United Offering Travel Waivers Ahead of SFO Runway Shutdown
United Airlines just announced that it will be offering advance travel waivers to those flying to, from or connecting in San Francisco (SFO) between Sept. 7-26, 2019. The airline controls about 45 percent of traffic at SFO.
The news comes as a result of the the international airport closing down a major runway for repairs during that time. United's travel notice page reads, "we expect it'll cause flight cancellations and delays. We want to help, so we removed some flights from our schedule and rebooked customers to help reduce any disruptions to their travel plans." Waivers give customers the flexibility to change their flight or connect in a different city.
The airport recommends switching to an early-morning departure since delays are fine as the delays are expected to begin after 9am.
As for the repairs, runway 28L — which according to the airport is one of the two used primarily for arriving flights — will be receiving a new base layer below the runway surface. The time period for the construction was chosen to avoid busy travel periods like the summer and end of year, and also for the low probability of precipitation, since dry weather is needed for asphalt paving.
In addition to the runway repairs, there is also construction being done on the the AirTrain at night, so SFO officials recommend giving yourself extra time to get around the airport if you have an evening departure and will be using the AirTrain to get between terminals.
There are currently no other waivers offered for SFO during the construction period by other airlines.
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app