No more last-minute opening of saver award availability (X/XN)?
Aug 26, 2013, 9:10 pm
#1
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No more last-minute opening of saver award availability (X/XN)?
Over the weekend, dparkinson posted about the lack of X/XN availability close-in to a flight (T-24 to T-3). Traditionally, UA has opened up X/XN with all the other fare buckets close to the time of a flight. However, it now looks like they are no longer doing that. It's a huge change.
Because dparkinson's post was in regards to SDC, it was merged with the SDC thread. However, the biggest implication of this change is in last-minute award booking, not SDC. So I'm creating this new thread for discussion of the broader issues.
Because dparkinson's post was in regards to SDC, it was merged with the SDC thread. However, the biggest implication of this change is in last-minute award booking, not SDC. So I'm creating this new thread for discussion of the broader issues.
Last edited by J.Edward; Jun 15, 2014 at 3:10 pm Reason: Update title
Aug 26, 2013, 9:23 pm
#2
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Not just X/XN but many fare buckets as well.. I could not SDC at all going from SFO-PIT on U fare two weekends ago. The only options that were available was the next day. Same thing with another trip the week before that on E fare.
UA has tighten up on opening up the buckets, I guess that is what happens with mergers and a downward pressure on capacity resulting in most flights being oversold which leads UA to tighten up in this area.
UA has tighten up on opening up the buckets, I guess that is what happens with mergers and a downward pressure on capacity resulting in most flights being oversold which leads UA to tighten up in this area.
Aug 26, 2013, 9:42 pm
#3
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Not just X/XN but many fare buckets as well.. I could not SDC at all going from SFO-PIT on U fare two weekends ago. The only options that were available was the next day. Same thing with another trip the week before that on E fare.
UA has tighten up on opening up the buckets, I guess that is what happens with mergers and a downward pressure on capacity resulting in most flights being oversold which leads UA to tighten up in this area.
UA has tighten up on opening up the buckets, I guess that is what happens with mergers and a downward pressure on capacity resulting in most flights being oversold which leads UA to tighten up in this area.
What I'm seeing now is much more striking:
Y9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9 G9 N9 XN0 X0
On a flight one hour out! I've never seen that before.
Aug 26, 2013, 11:04 pm
#4
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I pm'd UA insider to clarify if this was a policy change and if so to consider at least opening the XN bucket when all other buckets opens up around T3 to facilitate SDC, no response as of yet since last week
Aug 26, 2013, 11:28 pm
#5
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exchange miles for a seat...
Aug 26, 2013, 11:45 pm
#7
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I recently booked a X award (saver) ticket for SFO-ORD-DCA last Friday, and was able to change it on Saturday (from IAD to DCA, free, no issues at all, and there was plenty of availability).
Aug 26, 2013, 11:48 pm
#8
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You bring up a good point. It bears noting that some flights do have X/XN availability right up to the time of the flight. What has changed, though, is that United would previously open up X/XN along with the rest of the buckets at T-3 or before. That does not appear to be happening anymore.
Aug 27, 2013, 5:52 am
#10
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I had an award booking for my son last night of SFO FRA LHR. Waitlisted for SFO LHR. a day before SFO LAX LHR opened up some XN which went quickly and we did not take. In the end he never cleared SFO LHR which left with some empty seats,and had to wait an extra hour for the FRA flight.
Aug 27, 2013, 6:33 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2011
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Check the mobile.ua to see if there is really availability.
Ive been travelling PTY-EWR this weekend on YN and had EF alerts for IN for CM/UA flights. All of these flights went out full in Y so no XN alerts, but 3 out of 4 flights gave IN within 24h of departure.
I think you might just be looking at full flights/busy routes.
But it could also be broken
Aug 27, 2013, 7:54 am
#12
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In my experience with KVS/UA all 9s close to departure is often a sign that the flight is full. I think there is even KVS FAQ about it somewhere.
Check the mobile.ua to see if there is really availability.
Ive been travelling PTY-EWR this weekend on YN and had EF alerts for IN for CM/UA flights. All of these flights went out full in Y so no XN alerts, but 3 out of 4 flights gave IN within 24h of departure.
I think you might just be looking at full flights/busy routes.
But it could also be broken
Check the mobile.ua to see if there is really availability.
Ive been travelling PTY-EWR this weekend on YN and had EF alerts for IN for CM/UA flights. All of these flights went out full in Y so no XN alerts, but 3 out of 4 flights gave IN within 24h of departure.
I think you might just be looking at full flights/busy routes.
But it could also be broken
Aug 27, 2013, 8:04 am
#13
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Yikes, OK, so for example, today's EWR-IAH UA1034 leaves in 58 minutes (at 10:58 a.m.) and is F0 A0 Z0 P0 Y9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9 G9 N9 with an extremely empty seat map … but it only has Standard coach award availability, no Saver space.
Yeah, that is a bummer.
I do have to admit that when I saw a post from mgcsinc saying "This is why is makes almost no sense to ever get on an airplane on a standard award" at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...el-rebook.html I thought "uh oh, this probably was not a benefit that UA intended to provide."
Yeah, that is a bummer.
I do have to admit that when I saw a post from mgcsinc saying "This is why is makes almost no sense to ever get on an airplane on a standard award" at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...el-rebook.html I thought "uh oh, this probably was not a benefit that UA intended to provide."
Aug 27, 2013, 8:13 am
#14
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I do have to admit that when I saw a post from mgcsinc saying "This is why is makes almost no sense to ever get on an airplane on a standard award" at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...el-rebook.html I thought "uh oh, this probably was not a benefit that UA intended to provide."
Aug 27, 2013, 8:32 am
#15
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No fare classes displayed on UA.com
Just logged in to UA.com and on flights I was looking at there was no Fare Class displayed, only () where the fare class should be. Tried a couple of different routes and got the same. Could not get any fare class to display. Guess it is yet anther software bug.