United question

[andigomeep]

Hi all. We're thinking about adding two days to our stay and the change fee is higher than it would be to simply book a one way flight down. Would we have any issue with not showing up for the first flight of our current reservation but showing up for the return flight? Should I call United and tell them we won't be on the first flight or just not show up for it? I'm not sure if not flying down will then cancel our flight back or something. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[MillauFr]

I believe they will cancel your return flight

 

[AliceIn]

If you don't show up for the outbound flight, your return is automatically cancelled. This is true with our without notifying United. You can do it the other way around, though. Fly down on the scheduled flight, then book the one way for the return.

 

[MillauFr]

If you don't show up for the outbound flight, your return is automatically cancelled. This is true with our without notifying United. You can do it the other way around, though. Fly down on the scheduled flight, then book the one way for the return.

Agreed that is my understand as well.

 

[andigomeep]

Well dang.

 

[andigomeep]

I called United and spoke with a very kind woman who I completely confused at first but then she amazingly offered to waive the change fee and just charge me the price difference of $17 per person. Thrilled!!

 

[dis_guy]

I called United and spoke with a very kind woman who I completely confused at first but then she amazingly offered to waive the change fee and just charge me the price difference of $17 per person. Thrilled!!

You know, a lot of people bash United for all sorts of things but I've found their folks to be pretty reasonable provided you're reasonable too. A very foggy morning at Houston, standing in line to get rebooked, showed me that many people take travel interruptions very personally. Lol.

United changed their schedule on our last trip and put us on a flight 2 hours earlier (6AM) the same day. I called and asked for a change to the flight they added in the evening- the previous evening. They were under no obligation to let us change to a different day but they did.

 

[andigomeep]

We've had some mixed results with United but overall I'm pleased. They did cancel our flight last year after we spent hours on the plane waiting and then could only book us a flight the next day into a different airport an hour away from where our car was but this was unexpected and very much appreciated.

 

[bumbershoot]

United changed their schedule on our last trip and put us on a flight 2 hours earlier (6AM) the same day. I called and asked for a change to the flight they added in the evening- the previous evening. They were under no obligation to let us change to a different day but they did.

When they change the flights by a decent amount, they ARE obligated to change you. If the other flights don't work, then they go to other days. They weren't making an exception, since they had changed their schedule.

And I'm wondering if that's what happened with the OP, too, only she wasn't aware of a schedule change. United isn't usually that kind, but if there had been a schedule change, they would have changed it.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

When they change the flights by a decent amount, they ARE obligated to change you. If the other flights don't work, then they go to other days. They weren't making an exception, since they had changed their schedule.

And I'm wondering if that's what happened with the OP, too, only she wasn't aware of a schedule change. United isn't usually that kind, but if there had been a schedule change, they would have changed it.

You are right. I'm also guessing this is what happened to the OP, or she changed her flight within 24 hours of ticketing. I'm a United 1K and UA has never waived my change ticket fee! It's hard to believe they did for a no status flyer, although stranger things have happened.

 

[andigomeep]

There was a schedule change but it wasn't what they called 'major.' It was 40 minutes on our departing flight and 1 hour on our return flight. They also switched airplanes so I adjusted our seats then they switched it again and when I looked right before calling they had my 4 year old by himself halfway up the plane.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

There was a schedule change but it wasn't what they called 'major.' It was 40 minutes on our departing flight and 1 hour on our return flight. They also switched airplanes so I adjusted our seats then they switched it again and when I looked right before calling they had my 4 year old by himself halfway up the plane.

That explains the free change then; a 40 minute schedule change is enough on UA to change flights. You got lucky!