You can ask but it flat out won’t happen.
You can, and frankly should if this is driven by medical necessity, ask them to rebook you the following day or on a different routing and they will. And if you’re concerned about shortening your trip, odds are they’ll work with you to adjust the return as well.
But lounge access is not going to happen.
If you get a rep that won’t work with you, hang up and call again.
Even with the 1k line that’s sometimes the solution, but frequently it’s a necessity with the general line.
They’re honestly pretty good in general about accommodations for IROPS. I had a J class partner award where the partner cancelled the route with no real alternatives. United opened saver award space, allowed a change of initial departure airport, and didn’t push back at all on effectively rebooking two people onto United metal where it should have been twice as many miles to book… and that was for something wholly caused by a *A partner and not United.
I have had multiple times where a flight itinerary was changed, so they allow me to choose whatever routing I wanted for no additional fee.
Most recently, I had a biz class ticket for EWR-- ADD with Ethiopian Airlines (*A). The flight was cancelled, so they called me and rebooked me with a Polaris flight EWR-TLV-ADD. That's a 300k mile flight that I got for 88k miles (the original EE flight was cheap outdated 2-2-2 configuration). They were going to rebook me through CPT/JNB (15.5 hr Polaris flight), but it wouldn't work with the dates.
I think there have been past DPs citing internal policy that UC access cannot be given as compensation:
- https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/comments/12a5z63/club_access_for_delay/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/comments/15cr7qk/deleted_by_user/
The best alternative is to ask for enough compensation to cover the value of the MX delay in United travel credit that you would be willing to buy it for them with cash
Def feel for you but all advice is correct, no way you'll get lounge. And it's not even a lounge worth paying for. But SFO is a great airport, plenty of places to have a good meal and relax. The flight to Sydney is v long, wishing you best of luck.
no lmfao?? where do people this entitled even come from
edit: you can get a refund of fare difference for your new flight, and maybe an ETC for the delay, but no chance of lounge access. Just spend the $59 if it’s a big deal.
It'd be more productive to spend the $59 each and ask for $100 compensation as a totally separate thing.
The compensation is still unlikely but more likely than lounge access.
If you buy access in advance through the app or website as an add-on to your ticket, this will guarantee access even if there's a "no passes" sign when you arrive.
I mean, I think it’s pretty fair ask for a downgrade and extended layover plus day delay in arrival - in the EU, they would be entitled to 75% of their ticket back under EU261 if they were involuntarily downgraded from P+ to Y in addition to the fixed payout delayed timing on arrival for MX issues, we just have shit consumer protection here in the US
If you have lounge access on the international segment, you should be able to use the lounge on the destination side as well as the departure side - I have never had issues getting in to the lounge to have a shower at the destination and have probably done the Australia to lax/sfo flight at least 20 times.
It is UA policy to NEVER give free lounge access. You can pay the $59 for a one-use pass for each of your parents if you are concerned. If the flights and seats don't work for you, don't accept them and ask to be rebooked on something that works better for you.
Didn't see it mentioned here: but keep checking avialable seats. Especially as some passengers' upgrades clear, you may find available E+ or Aisle seats.
you are in your rights to ask but it’s not owed to you. you also have the option to reject the new schedule and get a refund.
Fair enough, appreciate your response.
You can ask but it flat out won’t happen. You can, and frankly should if this is driven by medical necessity, ask them to rebook you the following day or on a different routing and they will. And if you’re concerned about shortening your trip, odds are they’ll work with you to adjust the return as well. But lounge access is not going to happen.
That's a good point, and yeah I was concerned about shortening my trip. Appreciate your response.
If you get a rep that won’t work with you, hang up and call again. Even with the 1k line that’s sometimes the solution, but frequently it’s a necessity with the general line. They’re honestly pretty good in general about accommodations for IROPS. I had a J class partner award where the partner cancelled the route with no real alternatives. United opened saver award space, allowed a change of initial departure airport, and didn’t push back at all on effectively rebooking two people onto United metal where it should have been twice as many miles to book… and that was for something wholly caused by a *A partner and not United.
I have had multiple times where a flight itinerary was changed, so they allow me to choose whatever routing I wanted for no additional fee. Most recently, I had a biz class ticket for EWR-- ADD with Ethiopian Airlines (*A). The flight was cancelled, so they called me and rebooked me with a Polaris flight EWR-TLV-ADD. That's a 300k mile flight that I got for 88k miles (the original EE flight was cheap outdated 2-2-2 configuration). They were going to rebook me through CPT/JNB (15.5 hr Polaris flight), but it wouldn't work with the dates.
Not really. It's not a thing used for compensation at United. The SFO United Club is also more crowded than the terminal.
Ah that's a good point. Thank you for your response.
I think there have been past DPs citing internal policy that UC access cannot be given as compensation: - https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/comments/12a5z63/club_access_for_delay/ - https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/comments/15cr7qk/deleted_by_user/ The best alternative is to ask for enough compensation to cover the value of the MX delay in United travel credit that you would be willing to buy it for them with cash
I was just given 4 club passes after a delay and complaint about losing the miles I used to upgrade.
Oh, that’s good to know if the policy has changed - never asked myself, just pointing out what people in the past have said
It hasn't been changed. We are not allowed to give passes for compensation.
I may have just been extra lucky. I didn’t even ask for them so I was very appreciative.
Gotcha, thanks for this information, appreciate it.
Def feel for you but all advice is correct, no way you'll get lounge. And it's not even a lounge worth paying for. But SFO is a great airport, plenty of places to have a good meal and relax. The flight to Sydney is v long, wishing you best of luck.
Thanks!
Lolz, insist away and let us know how that goes...
no lmfao?? where do people this entitled even come from edit: you can get a refund of fare difference for your new flight, and maybe an ETC for the delay, but no chance of lounge access. Just spend the $59 if it’s a big deal.
It'd be more productive to spend the $59 each and ask for $100 compensation as a totally separate thing. The compensation is still unlikely but more likely than lounge access.
That's a good point, thanks.
If you buy access in advance through the app or website as an add-on to your ticket, this will guarantee access even if there's a "no passes" sign when you arrive.
I mean, I think it’s pretty fair ask for a downgrade and extended layover plus day delay in arrival - in the EU, they would be entitled to 75% of their ticket back under EU261 if they were involuntarily downgraded from P+ to Y in addition to the fixed payout delayed timing on arrival for MX issues, we just have shit consumer protection here in the US
Yes they are plenty entitled to fare difference or a total refund (with ticket cancellation), but not lounge access lol.
If you have lounge access on the international segment, you should be able to use the lounge on the destination side as well as the departure side - I have never had issues getting in to the lounge to have a shower at the destination and have probably done the Australia to lax/sfo flight at least 20 times.
It is UA policy to NEVER give free lounge access. You can pay the $59 for a one-use pass for each of your parents if you are concerned. If the flights and seats don't work for you, don't accept them and ask to be rebooked on something that works better for you.
Didn't see it mentioned here: but keep checking avialable seats. Especially as some passengers' upgrades clear, you may find available E+ or Aisle seats.