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 24, 2015, 12:13 am
#2446
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Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Hi everyone, I'm looking to book an award flight on United on Feb 2, 2015 SFO > PEK. When I search for award tickets, economy saver awards are available for the non-stop flight but no business saver awards. Browsing the seating chart shows me that all business class seats on the 747 are open except for 2.
Sep 24, 2015, 1:32 pm
#2449
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
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Hi everyone, I'm looking to book an award flight on United on Feb 2, 2015 SFO > PEK. When I search for award tickets, economy saver awards are available for the non-stop flight but no business saver awards. Browsing the seating chart shows me that all business class seats on the 747 are open except for 2. Should I hold out for United to open up additional business saver awards, or am I out of luck even this far in advance?
Sep 24, 2015, 2:04 pm
#2450
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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My experience would say you are out of luck even this far in advanced. This has happened to me several times out of SFO on international flights (not PEK). I have tried waiting for the seats to open up and ultimately ended up buying the business class tickets for ridiculously high prices. JMHO
If you look at SFO-PEK over the next thirty days, you will see numerous options in both J and F - some on UA metal, some on partners.
On the other hand, if you must fly SFO-CDG nonstop in business class in June, well, that's a different story. But that's not a reasonable expectation given the current award climate.
Sep 24, 2015, 4:17 pm
#2451
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
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Many here (including myself) have had different experiences. If you have reasonable expectations, flexibility and patience, and check diligently,something usually turns up.
If you look at SFO-PEK over the next thirty days, you will see numerous options in both J and F - some on UA metal, some on partners.
On the other hand, if you must fly SFO-CDG nonstop in business class in June, well, that's a different story. But that's not a reasonable expectation given the current award climate.
If you look at SFO-PEK over the next thirty days, you will see numerous options in both J and F - some on UA metal, some on partners.
On the other hand, if you must fly SFO-CDG nonstop in business class in June, well, that's a different story. But that's not a reasonable expectation given the current award climate.
Sep 29, 2015, 12:37 am
#2453
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Gold, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 2
Oct 5, 2015, 3:05 pm
#2454
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: TX
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1k; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 84
Hi everyone, I'm looking for 2 saver business or first class tickets for my parents from HKG to LAX. Any day between 10/28 and 11/10 (i.e. in the next 3-4 weeks) will be fine. I searched UA website on and off for weeks, but the only saver tickets I can find are the ones by Asiana with 10-hour layover in Seoul. Since my parents are quite elderly (both over 80), that's not acceptable. Could some one point give me some ideas? or let me know how to find saver tickets? Thanks in advance.
Oct 12, 2015, 2:02 pm
#2455
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 84
Release Date for Saver Business Fares to Central America
I travel a bit down to Mexico and Guatemala. Previously, if I was booking 4 or 5 months out, I'd have no trouble finding saver fares in business. Now, it's nearly impossible. For example, I'm trying to book from BWI to GUA and IAH to GUA in March and, although the business class cabins on basically every flight have zero sold seats, I can't get a saver fare.
Has United recently changes its policy on when these seats are released? Is it worth waiting, or should I just bite the bullet and buy the darn ticket? (I'm fine in coach, but I'm buying for my dad, too, and he'll need the comfort of the larger seat.)
Has United recently changes its policy on when these seats are released? Is it worth waiting, or should I just bite the bullet and buy the darn ticket? (I'm fine in coach, but I'm buying for my dad, too, and he'll need the comfort of the larger seat.)
Oct 12, 2015, 2:37 pm
#2456
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Whenever the company wants to. You're talking about Spring Break time so it is possible that the release schedule will be different. Or non-existent. Or tomorrow.
There is no set schedule.
There is no set schedule.
Oct 12, 2015, 3:01 pm
#2457
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
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Posts: 12,694
Oct 12, 2015, 3:05 pm
#2458
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 84
The logic is simple: If there are only a few potential seats in first remaining, then the company is far less likely to make them available at a reduced price, and if there has been no demand for those seats, then the company is far more likely to make them available at a reduced price.
Oct 12, 2015, 4:40 pm
#2459
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Posts: 66,859
But inferring that means saver award seats, that is the break from past. Instead of awards seats being among the first options for unloading excess inventory, there are many other options used first today. That is a fundamental change in the dynamics we are seeing.
Oct 12, 2015, 5:01 pm
#2460
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I understand why people would think it's relevant . . . it used to make sense to me, too. 
Even for those of us who now know a little something about how award and upgrade inventory are managed, the process is still mostly a mystery from outside the black box.
Even for those of us who now know a little something about how award and upgrade inventory are managed, the process is still mostly a mystery from outside the black box.