For years, there was a way to book United award tickets within 21-days without ever having to pay a close-in ticketing fee (which is $75 for those without any status).
In summary, one could simply book their desired award ticket on a date that was 21 days out, wait a few minutes for the award to ticket, and then change the ticket to the desired date within 21 days. It was a surefire way to avoid the hefty fee at all costs.
Well I am sad to report that it seems like it’s an end of an era. Yesterday, a friend brought it to my attention when he tried to book a last-minute award using the trick, and saw that he was being charged the $75 close-in ticketing fee when he went to change his ticket on United.com within 24 hours.
Unsure if what he was saying was true, I decided to try for myself.
For experimental purposes, I booked a simple award from EWR-FLL departing on June 20:
Then once the itinerary ticketed, I went to change the booking for the same saver award for May 31, which as we know is within 21 days.
There it was- the $75 fee.
I am not at all surprised that this loophole has closed, but it sure was a nice way to book a last-minute award ticket for a hot minute.
Did you notice that this trick was dead? Have you ever used it in the past?
Wow – I just used it about a week or so ago when I forgot to book our flight to IAD to start our Peru trip. I actually called in to do it (because I didn’t know you could do it online) so perhaps it is still alive online (though I’d doubt it if it’s dead online)
I will say there was a BA blog that wrote about this trick a week or two ago which I thought was short-sighted. I’m not sure there’s any correlation but… these are the kinds of things that don’t need publicity IMO
I just did it yesterday without the close-in fee, but I called in to change, not online.
With posts like this one no wonder it would be dead. Maybe removing the post sould leave a chance for the loophole to still work.
Alf sorry to be the bearer of bad news but this has been widely blogged about in detail on much bigger blogs since 2014. Just google “united close in hack”.
Just applied. A certain Dad can buy me a drink in SIN. ;)
Thank you Dan!!! Really appreciate your continued support.
Wrong thread. The app was approved for the Amex no fee 20,000 point card.
Telephone change still works – got mine 7-25-17. Thanks A and the poster on the workaround. and SHHHHH.
Telephone change worked as of Aug 16 2017! Thanks to all!
BTW, my experience via call change saved the fee on multiple tickets…
Telephone Change worked today!
YAAS! By telehpne still works!! Just changed today 08-29-2017 and btw Im from Brasil!
lol
Confirming this still works as of 10/26/17 – no questions asked.