Dec 27, 2016, 9:23 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
United's Announcement and FAQ
Kacee's Interpretation
Main Impact Since October 6
Useful Links
This is an archive thread, the active thread is Award booking questions/ issues/ routing/ excursionist problems / help
Kacee's Interpretation
Main Impact Since October 6
- Fee Changes such as platinum members are subject to various award fees
- No more free stopover - replaced with Excursionist Perk
- Agents no longer have the ability to find routings that do not show up on united.com
- Manually constructing trips using multi-city search results in multiple award fares being charged
- Changing any segment MIGHT require current availability for all existing Os&Ds in the PNR (as if a brand new booking is made) - YMMV
- Singapore Airlines segments are priced separately (add-ons)
Useful Links
This is an archive thread, the active thread is Award booking questions/ issues/ routing/ excursionist problems / help
UA award booking,change questions/fees/issues/routing/excursionist problems {Archive}
Aug 3, 2016, 8:05 am
#1
Company Representative, United Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chicago, Houston, or somewhere in between
Posts: 2,176
UA award booking,change questions/fees/issues/routing/excursionist problems {Archive}
Hi everyone,
A heads up that we have some updates regarding award travel coming to the MileagePlus program effective October 6, 2016. We’re always looking for ways to make our program easier to navigate and booking multi-city itineraries is something our customers have been asking that we improve. At a high level, this includes enhancements to booking multi-city MileagePlus award travel and streamlined change/redeposit fees. Additional highlights below for visibility:
The most up-to-date information, including FAQs can be found at www.mileageplusupdates.com.
Thank you,
-UA Insider
A heads up that we have some updates regarding award travel coming to the MileagePlus program effective October 6, 2016. We’re always looking for ways to make our program easier to navigate and booking multi-city itineraries is something our customers have been asking that we improve. At a high level, this includes enhancements to booking multi-city MileagePlus award travel and streamlined change/redeposit fees. Additional highlights below for visibility:
The most up-to-date information, including FAQs can be found at www.mileageplusupdates.com.
Thank you,
-UA Insider
Aug 3, 2016, 8:15 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,345
Wow is about all i can say. Sounds like UA can't be bothered fixing their pathetic website so to allow users to book multi-city awards they have to use more miles and book them all as one-ways. With the "one free award ticket within a multi-city award" I suppose there are ways to come up with cheaper options but they will be few and far between?
Oh and look at those fees. Plats are not going to be happy about this at all. Golds and silvers also affected.
-RM
Oh and look at those fees. Plats are not going to be happy about this at all. Golds and silvers also affected.
-RM
Aug 3, 2016, 8:21 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,930
I think that this is a mixed bag for Golds. On the plus side, cancelling award flights will only cost $25 if you are 2 months out and only $60 inside 2 months (down from $100 anytime). On the minus side, inside 2 months you need to pay more for changes and all changes incur a fee. On balance, more downside than upside IMO
Aug 3, 2016, 8:24 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: KEWR
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, Hyatt Plat, National Exec, GE/Nexus
Posts: 501
Huge loss for me - as a Plat, I lose the ability to book/cancel last-minute award tickets without fees. 
(ps I have to book my stopover RT ticket asap before they charge me extra miles!)
(ps I have to book my stopover RT ticket asap before they charge me extra miles!)
Aug 3, 2016, 8:30 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: ORD-LAS
Programs: UA MM 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 4,419
Platinums lose out here. Whats the diffrence between Plat and Gold now? A few more upgrades?
Aug 3, 2016, 8:32 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K and MM, Marriot, Hilton
Posts: 804
Well Platinums best benefit is now gone. Nice work
Aug 3, 2016, 8:46 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, HH Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 383
I didn't realize it was a Friday afternoon...
Aug 3, 2016, 8:50 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tx
Programs: AA, UA, WN
Posts: 812
61 days....geez....will this mean that better reward availability be opened up before then?....why remove the 21 day rule?
Aug 3, 2016, 8:57 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 9,677
Will the system price correctly when valid routings are inputted without stopover?
For example, USA to Australia awards (40k saver economy) allow routing via Asia.. but if you input USA-Asia one-way (35k saver economy), followed by Asia-Australia one-way 20k saver economy (assuming < 6 hrs between one-ways), will it price correctly?
For example, USA to Australia awards (40k saver economy) allow routing via Asia.. but if you input USA-Asia one-way (35k saver economy), followed by Asia-Australia one-way 20k saver economy (assuming < 6 hrs between one-ways), will it price correctly?
Aug 3, 2016, 8:58 am
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
It's unclear exactly how this is going to work. Note there is no mention of OJ. But they are making very clear that the stopover is going to be limited to same region.
Despite the uncertainty, it's a good bet these changes will result in a net increase in award pricing for many itineraries.
Yep. Really a low blow.
On the positive side, they've reduced the redeposit fee for GM to $125. That's a big deal.
Despite the uncertainty, it's a good bet these changes will result in a net increase in award pricing for many itineraries.
Yep. Really a low blow.
On the positive side, they've reduced the redeposit fee for GM to $125. That's a big deal.
Aug 3, 2016, 9:01 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,464
Oof
Doesn't look so good.
Aug 3, 2016, 9:02 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,317
Really hard not to be cynical regarding how UA treats its best travelers....
Aug 3, 2016, 9:03 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAS, ZQN
Programs: UA PP (2MM), BA gold
Posts: 2,202
Another enhancement which takes away benefits.
Where is that pendulum - must be closer to swinging the other way!
Where is that pendulum - must be closer to swinging the other way!
Aug 3, 2016, 9:04 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
This is what I'm concerned about. It was possible in the past to create some pretty complex OJ routings...
Aug 3, 2016, 9:09 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Another way to see this is copying AA of ~2011(?) and DL changes of 11/2014. UA has been notably more generous in award construction. Of course they want to 'fix' that.