Jun 12, 13, 8:18 pm
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)
Jan 9, 16, 3:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Englewood, CO
Programs: United Mileage Plus. 1K/Million Mile
Posts: 8
Original Routing Credit (ORC) After Involuntary Re-Routing/Re-Booking (Merged)
OK, so I've finally realized that making 1K is probably no longer worth it given the deterioration of UAL's program. Nonetheless, I was at about 91,000 miles last month and decided to take a single mileage run at the end of the month. Worked it out, would have put me just over 100k miles. I'm in line in Anchorage to complete the return leg and UAL announces my high-PQM flight is now cancelled. Not weather, flight was delayed and on the flight in the crew ran over the allowed flight hours to complete the return flight. I booked a return (the longest offered option, 3 segments) but it still came up short in PQM's. I'm now at 96,000 PQM's.
Q's: Doesn't seem fair that UAL canceled my MR return flight, causing me to come up short in 1K qualification. Do I have any recourse, and if I do how do I set it in motion? I looked at the Mileage Plus site and couldn't find an appropriate link.
Thanks in advance,
-Tom
Q's: Doesn't seem fair that UAL canceled my MR return flight, causing me to come up short in 1K qualification. Do I have any recourse, and if I do how do I set it in motion? I looked at the Mileage Plus site and couldn't find an appropriate link.
Thanks in advance,
-Tom
Jan 9, 16, 5:50 pm
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA Priemier Gold
Posts: 52,102
OK.... so much much lower stakes than tompierce but...
This morning we were supposed to fly out of Vail CO 7:50am on EGE -> DEN - CLE
At midnight I get a notification that the EGE - DEN flight is delayed due to Mx until 10:15 AM which will cause me to misconnect DEN -CLE leaving at 10:01 am.
I call the MP desk to get on a later DEN -CLE but there is only one more that day and it is already overbooked... so I can only get them to offer EGE- DEN - IAD - CLE arriving 8 hours later than the original booking.
So.... I have United drop the EGE-DEN leg and hire a private car that pick us up at 5:30 am and drives to DEN (with not a small amount of white knuckling on a dark, icy I-70).
Can I get ORC to get my paltry extra PQM for the EGE-DEN leg that I had to cancel in order to make the rest of flight work?
This morning we were supposed to fly out of Vail CO 7:50am on EGE -> DEN - CLE
At midnight I get a notification that the EGE - DEN flight is delayed due to Mx until 10:15 AM which will cause me to misconnect DEN -CLE leaving at 10:01 am.
I call the MP desk to get on a later DEN -CLE but there is only one more that day and it is already overbooked... so I can only get them to offer EGE- DEN - IAD - CLE arriving 8 hours later than the original booking.
So.... I have United drop the EGE-DEN leg and hire a private car that pick us up at 5:30 am and drives to DEN (with not a small amount of white knuckling on a dark, icy I-70).
Can I get ORC to get my paltry extra PQM for the EGE-DEN leg that I had to cancel in order to make the rest of flight work?
Jan 9, 16, 8:00 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: BOS / PHL / PEK / YYZ
Programs: DL Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 218
I was scheduled to fly PVG-ORD-PHL on UA today, but due to delayed inbound at PVG (inbound is currently diverting to NRT) I would have missed my ORD-PHL connection. Called the Premier Desk and they offered to change my connection to a later AA flight, which I accepted.
However, the rebooked ticket does not show the INVOL marker. In addition, I had to call for the rebooking because the UA website and app had not yet offered any options due to the delay.
Will I have much trouble requesting ORC from UA for this? Seems like generally a pretty cut and clear case (and obviously not likely to be a voluntary reroute as I have an AA segment in there now), but the only potential question would be the lack of INVOL on my ticket. Given that I haven't departed yet, I could call back or ask at check-in to add this to my ticket if it is really necessary.
Thanks in advance for any insight!
However, the rebooked ticket does not show the INVOL marker. In addition, I had to call for the rebooking because the UA website and app had not yet offered any options due to the delay.
Will I have much trouble requesting ORC from UA for this? Seems like generally a pretty cut and clear case (and obviously not likely to be a voluntary reroute as I have an AA segment in there now), but the only potential question would be the lack of INVOL on my ticket. Given that I haven't departed yet, I could call back or ask at check-in to add this to my ticket if it is really necessary.
