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 10, 2020, 8:27 am

#1246

RNE

Join Date: Sep 2005

Location: JZRO

Posts: 9,169

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgiannetto

When I click on cancel flight it takes me to a page which shows the full value I paid for the ticket. There is no indication that there is a cancellation fee.

Is the destination one that UA is likely to cancel? If so, can you wait for UA to cancel the flight?

Mar 10, 2020, 8:42 am

#1247

murphyUA

Join Date: Apr 2009

Location: SoCal

Programs: UA Plat, National Exec Elite

Posts: 833

So, if a ticket was purchased months ago for travel on April 9, and the ticket was changed a few days ago incurring a $200 fee, can that fee be refunded since the all stipulations are met?

Mar 10, 2020, 8:42 am

#1248

emcampbe

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2006

Location: SFO/SJC

Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold

Posts: 14,884

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoDucks

My UA flight for this weekend LAX-LAS is showing a waiver although it was booked months ago. I wonder if they are falling in line with the latest Delta policy.

This was yesterday, right? Where are you seeing 'the waiver' - in my tips somewhere?

I have two trips - one that is scheduled for Friday (3 days from now), and another leaving March 24. Website and app not showing anything different than it ever has - no banner anywhere - in the my trips section, or when openig up the specific reservation. Also gives me an error if I try to use the 'change flights' link, and gives me a message to call, but appears to go to the cancel page if I click the 'cancel flights' link and gives me a summary of my credit (I didn't try clicking the button to confirm the cancelation).

Quote:

Originally Posted by tys90

If I pull up a reservation and hit cancel, it says this:

Credit
$XXX.XX
Future flight credit. Please use confirmation number ______ to return to this cancelled reservation in My Trips and make changes for a future trip. Change fees may apply.

However, it's not applying any change fees, which makes sense given the waiver. I have a question, since the credit is tied to the confirmation, do I have to use that credit for the person that ticket was booked for or can I use the credit on someone else?

EDIT: Tried to cancel a BE ticket online and it wouldn't let me cancel. Anyone else able to cancel a BE flight?

That's what it s showing me too (though I don't have a BE reservation).

Change fees are nevrer applied at flight cancellation, but always when rebooking. So nothing different than normal, there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by veezer

If they issue an ETC for difference in fare after changing flight, how long will that ETC be valid for? Will it also expire 1 year from original booking date? I have a booking made in mid-May last year, so I have to rebook before mid-May this year, but it would be nice to have at least the difference in fare be applicable for a new flight booking after mid-May..

ETCs typically expire at 1 year from the date of issue of the ETC. Hopefully, that hasn't changed.

Check fare rules (now linked on your reservation on UA.com), which should show what happens. While in the past, some fares apparently don't allow residual value to be returned, they typically, at least IME, did. Since the 'no change fees' beginning March 3, rumor is most fare rules specify that the residual is to be ignored. Interestingly enough, I looked at my two reservations booked prior to March 3 - one was to DR, booked in Jan, the other was booked in the last couple of days in Feb. and is domestic. The DR trip shows residual value to be returned, I think it said something like to an EMD for United or something similar - I assume an ETC - but the domestic reservation is a bit strange. It's a U fare outbound, and I think a W on the return. The outbound rules clearly has similar language about the residual being returned for use on UA, while the return rules doesn't even mention residual anywhere. So I'm not sure what happened there - I'm hoping I'll still get residual, but not sure (of note, the flights I booked for departure in 3 days are now half the price of when I booked at end of Feb - yikes - thankfully, these are being reimbursed).

Mar 10, 2020, 8:54 am

#1249

emcampbe

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2006

Location: SFO/SJC

Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold

Posts: 14,884

Quote:

Originally Posted by tr3k

It did, "sort of". No waiver notice or anything, but I called and they did waive the change fee.

Me too. My two bookings don't show a waiver, either. One is scheduled for Friday. The other leaves March 24.

Both aren't allowing me to use the 'change flights' link online - it tells me I need to call (thanks - now I need to wait on hold). I didn't confirm this yet, but does seem to go through the steps to cancel if I use that link. I want to call anyway - trying to figure out what will happen since we have an infant on lap for these, but she turns 2 in April, so will likely need to buy a seat for her when we do rebook. For the domestic flight, especially, since the infant doesn't have a ticket, and I suspect we won't be able to add her to the PNR at rebooking time. For the International, since there is in fact a ticket, and some amount of fare paid, I assume we'll need to pay the fare difference to the full cost of a seat, but hopefully, at least she'll be on the same PNR. Stay tuned...for me at least.

Quote:

Originally Posted by murphyUA

So, if a ticket was purchased months ago for travel on April 9, and the ticket was changed a few days ago incurring a $200 fee, can that fee be refunded since the all stipulations are met?

I don't know that they are obligated to, but I'd definitely push them on it. For me, even though I knew a few days ago our trip this week would be canceled (event we were going for was canceled), I was waiting until day of, to see if there were any flight cancelations that would mean I wouldn't need a change fee (resolved) or could get a refund (though now there is a 25 hour schedule change needed for refund, so I doubt it here, but who knows what is happening in practice).

