Feb 9, 2019, 5:12 pm
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}
Jun 3, 2017, 11:49 am
#1831
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: 1K---2,909,450 BIS miles
Posts: 214
Another stunt by United!!!! No one will be denied boarding with a confirmed seat!!! Since a Basic Economy fare holder does not have a confirmed seat, so it is rightful not to allow the passenger to board! The company can stretch it further by not refunding money to the passenger for the rightful reason that the ticket is not refundable and changeable!!! Wow!! What a good way to boost bottom line! All managers who has a profit sharing plan will see a bonus check for the year of increased bottom line, but may loose his/her job when the company file Chapter 11 or restructuring! The unfortunate part is losing all loyal customers along the way. Of course UA does not care since they can file another Chapter 11 and start all over again!!!Way to go, United!!
Jun 3, 2017, 11:53 am
#1832
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
Another stunt by United!!!! No one will be denied boarding with a confirmed seat!!! Since a Basic Economy fare holder does not have a confirmed seat, so it is rightful not to allow the passenger to board! The company can stretch it further by not refunding money to the passenger for the rightful reason that the ticket is not refundable and changeable!!! Wow!! What a good way to boost bottom line! All managers who has a profit sharing plan will see a bonus check for the year of increased bottom line, but may loose his/her job when the company file Chapter 11 or restructuring! The unfortunate part is losing all loyal customers along the way. Of course UA does not care since they can file another Chapter 11 and start all over again!!!Way to go, United!!
The ticket is not refundable or changeable by the customer, UA can change it or refund it as needed. Most of your post is just nonsense.
Jun 3, 2017, 12:04 pm
#1833
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA 1K 25 years/2MM, Honors LT Diamond, AVIS & Hertz Prez Club
Posts: 4,753
Five days later, and many many complaints on our internal blog on travel policy the company announced BE fares would be blocked on our booking engine. It seems once UA loaded them widely and high status pax started getting E- middle seats, calmer heads prevailed.
Perhaps this is part of UA's thinking - some early pain for business fliers, but the big corporate firms will add filters to prevent these fares from being purchased in the first place, so no need to add up-fare flexibility.
Jun 4, 2017, 10:43 am
#1834
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Houston/DC
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 564
Jun 4, 2017, 11:15 am
#1835
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
David
Jun 4, 2017, 11:30 am
#1836
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,184
Any ticket, including a BE ticket, can be a confirmed reservation even though it does not have a seat assignment.
Jun 4, 2017, 12:57 pm
#1837
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Just noticed that GF is now actively flagging quite clearly UA fares that are BE. Interestingly though they aren't flagging DL fares.
I wonder what gives on the back-end that's preventing GF from passing through the DL BE fare info but allows them to flag the UA fares. Either way it's a big negative for UA
I wonder what gives on the back-end that's preventing GF from passing through the DL BE fare info but allows them to flag the UA fares. Either way it's a big negative for UA
Jun 4, 2017, 1:01 pm
#1838
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ Diamond/*G, IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,239
Just noticed that GF is now actively flagging quite clearly UA fares that are BE. Interestingly though they aren't flagging DL fares.
I wonder what gives on the back-end that's preventing GF from passing through the DL BE fare info but allows them to flag the UA fares. Either way it's a big negative for UA
I wonder what gives on the back-end that's preventing GF from passing through the DL BE fare info but allows them to flag the UA fares. Either way it's a big negative for UA
Jun 4, 2017, 1:09 pm
#1839
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Looking at our corporate booking tool (Fortune 50 company) it seems that Concur does display Basic Economy fares where they exist but also lists other fares that are in policy (anything within $200 of lowest logical fare) so anyone paying attention can book away from the Basic Economy fares as long as the spread is less than $200 (this looks to hold true regardless of airline).
Jun 4, 2017, 2:12 pm
#1840
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Click thru to book that Google Flights fare, however, and the first Delta screen shows it's a Basic Economy fare, with restrictions delineated and a check-to -accept box (with the higher Main Cabin fare shown and available for purchase as temptation).
Jun 6, 2017, 10:13 am
#1841
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA Gold, SPG Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 991
$30 premium to escape BE SFO-SAN but only $15 SAN-SFO. Why the difference?
