Last edit by: WineCountryUA
What is ORC?
ORC=Original Routing Credit: Claiming credit for your original routing as you originally booked it in the event you are rerouted on flights that earn fewer miles than you originally booked.
When do I qualify for ORC?
If you are flying a UA flight on a UA-issued ticket and crediting to UA Mileage Plus, then generally after being rebooked during IROPS due to a misconnect or canceled flight (regardless of the cause--weather, mechanical, ATC delays, etc.) on a more direct routing than you originally booked that earns fewer United miles. This includes being rebooked on other airlines, even if they are not United partners, as well as being rebooked on other UA flights or UA partner flights.
What if I SDC and then have IROPS?
Reports suggest SDCing AAA-BBB to AAA-XXX-BBB and then having IROPS where you are placed back on AAA-BBB, that ORC might be denied for AAA-XXX-BBB. As your original purchase was AAA-BBB.
Unknown what would happen in more complex situations, such as you traveled to XXX and then IROPS occurred, you would probably just be better without ORC.
You will generally not qualify for ORC under the following circumstances:
A reroute during a VDB has been an open issue (best if you can get the VDB marked INVOL but still should be possible -- may take some pushback if refused)
How do I get ORC?
ORC will not post automatically (even if a gate agent assures you otherwise). You will have to call in or write into the MPSC (Mileage Plus Service Center--NOT the reservations center or Premier reservations line), provide your record locator or e-ticket number, and state that you were rerouted at United's request and would like to receive the mileage as you originally booked. You cannot do this until the miles for the flights you actually flew posted (which, for United metal, is usually shortly after your flight, as of mid-2019) and at least 5 days have passed between the original VDB flight date and the date of the request for ORC. If the agent grants you ORC, and you have UA miles already posted from the flights you actually took, they will send it to auditing. After about a week the miles for the flights you actually flew will be removed from your account and the miles for the original routing will be deposited, so check and make sure that your original routing would have indeed given you more miles than you actually earned!
If you were rebooked on a carrier which isn't a United partner (i.e. AA, DL, etc.), you can generally credit the flight you actually flew to that carrier's mileage program and still claim ORC with UA.
Any tips to ensure I am successful?
When dealing with UA over a rebooking that will earn you fewer miles, make sure the agent marks your ticket as "INVOL." When the MPSC sees this note, they will be much more likely to quickly agree to grant you ORC. The absence of "INVOL" on your ticket makes the agent think you may have voluntarily rerouted yourself on a shorter itinerary, in which case you wouldn't be able to claim ORC.
Automated rebookings (the kind where you misconnect and then check your itinerary or go to a kiosk after landing and find yourself already booked on another flight) generally seem to properly be marked "INVOL," so you should be fine in these cases. You can see if your ticket was marked "INVOL" by clicking on the "View Receipt" function for your itinerary on united.com; it will be shown next to "Fare Rules" below the fare breakdown section, like so:
Note that some people have reported success in claiming ORC on VDB rebookings if they were able to successfully persuade the agent to mark the itinerary "INVOL."
Is there ORC for MM / Lifetime credit? for PQDs?
Yes and Yes (Generally included but to be safe specifically mention these in your request)
Can a get a refund?
It is believed that requesting a refund will block the ability to request ORC.
Other issues?
You may run into difficulty if any of the following are true:
The first two may not be impossible to overcome, but you may need to work harder to get the credit (YMMV, though, especially if both #1 and #2 are true).
The third one is a different case--you need to request credit through the program you're crediting to, as third parties don't have the ability to make adjustments to programs they don't own (UA can't adjust your LH balance, for example--they can only send LH a feed of what flights that person flew, a process which is automated and tied to their operations system).
Archive of older posts - Original Routing Credit (ORC) After Involuntary Re-Routing/Re-Booking (Archive)
ORC=Original Routing Credit: Claiming credit for your original routing as you originally booked it in the event you are rerouted on flights that earn fewer miles than you originally booked.
When do I qualify for ORC?
If you are flying a UA flight on a UA-issued ticket and crediting to UA Mileage Plus, then generally after being rebooked during IROPS due to a misconnect or canceled flight (regardless of the cause--weather, mechanical, ATC delays, etc.) on a more direct routing than you originally booked that earns fewer United miles. This includes being rebooked on other airlines, even if they are not United partners, as well as being rebooked on other UA flights or UA partner flights.
What if I SDC and then have IROPS?
