A Specific United Airlines Question

[JJ2017]

Figured I'd post here before staying on hold forever with United. Not sure if anyone can help me.

Husband booked himself and our 8 year old using miles. So they are on one reservation. I booked my daughter and myself under a separate reservation using cash.

Husband has to cancel his flight because he has to head down a couple days early for a work conference. What happens to my son's reservation? He would be on a reservation by himself as a minor. I believe he is coded as a child (or at least under his Frequent Flier number).

I just want to be sure everything is correct for when I fly with them as I will be flying alone with the kids.

Let me know if I covered everything. Thanks!

 

[StarSeven7]

Call United when you cancel and make sure to have your son's reservation linked to yours, otherwise he will be flagged as a unaccompanied minor and may have to pay extra fees. I added my underage niece to my parents' (her grandparents) flights after they had already booked so she had to have a separate reservation, they could not add her to my parents' existing reservation. They linked the reservations together to avoid her having to pay unaccompanied minor fees and to show that she was actually traveling with adults. I think she (my niece) was not able to check in online and had to wait until she arrived at the airport to do that, but it went smoothly. Did you book seats already and make sure you're all sitting together?

 

[JJ2017]

Call United when you cancel and make sure to have your son's reservation linked to yours, otherwise he will be flagged as a unaccompanied minor and may have to pay extra fees. I added my underage niece to my parents' (her grandparents) flights after they had already booked so she had to have a separate reservation, they could not add her to my parents' existing reservation. They linked the reservations together to avoid her having to pay unaccompanied minor fees and to show that she was actually traveling with adults. I think she (my niece) was not able to check in online and had to wait until she arrived at the airport to do that, but it went smoothly. Did you book seats already and make sure you're all sitting together?

ok - thank you for that. i guess i will have to call no matter what. someone had told me about him not being able to check in online now - which i guess isn't that big of a deal. thankfully we have seats, although i would have to take over my husband's seat in order for us to sit all together in one row.

 

[StarSeven7]

ok - thank you for that. i guess i will have to call no matter what. someone had told me about him not being able to check in online now - which i guess isn't that big of a deal. thankfully we have seats, although i would have to take over my husband's seat in order for us to sit all together in one row.

I think they'd probably be able to switch his seat to your name when you cancel over the phone!

 

[bumbershoot]

If you're husband's the one with status, have him call. It'll be simple, though. They link your reservations.

 

[writerguyfl]

Yes, you should call and get the reservations linked. But, be aware that "linking" just connects the two reservations in a superficial manner. The two reservations will remain two separate reservations. Aside from canceling both reservations (and paying any fees associated with that act), there's no way to get everyone on a single reservation.

In general, that's not a problem. But, I believe StarSeven7 is correct in stating that the reservation with the child won't be eligible for online check-in. Under normal circumstances, you'll just check in upon arrival at the airport.

Be aware that if any flight gets canceled, the airline will automatically re-book the tickets. The software that does that task will not see the ticket "link." As such, it's possible that you'll get put on different flights. If that happens, don't panic. Just call United and they will find an option that allows all of you to be on the same flight.

 

[JJ2017]

thanks everyone. he won't be making his flight changes until september (when his company will book his flight). i hope the waiting is ok. i'd like to get it done now, but we just can't until the conference details are 100% confirmed.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I think they'd probably be able to switch his seat to your name when you cancel over the phone!

That depends. If the husband is an elite FF on UA, he will be eligible for Economy Plus seats and if Mom is not the same status, she cannot take his seat if she does not pay the fee. You need to call UA and split the reservation (put your husband and son on two separate reservations), then cancel your husband's ticket.

OP, I don't see the point in waiting to cancel your husband's reservation if you have firm travel dates. If you wait until 60 or fewer days before the flight to change or cancel FF tickets, you will pay higher fees, unless you are a 1K. Explanation of fees and cancellation deadlines here:

https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/mileageplus/awards/travel/ticketing.html

 

[JJ2017]

That depends. If the husband is an elite FF on UA, he will be eligible for Economy Plus seats and if Mom is not the same status, she cannot take his seat if she does not pay the fee. You need to call UA and split the reservation (put your husband and son on two separate reservations), then cancel your husband's ticket.

OP, I don't see the point in waiting to cancel your husband's reservation if you have firm travel dates. If you wait until 60 or fewer days before the flight to change or cancel FF tickets, you will pay higher fees, unless you are a 1K. Explanation of fees and cancellation deadlines here:

https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/mileageplus/awards/travel/ticketing.html

Thank you - Hubby is Premier Silver. Our seats are currently booked for just economy. My husband's conference is 100% happening, but he isn't 100% sure he will be going. He's like 99% sure. That's our hesitation.