Thanks in advance for any insight!
Jan 9, 16, 10:32 pm
#5
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.85MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 62,376
Originally Posted by czhang
.... I would have missed my ORD-PHL connection. Called the Premier Desk and they offered to change my connection to a later AA flight, which I accepted.
However, the rebooked ticket does not show the INVOL marker. In addition, I had to call for the rebooking because the UA website and app had not yet offered any options due to the delay.
Will I have much trouble requesting ORC from UA for this? ....
However, the rebooked ticket does not show the INVOL marker. In addition, I had to call for the rebooking because the UA website and app had not yet offered any options due to the delay.
Will I have much trouble requesting ORC from UA for this? ....
Without the INVOL it become a bit more iffy but not impossible. It might take a lot more explanation.
Jan 10, 16, 1:20 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 29,245
Originally Posted by czhang
I was scheduled to fly PVG-ORD-PHL on UA today, but due to delayed inbound at PVG (inbound is currently diverting to NRT) I would have missed my ORD-PHL connection. Called the Premier Desk and they offered to change my connection to a later AA flight, which I accepted.
However, the rebooked ticket does not show the INVOL marker. In addition, I had to call for the rebooking because the UA website and app had not yet offered any options due to the delay.
Will I have much trouble requesting ORC from UA for this? Seems like generally a pretty cut and clear case (and obviously not likely to be a voluntary reroute as I have an AA segment in there now), but the only potential question would be the lack of INVOL on my ticket. Given that I haven't departed yet, I could call back or ask at check-in to add this to my ticket if it is really necessary.
Thanks in advance for any insight!
However, the rebooked ticket does not show the INVOL marker. In addition, I had to call for the rebooking because the UA website and app had not yet offered any options due to the delay.
Will I have much trouble requesting ORC from UA for this? Seems like generally a pretty cut and clear case (and obviously not likely to be a voluntary reroute as I have an AA segment in there now), but the only potential question would be the lack of INVOL on my ticket. Given that I haven't departed yet, I could call back or ask at check-in to add this to my ticket if it is really necessary.
Thanks in advance for any insight!
Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
The lack of INVOL could be a problem. Sound like the misconnect had not actually happen and you protectively changed the routing. Getting too proactively can create a problem. It would a try to get this mark INVOL while still traveling.
Without the INVOL it become a bit more iffy but not impossible. It might take a lot more explanation.
Without the INVOL it become a bit more iffy but not impossible. It might take a lot more explanation.
Jan 31, 16, 6:23 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 359
Data point: 1K, got rerouted on a non-Star Alliance carrier during the recent storm. Sent an email to 1K Voice, got a very swift reply saying that after 5 days I would see the ORC, and lo and behold, that is what happened.
This was an excellent interaction. Thanks, United!
This was an excellent interaction. Thanks, United!
Jan 31, 16, 6:50 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.5MM, AA 2MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 5,429
Originally Posted by alexperi
Data point: 1K, got rerouted on a non-Star Alliance carrier during the recent storm. Sent an email to 1K Voice, got a very swift reply saying that after 5 days I would see the ORC, and lo and behold, that is what happened.
This was an excellent interaction. Thanks, United!
This was an excellent interaction. Thanks, United!
Jan 31, 16, 6:59 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 1,237
Was assuming i couldn't get ORC for the two following but thought I would check with FT to be sure.
1. Flew CMH-ORD-SRQ on 1/20 was scheduled to fly the reverse on 1/22. Instead flew TPA-CMH on Southwest to get back earlier on 1/22. The SRQ-ORD-CMH flights on UA did fly. I didn't cancel those flights since I was on a very cheap fare.
2. Was supposed to fly CMH-EWR-BOS on 1/24 and then the reverse on 1/25. On 1/22 I booked nonstops CMH-BOS on Southwest and return on Delta. When I booked the new flights I just did it as separate tickets. On 1/23 the United flights were cancelled by UA.
1. Flew CMH-ORD-SRQ on 1/20 was scheduled to fly the reverse on 1/22. Instead flew TPA-CMH on Southwest to get back earlier on 1/22. The SRQ-ORD-CMH flights on UA did fly. I didn't cancel those flights since I was on a very cheap fare.
