Airfare question after cruise cancelled

[Zesty Italian]

My last post didn't sound nearly as hopeful as I meant to write it.  We are guardedly optimistic about a refund as it hasn't happened yet, but I meant to say don't give up.  Third time appears to be the charm 🙂

[Hawaiidan]

On 3/30/2020 at 12:11 PM, Paulchili said:

As soon as we hear that our 5/13 cruise is cancelled, I will do the same and be glad that UA will not charge for redeposit of miles.

Even better Paul.......   as of today  they will also, without fees extend "nonrefundable " tickets  from 12 months to 24 months to use and NOT charge any fees !!!!   

This offer is for all fares booked with/ through UA currently for the  remainder of 2020..

however  to get this free change and extension you must call them by April 30

I just changed a LAX-AMS-BCN-MUC-LAX  business class tickets  that would have expired Dec 2020  to  extend to Dec 2021  !!!!   no fee !!!! ( saved $800)  Called the" premier" line and was connected immediately... no wait   

Edited April 17, 2020 by Hawaiidan

[clo]

19 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

I truly do understand your angst. But, as I've suggested before: Be patient (though do file CC complaints if it gets your mind off that angst).

 

By design or by accident, you picked two companies that will not screw you (Oceania and United).

We've long been and remain big UA fans. And Star Alliance.

[Paulchili]

59 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said:

Even better Paul.......   as of today  they will also, without fees extend "nonrefundable " tickets  from 12 months to 24 months to use and NOT charge any fees !!!!   

This offer is for all fares booked with/ through UA currently for the  remainder of 2020..

however  to get this free change and extension you must call them by April 30

Thanks - good to know.

[vlthom]

On 4/6/2020 at 9:48 AM, YoHoHo said:

 

Airlines have also acted individually to make refunds more challenging to obtain. Some have stopped processing them entirely while many others are making it difficult for customers to find information on applying for refunds. In the U.S., United recently altered its refund process so that international ticket holders will have to wait a year to get repaid for a flight canceled by the airline." (bolding is mine)

 

 

Is that a year from ticketing?  a year from requesting the refund? or a year from the flight date?

[Paulchili]

1 hour ago, Hawaiidan said:

Even better Paul.......   as of today  they will also, without fees extend "nonrefundable " tickets  from 12 months to 24 months to use and NOT charge any fees !!!!   

This offer is for all fares booked with/ through UA currently for the  remainder of 2020..

however  to get this free change and extension you must call them by April 30

I just changed a LAX-AMS-BCN-MUC-LAX  business class tickets  that would have expired Dec 2020  to  extend to Dec 2021  !!!!   no fee !!!! ( saved $800)  Called the" premier" line and was connected immediately... no wait   

 

Can you give me link to that?

This is what I am seeing on their website (no mention of 24 month validity - highlighting mine)):

 

No change fees for new bookings – terms and conditions

Tickets: For tickets issued March 3 through April 30, 2020, customers will be permitted to change free of charge to a flight of equal or lesser value for travel up to 12 months from the original ticket issue date. If the new flight is priced higher, the customer may change for no fee but must pay the fare difference. If the new flight is priced lower, the customer may change for free but no residual value will be given. If the customer decides to cancel their flight, they can retain the value of the ticket to be applied to a new ticket without fee for travel up to 12 months from the original ticket issue date.

Cancellations: If the customer decides to cancel the flight they booked between March 3 and April 30, 2020, they can retain the value of the ticket to be applied to a new ticket without fee for travel up to 12 months from the original ticket issue date

Fare Validity: This applies to all tickets, all fare types, all destinations, all points-of-sale, all travel dates available for sale, provided ticket number starts with 016.

Minimum Stay: No minimum stay.

Blackout Dates: No blackout dates.

Miscellaneous: Fares, fees, rules and offers are subject to change without notice. Seats are capacity-controlled and may not be available on all flights or days. Fares are nonrefundable except during the first 24 hours after purchase. Other restrictions may apply.

 

[KS&JW]

I received this email on April 8th from United. 
 

