Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Normal economy "saver" award inventory is X
All UA elites have access XN inventory for economy awards
Normal business / domestic first award "saver" inventory is I
1K / Plat have access to IN inventory
GS have access to PN inventory (and some ability to convert cash inventory space to award space)
PremiumPlus "saver" award inventory is RN
There is not additional inventory for elites
All UA elites have access XN inventory for economy awards
Normal business / domestic first award "saver" inventory is I
1K / Plat have access to IN inventory
GS have access to PN inventory (and some ability to convert cash inventory space to award space)
PremiumPlus "saver" award inventory is RN
There is not additional inventory for elites
United Saver Award Availability: How does it vary by elite level?
#18
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,580
#19
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,290
#20
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,651
IN class used to be prevalent and was a phenomenal benefit.
I asked why IN class availability had all but disappeared at the MP session of the UA DO last November and the PMUA reps running the session didn't even seem to know that it was a benefit of the program.
A blogger also said I was being moronic at the time, lots of fun
My report on the DO: http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/25684
http://milepoint.com/forums/threads/...0#post-1948059
I asked why IN class availability had all but disappeared at the MP session of the UA DO last November and the PMUA reps running the session didn't even seem to know that it was a benefit of the program.
A blogger also said I was being moronic at the time, lots of fun
My report on the DO: http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/25684
http://milepoint.com/forums/threads/...0#post-1948059
#21
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SLC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 493
Just confirmed for myself what I wasn't sure about before - when doing an award search you have to be logged in at the 2nd level (short-term password authenticated session) to see extra status-based availability on the award search and calendar.
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
What specific status based availability are you measuring? Can you provide a repeatable example that shows IN > N? Or, are you measuring something other than IN?
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,165
#24
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,711
I think the benefit is actually limited to greater availability of domestic Y saver awards. Can't say I've ever seen anything better internationally or in F, but I did book some (last-minute funeral-related) tickets in May? in saver Y that were not available if I wasn't logged in to my 1K account.
That said, I guess I don't know they wouldn't have been available to a Silver.
That said, I guess I don't know they wouldn't have been available to a Silver.
#25
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA Plat 1MM, Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold/SVN 3 Star Elite, ICG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 242
Huh? How does one log in at the second level?
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
I think what OP is describing is a unique "feature" of CO's web site that operates like this:
1. If you've never logged in, you get one set of behaviors,
2. If you have logged in, then you leave, and come back, the site knows who you are, and then you get a different set of behaviors,
3. If you log out then log back in, in the same session, such that you actively entered your password in the current session, then you get a third set of behaviors.
I posted a whole thread about this topic a couple months ago documenting specific behavioral differences I encountered in these 3 scenarios regarding saver fare availability.
That's the key point here. My research is suggesting that there is no incremental benefit to having status above Silver in regards to award availability. There are benefits for being an "elite" in terms of availability, for sure, and especially in X/XN (saver Y that you mention). But, there does not seem to be any availability related benefit to having status above Silver.
1. If you've never logged in, you get one set of behaviors,
2. If you have logged in, then you leave, and come back, the site knows who you are, and then you get a different set of behaviors,
3. If you log out then log back in, in the same session, such that you actively entered your password in the current session, then you get a third set of behaviors.
I posted a whole thread about this topic a couple months ago documenting specific behavioral differences I encountered in these 3 scenarios regarding saver fare availability.
I think the benefit is actually limited to greater availability of domestic Y saver awards. Can't say I've ever seen anything better internationally or in F, but I did book some (last-minute funeral-related) tickets in May? in saver Y that were not available if I wasn't logged in to my 1K account.
That said, I guess I don't know they wouldn't have been available to a Silver.
That said, I guess I don't know they wouldn't have been available to a Silver.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Sep 10, 2013 at 7:56 am Reason: merge
#28
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Silicon wasteland
Programs: UA 1KMM
Posts: 1,379
XN is available to all elites whereas IN is supposed to be Platinum or above. So, XN is not an "incremental" benefit of achieving anything beyond Silver. IN, in contrast, is supposed to be an incremental benefit for PP and higher.
.....
I'll have the same access to saver inventory as I would if I were PP and there seems to be no other benefit that justifies attaining PP when I don't have to fly that many miles this year anyway.
.....
I'll have the same access to saver inventory as I would if I were PP and there seems to be no other benefit that justifies attaining PP when I don't have to fly that many miles this year anyway.
Not sure I'd fly an extra 25k miles for that.... that's a lot more $$ than a single award change fee is.
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
mitchmu -- there is one other thing to consider... the lack of change / close-in fees as a 0P vs 1P. That, in itself, "effectively" opens up a huge additional chunk of award space and flexibility "for free" (as opposed for $150). I don't know how much you value fixing travel dates well in advance, but if you don't (like me), then consider that as a positive.
Not sure I'd fly an extra 25k miles for that.... that's a lot more $$ than a single award change fee is.
Not sure I'd fly an extra 25k miles for that.... that's a lot more $$ than a single award change fee is.
#30
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: UA 1K/MM, EK Gold, CX Silver
Posts: 877
I have seen differences in X and XN quite frequently, and twice that I recall between I and IN.
A few weeks ago I grabbed an IN for my wife on EWR TLV route - I stopped on the subway platform to do it, so I remember. That was at T-23:50hrs, IN1 I0.
A few weeks ago I grabbed an IN for my wife on EWR TLV route - I stopped on the subway platform to do it, so I remember. That was at T-23:50hrs, IN1 I0.