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}
Sep 10, 2017, 11:57 am
#2746
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
United Express Flight 3411 Review and Action Report
and it is posted in the wiki of http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...solidated.html
No they will not, elites are exempt unless only elites remain and then it is by status. So the GS scenario would never happen.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 10, 2017 at 1:12 pm Reason: repair link
Sep 10, 2017, 12:02 pm
#2747
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
Note that previously, UA did not publish the details (and the CoC still just lists factors, without explaining how they are applied). This was itself a DOT violation, because under 14 CFR 250.9 they are supposed to publish their "boarding priority rules and criteria." Like so much else, DOT never enforced this.
Sep 10, 2017, 12:05 pm
#2748
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
UA claims the list is computer generated and the GA just follows the list. I suppose some GAs might try to apply some discretion.
Sep 10, 2017, 12:45 pm
#2749
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
It says "First" they will deny boarding to passengers without a seat assignment. It then says "Customers with frequent flyer status will not be involuntarily denied boarding." These two statements are contradictory. I believe that you're correct -- and I missed the second statement when I first replied -- but this was unnecessarily confusing.
Agreed. VDBs are handled basically the same way -- GAs have a ton of discretion. That's great when the GA in one of the organized, motivated ones, and it's a mess otherwise.
Sep 10, 2017, 1:04 pm
#2750
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,164
So I'm a fan of discretion
Sep 10, 2017, 1:14 pm
#2751
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,888
I had thought IDB was always based on check-in time.
I purchased a ticket for my niece to return to MCO after the storm passes...
last night I was watching the fares quickly climb, so I grabbed the UA BE fare for $60. The regular economy fare was $100. If had realized that seat assignments were given at the gate and not at check-in, I woulda paid the additional $40.
I purchased a ticket for my niece to return to MCO after the storm passes...
last night I was watching the fares quickly climb, so I grabbed the UA BE fare for $60. The regular economy fare was $100. If had realized that seat assignments were given at the gate and not at check-in, I woulda paid the additional $40.
Check in time is certainly a factor in being IDBd, but definitely not the only factor.
Sep 10, 2017, 6:27 pm
#2752
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
The Wiki doesn't say anything about OLCI. Here is what United says :
"Q: How does the check-in process work with Basic Economy tickets?
A: With Basic Economy, you'll only be able to check in for your flight through united.com"
Does that mean that OLCI is possible? But seat assignment is not at that stage?
I am confused and apologize if this has been asked before.
"Q: How does the check-in process work with Basic Economy tickets?
A: With Basic Economy, you'll only be able to check in for your flight through united.com"
Does that mean that OLCI is possible? But seat assignment is not at that stage?
I am confused and apologize if this has been asked before.
Sep 10, 2017, 7:30 pm
#2753
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
The Wiki doesn't say anything about OLCI. Here is what United says :
"Q: How does the check-in process work with Basic Economy tickets?
A: With Basic Economy, you'll only be able to check in for your flight through united.com"
Does that mean that OLCI is possible? But seat assignment is not at that stage?
I am confused and apologize if this has been asked before.
"Q: How does the check-in process work with Basic Economy tickets?
A: With Basic Economy, you'll only be able to check in for your flight through united.com"
Does that mean that OLCI is possible? But seat assignment is not at that stage?
I am confused and apologize if this has been asked before.
You may or may not get a seat assignment. If you do not, it will be assigned at the gate. If you have more than one flight, you may get an immediate seat assignment for some flights but not for others.
Sep 10, 2017, 9:32 pm
#2754
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, UA Premier Silver
Posts: 114
Family of four (all adults), difference between BE and Economy is about $60 pp ($240 total), no elite status with UA and no Co branded CC. Planning to check in one bag. Flight operated by RJ with 2-1 seating, so no middle seat (unless EQP swap)
Couple of questions
1. Will UA allow online check in for all four of us even though we are checking in only 1 bag?
2. If denied boarding due on oversold situation, can I expect all four to be bumped off since we are in the same reservation ?
Couple of questions
1. Will UA allow online check in for all four of us even though we are checking in only 1 bag?
2. If denied boarding due on oversold situation, can I expect all four to be bumped off since we are in the same reservation ?
Sep 10, 2017, 9:43 pm
#2755
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
Sep 11, 2017, 8:11 am
#2756
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, UA Premier Silver
Posts: 114
Thanks for your response.. I hope it doesn't happen, but if does happen- will all four be bumped off or is there a possibility only one of us is bumped off ? We can't split our travel, either all go or no one goes.
Sep 11, 2017, 8:15 am
#2757
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,164
In any event, the odds of it happening -- especially now that UA has significantly raised the maximum offer for VDBs -- are practically so remote that you may be better off worrying about just about anything else.
Sep 11, 2017, 9:38 am
#2758
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
You may be able to do OLCI with a BE fare. You will only be able to get a boarding pass if you either have elite status / a United-branded Chase credit card or if you indicate that you're checking at least one bag. Passengers with no status and no luggage have to use the kiosk and likely see an agent. (Depending on how charitable you're feeling, either UA is enforcing the no-carry-on rule extremely strictly or they're trying to make sure that you don't get surprised at the gate with a $50 fee).
You may or may not get a seat assignment. If you do not, it will be assigned at the gate. If you have more than one flight, you may get an immediate seat assignment for some flights but not for others.
You may or may not get a seat assignment. If you do not, it will be assigned at the gate. If you have more than one flight, you may get an immediate seat assignment for some flights but not for others.
Sep 11, 2017, 10:44 am
#2759
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: Hertz PC
Posts: 657
You may be able to do OLCI with a BE fare. You will only be able to get a boarding pass if you either have elite status / a United-branded Chase credit card or if you indicate that you're checking at least one bag. Passengers with no status and no luggage have to use the kiosk and likely see an agent. (Depending on how charitable you're feeling, either UA is enforcing the no-carry-on rule extremely strictly or they're trying to make sure that you don't get surprised at the gate with a $50 fee).
You may or may not get a seat assignment. If you do not, it will be assigned at the gate. If you have more than one flight, you may get an immediate seat assignment for some flights but not for others.
You may or may not get a seat assignment. If you do not, it will be assigned at the gate. If you have more than one flight, you may get an immediate seat assignment for some flights but not for others.
Sep 11, 2017, 10:19 pm
#2760
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 747
United to scale back basic economy
https://skift.com/2017/09/11/united-...-expands-them/
https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/...y-fare-in.html
http://www.investors.com/news/harvey...ashes-outlook/
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Too many BE fares getting E+ seats due to no seat assignment at booking has to be one of the issues. Pay more but get less (pay less get more) tends to irritate your customers.
https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/...y-fare-in.html
http://www.investors.com/news/harvey...ashes-outlook/
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Too many BE fares getting E+ seats due to no seat assignment at booking has to be one of the issues. Pay more but get less (pay less get more) tends to irritate your customers.