Apr 3, 2019, 8:38 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the master thread is UA MP Saver Award/Upgrade Inventory (& partners) -when is it released?
United Saver Award/Upgrade Inventory (& partners) - when is it released? [Archive]
Sep 11, 2011, 12:26 pm
#136
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
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..I now have 70k miles for a return LHR - HNL trip and want to go next summer.
I can find flights in the next few months at the saver rate but the rates for next summer are all at standard so I can't go without spending some cash.
Does anyone know how the saver rates work? Can I expect there to be more saver rates available later/nearer my preferred departure dates or is the summer always at standard rate? ...
I can find flights in the next few months at the saver rate but the rates for next summer are all at standard so I can't go without spending some cash.
Does anyone know how the saver rates work? Can I expect there to be more saver rates available later/nearer my preferred departure dates or is the summer always at standard rate? ...
Yes there will be saver awards but summer is a popular time and the early saver awards may be gone. Do you have some date flexibility?
Yes it is possible some additionally saver awards might open up but first would explore the options in first paragraph.
Sep 11, 2011, 6:46 pm
#137
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SF CA USA. I love large faceless corporations. And they cherish me in return (sometimes). ;)
Programs: UA Premier Gold/disappointed 1MM, HH Gold, IHG Plat, MB Gold, BW Diam Sel
Posts: 17,575
Evidently, you haven't read this thread carefully. 
Before July, saver domestic Y awards on UA were widely available if you book 5 months to 11 months in advance. XY9 NY9 almost everywhere.
Something happened since then. UA has eliminated most of these awards.
I have never seen this in the past 10 years.
UA is now even worse than DL.
Before July, saver domestic Y awards on UA were widely available if you book 5 months to 11 months in advance. XY9 NY9 almost everywhere.
Something happened since then. UA has eliminated most of these awards.
I have never seen this in the past 10 years.
UA is now even worse than DL.
I don't need to read the thread carefully. A great deal of it is nothing more than whining and rumor-mongering. Waste of time.
When you say "almost everywhere," do you honestly expect me to believe that you (and others) have checked EVERY SINGLE ROUTE, and EVERY SINGLE DATE PAIR for all of UA's destinations, over a lengthy period of time? That surely must be some astronomically huge number of possible combinations!!!
More likely, people have checked a smallish sample of highly popular routes.OK, I'm even willing to believe that there HAS been a change, a big one. It's just that I am not so invested in the necessity of booking so gol-durned far in advance. So many things can happen to upset one's travel plans -- not just the abovementioned flight schedule changes/cancellations, but also life events that can happen to anyone -- illness, death in the family, separation/divorce/new love, job loss, new job, nasty new (or old) boss who decides to put the kibbosh on your vacation plans, not to mention natural and/or human-caused disasters, and on and on and on. Booking far in advance allows more time for any of those things to occur. I guess it gives some people a sense of security to have their flights booked 11 months in advance, but then those same people tend to be shocked and outraged when anything happens to screw up their carefully laid plans (especially if they were unaware of things like change fees).
Sep 11, 2011, 7:54 pm
#138
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
Hi,
I now have 70k miles for a return LHR - HNL trip and want to go next summer.
I can find flights in the next few months at the saver rate but the rates for next summer are all at standard so I can't go without spending some cash.
Does anyone know how the saver rates work? Can I expect there to be more saver rates available later/nearer my preferred departure dates or is the summer always at standard rate?
Your wisdom appreciated....
Thanks
Richard.
I now have 70k miles for a return LHR - HNL trip and want to go next summer.
I can find flights in the next few months at the saver rate but the rates for next summer are all at standard so I can't go without spending some cash.
Does anyone know how the saver rates work? Can I expect there to be more saver rates available later/nearer my preferred departure dates or is the summer always at standard rate?
Your wisdom appreciated....
Thanks
Richard.
Sep 11, 2011, 9:08 pm
#139
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SF BayArea
Programs: Nothing worth mentioning
Posts: 2,223
Maybe I'm just very lucky, but I've had no trouble finding saver awards (E, Biz & F) for EU locations next summer. I do my searches on CO as UA site is awful. Of course, saying this will probably end my lucky streak!
Sep 11, 2011, 10:33 pm
#140
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Raleigh
Programs: United GS 2MM,, Marriott/Starwood Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 754
I don't need to read the thread carefully. A great deal of it is nothing more than whining and rumor-mongering. Waste of time.When you say "almost everywhere," do you honestly expect me to believe that you (and others) have checked EVERY SINGLE ROUTE, and EVERY SINGLE DATE PAIR for all of UA's destinations, over a lengthy period of time? That surely must be some astronomically huge number of possible combinations!!!
More likely, people have checked a smallish sample of highly popular routes.OK, I'm even willing to believe that there HAS been a change, a big one. It's just that I am not so invested in the necessity of booking so gol-durned far in advance. So many things can happen to upset one's travel plans -- not just the abovementioned flight schedule changes/cancellations, but also life events that can happen to anyone -- illness, death in the family, separation/divorce/new love, job loss, new job, nasty new (or old) boss who decides to put the kibbosh on your vacation plans, not to mention natural and/or human-caused disasters, and on and on and on. Booking far in advance allows more time for any of those things to occur. I guess it gives some people a sense of security to have their flights booked 11 months in advance, but then those same people tend to be shocked and outraged when anything happens to screw up their carefully laid plans (especially if they were unaware of things like change fees).
There HAS been a change here, absolutely had, and UA HAS always made a 330 day release (I know, I've booked them reliably for years) on almost every flight in every cabin. No longer, or at least, not at the moment.
And, BTW, some of us live fairly predictable lives when it comes to vacations structured around family, schools, timeshares, hotel awards, etc. And also have no concern about change fees (1k and above).
