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]
#16
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Programs: AA Plat, UA Silver, DL Silver, Marriott Titanium, etc.
Posts: 4,210
I was really hoping against hope that this was some kind of a bug and somewhat distressed to see several similar reports come in already. It's almost like an instant 50% devaluation of my miles because the low availabilty is so sparse (arguably worse than Delta's at the moment) that it would be extremely difficult to get a trip booked at less than 50k.
All I can say is if this isn't a temporary glitch and on top of that benefits get devalued next year I'm probably (if I am smart) get out of the elite qualifying game and move away from the mileage credit card, etc.
All I can say is if this isn't a temporary glitch and on top of that benefits get devalued next year I'm probably (if I am smart) get out of the elite qualifying game and move away from the mileage credit card, etc.
#17
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,134
The way to do that is to call.
This could also be the result of looking when the program is in great flux. Hopefully once things settle down, it will get better. Maybe it's because they don't even know what the program will be next year, or possibly what equipment they'll have yet. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part...
This could also be the result of looking when the program is in great flux. Hopefully once things settle down, it will get better. Maybe it's because they don't even know what the program will be next year, or possibly what equipment they'll have yet. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part...
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I haven't really been accumulating much in the way of UA miles until the last year or two, but always had enough to book an occasional domestic US RT to a low competition city - and always had no problem booking a low mileage period during peak travel periods if I planned ahead. So today I go to look at next summer trips for the first time and found virtually nothing (maybe at best 1 out of 100 date combinations available) at low mileage in either coach or First. I'm surprised I haven't seen anything posted about this because this is the first time in many years I experienced such difficulty booking US trips with UA miles. Are others having the same problems I am having?
Examples: Looked from WAS to FCA, GEG, IDA, JAC, BZN, etc.
Examples: Looked from WAS to FCA, GEG, IDA, JAC, BZN, etc.
If paid travel drops, look to UACO to cut capacity, not drop fares or open award inventory. They need paid F/Y/B/M to profitably operate. That's bad for award travel, but it is what it is. If things are looking up and capacity isn't cut, come next Spring, you will see inventory opening, maybe even Saver.
The one thing I would not expect this go around is for any carrier to do what the carriers did in the last recession which is to keep the capacity and slash the fares (including opening award inventory).
#19
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,620
The same thing was true at WN. It was almost impossible to use a RR 1.0 Standard Award this summer.
The same thing is happening to AS also.
The fact is the canary has died in the coal mine. We are now in a new era of flying and FF programs, one brought on by by the near oligopoly now in place coupled with an industry need to at least try to earn an appropriate risk-adjusted rate of return.
My new strategy is to bag the whole loyalty thing and just buy the cheapest ticket for my needs. And yes, that includes buying miles when they go on sale; looking for exotic carriers for international C; using the cash saved from MRs to buy a Y-UP if I want.
For those that enjoy taking back-to-back JFK-SIN trips in E+ for status, I wold only say that the value proposition just isn't how it used to be. I used to take 5-10 days a year for such things.
No more.
The same thing is happening to AS also.
The fact is the canary has died in the coal mine. We are now in a new era of flying and FF programs, one brought on by by the near oligopoly now in place coupled with an industry need to at least try to earn an appropriate risk-adjusted rate of return.
My new strategy is to bag the whole loyalty thing and just buy the cheapest ticket for my needs. And yes, that includes buying miles when they go on sale; looking for exotic carriers for international C; using the cash saved from MRs to buy a Y-UP if I want.
For those that enjoy taking back-to-back JFK-SIN trips in E+ for status, I wold only say that the value proposition just isn't how it used to be. I used to take 5-10 days a year for such things.
No more.
#20
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: WI
Programs: HHonors Gold, UAMP
Posts: 895
Could it be the thinning of awards to make it easer on a transition to a merged system or possibly the fact of some routes being killed.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
2012 Summer.
330 days ahead.
Not this summer, 2011. Of course, you can't find anything this summer.
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,691
Use your miles for international premium cabin travel on partners. Great values and good availability.
#24
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,620
Excuse me for not being clear -- When WN was making their changes in Feb and March, Standard availability for the next 6 months basically went away.
The bigger point is that low availability during peak seasons has become almost non-existent, believe for the reasons I outlined earlier. And that everyone needs to adapt to the new reality and alter how they seek maximum value.
The bigger point is that low availability during peak seasons has become almost non-existent, believe for the reasons I outlined earlier. And that everyone needs to adapt to the new reality and alter how they seek maximum value.
#25
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
So this experience is not just CO/UA, but true across most, if not all, carriers.
#26
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 125
There is another post about this:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...d-far-out.html
I'm having trouble finding Saver awards too. My husband is a 1P, and we use his UA miles to book Saver awards for me so I can accompany him on some of his business trips. If Saver awards disappear, we're going to have to look into other airlines.
This is a much bigger problem for us than the revenue-based requirements of the rumored new MileagePlus scheme. If Saver awards have gone the way of the dodo, our miles have effectively been halved.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...d-far-out.html
I'm having trouble finding Saver awards too. My husband is a 1P, and we use his UA miles to book Saver awards for me so I can accompany him on some of his business trips. If Saver awards disappear, we're going to have to look into other airlines.
This is a much bigger problem for us than the revenue-based requirements of the rumored new MileagePlus scheme. If Saver awards have gone the way of the dodo, our miles have effectively been halved.
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,026
Have you recently tried to get anything on LX? Nothing! Even LH is getting more difficult. I was trying to find 2 seats FRA-SFO for a 10-day window next July and there is zero availability either on UA or LH
#28
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: CTU/TFU(Chengdu, Sichuan, China) - MIG (Mianyang, Sichuan, China) - EWR/JFK/LGA/HPN (Great New York City Metro Area, NY, USA) - HVN/BDL (New Haven/Hartford, CT, USA)
Programs: UA 1MM/F9 Diamond; Marriott Lifetime Gold; IHG Platinum; Choice Privileges Platinum
Posts: 983
I guess a lot of us here are aware of this hint. However, for people not based in an international gateway (e.g. myself at BOS, which is not an international gateway for Asia), for my travel to Asia next July, I need to first jump on one of the domestic segments to the international gateway to use the partners. The problem now is the domestic segment.
#29
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
It is a huge opportunity cost to the airlines when they release award space that could swoop up seats that otherwise would have gone to paying customers...
I guess a lot of us here are aware of this hint. However, for people not based in an international gateway (e.g. myself at BOS, which is not an international gateway for Asia), for my travel to Asia next July, I need to first jump on one of the domestic segments to the international gateway to use the partners. The problem now is the domestic segment.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Aug 21, 2011 at 12:30 am Reason: merge
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,691
LX has never been that easy, so I wouldn't regard it as a recent change. The BBJ service usually isn't too hard to find a seat on.