Nov 1, 2013, 4:08 am
Last edit by: aacharya
Moderator Note: Please keep the wiki post limited to just the facts.
New UA Award/Upgrade Chart (vs. Current Chart)
Changes took effect for travel booked starting February 3, 2014. See UA Insider's post linked here for more info about the date change. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22263212-post2366.html
Awards with *A partners now cost more than similar awards flown only on UA metal.
See below for the round-trip increases on partner metal :
Changes to upgrade policy for intra-Asia and northern South America flights
Questions and Answers
Q: If I book an award in January 2014 and then make changes in February or beyond (in routing, airline, origin, destination, etc), will it be repriced according to new mileage requirements, or will I keep the old pricing on that ticket?
Additional details on changing tickets booked prior to 2/3/14 per UA Insider:
Full details are in post #2588 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22283437-post2588.html
Q: Do these rates apply for tickets purchased after Feb 3 or for travel after Feb 3? That is,if one purchases a ticket now, to fly on Mar 15, will that be new or old pricing?
Q: How will award pricing apply to mixed-carrier Saver Awards?
(reverted to J.Edward's rev)
New UA Award/Upgrade Chart (vs. Current Chart)
Changes took effect for travel booked starting February 3, 2014. See UA Insider's post linked here for more info about the date change. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22263212-post2366.html
Awards with *A partners now cost more than similar awards flown only on UA metal.
- F awards on partners went up 40-80%
- J awards on partners went up 20-40%
- F and J awards on UA metal (or mixed carriers where UA metal is in premium cabin followed by partner segment in lower class) as well some Y awards increased by 5-20% (US to Europe in F up 19%, US to Middle East in F up 20% for example)
See below for the round-trip increases on partner metal :
US ✈ Southern South America: +10,000 J, +5,000 F
US ✈ Europe: +40,000 J, +85,000 F
US ✈ Northern/Central/Southern Africa: +40,000 J, +110,000 F
US ✈ Middle East: +5,000 Y, +40,000 J, +130,000 F
US ✈ Central Asia/India: +5,000 Y, +40,000 J, +120,000 F
US ✈ South Asia: +15,000 Y, +40,000 J, +120,000 F
US ✈ North Asia: +5,000 Y, +40,000 J, +100,000 F
US ✈ Japan: +5,000 Y, +30,000 J, +85,000 F
US ✈ Oceania: +30,000 J, +70,000 F
US ✈ Australia/New Zealand: +25,000 J, +100,000 F
RTW: +20,000 Y, +90,000 J, +100,000 F
US ✈ Europe: +40,000 J, +85,000 F
US ✈ Northern/Central/Southern Africa: +40,000 J, +110,000 F
US ✈ Middle East: +5,000 Y, +40,000 J, +130,000 F
US ✈ Central Asia/India: +5,000 Y, +40,000 J, +120,000 F
US ✈ South Asia: +15,000 Y, +40,000 J, +120,000 F
US ✈ North Asia: +5,000 Y, +40,000 J, +100,000 F
US ✈ Japan: +5,000 Y, +30,000 J, +85,000 F
US ✈ Oceania: +30,000 J, +70,000 F
US ✈ Australia/New Zealand: +25,000 J, +100,000 F
RTW: +20,000 Y, +90,000 J, +100,000 F
Changes to upgrade policy for intra-Asia and northern South America flights
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades and instant upgrades are not applicable
- Regional Premier Upgrades (for any fare class) and Global Premier Upgrades (for flights booked in fare class Z, P, S, T, L, K, G or N) can no longer be requested on or after November 1, 2013
- There is no co-pay exemption for MileagePlus Upgrade Awards requested on or after November 1, 2013
- The above changes do not apply to Copa-operated flights.
Questions and Answers
Q: If I book an award in January 2014 and then make changes in February or beyond (in routing, airline, origin, destination, etc), will it be repriced according to new mileage requirements, or will I keep the old pricing on that ticket?
Our existing change process will apply. Changes to awards that require a change in date do not result in a change to the award price. Any other change will require an add/collect in miles and fees for changes or cancellations will still apply as per our existing policies.
Changes that will not trigger a re-price for itineraries ticketed before February 3, 2014 include:
- Date/time (cabin, region, and award type can't change)
- Carrier on one or more segments (cabin, region, and award type can’t change)
- Origin/Destination within the same regions (carrier and cabin can’t change)
Q: Do these rates apply for tickets purchased after Feb 3 or for travel after Feb 3? That is,if one purchases a ticket now, to fly on Mar 15, will that be new or old pricing?
Updated handling for mixed UA-Partner United/partner award itineraries: As we shared with the initial announcement, the Star Alliance/Partner partner award pricing will apply to Business or First awards for itineraries that include at least one flight segment operated by a MileagePlus partner carrier in Business or First.
However, as a customer benefit we have made an exception for most itineraries which require connecting onto a MileagePlus/Star partner in First or Business for a short distance. Specifically, if a United/Copa award itinerary contains a connecting segment on a MileagePlus/Star partner that is wholly within one MileagePlus award region, then the United award price will apply.
However, as a customer benefit we have made an exception for most itineraries which require connecting onto a MileagePlus/Star partner in First or Business for a short distance. Specifically, if a United/Copa award itinerary contains a connecting segment on a MileagePlus/Star partner that is wholly within one MileagePlus award region, then the United award price will apply.
- For example: IAD-FRA in United BusinessFirst connecting to FRA-FCO in Lufthansa Business, will be priced at the United mileage award amount.