Mar 10, 2020, 9:28 am

#1250

Hawkeyefan

Join Date: Jan 2014

Location: Rochester, MN

Programs: UA Silver, Hilton HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat

Posts: 1,830

Our fam has an MSP to SYD itin for tomorrow. We do not fear getting sick, I could care less about this new flu. However, this whole craze has forced us to think about potentially getting stranded overseas - that is not fear that is just taking precaution. What are the reasonable chances something like that could occur - airline cancels route to leave a person scrambling?

Mar 10, 2020, 9:40 am

#1251

FlytheTail

Join Date: Oct 2004

Location: Anywhere but home

Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,

Posts: 4,552

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBS MillionMiler

But that takes me to a question. I didn't cancel and rebook...Rather I just changed the flight. It says I'm due a $120 refund in the form of an ETC...But I don't see it anywhere. Is it mailed separately? Something I need to call in for?

I woudn't hold my breath on an ETC. According to the T&C regarding changing flights, "If the new flight is priced lower, the customer may change for free but no residual value will be given."

Mar 10, 2020, 9:43 am

#1252

RandomBaritone

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: BOS

Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear

Posts: 2,306

Some good news at last: after a disastrously bad phone agent who not only wasn’t familiar with the Italy waiver, but insisted that I was responsible for any fare change despite the explicit language on UA’s website, I HUCA’d and got a dream of an agent on the next try. (Hold time was only five minutes for both calls. Go figure.)

We also discovered something important that may help other FTers: while the change flight tool doesn’t appear to offer any free options at first—even the “sort by price” column header doesn’t appear to unearth any—there’s a trick. Just select each individual connecting airport one at a time, and magically the free options appear. Also, codeshares definitely are allowed by the waiver in this case.

I changed our flights to VCE from mid-April to mid-May with no fuss, and even managed to improve my routing significantly on the way home. Very relieved.

Mar 10, 2020, 9:52 am

#1253

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,390

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlytheTail

I woudn't hold my breath on an ETC. According to the T&C regarding changing flights, "If the new flight is priced lower, the customer may change for free but no residual value will be given."

That is true for flights purchased under the "no change fees if you book in March" waiver, but it's not true under flights purchased prior to March 3. The no-residual-value thing had to be written into the fare rules, so anyone with an older ticket still has the fare rules that allow a residual value ETC.

Mar 10, 2020, 9:54 am

#1254

khkchan

Join Date: Jan 2003

Posts: 706

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomBaritone

We also discovered something important that may help other FTers: while the change flight tool doesn’t appear to offer any free options at first—even the “sort by price” column header doesn’t appear to unearth any—there’s a trick. Just select each individual connecting airport one at a time, and magically the free options appear. Also, codeshares definitely are allowed by the waiver in this case.

Seems you were not collected any fare difference. Am I correct?

I am holding a very cheap roundtrip tickets to HND - if this is the case, i can change my ticket to premium dates without the need to pay fare differences? (I know change fee is waived).

Mar 10, 2020, 10:09 am

#1255

CountZero

Join Date: Mar 2019

Location: Somewhere between DCA, LHR, and TLV

Posts: 46

I was just told that any change/cancellation of award travel covered by the waiver dates will still incur a mileage redeposit fee, which seems like disastrously bad customer service and has lost UA my business whenever possible. Looks like I'm over to being a DL loyalist now

Mar 10, 2020, 10:16 am

#1256

ContinentalSilver11

Join Date: Dec 2010

Posts: 168

I have a few travel certificates that I will be using to book a flight later today for a flight in July for my family. Come July, if I cancel this flight, let these terms, how would I be refunded? Would I be refunded back to my flight credit which would expire in November, or a new flight credit would be issued that wouldn’t expire until July 2021?

thanks

Mar 10, 2020, 10:17 am

#1257

Hawkeyefan

Join Date: Jan 2014

Location: Rochester, MN

Programs: UA Silver, Hilton HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat

Posts: 1,830

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountZero

So rev tix can get off scott free, but award tix can't. Not buying....

Mar 10, 2020, 10:20 am

#1258

gbdbld

Join Date: Apr 2019

Location: MCO

Posts: 383

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountZero

HUCA, I called several times to try to get them to waive the redeposit fee but they wouldn't budge. However, they all said I can change the flight to travel within 1 year.

Mar 10, 2020, 10:21 am

#1259

JimInOhio

Join Date: Jun 2014

Programs: UA MM

Posts: 4,118

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkeyefan

Chances? It’s 100% or 0%.

Mar 10, 2020, 10:26 am

#1260

tys90

Join Date: Sep 2012

Posts: 586

Quote:

Originally Posted by emcampbe

That's what it s showing me too (though I don't have a BE reservation).

Change fees are nevrer applied at flight cancellation, but always when rebooking. So nothing different than normal, there.

So in the case of a BE ticket, they cannot be canceled so the waiver only applies to changes when it comes to BE tickets, is that correct?