Dec 14, 2014, 1:08 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: MattR23

UPDATE 4/11/16: Expert Mode is back for revenue flight searches. You may need to log out and back in again to see it appear. Expert mode currently does not appear in award flight searches.

As of at least 3/20/16, Expert mode either does not display in searches or displays information which may not be accurate. United IT is aware of the issue but no timeline for a fix has been released.

As a workaround to see if there's available upgrade space, use the Advanced Search feature and select the upgrade type. On the flight search results page, you'll see green up arrows when upgrade space is available. Otherwise, a yellow up arrow will indicate that the segment is waitlist only.

***

How to enable Expert Mode:

- Go to 'My Account” on United.com
- Scroll down to 'Profile', select 'Manage Profile'
- 'View All Flight Search Preferences', where one has to check the box:
- [X] I acknowledge these considerations and choose to enable Expert Mode.

Used to work but now does not:

- Make sure you are fully logged on

United.com has a soft login and a full login mode. When you come back after a previous visit to the home page, it may remember you and display your account info. This is the soft login mode and occurs because you select “Remember Me.” Soft login is not sufficient for Expert Mode, so some do not use the “Remember Me” function due to the confusion it creates.
For access to Expert Mode and most account details, you need first to do a formal login. You can force this by attempting to access your profile or itinerary details or accessing your mileage posting history or …
You will lose the full logged-in status by closing the browser window or after some period of time or ….

- Only works in flight search mode
- Make sure you really are registered for expert mode (some find it gets disabled / unchecked)
- Clear UA cookies
- Try another browser / computer

If you had been using a browser extension to auto display fare buckets, check to make sure it is still installed. Browser updates sometimes disable browser extensions.

What is Expert Mode ? -- see Expert Mode Update: better upgrade visibility and opt-in to see fare bucket data

Expert Mode fare information not visible or working [REPAIRED for rev. searches].

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Feb 26, 2016 | 4:14 pm

#46

Silver Fox

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Apr 2009

Location: Democratic People's Republic of the UK

Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet

Posts: 21,936

If you are wanting to see the fare classes you now have to click on "Details" for the particular flight that is returned. But you have to make sure you are logged in, as I have been caught by the United "false" login - I can see "Hi Mr Silver Fox" in the top right hand corner but I am not really logged in. So, double check you are logged in by logging in again.

Feb 27, 2016 | 10:01 am

#47

chavala

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: MFR

Programs: UA 1K 2MM

Posts: 3,339

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Fox

But you have to make sure you are logged in, as I have been caught by the United "false" login - I can see "Hi Mr Silver Fox" in the top right hand corner but I am not really logged in. So, double check you are logged in by logging in again.

I thought they fixed this glitch? I haven't had it happen in a long time.

Feb 27, 2016 | 10:46 am

#48

Silver Fox

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Apr 2009

Location: Democratic People's Republic of the UK

Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet

Posts: 21,936

Quote:

Originally Posted by chavala

I thought they fixed this glitch? I haven't had it happen in a long time.

Happens constantly to me. YMMV.

Feb 27, 2016 | 12:43 pm

#49

mduell

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: May 2007

Location: Houston

Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Plat

Posts: 13,346

Quote:

Originally Posted by chavala

I thought they fixed this glitch? I haven't had it happen in a long time.

Nope, it's happening constantly for me. I have to clear cookies every time before I login otherwise the homepage login only does a half login.

Feb 27, 2016 | 5:45 pm

#50

jsn55

Join Date: Jun 2006

Location: san francisco

Programs: No airline status whatsoever, Chase URs, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum

Posts: 577

Thanks so much, guys. I actually found it myself about an hour ago. I had forgotten that last time I used it was on the old website. Now I just have to figure out what the fare basis codes mean ... I think there are some fares that will upgrade with $ at the time of purchase but don't know how that works. Has anybody tried this?

Feb 27, 2016 | 11:29 pm

#51

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 73,184

Quote:

Originally Posted by judyserienagy

Thanks so much, guys. I actually found it myself about an hour ago. I had forgotten that last time I used it was on the old website. Now I just have to figure out what the fare basis codes mean ...

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...uckets-ua.html

Going more deeply in decoding fare basis is not likely to be successful without access to the fare rules.

Quote:

Originally Posted by judyserienagy

.. I think there are some fares that will upgrade with $ at the time of purchase but don't know how that works. Has anybody tried this?

Any fare can be upfared. Also on any fare you may be offered a "discount" upgrade to something called UPDI fare which provide domestic F access.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...cm-united.html

Mar 17, 2016 | 12:11 am

#52

adambadam

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: California

Programs: AA EXP, lowly UA 1K; Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold; National EC, Hertz PC

Posts: 2,227

Expert mode not showing up for anyone else currently. I am logged in. Even tried different browsers. It was there earlier today.

Mar 17, 2016 | 12:14 am

#53

PVDtoDEL

Join Date: Oct 2010

Location: SEA/ORD/ADB

Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat

Posts: 7,774

Quote:

Originally Posted by adambadam

Expert mode not showing up for anyone else currently. I am logged in. Even tried different browsers. It was there earlier today.

Yep, it's gone for me too.

Mar 17, 2016 | 12:16 am

#54

kseaflyr

Join Date: Dec 2014

Programs: UA Silver, Alaska Gold

Posts: 59

Quote:

Originally Posted by PVDtoDEL

Yep, it's gone for me too.

Ha...just bumped an old thread about this very thing. Not working for me either.

Mar 17, 2016 | 12:24 am

#55

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 73,184

Quote:

Originally Posted by adambadam

Expert mode not showing up for anyone else currently. I am logged in. Even tried different browsers. It was there earlier today.

There appears presently to be a number of site issues. Had trouble logging in, base award miles in flight search is missing, attempt to make a simple SFO-ORD booking and the site errored out, ..... Appears to be very sick.

Mar 17, 2016 | 1:08 am

#56

findark

Flyertalk Evangelist, Moderator: United Airlines MileagePlus

Join Date: Nov 2014

Location: MSP

Programs: DL DM, UA Nostalgist, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found

Posts: 16,145

Oh good, having same problems and glad to see it's not just me. I'm guessing it still has to do with logins not sticking.

Mar 17, 2016 | 4:51 am

#57

MattR23

Join Date: Mar 2014

Location: SFO

Programs: UA 1K, SPG Platinum

Posts: 211

I can't see the expert mode buckets either. If you're checking for waitlisted upgrades, you can go into advanced flight search and select the upgrade you're looking for, you'll get the green arrows to indicate available space. Those seem to work just fine right now. I just called in to clear a waitlisted award miles upgrade on IAD-SFO for myself using this method.