Author Topic: United award flights  (Read 802036 times)

Offline davidd75

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United award flights
« on: March 19, 2013, 01:26:40 PM »
What is the consensus on waiting for United award flights to open up.  For example the bargain 80,000 miles economy award flights on United for Lag Bomer time(april 24-30)from New york to tel aviv are only with stop overs in Turkey and Germany.  Is it worth waiting for non-stop flights from Newark to tel aviv to maybe open up or grab now(flights with stop over) what is available lest I get nothing

Offline sky121

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2013, 01:29:13 PM »
What is the consensus on waiting for United award flights to open up.  For example the bargain 80,000 miles economy award flights on United for Lag Bomer time(april 24-30)from New york to tel aviv are only with stop overs in Turkey and Germany.  Is it worth waiting for non-stop flights from Newark to tel aviv to maybe open up or grab now(flights with stop over) what is available lest I get nothing

Book what's available and check everyday to see if something opens up. You can change flights for free before its within 21 days.
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline davidd75

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2013, 04:28:15 PM »
as per United rep though there is still a 75 fee per ticket if you change airline from lets say Turkish Airlines to United even though Turkish airlines is a star alliance member even before 21 days of departure date.  My questions was in general if its worth waiting a month before my intended departure date to see what award flights open up on United.  Is a month time still worth waiting.  Anybody has any experience with this?

Offline asher8190

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2013, 04:43:35 PM »
What is the consensus on waiting for United award flights to open up.  For example the bargain 80,000 miles economy award flights on United for Lag Bomer time(april 24-30)from New york to tel aviv are only with stop overs in Turkey and Germany.  Is it worth waiting for non-stop flights from Newark to tel aviv to maybe open up or grab now(flights with stop over) what is available lest I get nothing
I've seen them open up 1-3 days before the flight many times.
Though i would have to agree with sky121 Better safe than sorry!
Common sense...isn't so common.

Offline Dan

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2013, 04:51:13 PM »
as per United rep though there is still a 75 fee per ticket if you change airline from lets say Turkish Airlines to United even though Turkish airlines is a star alliance member even before 21 days of departure date.
You were misinformed.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline davidd75

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #5 on: March 19, 2013, 04:56:58 PM »
Dan, I verified with a supervisor twice about 75 dollar fee for airline change.  Please provide me proof(link) that there is no fee if you change airlines before 21 days of departure date

Offline Dan

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #6 on: March 19, 2013, 04:59:00 PM »
Dan, I verified with a supervisor twice about 75 dollar fee for airline change.  Please provide me proof(link) that there is no fee if you change airlines before 21 days of departure date
I've done it for many people via the callback line.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline dirah

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #7 on: March 19, 2013, 06:04:11 PM »
Dan, I verified with a supervisor twice about 75 dollar fee for airline change.  Please provide me proof(link) that there is no fee if you change airlines before 21 days of departure date
It works the other way 'round, pal.
Next time you call UA, you ask them to provide proof (link) that there is a fee if you change airlines before 21 days of departure date

Offline Drago

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #8 on: March 20, 2013, 05:42:00 AM »
It works the other way 'round, pal.
Next time you call UA, you ask them to provide proof (link) that there is a fee if you change airlines before 21 days of departure date
Seems to be right here
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/mileageplus/awards/travel/ticketing.aspx

Adding, changing or deleting a connection, less than 21 days prior to departure(3)   $75   

Changing the cabin, award type, or changing a flight to a different airline, regardless of departure date(3)   $75   

Offline Drago

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #9 on: March 20, 2013, 07:17:33 AM »
Gotta question.
The CLE - EWR leg of our J award tik is in coach.
Assuming that preferred economy remain open, will they 'upgrade' us into these since we're anyhow entitled to biz class?

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2013, 08:08:56 AM »
Dan, I verified with a supervisor twice about 75 dollar fee for airline change.  Please provide me proof(link) that there is no fee if you change airlines before 21 days of departure date
He doesnt owe you anything. Feel free to volunteer to pay fees.

United policies and practices arent related to each other.
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Offline Drago

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #11 on: March 20, 2013, 08:17:34 AM »
United policies and practices arent related to each other.
So you agree that officially he has to pay the fee, but he should be able to slither out of it?

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #12 on: March 20, 2013, 08:23:06 AM »
So you agree that officially he has to pay the fee, but he should be able to slither out of it?
I'm not entirely sure what the conversation is about, lately $75 fee is charged for route change within 21 days, $50 for same route within 21 days. The 50 is a mysterious charge not mentioned anywhere on the website AFAIK, but I'm not complaining
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Offline Drago

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #13 on: March 20, 2013, 08:26:59 AM »
I'm not entirely sure what the conversation is about, lately $75 fee is charged for route change within 21 days, $50 for same route within 21 days. The 50 is a mysterious charge not mentioned anywhere on the website AFAIK, but I'm not complaining

My bad. I thought he said the fee was for outside of 21 days, not within them.
Dan's correct that no fee is applied if it's outside of 21 days.

Offline Platinum

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #14 on: March 20, 2013, 10:22:58 AM »
Gotta question.
The CLE - EWR leg of our J award tik is in coach.
Assuming that preferred economy remain open, will they 'upgrade' us into these since we're anyhow entitled to biz class?
I had a similar situation I called united and they changed my seat to preferred economy.

Offline davidd75

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #15 on: March 20, 2013, 01:32:45 PM »
Dan what is the "callback line." Are you saying that technically they can charge the 75 fee but with a callback they will accommodate?

Also what is you opinion on whether it is better to reserve now a flight with stop over in Turkey or waiting for non-stop from Newark to tel aviv to open up before scheduled departure date of April 24, 25??

Offline Ez

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #16 on: March 21, 2013, 01:18:06 AM »
Grab what's available now, very slim chance for direct lights NYC-TLV to open up during prime time as lag b'omer. My2c

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #17 on: March 21, 2013, 01:44:06 AM »
Dan what is the "callback line." Are you saying that technically they can charge the 75 fee but with a callback they will accommodate?

Also what is you opinion on whether it is better to reserve now a flight with stop over in Turkey or waiting for non-stop from Newark to tel aviv to open up before scheduled departure date of April 24, 25??
If it's Turkish between JFK & IST, its better than United anyway.
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Offline Drago

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #18 on: March 21, 2013, 03:13:24 AM »
I had a similar situation I called united and they changed my seat to preferred economy.
I saw they have over 20-30 seats open, so I requested it for the 4 of us, and they said no.
They waitlisted us in biz, but only 4 seats are currently available, and the flight is in almost a month, so they probably won't clear.
But I'll ask again at the gate.

Offline davidd75

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Re: United award flights
« Reply #19 on: March 21, 2013, 02:16:05 PM »
My bad. I thought he said the fee was for outside of 21 days, not within them.
Dan's correct that no fee is applied if it's outside of 21 days.


not sure why you changed your mind. ???  Here is the official united policy

Changing the cabin, award type, or changing a flight to a different airline, regardless of departure date(3)   $75

This is pretty clear 75 dollars Regardless of departure date so if you change airlines like I pointed out from Turkish airlines to United within or outside 21 days you get charged.  Now if Dan is saying that can be waived if you call then that is something else.  Can someone confirm that is what Dan means but not sure why you backed down from the official United policy