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]
Nov 2, 2018, 1:37 pm
#3451
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
Nov 2, 2018, 4:52 pm
#3452
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Nov 4, 2018, 9:55 am
#3453
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Boston MA
Programs: UA 1K/1.5 million miler, SU Gold, JL Sapphire
Posts: 529
Business saver award to Europe around April 12-21
Hi all:
I hope someone that is more "in the know" can help me here.
I am trying to get 4 tickets to Europe, preferable Middle/Eastern Europe (WAW, PRG, ZRG, VIE). April 11-13 for departure, 20-22 for return.
I am seeing availability for Business Awards, but only the everyday kind, not the savers. I know these dates may be very popular but still I want to try to nab a flight with a business savers because, frankly, the everyday award will wipe me out, and because the economy seats are very incomfortable these days. Does someone know if additional availability it present (I looked long and hard and did not find it), or when in general availability of these awards is released?
I am even willing to purchase Y and upgrade with a global upgrade - have enough of these too.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
I hope someone that is more "in the know" can help me here.
I am trying to get 4 tickets to Europe, preferable Middle/Eastern Europe (WAW, PRG, ZRG, VIE). April 11-13 for departure, 20-22 for return.
I am seeing availability for Business Awards, but only the everyday kind, not the savers. I know these dates may be very popular but still I want to try to nab a flight with a business savers because, frankly, the everyday award will wipe me out, and because the economy seats are very incomfortable these days. Does someone know if additional availability it present (I looked long and hard and did not find it), or when in general availability of these awards is released?
I am even willing to purchase Y and upgrade with a global upgrade - have enough of these too.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Nov 4, 2018, 10:29 am
#3454
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
There is a thread for this as I learned from people posting to the thread.
For the Y flights I use advanced search using economy codes: Y, M, B, H, E, U, Q, V, W. Then look to see if the PZ code is >0. If I am connecting I will look at the non-stop flight only as often you will see PZ as 0 if there is a connecting flight. When I see the available flight will book the connecting flight albeit at booking it shows PZ =0.
There is also an advanced search option for upgrades to search for flights so you can use the GPUs.
I have never tried booking to use 4 GPUs (essentially 8) on the one reservation.
For award travel I tend to book 330 days out so have generally been able to get business saver awards. I know I have also got great Business Saver awards within a week of travel. Else have struggled getting business saver awards. YMMV
For the Y flights I use advanced search using economy codes: Y, M, B, H, E, U, Q, V, W. Then look to see if the PZ code is >0. If I am connecting I will look at the non-stop flight only as often you will see PZ as 0 if there is a connecting flight. When I see the available flight will book the connecting flight albeit at booking it shows PZ =0.
There is also an advanced search option for upgrades to search for flights so you can use the GPUs.
I have never tried booking to use 4 GPUs (essentially 8) on the one reservation.
For award travel I tend to book 330 days out so have generally been able to get business saver awards. I know I have also got great Business Saver awards within a week of travel. Else have struggled getting business saver awards. YMMV
Nov 4, 2018, 12:03 pm
#3455
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,028
Flexibility in travel is key to getting upgrades, and even more so with desire for 4 saver awards. Confining yourself to certain dates and saver awards significantly reduces chances of riding in comfort. And you want to travel on a Friday out and Sunday back? Your chances are not far above zero of getting 4 saver awards on your dates.
Nov 4, 2018, 12:45 pm
#3456
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,162
Nov 4, 2018, 1:15 pm
#3457
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
Nov 4, 2018, 1:21 pm
#3458
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Boston MA
Programs: UA 1K/1.5 million miler, SU Gold, JL Sapphire
Posts: 529
Nov 4, 2018, 1:24 pm
#3459
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
Nov 4, 2018, 8:40 pm
#3460
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Montgomery, Alabama, USA
Programs: UA Gold 1mm, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 662
I have basically given up on UA saver awards. I would gladly purchase with $ a United business seat if I could find a saver award for my companion. Now, we usually use our miles for saver awards on LH or TK which are usually readily available. I actually prefer their food and service. Sometimes, we have to make the 3 hr. drive to ATL. However, we consider it worthwhile, considering the savings.
Nov 5, 2018, 9:53 am
#3461
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Boston MA
Programs: UA 1K/1.5 million miler, SU Gold, JL Sapphire
Posts: 529
I tried this. Came up empty handed. Maybe this is because I am too early to nab the seats in April. I doubt it though because I then looked availability for June, and there were more.
So, I changed my plans. Flying end of June beginning of July. The longest vacations I ever got in more than 20 years of work. Found TP going to VIE, and then OS on the way home (via Montreal).
Bad luck: TP never ticketed. It shows on the Web site, but even MP can't get the ticket to confirm. So, ended up keeping the return trip, booking 3 tickets with TK, and purchasing J on same flights for myself (so we can still accumulate miles on the way in VIE).
So, as far as I am concerned, what UA really did here is to replace saver availability (which was the default before) with "standard" availability. Or, in other words, charge twice as much as before. More "changes I think you will like".
Nov 5, 2018, 10:00 am
#3462
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
Saver availability was never the default. You're in a weird spot for April ticketing -- too late to catch any award seats that opened up at T-330, and too soon to catch the award seats that will likely open up closer to the travel date as the airlines figure out what wasn't going to sell. If you were to continue to monitor the situation, it's likely you would have been able to find something eventually.
Nov 5, 2018, 11:05 am
#3463
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New York NY
Programs: UA Gold, CO Plat, CO Million Miler
Posts: 2,617
Nov 12, 2018, 3:51 pm
#3464
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New York NY
Programs: UA Gold, CO Plat, CO Million Miler
Posts: 2,617
Originally Posted by hughw 
As a gold, my understanding is that can always be done providing the flight isn't sold out. Is that correct?
As a gold, my understanding is that can always be done providing the flight isn't sold out. Is that correct?
Nov 12, 2018, 4:03 pm
#3465
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
Yes. Whether you're traveling or not, in fact, as a Premier member, when using your miles, you have last-seat availability for Everyday awards to all UA-operated flights, no matter who the traveler is.