Changing Dates on United FF award tix
 

My husband and I booked FF tickets on United to Italy for October, and returning in early November. We are booked to fly into Venice, and out of Rome to return home.

I need to change/postpone the trip now because, today, my husband had surgery for a hernia. There was some chance he might have a laparoscopy, so I wanted to wait until after today to make any changes or not. But he was not able to have the laparoscopy, nope, traditional surgery, so longer recovery time, :(.

I've looked on United's website about changing award tickets, and see that we can change the dates for 75.00 if it's 21 or more days out.
Wondering if anyone's done this before?
A few questions -
Is it 75.00 per ticket, or per trip?
Since my husband cant go for medical reasons, is there a possibility I can have the fee waived? (I'm not going to die on that horse, but it would be nice to not have to pay the fee, but not a huge deal)

And I'm assuming we can lengthen, or shorten, the duration of the trip as long as we keep the same origin/arrival and departure cities?

Thanks!
(and yes, I'll call United but wanted to see if anyone's had any experience with this, and how difficult or easy it will be to make the changes.)

The $75 fee is per person per ticket. Thus, if you used your miles for 2 R/T tickets - one for you and one for your husband - you'll pay a total of $150 to change those flights (assuming the new flight is within the 21 day window). If more than21 days the fee is $10/p/ticket.

You can ask for the fee to be waived because of medical reasons but your chances of success are very slim.

Can't give you a definite answer about your last question as there might be a fare or mileage differential or award seats might not even be available on you new planned dates of travel. Call United for answer.

UGH, typo. Last sentence in first paragraph should read "If less than 21 days the fee is $100/p/ticket.

I know with purchased tickets, the change fee is $200 per ticket, but I have never had to change a ticket for which I used FF miles.

Since it is for medical reasons, you could submit a refund request for the change fees. You will need to submit documentation stating that your husband is not permitted to fly either from the surgery or for the planned laparoscopy. Your chances are slim, but it's worth a try.

If you call their customer service number and it seems the person on the other end either doesn't know what they are doing or there is a language barrier, hang up and call back (they outsource the majority of their calls). You could also get someone very helpful and knowledgable. It just depends on the day. If the former happens, you could also press the option for Spanish. You will be transferred to the call center in the USA. I did this once and it helped tremendously.

Hope your husband feels better and good luck with the thickets.

Thanks for your answers. Husband is home now and recovering nicely, but still under doctor's orders not to travel by then. However, he technically COULD, and be okay, so I can see where the chances would be slim for United refunding.

Since we still want to go eventually, I guess I'll bite the bullet and pay the 150 p/p fee and change the dates. I checked the dates online and they do have tickets available for April.
If I change it this weekend or by Monday, we're more than 21 days out, still.

Thanks for your replies and for the tips about calling customer service!

Do you or your husband have an elite status with UA? If so that may increase your chances of having the change fee waived.
Even if no status, would suggest you call and ask about changing dates due to medical problem, see about potential waiver.

Check the credit card you used to book the tickets. The card may provide trip cancellation or trip change coverage. Be sure to read and understand each word of their policy. Glad DH is recovering nicely. Good luck.

A few years ago, I booked a ticket for my brother using United FF miles and found out later this employer wouldn't let him take the time off. I was able to change his dates to a week later and paid around $75 to do so. It was easy to do this but wasn't for medical reasons so no experience with getting the fee waived.

Well, I changed the dates for both tickets. Cost 75$ per ticket, 150 total.
Still not complaining, as I originally paid around 100 dollars for both (airport taxes departure and return) so after the added 150$ fee for changing, I still got two business class tickets to Europe for 250$, that's 125 per ticket. Still a very good deal.
I didn't even bother with trying to get a doctor's note...

Changed to April 2016 and even added a few days.

It was also really easy to do online.

I had booked the tickets with my United MP credit card. I really don't think we would've received a medical waiver, as husband is actually recovering fairly well, and technically, he could go - he SHOULDN'T though, imo, and his Dr's. But Dr did not absolutely forbid him from going, either, left it up to husband; just advised against it.

Again, still good deal so in the end, we didn't think it was worth arguing over.
And no, unfortunately, we don't have elite status. We only fly once or twice a year, most of the miles were for my putting almost all our expenses on the credit card. I DID see that with elite status, the fees are much lower, or even free for higher elite status.

As long as my husband stays healthy for April now! But I think he's fixed for a while, anyway.

Great to hear! $75 per ticket change fee is not all that bad, compared to their normal $200 change fee for a nonrefundable ticket.

Glad it worked out for you. I just have to disagree with the "technically" part.

You wrote:
technically, he could go - he SHOULDN'T though, imo, and his Dr's.

I would suggest that:
he could go - but technically, he SHOULDN'T according his Dr

That is, the professional advice of a physician is the "technicality", not his actual fitness for travel.

I guess this is a moot point. Have a great trip!