- Note that this exception will not apply to a few specific regions and routings, such as intra-Africa connecting segments and certain fifth-freedom routes (e.g. BKK-KUL operated by Lufthansa)
Changes to MileagePlus Award and Upgrade Policies - Eff. 3-Feb-2014
Nov 1, 2013, 4:28 am
#151
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: EZE
Posts: 123
Overall: Horrible with capital "H"
Three bright spots, which mitigate at most 10% of the damage:
1. Economy awards were barely touched. The only major devaluation was US to South Asia going 65k to 80k, which was a great value and is now fair.
2. Western hemisphere awards barely touched. Maybe United miles will be for economy and the Americas while AA/US/DL will be for Europe/Asia and business/first.
3. I think the notice is fare. We get four months to book up to 11 months out. You can fly through 2014 at the good prices.
Again, overall pretty horrible.
Three bright spots, which mitigate at most 10% of the damage:
1. Economy awards were barely touched. The only major devaluation was US to South Asia going 65k to 80k, which was a great value and is now fair.
2. Western hemisphere awards barely touched. Maybe United miles will be for economy and the Americas while AA/US/DL will be for Europe/Asia and business/first.
3. I think the notice is fare. We get four months to book up to 11 months out. You can fly through 2014 at the good prices.
Again, overall pretty horrible.
Nov 1, 2013, 4:32 am
#152
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Asia
Programs: RVT 1K
Posts: 883
Overall pretty horrible? It is a Mileage MASSACRE!
Nov 1, 2013, 4:37 am
#153
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,257
Welll, I've been weaning myself off UA for the past year but now it's official. I'm done. Time to cash out and put 100% of my focus on AA.
Nov 1, 2013, 4:38 am
#154
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
Hi everyone,
I wanted to give you a heads up about some changes we’ll be making to our MileagePlus award chart and upgrade policies. More details, including links to the changes, are listed below.
As always, I’m here and will do my best to answer any clarifying questions you may have.
Aaron Goldberg
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
I wanted to give you a heads up about some changes we’ll be making to our MileagePlus award chart and upgrade policies. More details, including links to the changes, are listed below.
Changes to the award charts take effect for all award tickets issued on or after February 1, 2014. The upgrade policy changes will not impact any flights taken before February 1, 2014.
As always, I’m here and will do my best to answer any clarifying questions you may have.
Aaron Goldberg
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
What exactly does "Different premium cabin mileage levels" mean?
Are you trying to say that you have raised the price to fly in a premium cabin using miles with those words?
Have you eliminated saver awards on partners?
Needless to say, strong thumbs down. Flier friendly? Really???
Nov 1, 2013, 4:38 am
#155
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: NZ
Programs: AA, UA, QF, TK, EY, NZ
Posts: 447
And here I was thinking of switching to UA.. Now a massive reconsider will be underway! Big thumbs down.. If anything, I'd much rather have decent award rates than a Marriott status card. But as things go, it's one step forward, two (probably a whole lot more but you know what I mean) steps back.
Nov 1, 2013, 4:44 am
#156
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: TPA & MCO
Programs: DL Diamond, AA EXP & UA Gold
Posts: 3,046
Nov 1, 2013, 4:45 am
#157
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
That is, if you purchase a ticket now, to fly Mar 15, will that be new or old pricing?
Nov 1, 2013, 4:45 am
#158
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hilton Gold, RA, QF Gold, UA 1K
Posts: 308
most of the first class award increased by 100k round-trip.... 
Nov 1, 2013, 4:46 am
#159
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PBI / FLL / YUL
Programs: UA 1K, Delta Plat, AA Plat, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Courtesy Card
Posts: 1,983
Holy heck, I just woke up to this. Another Friday kick in the face, fantastic. Well, the award redemptions were the only reason I continued to fly United and deal with all the nonsense. I suppose I have some thinking to do.
If AA were smart, they'd send out another wave of status matches. I'd defect in a heartbeat being I already give AA a high percentage of my monthly transcon business.
If AA were smart, they'd send out another wave of status matches. I'd defect in a heartbeat being I already give AA a high percentage of my monthly transcon business.
Last edited by fjfv19; Nov 1, 2013 at 4:51 am
Nov 1, 2013, 4:47 am
#160
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Programs: JAL Global Club & oneworld Sapphire, ANA SFC & Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 3,740
Nov 1, 2013, 4:47 am
#161
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RDU
Programs: UA Plat 2MM, Delta Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott cardboard
Posts: 1,699
COdbaUA is on a roll today. First EF and now this.
Nov 1, 2013, 4:49 am
#162
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,621
Ouch.
Nov 1, 2013, 4:50 am
#163
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Asia
Programs: RVT 1K
Posts: 883
So, I would be tempted to book a bunch and burn my miles but I am not going to book Y seats and then hope to change to C or F after Feb1 and be charged the new rates. I am sure any change made after Feb1 will be at new rates.
As I said before in this thread, I could see an increase in redemption levels but nothing like this ....it is jaw dropping!
Nov 1, 2013, 4:51 am
#164
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: nobody
Posts: 1,837
Already not going to be 1k next year and with CX doing ORD-HKG 2x next Aug. This just makes my decision easier. Thanks UA.
Nov 1, 2013, 4:54 am
#165
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
After the destruction that $mi$ek has brought upon UA, the MP program was the one and only shining light. The singular thing he has not yet destroyed. In every other respect, UA has become an abomination.
I think this will make a big difference. In the past, there was one remaining reason to stay with UA: The MP program. Now, that reason is gone.
The Asian increases, particularly SE Asia are the most striking to me.
As usual, these people can't get their heads out of Texas. It seems this chart was built on the assumption that everyone lives in EWR or IAH.
From SFO, this seems outrageously punitive.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Nov 1, 2013 at 5:28 am Reason: merge