United Changed My Return Flight Time...My Rights?

[PrincessTiannaLove]

We had booked our flights in August for our upcoming land & sea trip in April/May. We happened to look today and our return flight time was changed to earlier. Not a huge problem, but a bummer none the less. My question is...do I have rights? Can I ask for one of the later flights available through United? Anyone else have this happen to them & if so, what was your experience? Thanks so much for your input!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

We had booked our flights in August for our upcoming land & sea trip in April/May. We happened to look today and our return flight time was changed to earlier. Not a huge problem, but a bummer none the less. My question is...do I have rights? Can I ask for one of the later flights available through United? Anyone else have this happen to them & if so, what was your experience? Thanks so much for your input!

Contractually, they are not obligated to change your flight, the only obligation you have is to get you from Point A to Point B on a specific day. There is no guarantee of specific times, aircrafts, routes, etc. However, they cannot arbitrary move you to another flight if your current flight is still available.

That said, almost all airlines will rebook you on another flight if the change is significant; which the definition varies by airline. If it's over 2 hours, you should look at what other flight times would work for you and call the airline (if you booked directly through them) or your travel agent (i.e. Expedia). Nicely advise that the flight times that they changed you to will not work for your travel needs and ask to be rebooked on the flight you are interested in.

I also would delay any immediate call because right now, airlines are going to be jammed packed with rebooking those with flight changes due to the storom in the North East.

 

[OLT2004]

You certainly do have Rights!!!

You can change your entire return trip depending upon how many hours.
There would be no change fee's.

Did you not register an email address or contact number to alert you to changes? Did they not contact you about the changes??
You found out about the change how???

You are in the drivers seat...

 

[sam_gordon]

You certainly do have Rights!!!

You can change your entire return trip depending upon how many hours.
There would be no change fee's.

Did you not register an email address or contact number to alert you to changes? Did they not contact you about the changes??
You found out about the change how???

You are in the drivers seat...

I don't think you have the RIGHT to change (as in guaranteed by law). It's a convenience some airlines allow if the change is significant (as jlewis indicated). I know Delta requires the change to be an hour or more. I don't know what United's requirement is. If the change was less than an hour, I wouldn't count on it.

 

[DebbieB]

Check the schedule and see if there's a flight you prefer before you call. I would not call until Monday or Tuesday, after the storm disruptions are over. Don't be surprised if it changes again, the legacy airlines change flight schedules often (United, American, USAir, etc). I haven't flown United often but I've had this happen with Delta and they were accomodating. In fact, most of times I got a better flight.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I had my United flight change by 10 minutes and called and they moved me to a later flight. Which is the flight I wanted in the first place but is was too expensive.

Call them I am sure they will help you out.

 

[Jestocost]

We had booked our flights in August for our upcoming land & sea trip in April/May. We happened to look today and our return flight time was changed to earlier. Not a huge problem, but a bummer none the less. My question is...do I have rights? Can I ask for one of the later flights available through United? Anyone else have this happen to them & if so, what was your experience? Thanks so much for your input!

Your "rights" are fairly limited. If the change is significant (usually as defined by the airline) they should allow you to change to another flight on that same airline (assuming there's another flight that works better for you) or to cancel with no penalty (which, of course, is a benefit only if there are other options available to you at a cost you are willing to pay).

The best thing you can do is to see if there are any other options available and ask to be switched to those flights (if it's the same airline) or cancel and rebook (if the flights are on another airline).

You may be in the driver's seat if there are other options. That's a big "if," however.

 

[DisneyMagic3]

How does one find out the airline has changed your flight time? That makes me nervous! I had no idea they could do that

 

[sam_gordon]

How does one find out the airline has changed your flight time? That makes me nervous! I had no idea they could do that

Log on and check your reservation. Do NOT rely on the airline notifying you about a change.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You certainly do have Rights!!!

You can change your entire return trip depending upon how many hours.
There would be no change fee's [sic].

Did you not register an email address or contact number to alert you to changes? Did they not contact you about the changes??
You found out about the change how???

You are in the drivers seat...

UA notifies you about flight time changes on their website, not via email or telephone. You have to occasionally check your reservation.

OP, yes, you can make free changes. Call United.

 

[DisneyMagic3]

Log on and check your reservation. Do NOT rely on the airline notifying you about a change.

Thank you

 

[TammyC]

Be extra kind and say "please". If it does not work, just thank them for their time and call back later. Often it just depends on the agent.

T