Reports suggest SDCing AAA-BBB to AAA-XXX-BBB and then having IROPS where you are placed back on AAA-BBB, that ORC might be denied for AAA-XXX-BBB. As your original purchase was AAA-BBB.
Unknown what would happen in more complex situations, such as you traveled to XXX and then IROPS occurred, you would probably just be better without ORC.
You will generally not qualify for ORC under the following circumstances:
- A change to your itinerary made in advance
- A United-initiated schedule change made prior to departure
- A voluntary change made during travel (i.e. SDC, walking away from a segment, etc.)
A reroute during a VDB has been an open issue (best if you can get the VDB marked INVOL but still should be possible -- may take some pushback if refused)
How do I get ORC?
ORC will not post automatically (even if a gate agent assures you otherwise). You will have to call in or write into the MPSC (Mileage Plus Service Center--NOT the reservations center or Premier reservations line), provide your record locator or e-ticket number, and state that you were rerouted at United's request and would like to receive the mileage as you originally booked. You cannot do this until the miles for the flights you actually flew posted (which, for United metal, is usually shortly after your flight, as of mid-2019) and at least 5 days have passed between the original VDB flight date and the date of the request for ORC. If the agent grants you ORC, and you have UA miles already posted from the flights you actually took, they will send it to auditing. After about a week the miles for the flights you actually flew will be removed from your account and the miles for the original routing will be deposited, so check and make sure that your original routing would have indeed given you more miles than you actually earned!
If you were rebooked on a carrier which isn't a United partner (i.e. AA, DL, etc.), you can generally credit the flight you actually flew to that carrier's mileage program and still claim ORC with UA.
Any tips to ensure I am successful?
When dealing with UA over a rebooking that will earn you fewer miles, make sure the agent marks your ticket as "INVOL." When the MPSC sees this note, they will be much more likely to quickly agree to grant you ORC. The absence of "INVOL" on your ticket makes the agent think you may have voluntarily rerouted yourself on a shorter itinerary, in which case you wouldn't be able to claim ORC.
Automated rebookings (the kind where you misconnect and then check your itinerary or go to a kiosk after landing and find yourself already booked on another flight) generally seem to properly be marked "INVOL," so you should be fine in these cases. You can see if your ticket was marked "INVOL" by clicking on the "View Receipt" function for your itinerary on united.com; it will be shown next to "Fare Rules" below the fare breakdown section, like so:
Fare Rules: Additional charges may apply for changes in addition to any fare rules listed.
INVOL;CXL BY FLT DT/
INVOL;CXL BY FLT DT/
Is there ORC for MM / Lifetime credit? for PQDs?
Yes and Yes (Generally included but to be safe specifically mention these in your request)
Can a get a refund?
It is believed that requesting a refund will block the ability to request ORC.
Other issues?
You may run into difficulty if any of the following are true:
- You're not flying on a UA-issued ticket (recent 2022 reports suggest this is possible)
- The rebooking was done by a third-party due to IROPS on that third party carrier
- You're not crediting to UA MP
The first two may not be impossible to overcome, but you may need to work harder to get the credit (YMMV, though, especially if both #1 and #2 are true).
The third one is a different case--you need to request credit through the program you're crediting to, as third parties don't have the ability to make adjustments to programs they don't own (UA can't adjust your LH balance, for example--they can only send LH a feed of what flights that person flew, a process which is automated and tied to their operations system).
Archive of older posts - Original Routing Credit (ORC) After Involuntary Re-Routing/Re-Booking (Archive)
Original Routing Credit (ORC) After Involuntary Re-Routing/Re-Booking (Merged)
#151
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
Welcome to FT!, raptors2019
Assume this was original on LH ticket stock -- no UA segments and all the same carriers, then unlikely to affect PQPs.
Partner PQPs are based on ticket stock and operating. If not UA ticket and not UA operated, PQPs are based on distance and a multiplier, see
Earning Status (PQP) on non-016 Tickets and Partner Metal
They are correct
It does not, ORC is for irrops / day of travel changes, not advance schedule changes, AND changes of operating carrier or routing -- none of which applies in your case.
....
I called Lufthansa because I needed to find a way to get to FRA from OPO and they offered to rebook my return journey one day early so now my new routing is exactly the same as before except the return journey is just one day early.
Onto the question!! Will this impact my PQP in any way? ...
I called Lufthansa because I needed to find a way to get to FRA from OPO and they offered to rebook my return journey one day early so now my new routing is exactly the same as before except the return journey is just one day early.
Onto the question!! Will this impact my PQP in any way? ...
