Buying tickets to commute
09-02-2024, 04:51 AM
#1
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2021
Posts: 25
Buying tickets to commute
Can anyone confirm whether I can buy a refundable discount ticket on United to commute home and have it refunded (even just toward credit for another future flight) if there is space to just list for an open seat? The rules seem to allow this, but they are confusing. Thanks.
09-02-2024, 04:58 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2011
Posts: 606
Can anyone confirm whether I can buy a refundable discount ticket on United to commute home and have it refunded (even just toward credit for another future flight) if there is space to just list for an open seat? The rules seem to allow this, but they are confusing. Thanks.
09-02-2024, 07:09 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2021
Position: We Need To Talk About Your Flare
Posts: 624
As already stated, it is prohibited. And not just same day/flight but also similar flights to nearby airports. If you did not use the discount program and purchased a seat like a regular revenue passenger, that could be up for debate but eventually UA's system would likely see what you're doing and flag it; effectively terminating your travel benefits.
09-02-2024, 04:31 PM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2014
Position: B787 FO
Posts: 298
You'd be blocking a seat a revenue passenger could otherwise buy, then costing the company that revenue when you cancel and non-rev. If you don't see a problem with that you're probably not smart enough to be a pilot. I know a guy who was fired for almost exactly this.
09-03-2024, 07:27 AM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2021
Posts: 793
09-03-2024, 09:02 AM
#7
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,181
No you cannot do that. If you read the rules carefully most or all airlines will prohibit you from doing that on competitors as well. Your union should have a POC who can clarify your specific policy.
Probably harder to get caught on non-code share competitors but people get caught doing crazy non-rev stuff all the time (usually FAs). If you're commuting out of Podunk Falls, everybody at the airport will know what you're doing within a few months. If you commute out of a huge hub, you might be able to fly under the radar.
The usual penalty is loss of all nonrev privileges for one year, or for life, or termination... depends on the airline and agregiousness of the offense.
Probably harder to get caught on non-code share competitors but people get caught doing crazy non-rev stuff all the time (usually FAs). If you're commuting out of Podunk Falls, everybody at the airport will know what you're doing within a few months. If you commute out of a huge hub, you might be able to fly under the radar.
The usual penalty is loss of all nonrev privileges for one year, or for life, or termination... depends on the airline and agregiousness of the offense.
09-04-2024, 10:25 AM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,506
No you cannot do that. If you read the rules carefully most or all airlines will prohibit you from doing that on competitors as well. Your union should have a POC who can clarify your specific policy.
Probably harder to get caught on non-code share competitors but people get caught doing crazy non-rev stuff all the time (usually FAs). If you're commuting out of Podunk Falls, everybody at the airport will know what you're doing within a few months. If you commute out of a huge hub, you might be able to fly under the radar.
The usual penalty is loss of all nonrev privileges for one year, or for life, or termination... depends on the airline and agregiousness of the offense.
Probably harder to get caught on non-code share competitors but people get caught doing crazy non-rev stuff all the time (usually FAs). If you're commuting out of Podunk Falls, everybody at the airport will know what you're doing within a few months. If you commute out of a huge hub, you might be able to fly under the radar.
The usual penalty is loss of all nonrev privileges for one year, or for life, or termination... depends on the airline and agregiousness of the offense.
Here are the guidelines from flying together:“Multiple bookings
Keep in mind that any confirmed reservation or positive space booking takes away a seat that could be sold, so it's important that you only book a confirmed or positive space reservation when you genuinely intend to use it. Holding a confirmed reservation (a revenue/myUAdiscount or mileage award ticket) along with a positive space or space available booking for the same route and/or the same trip is not allowed, and neither is holding more than one positive space booking to the same destination or a nearby destination for the same business trip.”
09-04-2024, 05:00 PM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2010
Position: Baja Vermont
Posts: 5,197
In the days EA Shuttle was advertising they'd roll out the shuttle back-up, if they couldn't accommodate all he passengers for that hour's shuttle. A NY captain is denied boarding, so he cleverly slaps down his credit card and asks for the shuttle backup to give him a flight home. After the agent stopped laughing, he was referred to his chief pilot.
09-07-2024, 07:43 AM
#10
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,181
In the days EA Shuttle was advertising they'd roll out the shuttle back-up, if they couldn't accommodate all he passengers for that hour's shuttle. A NY captain is denied boarding, so he cleverly slaps down his credit card and asks for the shuttle backup to give him a flight home. After the agent stopped laughing, he was referred to his chief pilot.
What they don't want you doing is blocking a revenue seat and then cancelling that at the last moment, when it's too late to sell it to someone else.
Airlines shouldn't mind if YOU pay the inflated walk-up fare at the last minute.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