We know it's difficult to plan ahead right now, so we're offering you even more flexibility to change or cancel your future travel. Now you can change any flight scheduled between June 1 and December 31, 2020, to a date up to 12 months from your original ticket issue date, or cancel your ticket and retain the credit for future use up to 24 months after your original ticket issue date, both without a change fee. This fee waiver is available for a limited time, through April 30, 2020.

 

I have business class tickets SFO-LHR in June.  I have been waiting to see if I can get a refund versus this offer they sent out.  However, a refund may not be in the cards and I may just take this offer and call it good. 

 

Edited April 17, 2020 by KS&JW

[Flatbush Flyer]

2 hours ago, Hawaiidan said:

Even better Paul.......   as of today  they will also, without fees extend "nonrefundable " tickets  from 12 months to 24 months to use and NOT charge any fees !!!!   

This offer is for all fares booked with/ through UA currently for the  remainder of 2020..

however  to get this free change and extension you must call them by April 30

I just changed a LAX-AMS-BCN-MUC-LAX  business class tickets  that would have expired Dec 2020  to  extend to Dec 2021  !!!!   no fee !!!! ( saved $800)  Called the" premier" line and was connected immediately... no wait   

Usually, I am quick on the pickup.But, I have questions which, if I get answers here, I'll at least be prepared when I call UA.

Apparently, from this thread, it appears that the extension does not apply to ALL booked tickets but, rather, those since the beginning of March.

 

We've got  November 2020 PURCHASED (no FF miles used) nonrefundable UA bizclass tix. We bought them in February of this year when we knew our May 2020 Insignia ATW segments were cancelled and we were getting 100% back. I'm hoping that we'll be able to use these tix for an O extended journey. 

 

From past experience, I'm pretty sure I can get an ETC if needed (and UA has not cancelled the flights beforehand).

 

But my question(s) to Dan and Paul (hopefully saving me a phone call to UA Premier) is/are:

 

Does rhe "tix extension" request  via a call to UA before 4/30 require cancellations by the already booked flights (or is it "insurance")?

 

Do you happen to know if they'll do it for tix purchased before March -particularly if you're a loyal customer AND have always enjoyed the secret "rugged good looks" discount?

 

[KS&JW]

15 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Usually, I am quick on the pickup.But, I have questions which, if I get answers here, I'll at least be prepared when I call UA.

Apparently, from this thread, it appears that the extension does not apply to ALL booked tickets but, rather, those since the beginning of March.

 

We've got  November 2020 PURCHASED (no FF miles used) nonrefundable UA bizclass tix. We bought them in February of this year when we knew our May 2020 Insignia ATW segments were cancelled and we were getting 100% back. I'm hoping that we'll be able to use these tix for an O extended journey. 

 

From past experience, I'm pretty sure I can get an ETC if needed (and UA has not cancelled the flights beforehand).

 

But my question(s) to Dan and Paul (hopefully saving me a phone call to UA Premier) is/are:

 

Does rhe "tix extension" request  via a call to UA before 4/30 require cancellations by the already booked flights (or is it "insurance")?

 

Do you happen to know if they'll do it for tix purchased before March -particularly if you're a loyal customer AND have always enjoyed the secret "rugged good looks" discount?

 

 

My June tickets that I received the email about were purchased. Feb 11th. 

 

[Zesty Italian]

Not sure if this helps anyone, but the vouchers we were given are good till 2022.  I was surprised to see 2 years.  We originally bought tickets with UA July of 2019.  We cancelled them last week and they sent the vouchers till Apr. 2022.

[Hawaiidan]

2 hours ago, Paulchili said:

Can you give me link to that?

This is what I am seeing on their website (no mention of 24 month validity - highlighting mine)):

 

No change fees for new bookings – terms and conditions

Tickets: For tickets issued March 3 through April 30, 2020, customers will be permitted to change free of charge to a flight of equal or lesser value for travel up to 12 months from the original ticket issue date. If the new flight is priced higher, the customer may change for no fee but must pay the fare difference. If the new flight is priced lower, the customer may change for free but no residual value will be given. If the customer decides to cancel their flight, they can retain the value of the ticket to be applied to a new ticket without fee for travel up to 12 months from the original ticket issue date.