UA BE matches the WN and Alaska/Virgin fares. So basically $45 more to fly UA for the same level of service as the other airlines.
For the first time in years, UA has me checking other airlines for airfares rather than just booking UA without fare shopping. I booked AS for the first time last month since I became a UA flyer!
UA BE matches the WN and Alaska/Virgin fares. So basically $45 more to fly UA for the same level of service as the other airlines.
For the first time in years, UA has me checking other airlines for airfares rather than just booking UA without fare shopping. I booked AS for the first time last month since I became a UA flyer!
Jun 6, 2017, 11:02 am
#1842
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,361
$30 premium to escape BE SFO-SAN but only $15 SAN-SFO. Why the difference?
UA BE matches the WN and Alaska/Virgin fares. So basically $45 more to fly UA for the same level of service as the other airlines.
For the first time in years, UA has me checking other airlines for airfares rather than just booking UA without fare shopping. I booked AS for the first time last month since I became a UA flyer!
UA BE matches the WN and Alaska/Virgin fares. So basically $45 more to fly UA for the same level of service as the other airlines.
For the first time in years, UA has me checking other airlines for airfares rather than just booking UA without fare shopping. I booked AS for the first time last month since I became a UA flyer!
Jun 6, 2017, 11:52 am
#1843
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,414
UA BE matches the WN and Alaska/Virgin fares. So basically $45 more to fly UA for the same level of service as the other airlines.
For the first time in years, UA has me checking other airlines for airfares rather than just booking UA without fare shopping. I booked AS for the first time last month since I became a UA flyer!
For the first time in years, UA has me checking other airlines for airfares rather than just booking UA without fare shopping. I booked AS for the first time last month since I became a UA flyer!
Jun 6, 2017, 12:55 pm
#1844
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,164
$30 premium to escape BE SFO-SAN but only $15 SAN-SFO. Why the difference?
UA BE matches the WN and Alaska/Virgin fares. So basically $45 more to fly UA for the same level of service as the other airlines.
For the first time in years, UA has me checking other airlines for airfares rather than just booking UA without fare shopping. I booked AS for the first time last month since I became a UA flyer!
UA BE matches the WN and Alaska/Virgin fares. So basically $45 more to fly UA for the same level of service as the other airlines.
For the first time in years, UA has me checking other airlines for airfares rather than just booking UA without fare shopping. I booked AS for the first time last month since I became a UA flyer!
Since this is a "non-revenue" trip for the company I have to book lowest available and almost got forced into BE until I pointed out its numerous drawbacks. Had I been forced to book BE for UA I would have shopped other carriers and other airports to avoid id.
Jun 6, 2017, 10:21 pm
#1845
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
Ah got it - that's unfortunate for UA. Makes their decision on that front even more boneheaded since it's flagged up front.
Looking at our corporate booking tool (Fortune 50 company) it seems that Concur does display Basic Economy fares where they exist but also lists other fares that are in policy (anything within $200 of lowest logical fare) so anyone paying attention can book away from the Basic Economy fares as long as the spread is less than $200 (this looks to hold true regardless of airline).
Looking at our corporate booking tool (Fortune 50 company) it seems that Concur does display Basic Economy fares where they exist but also lists other fares that are in policy (anything within $200 of lowest logical fare) so anyone paying attention can book away from the Basic Economy fares as long as the spread is less than $200 (this looks to hold true regardless of airline).
Then under the flight time it says "carry-on bags restricted"
That said, it could use a big red box, moving fast you might miss it.
But there was a big difference when I just looked. I just booked SFO-SEA-SFO out on Sunday 6/11, back on Tuesday 6/13. Delta just has a regular fare and it cost me $479 RT. United offers me a $447 with all of the warnings, and then when directed to the UA site, UA offers me regular Economy for an extra $30 (same $479).
This is the first time I have actually seen United be cheaper, but at the same time it comes with some major warnings. While I think it is crazy to offer BE on high fares like this, it is actually (in this case at least) a discount. But on these type of close in fares, I wonder how many people who might had just booked UA if the flights were the same price will be put off by the mandatory baggage charge, unaware you can upfare it? Put another way, at least on Google it looks like you are being forced into a cheaper/worse experience.
Last edited by spin88; Jun 6, 2017 at 10:32 pm