Update: DoT has issued an enforcement notice that airlines must provide a refund.
In case you’ve missed the saga of United making extremely negative changes to it’s schedule change policy here’s a quick run down:
- On March 8th United made it so that a schedule change of 25 hours was required for a refund. Previously 2 hours was required. United also decided it was a good idea to apply this to existing tickets
- United then said that schedule changes of 2-25 hours would result in a travel credit
- United then said it would be determining who was eligible for a refund on a ‘case by case basis’.
- United then said that flights changed by more than 6 hours would receive a credit and flights changed by 2 – 6 hours would receive a travel credit
Don’t worry though, because now United has issued a statement to @crankyflier.
What the hell – @united is changing its sked chg policy AGAIN for intl. If you have a 6+ hour chg, you will get a credit good for 1 year from date of purchase. If you don’t use it, THEN you can get your money back. Congrats, you’ve given the airline a no-interest loan. pic.twitter.com/TtZgRv106g
— Brett Snyder (@crankyflier) March 15, 2020
So now if your flight is changed by more than 6 hours, you receive a travel credit. If you don’t use the credit after a year then you’ll be refunded. I understand that United is facing massive losses due to corona virus, but so are individuals and it’s not individual flyers responsibility to provide United will interest free loans due to United changing the rules after a ticket has been purchased.
Way to step up up UA………….I just got a mileage refund for my 5/23 trip. Miles redeposited instantly………..now I just hope I get a $5.60 refund to my CC and not a $150 redeposit fee, lol
Something changed today. I updated the app and was able to cancel my award flight (a May non-stop was turned into a one-stop that is not ok with me). DO NOT DO CANCEL IN THE APP EVEN IF IT SHOWS NO FEE. With no mention of a fee the app said I would get 12.5k miles and my taxes back, I clicked confirm cancellation and it cancelled my ticket and said there was an error with the refund and to call. Got an email saying the same. No miles show in my account. I called and they said I must pay the re-deposit fee. Uh, what? The app didn’t say that. “You agreed in the terms and conditions when you bought the ticket” “you must pay money”
*facepalm*
I knew it was risk when I did it but- don’t be like me. Do not cancel in the app. I think this will be harder to get refunded than if I’d called a few times and found a rep will to waive the re-deposit fee.
This screams “United is getting ready for a bankruptcy filing”
Good luck being an unsecured creditor- I would definitely go the credit card chargeback route if they don’t provide a refund.
Cant you just file a chargeback?
From what I have read that is a nuclear option, and UA will shut down your MP account.
AA and Delta don’t even take my call. Literally hang up on me by the machine.
My AA call was easy.
Tweet at delta. Full refund on a flight in late April, no schedule change just told them it was because of covid-19.
I would LOL but there are too many customers caught in this screwy mess..
When will AA change their rules for award tickets? I booked 6 international tickets for next week and all I want is my points redeposited into my account.
I cancelled a domestic award flight last week. Phoned and points redeposited easily with no fees.
Redeposited for three international flights. Good for one year from the original booking date. If you know a language other than English, suggest you call the customer service for that language speakers. Could be significantly faster
United seems to be doing its best to say “we don’t want customers.”
I hope Southwest will adjust their policy soon. I booked multiple flights worth thousands of dollars in March, April, and May. I booked as soon as their calendar opened up. There is no way we will be able to use all those dollars, under the names booked by the fall. If the don’t extend the travel funds and/or allow us to use them for anyone I will lose thousands of dollars.
I have little doubt that southwest will begin extending voucher dates in the near future. They seem to actually care about customer service, even when their backs aren’t against the wall.
They’re weak, time to strike to killing blow: all europeans, submit GDPR requests — within 30 days they’ll become liable for failure to respond and accrue fine — this will tax their resources and finances; americans in CA, similar story, different law; everyone else, cancel flights, chargeback for failure to deliver (you purchased safe travel and they can’t provide that). We don’t need this many major carriers and United has shown they are not on our side. #UnitedMustFall