New "Budget Economy" fares
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: UA 1k, AA EXPLT, NZ GE, VA PLT Hyatt Diam, Marr Plat, HH Diam
Posts: 3,436
New "Budget Economy" fares
UA appears to be testing functionality for its new "Budget Economy" fares. Saw a pop-up on .bomb asking whether indeed I wanted to confirm the "Budget Economy" option, which noted that it would NOT provide for seat selection (until 24h check-in), E+, UPGs, and ability to change flights. Did not indicate that M+ miles wouldn't be earned, so am assuming that still will be the case. Appears solely to be beta-testing, but at least we now know their name for this no-frills fare.
Moderator Note -- an early mention of "Basic Economy" occurred in United "earnings initiatives" call - 21 June 2016
Moderator Note -- an early mention of "Basic Economy" occurred in United "earnings initiatives" call - 21 June 2016
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 23, 2016 at 11:09 am Reason: Moderator note
#2
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,361
Moderator Note -- the discussion of the new DOT rule on Family Seating has been moved to http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...y-seating.html
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 23, 2016 at 10:59 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
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Don't forget, if this were to happen for all airlines, that's how you will be treated when you fly them. If you want an airline without seat assignments, feel free to book WN and the ULCCs
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 23, 2016 at 10:45 am Reason: splitting post to seperate subjects
#4
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 502
UA appears to be testing functionality for its new "Budget Economy" fares. Saw a pop-up on .bomb asking whether indeed I wanted to confirm the "Budget Economy" option, which noted that it would NOT provide for seat selection (until 24h check-in), E+, UPGs, and ability to change flights. Did not indicate that M+ miles wouldn't be earned, so am assuming that still will be the case. Appears solely to be beta-testing, but at least we now know their name for this no-frills fare.
#5
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,319
I wonder whether award flights now will book into these "budget" fares? And if so, would it mean no E+ for premier members on award tickets?
#6
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: UA peon (+decades 1K), AA Exec Plt
Posts: 1,115
So United will offer a 'super' low cost fare but not give the purchaser the opportunity to add +30% to their fare by purchasing E+?
Isn't this pricing and denying upgrades and seat selection only an effort to 'encourage' the elite flyer to not buy the 'super' low cost fare? Didn't PQD work?
The reason low cost fares exist is because others on the plane are paying higher fares and buying perks such that the average earning per pax is above (closer to) break even. Putting more low cost fares on a plane just means there will be more higher fares on the plane; or the plane will earn less revenue/profit. If E+ is selling out on the planes this policy makes sense. If E+ is being given away in significant numbers, this restriction will lose money.
Isn't this pricing and denying upgrades and seat selection only an effort to 'encourage' the elite flyer to not buy the 'super' low cost fare? Didn't PQD work?
The reason low cost fares exist is because others on the plane are paying higher fares and buying perks such that the average earning per pax is above (closer to) break even. Putting more low cost fares on a plane just means there will be more higher fares on the plane; or the plane will earn less revenue/profit. If E+ is selling out on the planes this policy makes sense. If E+ is being given away in significant numbers, this restriction will lose money.
#7
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: MD/DC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, TK Gold
Posts: 1,536
Oh, I'm sure they will allow you to purchase up a seat assignment in the E+ section, as they do now if you are not eligible for it. It just you will not be able to get it without paying (in advance) even if you otherwise eligible for it.
#8
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Denver, Colorado
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Posts: 1,736
I think limiting more seat assignments until check-in actually helps get families seated together. Provided everyone is traveling on the same PNR, it should be easy to manually or automatically assign seats together from a larger open pool of unassigned seats. Personally, I think all non-elites should wait until check-in for seat assignments.
My problem is with people who buy these fares knowing very well that they are taking a big risk that the family wont be sitting together, and then ..... and moan or feign ignorance and make it everyone else's problem. Drives me nuts when I plan ahead, pay extra whatever and then get hit with someone who wants to change now because they want to sit with their husband, wife etc etc etc..
#9
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: UA peon (+decades 1K), AA Exec Plt
Posts: 1,115
UA appears to be testing functionality for its new "Budget Economy" fares. Saw a pop-up on .bomb asking whether indeed I wanted to confirm the "Budget Economy" option, which noted that it would NOT provide for seat selection (until 24h check-in), E+, UPGs, and ability to change flights. Did not indicate that M+ miles wouldn't be earned, so am assuming that still will be the case. Appears solely to be beta-testing, but at least we now know their name for this no-frills fare.
#10
#11
Join Date: Jan 2014
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#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,960
My concern is if the corporate booking engines will filter those things out. If not (because it picks the lowest fares), then we are in big trouble.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
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Posts: 14,854
UA wants to use these fares to fill seats that might otherwise go unsold at higher fares, so this will mostly be to leisure destinations. Expanding these to saver awards doesn't really fit into that strategy, IME.
Moderator Note -- the discussion of the new DOT rule on Family Seating has been moved to http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...y-seating.html
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 23, 2016 at 10:58 am Reason: Moderator Note
#14
Moderator: United Airlines
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The side discussion on the new DOT rule on Family Seating was been broken out as a separate topic, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...y-seating.html
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
#15
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: MD/DC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, TK Gold
Posts: 1,536
If I was united it would be implemented exactly as buy up for E+ or first class implemented today when one does not have access to those seats.
Of course people who will purchase this fare will not be very sensitive to buy up options. So they might just implement some pilots and test various options around it before officially launching the service.