Originally Posted by UAalltheway

can you do that?

i just assumed they waive the fee, but otherwise keep it like a normal change, where the funds stay in the PNR, and you have a year to rebook (for the same pax), without the change fee assessed when you rebook. Although I admit to not reading all of the T&Cs in great detail. Not sure how else they would enforce the one change, as now being reported in one post. That would mean it would have to be for the same pax only.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cerealmarketer

if the point is to reduce capacity, I’m not sure why they would consolidate 3 small flights into 1 big one, with the same number of seats (I don’t know if that works out exactly, but you get the point). Obviously, costs would be less with the consolidation, but I’d the point is reduced demand, why send the same number of seats. Reports talk about wya fewer people on board, so I suspect a consolidation of flights would be for less seats overall.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsiFighter37

It should be loaded through end of April, but the memo from Oscar did state it was likely to be extended through end of May as well. They might need to cut more at the rate the news is moving.

since I didn’t see a list, I looked at some of the flights out of my home airport, and frequent routes I take, and compared flights for next Friday, vs. second Friday in April, May and June. Obviously not really a valid sample for statistical purposes across the network, but does seem the cuts based on what I looked at are across April and May, and go back to normal frequencies in June.

Of course, I’m not expecting this to stay stagnant - I suspect we’ll see further adjustments as needed going forward. Maybe further cuts to frequency/routes as needed, or making additional cuts and extending the current ones further into the summer. In fact, based on what I’ve heard about businesses both on this forum and out in the real world cutting both international and domestic travel, I’d be surprised if we don’t see another round of domestic cuts at some point.

for the record, I’ve got one domestic round trip in March, to SAT next weekend, which we now have had the events canceled, and a spring break trip to PUJ later in March, which we are keeping our eye on, but plan to still take as of now. For SAT, I’m holding our flights for now until just before check on cutoff, in case there is an extended waiver or announced delay/cancelation that I can use to get it fully refunded (booked it last week prior to the waiver). For PUJ, we aren’t worried that much about getting sick, per se (we’re relatively young/healthy), but more worried about paranoia out there, or possibility of being in the wrong place at the wrong time (Ie, flight where someone says they are not feeling well, sneezing, etc, causing some sort of quarantine).

Mar 7, 2020, 7:57 pm

#1105

fast passenger

Join Date: Feb 2019

Posts: 72

I have a trip (paid J) LGA-DEN-LIH-HNL-EWR in May. I booked it in early February. It's...not the right time for this vacation anymore, so I added ExpertFlyer alerts on the itinerary in hopes of a cancellation resulting in a schedule change of 2+ hours. I want to cancel for a refund, since this is a pretty big chunk of $ for me.

Last week, they cancelled one of the original flights (UA2246 LGA-DEN at 7:45am) and put me on UA1082 at 7am. Now this isn't a 2+ hour difference, so I just set up an alert on the new flight and continued to hope.

But I was just reading this thread tonight and read that ANY segment cancellation means I'm eligible for a refund, based on government regulation. Does this cancellation (UA2246 LGA-DEN, which no longer exists) qualify? Even though there's only a 45 minute difference in departure time on the new flight?

THANK YOU in advance to the UA experts.

Mar 7, 2020, 8:24 pm

#1106

fatlasercat

Join Date: Feb 2015

Location: SFO

Programs: UA 1MM 1K, BA Gold

Posts: 431

Quote:

Originally Posted by fast passenger

I'm in a very similar situation. They cancelled a flight segment (it's on Lufthansa) and put me on another 45 minutes earlier. I have still have a week before the flight, so waiting to call. Let us know what your experience is if you call.

Last edited by fatlasercat; Mar 7, 2020 at 8:34 pm

Mar 7, 2020, 8:26 pm

#1107

fast passenger

Join Date: Feb 2019

Posts: 72

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlasercat

Sure, I'll let you know. I'm on hold now and will attempt to stay the course despite a wait time of "more than 60 minutes." I also sent them a DM on Twitter but I dunno if that will work.

Mar 7, 2020, 8:42 pm

#1108

susiesan

Join Date: Mar 2005

Location: Kansas City, MO

Programs: AA Gold

Posts: 3,649

are fees to change award tickets being waived?

Are fees to change award tickets being waived? I found better flights for an awardd trip in June that I would like to change to. I plan to take this trip to Europe unless all flights are flat out cancelled.
Is UA letting people change the flights for award trips for no cost? Thanks for the experts' answer and advice.

Mar 7, 2020, 8:51 pm

#1109

AeRoSpaceman

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: PNS

Programs: DL FO, UA, AA

Posts: 700

So it seems that UA has changed the involuntary 2+ hour schedule change refund policy to 25+ hours to get a refund.

United’s policy was that a schedule change of 2 hours or more made you eligible for a refund.
United’s new policy is that a schedule change has to be 25 hours or more to make you eligible for a refund. United doesn’t even have to fly on the same day as what they sold you.

Source: Gary Leff

Tip of hat from the original source:

Mar 7, 2020, 8:55 pm

#1110

fatlasercat

Join Date: Feb 2015

Location: SFO

Programs: UA 1MM 1K, BA Gold

Posts: 431

Quote:

Originally Posted by AeRoSpaceman

So it seems that UA has changed the involuntary 2+ hour schedule change refund policy to 25+ hours to get a refund.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...march-7-a.html