Sep 12, 2011, 6:35 am
#141
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 51
I almost wonder if there should be threads or at least posts on this thread where people found good availability. It seems so hit or miss. At first I thought it was almost impossible until I found some myself.
A lot of the time what I am looking for is "I want to spend a week (or two) at destination X, is there any saver first availability, any time?" Right now I can spend an hour looking at page after page that does not meet that criteria... Not the best use of my time, but if somebody else found a whole big swathe of them in say JUL 2012, that'd really help me out.
A lot of the time what I am looking for is "I want to spend a week (or two) at destination X, is there any saver first availability, any time?" Right now I can spend an hour looking at page after page that does not meet that criteria... Not the best use of my time, but if somebody else found a whole big swathe of them in say JUL 2012, that'd really help me out.
Sep 12, 2011, 8:55 am
#142
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 1,782
I almost wonder if there should be threads or at least posts on this thread where people found good availability. It seems so hit or miss. At first I thought it was almost impossible until I found some myself.
A lot of the time what I am looking for is "I want to spend a week (or two) at destination X, is there any saver first availability, any time?" Right now I can spend an hour looking at page after page that does not meet that criteria... Not the best use of my time, but if somebody else found a whole big swathe of them in say JUL 2012, that'd really help me out.
A lot of the time what I am looking for is "I want to spend a week (or two) at destination X, is there any saver first availability, any time?" Right now I can spend an hour looking at page after page that does not meet that criteria... Not the best use of my time, but if somebody else found a whole big swathe of them in say JUL 2012, that'd really help me out.
Sep 12, 2011, 11:22 am
#143
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 84
I have a trip planned, IAH-HKG -IAH next month. I found ample C and F saver awards, both directions, and for both the Pacific and Atlantic Routes. You have to be creative with your connection cities and piece together the flights like you always do, but there was and is a decent amount of availability, especially through Europe.
Sep 12, 2011, 4:27 pm
#144
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,607
If you never book that far out then how in the world would you know if flights were available 330 days out or not ?
Sep 12, 2011, 4:34 pm
#145
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,607
I have a trip planned, IAH-HKG -IAH next month. I found ample C and F saver awards, both directions, and for both the Pacific and Atlantic Routes. You have to be creative with your connection cities and piece together the flights like you always do, but there was and is a decent amount of availability, especially through Europe.
So as someone who admits to not planning 330 days in advance, and therefore not looking for such availability, you are posting to claim that "there has been no change" and we are all "whining"? Apparently you plan things differently from others in this thread - which is fine for you. Parhaps you can start your own thread about availability at 3-5 months out and see whether there will be any "whining" there.
There HAS been a change here, absolutely had, and UA HAS always made a 330 day release (I know, I've booked them reliably for years) on almost every flight in every cabin. No longer, or at least, not at the moment.
And, BTW, some of us live fairly predictable lives when it comes to vacations structured around family, schools, timeshares, hotel awards, etc. And also have no concern about change fees (1k and above).
There HAS been a change here, absolutely had, and UA HAS always made a 330 day release (I know, I've booked them reliably for years) on almost every flight in every cabin. No longer, or at least, not at the moment.
And, BTW, some of us live fairly predictable lives when it comes to vacations structured around family, schools, timeshares, hotel awards, etc. And also have no concern about change fees (1k and above).
I love how clueless people ( who admit they have never booked far out) come on here and tell us nothing has changed.
You are dead on about booking in advance and MANY people do so
Last edited by iluv2fly; Sep 12, 2011 at 8:52 pm Reason: merge
Sep 12, 2011, 6:44 pm
#146
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 84
I think clueless is a bit strong. Some people travel with less notice. However, if you know of future travel, and don't work as early as possible, then you have yourself to blame if the inventory is not what you want.
Sep 12, 2011, 7:24 pm
#147
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SF BayArea
Programs: Nothing worth mentioning
Posts: 2,223
I almost wonder if there should be threads or at least posts on this thread where people found good availability. It seems so hit or miss. At first I thought it was almost impossible until I found some myself.
A lot of the time what I am looking for is "I want to spend a week (or two) at destination X, is there any saver first availability, any time?" Right now I can spend an hour looking at page after page that does not meet that criteria... Not the best use of my time, but if somebody else found a whole big swathe of them in say JUL 2012, that'd really help me out.
A lot of the time what I am looking for is "I want to spend a week (or two) at destination X, is there any saver first availability, any time?" Right now I can spend an hour looking at page after page that does not meet that criteria... Not the best use of my time, but if somebody else found a whole big swathe of them in say JUL 2012, that'd really help me out.
Sep 12, 2011, 8:14 pm
#148
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Sep 12, 2011, 9:30 pm
#149
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,607
Making statements such as they don't need to read the thread when in fact they do = CLUELESS
Most people in this thread ( and I think more and more will follow as they try to book summer vacations unless things change) realize UA has made a major change in the Saver flights and would like info on others who are seeing the same on routes they fly and maybe from people seeing 50K flights actually go back to 25K ( after April 2011) not someone telling us things haven't changed when we know very well they have.
Last edited by flyer4512; Sep 12, 2011 at 9:39 pm
Sep 12, 2011, 10:00 pm
#150
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
Well for a random date I chose 1/11 I found 8 (EIGHT) BusinessFirst Saver seats on:
CO50 EWR FRA
CO80 EWR GVA
CO96 EWR TXL
CO106 EWR MUC
CO28 EWR LHR
and probably a couple others I didn't look for
So the availability isn't all that bad.
CO50 EWR FRA
CO80 EWR GVA
CO96 EWR TXL
CO106 EWR MUC
CO28 EWR LHR
and probably a couple others I didn't look for
So the availability isn't all that bad.