Partner PQPs are based on ticket stock and operating. If not UA ticket and not UA operated, PQPs are based on distance and a multiplier, see
Earning Status (PQP) on non-016 Tickets and Partner Metal
.... I'm super concerned that because Lufthansa changed the reservation, somehow I wont get PQP for the return journey anymore (even though the routing and everything is exactly the same, just not the date). I called MileagePlus and they said it shouldn't impact my PQP earnings at all
It does not, ORC is for irrops / day of travel changes, not advance schedule changes, AND changes of operating carrier or routing -- none of which applies in your case.
#153
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
#154
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Edit: The call lasted for 43 min. I also asked for re-depositing of Pluspoints. Next caller to this agent will be a lucky winner. She is now fully educated about ORC.
Last edited by Kmxu; Feb 15, 2022 at 8:47 am Reason: added call time
#155
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
Thank you for your community service educating agents about ORC.
#156
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,852
#157
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
I guess that the other agent on the phone line (help desk) probably did it on her behalf. I explained to her about ORC and she did not understand what I said at all. She thought that I asked for either flight credit or refund for my return trip, which required a transfer to reservation. I was ready to HUCA, but then she said that she would call her colleague. It took about 15 min to get ORC from that point. She was not very familiar with re-deposit of PlusPoints, either. The re-deposit of PlusPoints took nearly 30 min. Perhaps, she was a temporary replacement agent. 😂
#158
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
Reportedly there are lots on new phone agents (even for premier lines), sound like the first time for this "new" agent. As an uncommon request, it is probably not in the basic training.
Thanks for doing the FT community a service
Thanks for doing the FT community a service
#159
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Plat, HH Diamond, Supersonic (BA1Y, BA1223)
Posts: 221
I should just wait a bit and see how this plays out, but I would just obsess about it anyway... Plus, I now have some time to kill.
UA6031 (IAD-RDU) was CXLd a bit ago. Next flight at 6 was standby only, next option 10pm.
I asked for rebooking on AA out of DCA and they got me on.
PQF is minor, since its only 1 leg, but do I get my PQPs under ORC, especially since I "opted" for the move to AA?
I am 1K on M fare, and its was about 450 PQPs, which is tough to give up...
Thx for the help! I now return to spending my meal voucher....
I guess I really should thank FT! If it wasnt for you all, I wouldnt have even thought to ask for taxi voucher from IAD to DCA. They threw in the meal voucher.
I learned so much here!
UA6031 (IAD-RDU) was CXLd a bit ago. Next flight at 6 was standby only, next option 10pm.
I asked for rebooking on AA out of DCA and they got me on.
PQF is minor, since its only 1 leg, but do I get my PQPs under ORC, especially since I "opted" for the move to AA?
I am 1K on M fare, and its was about 450 PQPs, which is tough to give up...
Thx for the help! I now return to spending my meal voucher....
I guess I really should thank FT! If it wasnt for you all, I wouldnt have even thought to ask for taxi voucher from IAD to DCA. They threw in the meal voucher.
I learned so much here!
#160
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
....
UA6031 (IAD-RDU) was CXLd a bit ago. Next flight at 6 was standby only, next option 10pm.
I asked for rebooking on AA out of DCA and they got me on.
PQF is minor, since its only 1 leg, but do I get my PQPs under ORC, especially since I "opted" for the move to AA?
I am 1K on M fare, and its was about 450 PQPs, which is tough to give up...
...
UA6031 (IAD-RDU) was CXLd a bit ago. Next flight at 6 was standby only, next option 10pm.
I asked for rebooking on AA out of DCA and they got me on.
PQF is minor, since its only 1 leg, but do I get my PQPs under ORC, especially since I "opted" for the move to AA?
I am 1K on M fare, and its was about 450 PQPs, which is tough to give up...
...
Make sure the change was marked INVOL, which it should have been in these circumstances.
ORC is not automatic but best to wait a week or so before requesting.
If you have an AA account, you can double dip and get AA credit, it will not impact the ORC.
#161
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,162
I should just wait a bit and see how this plays out, but I would just obsess about it anyway... Plus, I now have some time to kill.
UA6031 (IAD-RDU) was CXLd a bit ago. Next flight at 6 was standby only, next option 10pm.
I asked for rebooking on AA out of DCA and they got me on.
PQF is minor, since its only 1 leg, but do I get my PQPs under ORC, especially since I "opted" for the move to AA?
