Author Topic: airport agents vs phone rep (Read 3996 times)

jew · « **on:** August 07, 2017, 05:36:04 PM »

I am premier gold and i have a K class flight tom night from lax-ewr and that night ewr-man
I called up to try to switch it all to tonight (same itinerary just 24 hours earlier) and they said not possible (after consulting with the rate desk) because i have such a low fare (!) and will have to pay over $2000 to switch it. Any chance of me getting better results if i show up to the airport tonight and ask them to do it for free? should i do HUCA (i tired twice total) Dont wanna schlep all the way (and pack quickly etc) if they will DEFINITELY send me right back home! Thank you

jew · « **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2017, 07:35:06 PM »

no experienced opinions??
I need to know what to do! Thanks

brodes18 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 07, 2017, 08:09:35 PM »

Same day change should be the same on the phone, website, app, agent.

Assume that both flights are within 24 hours. You need to get into the same far class on the new flight. Meaning you need availability in k class. SDC allows you to simply drop the change fee. The fare class issue does not change. I'll cover your options in a min.

jew · « **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2017, 08:12:53 PM »

thats the problem
i wrote my fare class K because the reps were all saying "wow! you got such a cheap fare! nothing available! sorry"
this last phone rep was trying to be helpful and switch it for me although it might not necessarily be within same 24 hours (its exactly 24 hour difference)

brodes18 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2017, 08:14:18 PM »

Ok, so options here:

1) Call up and ask to be put on standby for K class on the flight you want. If it opens, you'll be confirmed into that class and get a confirmed seat. According to FT, this happens within T-3 hours of the flight.
2) Go to the airport, go to the gate of the flight you want to fly on and ask to be put onto standby for their flight. They will add you to the list and sometimes inform you of your chances. This will not change your return flight and you risk not getting onto the flight. I would check the standby list on the flight status to see how many people are standing by. You may also be able to be added to the list on the phone, but I have never tried that.

Good luck and report back.

jew · « **Reply #5 on:** August 07, 2017, 08:14:29 PM »

But she couldn't bypass the more expensive fare fees (not the change fee)
so i was wondering if in the airport they would be able to bypass it for me easily and if they would be interested in changing it.....

jew · « **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2017, 08:16:11 PM »

thanks. but i cant do standby. my flight is tom night to ewr and wed night to MAN. I want to fly tonight to ewr and tom night to MAN
standby is only same day not same 24 hours....

brodes18 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 07, 2017, 08:17:33 PM »

Got it. Why don't you ask for standby into K class for SDC?

jew · « **Reply #8 on:** August 07, 2017, 08:20:13 PM »

call them and ask to put me on standby for tonights flight? what are the chances of a "k" class opening up on lax-ewr or ewr-man so close?

brodes18 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 07, 2017, 08:23:25 PM »

I don't know availability on those routes too well, but I see that the later flights to EWR are not too full. According to FT, they should open up all classes right before the flight if they have room.

Also, there is space open on K if you want to stop over in SFO. UA 283 and then UA 1799. Flight leaves in an hour!

brodes18 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 07, 2017, 08:27:43 PM »

BTW, to answer the original question: You will probably not have better luck at the airport than the phone being that you are using the SDC and don't have cancelled, delayed flights, etc. But hey, maybe you are that charming! ;-)

jew · « **Reply #11 on:** August 07, 2017, 08:29:00 PM »

but would they standby me on ewr-man when its a full 24 hours before my original flight?
and is that a rule on all flights that all classes open up within 3 hours?

jew · « **Reply #12 on:** August 07, 2017, 08:30:25 PM »

Thank for clarifying my original question and for being so helpful with my situation. not gonna make in time for sfo flight. HOw do you check which class available?

brodes18 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2017, 08:36:55 PM »

Quote from: jew on August 07, 2017, 08:29:00 PM

but would they standby me on ewr-man when its a full 24 hours before my original flight?
and is that a rule on all flights that all classes open up within 3 hours?

1) Don't think you could do the MAN part until 24 hours unless EWR is a stopover on the same PNR. I could be wrong though, never tried that one.
2) I saw the rules on FT here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1816718-ua-same-day-travel-change-sdc-fees-questions-wiki-2017-forward-13.html
3) You can check to see what classes are open using United expert mode: https://www.dansdeals.com/more/all-about/advanced-level-mileage-post-all-about-expert-mode-how-to-hack-uniteds-award-bug-and-get-the-space-you-were-promised/

jew · « **Reply #14 on:** August 07, 2017, 08:42:55 PM »

okay thanks!

jew · « **Reply #15 on:** August 07, 2017, 09:09:40 PM »

whoopeeee! Hashem helped me out!!!!!!!!
and thnks to your help!!!!

jew · « **Reply #16 on:** August 07, 2017, 09:10:06 PM »

gotta run and finish packing
update you from airport or newrtak

username · « **Reply #17 on:** August 07, 2017, 09:56:37 PM »

Maybe @Dan can use this thread to highlight the helpfulness of DDF, and explain some of the issues, like only he can.

OP, glad it worked out!

brodes18 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 07, 2017, 10:38:49 PM »

Quote from: jew on August 07, 2017, 09:10:06 PM

gotta run and finish packing
update you from airport or newrtak

Glad to hear. What was the end result? How did you get the change?

Ez · « **Reply #19 on:** August 08, 2017, 12:06:52 AM »

@brodes18
I'm amazed how you stepped in and helped out.

#therearestillsomenicepeopleinthisworld