Cancellations: If the customer decides to cancel the flight they booked between March 3 and April 30, 2020, they can retain the value of the ticket to be applied to a new ticket without fee for travel up to 12 months from the original ticket issue date

Fare Validity: This applies to all tickets, all fare types, all destinations, all points-of-sale, all travel dates available for sale, provided ticket number starts with 016.

Minimum Stay: No minimum stay.

Blackout Dates: No blackout dates.

Miscellaneous: Fares, fees, rules and offers are subject to change without notice. Seats are capacity-controlled and may not be available on all flights or days. Fares are nonrefundable except during the first 24 hours after purchase. Other restrictions may apply.

 

If you call on the phone  ( I  assume your a Premier or better)   know all  the scoop...I searched  special corvid 19 cancellation and ticket extention.....    I bought my tickets December 29 2019.    The deal is that they will extend ANY revenue ticket  now purchased for travel through Dec 2020, for 24 months from date of purchase.   

They extended mine  thus to Dec 28 2021  for no fee...  and it took only 10 min on the phone   the agent knew all the details   I just asked about the 24 month extention for Z  and P class fares ( non refundable) 

 

They will only do it if you bought the ticket through UA for any star alliance metal.      I was so glad  to find this   BUT you have to  call them by April 30  to get  1. the extension of 24 mos   2;  NO fees     

 

 I had $8,000 on the table in the game and this saved my butt.

This only came out April 8.... and expires april 30  for folks who do not eant a refund.   They said my locator code could be used  to look up my credit and apply it to any fare...no vouchers.   ...( I have had this done before and I trust them... after 40 yr's flying UA I love em') 

[Flatbush Flyer]

13 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said:

If you call on the phone  ( I  assume your a Premier or better)   know all  the scoop...I searched  special corvid 19 cancellation and ticket extention.....    I bought my tickets December 29 2019.    The deal is that they will extend ANY revenue ticket  now purchased for travel through Dec 2020, for 24 months from date of purchase.   

They extended mine  thus to Dec 28 2021  for no fee...  and it took only 10 min on the phone   the agent knew all the details   I just asked about the 24 month extention for Z  and P class fares ( non refundable) 

 

They will only do it if you bought the ticket through UA for any star alliance metal.      I was so glad  to find this   BUT you have to  call them by April 30  to get  1. the extension of 24 mos   2;  NO fees     

 

 I had $8,000 on the table in the game and this saved my butt.

This only came out April 8.... and expires april 30  for folks who do not eant a refund.   They said my locator code could be used  to look up my credit and apply it to any fare...no vouchers.   ...( I have had this done before and I trust them... after 40 yr's flying UA I love em') 

So - it sounds like they did this for you even though your tix purchase was (like mine) before this March 3 just past.

But, I'm still unclear on the basis for "extend." Do you need to CANCEL the booked flight when you first call (before 4/30) to get the future booking deal OR can you call before 4/30 to get the exception noted but then cancel at a later date with the no change fee you've now got on your record? 

[Flatbush Flyer]

2 hours ago, KS&JW said:

 

My June tickets that I received the email about were purchased. Feb 11th. 

 

Thanks- I finally checked my UA info to find out exact details for folks who had purchased future 2020 tix prior to March 3:

https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/notices.html#global-waivers

[Hawaiidan]

1 hour ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

So - it sounds like they did this for you even though your tix purchase was (like mine) before this March 3 just past.

But, I'm still unclear on the basis for "extend." Do you need to CANCEL the booked flight when you first call (before 4/30) to get the future booking deal OR can you call before 4/30 to get the exception noted but then cancel at a later date with the no change fee you've now got on your record? 