I am 1K on M fare, and its was about 450 PQPs, which is tough to give up...
Thx for the help! I now return to spending my meal voucher....
I guess I really should thank FT! If it wasnt for you all, I wouldnt have even thought to ask for taxi voucher from IAD to DCA. They threw in the meal voucher.
I learned so much here!
UA6031 (IAD-RDU) was CXLd a bit ago. Next flight at 6 was standby only, next option 10pm.
I asked for rebooking on AA out of DCA and they got me on.
PQF is minor, since its only 1 leg, but do I get my PQPs under ORC, especially since I "opted" for the move to AA?
I am 1K on M fare, and its was about 450 PQPs, which is tough to give up...
Thx for the help! I now return to spending my meal voucher....
I guess I really should thank FT! If it wasnt for you all, I wouldnt have even thought to ask for taxi voucher from IAD to DCA. They threw in the meal voucher.
I learned so much here!
Took two emails (which disappeared into a black hole...until after the phone call) and a phone call (which credited immediately and tried shilling me on 3 different CC offers) but I got the ORC.
#162
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Plat, HH Diamond, Supersonic (BA1Y, BA1223)
Posts: 221
As explained in the wiki, ORC means you get the same credit as if the irrops did not happen.
Make sure the change was marked INVOL, which it should have been in these circumstances.
ORC is not automatic but best to wait a week or so before requesting.
If you have an AA account, you can double dip and get AA credit, it will not impact the ORC.
Make sure the change was marked INVOL, which it should have been in these circumstances.
ORC is not automatic but best to wait a week or so before requesting.
If you have an AA account, you can double dip and get AA credit, it will not impact the ORC.
#163
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
But, it is not automatic, it is a manually process on request.
ORC is not a common benefit -- few international carriers offer it for their programs.
#164
Join Date: Apr 2022
Programs: UA
Posts: 2
Partner airline rebooked on UA
Hi, combed through this thread and figured this is appropriate here:
Had a flight recently SIN-ZRH-SFO on LX metal and LH ticket stock; SIN-ZRH got cancelled due to technical reasons after we had departed from gate (but before takeoff) and I ended up getting rebooked on SIN-NRT-SFO (SIN-NRT on NH, NRT-SFO on UA).
How likely is United to grant ORC on the original LX route?
Also side, unrelated question: if ticketed on *A partner (LH in this case) and flying on UA metal, do you get PQP based on LH booking or on the dollar amount paid to UA by LH? My NRT-SFO flight suggests the latter (which was peanuts compared to the PQP based on partner airline distance * fare class)
Thanks all!
Had a flight recently SIN-ZRH-SFO on LX metal and LH ticket stock; SIN-ZRH got cancelled due to technical reasons after we had departed from gate (but before takeoff) and I ended up getting rebooked on SIN-NRT-SFO (SIN-NRT on NH, NRT-SFO on UA).
How likely is United to grant ORC on the original LX route?
Also side, unrelated question: if ticketed on *A partner (LH in this case) and flying on UA metal, do you get PQP based on LH booking or on the dollar amount paid to UA by LH? My NRT-SFO flight suggests the latter (which was peanuts compared to the PQP based on partner airline distance * fare class)
Thanks all!
#165
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
Welcome to FT!, rr7790
Do not remember a recent cases but ORC for non-UA tickets or non-UA flights have occurred but this take extra work by UA as they have no visibility of the original flights. See the wiki
UA flights are always by fare regardless of ticket stock or flight number.
When the UA flight is on a partner ticket stock, the fare may be allocated by the partner to a lower than expected value. Fare splits on mixed carrier flights can be strange.
WIth the partner segment cap, the difference maybe less than you expect
...
Had a flight recently SIN-ZRH-SFO on LX metal and LH ticket stock; SIN-ZRH got cancelled due to technical reasons after we had departed from gate (but before takeoff) and I ended up getting rebooked on SIN-NRT-SFO (SIN-NRT on NH, NRT-SFO on UA).
How likely is United to grant ORC on the original LX route? ...
Had a flight recently SIN-ZRH-SFO on LX metal and LH ticket stock; SIN-ZRH got cancelled due to technical reasons after we had departed from gate (but before takeoff) and I ended up getting rebooked on SIN-NRT-SFO (SIN-NRT on NH, NRT-SFO on UA).
How likely is United to grant ORC on the original LX route? ...
When the UA flight is on a partner ticket stock, the fare may be allocated by the partner to a lower than expected value. Fare splits on mixed carrier flights can be strange.