2. Was supposed to fly CMH-EWR-BOS on 1/24 and then the reverse on 1/25. On 1/22 I booked nonstops CMH-BOS on Southwest and return on Delta. When I booked the new flights I just did it as separate tickets. On 1/23 the United flights were cancelled by UA.
Jan 31, 16, 12:48 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Suburban Philadelphia
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,392
This is a new one for me - requested ORC for 2 segments that I was re-routed on AA for, and they are actually asking me for a copy of the original booking as well as a copy of my AA boarding pass. Cannot believe they are actually asking for this, every other ORC request I've ever done has gone through without question. It's not like they can't look at the record of the PNR, right?
Weird.
Weird.
Jan 31, 16, 12:53 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.032MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CWC Au-197; CCC Elite; WoH Dis
Posts: 51,366
Originally Posted by mander
1. Flew CMH-ORD-SRQ on 1/20 was scheduled to fly the reverse on 1/22. Instead flew TPA-CMH on Southwest to get back earlier on 1/22. The SRQ-ORD-CMH flights on UA did fly. I didn't cancel those flights since I was on a very cheap fare.
2. Was supposed to fly CMH-EWR-BOS on 1/24 and then the reverse on 1/25. On 1/22 I booked nonstops CMH-BOS on Southwest and return on Delta. When I booked the new flights I just did it as separate tickets. On 1/23 the United flights were cancelled by UA.
2. Was supposed to fly CMH-EWR-BOS on 1/24 and then the reverse on 1/25. On 1/22 I booked nonstops CMH-BOS on Southwest and return on Delta. When I booked the new flights I just did it as separate tickets. On 1/23 the United flights were cancelled by UA.
- Definitely not.
- United should have refunded you due to the cancellation, in which case you can't get ORC. If they didn't refund you, call.
Jan 31, 16, 1:19 pm
#12
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 64,552
Originally Posted by Cargojon
This is a new one for me - requested ORC for 2 segments that I was re-routed on AA for, and they are actually asking me for a copy of the original booking as well as a copy of my AA boarding pass. Cannot believe they are actually asking for this, every other ORC request I've ever done has gone through without question. It's not like they can't look at the record of the PNR, right?
This used to be the SOP. I haven't had a request for the original or rerouted BPs for several years, though.
Did you put your AA# on the res once it got re-routed over to AA, and thus earn AA miles? UA used to be very hit-or-miss on whether they tried to prevent that sort of double-dipping, so people would make sure not to have their OAL # on the BPs they sent UA (they subsequently added them and reprinted BPs, for example).
Jan 31, 16, 5:42 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Suburban Philadelphia
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,392
Originally Posted by exerda
This used to be the SOP. I haven't had a request for the original or rerouted BPs for several years, though.
Did you put your AA# on the res once it got re-routed over to AA, and thus earn AA miles? UA used to be very hit-or-miss on whether they tried to prevent that sort of double-dipping, so people would make sure not to have their OAL # on the BPs they sent UA (they subsequently added them and reprinted BPs, for example).
Did you put your AA# on the res once it got re-routed over to AA, and thus earn AA miles? UA used to be very hit-or-miss on whether they tried to prevent that sort of double-dipping, so people would make sure not to have their OAL # on the BPs they sent UA (they subsequently added them and reprinted BPs, for example).
I didn't even keep the boarding pass because I've done ORC credit many times over the past few years and never gotten asked for it.
Jan 31, 16, 8:05 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.5MM, AA 2MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 5,429
Originally Posted by Cargojon
This is a new one for me - requested ORC for 2 segments that I was re-routed on AA for, and they are actually asking me for a copy of the original booking as well as a copy of my AA boarding pass. Cannot believe they are actually asking for this, every other ORC request I've ever done has gone through without question. It's not like they can't look at the record of the PNR, right?
Weird.
Weird.
Jan 31, 16, 8:29 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Suburban Philadelphia
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,392
Originally Posted by bmwe92fan
I have always supplied the PNR of the rebooked ticket as well as the original(s) when requesting ORC - I never realized you didn't have to - I just assumed they would want proof you actually went on the flight... They did once request a scan of my BP (from a Delta flight that they put me on directly lol). I guess the agent that processes it makes the call...
If that's not good enough for them I'm not sure what is - they can sure as heck see this stuff internally already and I'm not entirely sure how they think I'd have gotten to Pittsburgh to continue my itinerary if I hadn't boarded that AA flight they put me on.