No  I cancelled AND got an extension of the ticket worth for 24 months all in the same call  I did not want to error in using the web site.   I have an inherent dislike and distrust of internet stuff.    The new offer ( till April  is for all valid tickets purchased after and prior to March.  it just came out last week)

Edited April 18, 2020 by Hawaiidan

[Zesty Italian]

On 4/16/2020 at 4:19 PM, Zesty Italian said:

Well, that didn't work as hoped.  I filled out the online form to ask for refund, and when I hit submit, I was told we had open tickets that needed to be cancelled.  Was apprehensive about cancelling, but did it.  A message said, "your refund will be manually audited." That night we felt unsure whether the refund had gone through as it was on a different screen from the cancellation so I called.  We received ticket vouchers online.  I explained that I didn't want vouchers, but had requested a refund.  She talked to supervisor and after a lot of trying they told me since we had vouchers they couldn't change it.  I had to re-submit refund online.  So back to refunds I went.  Filled it out again explaining that we had been sent vouchers even though I asked for refund and agent even said , "oh, you want it refunded to your credit card?"  YES!  We waited another week and just got an email: "Congratulations on your United voucher".  Not sure where to go from here.  Anyone have experience with this?

 

On 4/16/2020 at 7:13 PM, Zesty Italian said:

We thought it odd that we didn't get the change as we had for Aer Lingus and AA.  I just talked to my third agent and he assures me that he put the money back on our cc rather than voucher.  Let's hope!

And now I've talked to a 4th agent as no money went back to cc.  Was on hold for an hour waiting for the "refund specialist".  I never got to talk to them, but rather the agent came back on and told me I'm not eligible for a refund.  I pointed out that they cancelled my original flight and he said they have changed the rules since Covid!  After I gave my complaint, about DOT rules and that 3 supervisors told me I'd get a refund, he said I can write to customer  care.  Guess I'm not getting a refund from United, AA and waiting on Aer Lingus.

[Zesty Italian]

Just had a 180 change from airlines.  I originally posted that we called AA in Mar. to ask for a refund as O cancelled our Mar.31 cruise.  They would Not give a refund, and said we'd have a voucher for 1 yr. from date of purchase.  I pointed out that would only be 2 mos. till May 2020!  She said sorry, but all they would do.  My husband called back in Apr. and was told they'd consider an extension to fall.  He subscribes to the "let them tell me no" policy so called back in May.  He boldly asked about the status of our refund, and was told it would be on our credit card in 10 days.  We GOT it today!!  Very happy for the about face by them.  Had the opposite from UA who told us 4 times we'd get a refund, but as shown in prior post, they only gave a voucher.  So it can't hurt to call and ask again for a refund 🙂

[PaulMCO]

On 5/4/2020 at 2:30 PM, Zesty Italian said:

 

And now I've talked to a 4th agent as no money went back to cc.  Was on hold for an hour waiting for the "refund specialist".  I never got to talk to them, but rather the agent came back on and told me I'm not eligible for a refund.  I pointed out that they cancelled my original flight and he said they have changed the rules since Covid!  After I gave my complaint, about DOT rules and that 3 supervisors told me I'd get a refund, he said I can write to customer  care.  Guess I'm not getting a refund from United, AA and waiting on Aer Lingus.

Have filed a DOT complaint??  If not file one at least you may get to speak to someone from CS at the executive level.

[Zesty Italian]

We have not filed a DOT complaint.  UA rep told us we could write to CS on the website.  We didn't think it would do much good, but may try it now.  Thanks.

[clo]

On 5/4/2020 at 11:30 AM, Zesty Italian said:

I can write to customer  care.

I recently got an email back from Norwegian Air after I had written their CEO and copied the 'customer care' equivalent. A real person obviously saw it. I was instructed how to refile my claim and then to email them back that I'd done that so they can prioritize it. What do you have to lose?

[Zesty Italian]

You are right.  I'll give it a try.  Hope you get yours!

[clo]

15 minutes ago, Zesty Italian said:

You are right.  I'll give it a try.  Hope you get yours!

Google "xxx CEO email." And I was super nice but also super firm. Saying how much we've enjoyed flying on them but also mentioned that perhaps I'll have to contact the Dept. of Transportation, who has authority over this. 

Edited May 24, 2020 by clo