Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread -- the active thread is United's Basic Economy - Discussion, Q&A, ...
Important Note: these fares became available 21 Feb 2017 for MSP for travel beginning 18 Apr 2017. More markets were added 19 April 2017 for travel starting 9 May 2017.
Related thread: Basic Economy Airport and Plane Experiences (First or Second Hand)
If you booked before the dates above, you did not have a BE fare. If purchased on united.com you will see a warning like:
4. MileagePlus members will earn full Premier qualifying dollars, 50% Premier qualifying miles and 0.5 Premier qualifying segments for each flight, as well as lifetime miles and toward the four-segment minimum.
Link to UA's description of how these fares will work: Basic Economy.
Here are the key facts:
related threads
New UA/*A TATL -LGT Economy fare - no free first bag, no changes/upgrades allowed
Benefit impact of restricted economy fares on UA Elites (Basic Econ, -LGT, Light Econ
Pre-announcement speculation thread (now closed) New "Budget Economy" fares
Important Note: these fares became available 21 Feb 2017 for MSP for travel beginning 18 Apr 2017. More markets were added 19 April 2017 for travel starting 9 May 2017.
Related thread: Basic Economy Airport and Plane Experiences (First or Second Hand)
If you booked before the dates above, you did not have a BE fare. If purchased on united.com you will see a warning like:
4. MileagePlus members will earn full Premier qualifying dollars, 50% Premier qualifying miles and 0.5 Premier qualifying segments for each flight, as well as lifetime miles and toward the four-segment minimum.
Link to UA's description of how these fares will work: Basic Economy.
Here are the key facts:
- No seat assignments until check-in. Seats will be assigned by the system and cannot be changed.*NEW* When purchasing a Basic Economy ticket, you will not receive a complimentary seat assignment but may be able to purchase advance seat assignments during booking and up until check-in opens. If you don’t purchase an advance seat assignment, your seat will be automatically assigned to you prior to boarding, and you won't be able to change your seat once it's been assigned.
- No guarantee of adjacent seats with companions
- No voluntary ticket changes after 24 hour purchase period
- Carry on limited to 1 personal item unless the customer is a MP Premier member, primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card, or Star Alliance *G
- Customers ineligible for carry-on who bring one to the gate will be charged a $25 convenience fee to gate-check in addition to standard baggage fees (source: @united twitter)
- Customers will not be eligible for Economy Plus or premium cabin upgrades. This includes all forms of upgrades (CPU,supported or purchased). Likewise for E+ access (elite or purchased).
- Customers will board in the last boarding group (currently Group 5) unless the customer is a MP Premier member, primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card, or Star Alliance *G
- Companions on same PNR will have same boarding group and carryon if one on the PNR has a waiver
- No combinability with regular economy fares or partner carriers. Interline travel is not permitted.
- Tickets will earn RDMs (based on fare and status), PQMs (50% of distance), PQSs (0.5), PQDs, in addition it will count for minimum 4 segment and lifetime miles (New as of Dec 2018)
- Basic Economy tickets will use booking code 'N'
- Online check-in only with paid checked bag, otherwise need to see a United representative to verify the onboard bag allowance and receive a boarding pass.
related threads
New UA/*A TATL -LGT Economy fare - no free first bag, no changes/upgrades allowed
Benefit impact of restricted economy fares on UA Elites (Basic Econ, -LGT, Light Econ
Pre-announcement speculation thread (now closed) New "Budget Economy" fares
United's Basic Economy - Discussion, Q&A, ... {Archive}
#1306
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But you'd think they'd make this part of the PR campaign if there was a connection.
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If UA was getting rid of basic economy, I think they would garner a more meaningful response if they present it as part of the response to the IDB incident (which Oscar mentioned will be on or before 4/30). "In addition to X, Y, Z changes, we will also be eliminating basic economy fares as part of our refocus on customer-friendly initiatives..."
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So, either this is a bug and they are not getting rid of this stupid program, or they mean to get rid of it but their PR dept is in deep slumber.
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BE discount is/was not really large enough to be competitive with the lccs.
As with PQD, PQM; PQS, those upset with BE have already been considered to be too small a market segment and already written off.
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"We have already taken steps to better serve our customers by eliminating restrictions on Basic Economy fares, etc."
The new reality at United must be strategic thinking...chess moves 3 steps ahead. Tactical responses are not enough.
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My impression was BE was toted as a tool to compete with low cost carriers to the investors and increase revenues. As such dying silently in the night would be a good death for UAL investor relations.
BE discount is/was not really large enough to be competitive with the lccs.
As with PQD, PQM; PQS, those upset with BE have already been considered to be too small a market segment and already written off.
BE discount is/was not really large enough to be competitive with the lccs.
As with PQD, PQM; PQS, those upset with BE have already been considered to be too small a market segment and already written off.
#1318
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But BE fares have already been sold. What about those who bought BE fares when they were available.
Perhaps this was done temporarily while they sort through the bad stuff happening now. Perhaps they saw something logistical that they wanted to sort out before enforcing the BE restrictions. Or, as mentioned above, perhaps just a glitch.
Anyone actually buy a BE fare - what does the res show now?
Perhaps this was done temporarily while they sort through the bad stuff happening now. Perhaps they saw something logistical that they wanted to sort out before enforcing the BE restrictions. Or, as mentioned above, perhaps just a glitch.
Anyone actually buy a BE fare - what does the res show now?
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It then goes on to list a $200 change fee (?) with language I've never seen before:
IN THE EVENT OF CHANGES TO TICKETED FLIGHTS
FOR WHV PSGR
BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY AND WITHIN TICKET
VALIDITY
CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE
OVERRIDDEN BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES
CHARGE USD 200.00 FOR REISSUE OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL
CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - DISCOUNTS APPLY - NO FEE
FOR INFANTS W/O SEAT AND
REPRICE USING CURRENT FARES - ONLY BOOKING CODE
CHANGES PERMITTED
FOR WHV PSGR
BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY AND WITHIN TICKET
VALIDITY
CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE
OVERRIDDEN BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES
CHARGE USD 200.00 FOR REISSUE OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL
CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - DISCOUNTS APPLY - NO FEE
FOR INFANTS W/O SEAT AND
REPRICE USING CURRENT FARES - ONLY BOOKING CODE
CHANGES PERMITTED
- NONREF/NOCHGS/NOCBBG/NOASR - IN THE ENDORSEMENT BOX."
I'm guessing that someone was messing around and broke something earlier today. I don't think UA is trying to roll this back.