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]
Mar 13, 2013, 6:12 pm
#706
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 222
Options for saver awards..
Looking at a trip to Nice Sept 28 - Oct 6-7 (DTW-NCE)
Looking for business or first saver.
Found a great flight from DTW-NCE via FRA business saver.
No saver awards for first of business on the way home either day though, only economy.
Are there any options if getting economy award? Can I buy up to business at that point? Or use points to upgrade? Or am I stuck?
ANy week in Sept or Oct would work.
Looking for business or first saver.
Found a great flight from DTW-NCE via FRA business saver.
No saver awards for first of business on the way home either day though, only economy.
Are there any options if getting economy award? Can I buy up to business at that point? Or use points to upgrade? Or am I stuck?
ANy week in Sept or Oct would work.
Mar 13, 2013, 6:26 pm
#707
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,832
upgrades are not possible on international itins except for GS
You can purchase a business class award ticket and except econom seating which can be changed to business seating if space becomes available.
Purchase inbound (business) and outbound (economy) as separate OWs and rebook the return if business becomes available.
Mar 14, 2013, 9:11 am
#708
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 222
Is it easiest just to call?
I have tried searching round trip. The flight DTW-NCE is great. Business saver, one stop. The return flight has no business or first saver options. Only economy.
I have tried searching individual legs. No dice again. It's the flight back that is killing me.
I know it's a free flight, but I would much rather have business back too. A buy up is probably going to be quite expensive I would imagine.
Can you even upgrade on an award ticket?
Is there a fee or loss of some of the miles if i cancel that leg?
I have tried searching round trip. The flight DTW-NCE is great. Business saver, one stop. The return flight has no business or first saver options. Only economy.
I have tried searching individual legs. No dice again. It's the flight back that is killing me.
I know it's a free flight, but I would much rather have business back too. A buy up is probably going to be quite expensive I would imagine.
Can you even upgrade on an award ticket?
buy up -- may be offered
upgrades are not possible on international itins except for GS
You can purchase a business class award ticket and except econom seating which can be changed to business seating if space becomes available.
Purchase inbound (business) and outbound (economy) as separate OWs and rebook the return if business becomes available.
upgrades are not possible on international itins except for GS
You can purchase a business class award ticket and except econom seating which can be changed to business seating if space becomes available.
Purchase inbound (business) and outbound (economy) as separate OWs and rebook the return if business becomes available.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Mar 14, 2013 at 9:16 am Reason: merge
Mar 14, 2013, 1:00 pm
#709
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8
Already booked Saver Coach SFO-BCN - what r the chances of Saver Biz/First awards?
Me and a friend are going to Barcelona in mid-Oct from San Fran and both of us have lots of MP miles to redeem Saver Business/First roundtrip. After monitoring united award availability for months, Saver First was available but always for 1 person only. We gave up and booked Saver Econ last night...but there are plenty of seats left in First/Business. Would UA make these open seats available for Saver Rewards as the date gets closer? Trying to decide whether I should pay $4.99/month to sign up Expert Flyer to monitor availablity till our trip in Oct or there is no chance more Saver awards will be available....
Mar 14, 2013, 1:15 pm
#710
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,125
Me and a friend are going to Barcelona in mid-Oct from San Fran and both of us have lots of MP miles to redeem Saver Business/First roundtrip. After monitoring united award availability for months, Saver First was available but always for 1 person only. We gave up and booked Saver Econ last night...but there are plenty of seats left in First/Business. Would UA make these open seats available for Saver Rewards as the date gets closer? Trying to decide whether I should pay $4.99/month to sign up Expert Flyer to monitor availablity till our trip in Oct or there is no chance more Saver awards will be available....
Mar 14, 2013, 1:20 pm
#711
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,167
Me and a friend are going to Barcelona in mid-Oct from San Fran and both of us have lots of MP miles to redeem Saver Business/First roundtrip. After monitoring united award availability for months, Saver First was available but always for 1 person only. We gave up and booked Saver Econ last night...but there are plenty of seats left in First/Business. Would UA make these open seats available for Saver Rewards as the date gets closer? Trying to decide whether I should pay $4.99/month to sign up Expert Flyer to monitor availablity till our trip in Oct or there is no chance more Saver awards will be available....
Mar 14, 2013, 2:09 pm
#712
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: All of them, UA-Plat, 1MM*G
Posts: 881
Definitely sign up for EF. I have received availability notifications from EF that UA CSRs are able to fulfill -- even when united.com doesn't show availability.
Mar 14, 2013, 3:13 pm
#713
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8
Thank you all for your advice! U just convinced me to sign up EF. Fingers crossed!
Mar 14, 2013, 3:54 pm
#714
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SFO/JFK/MGA
Programs: UA 1P MM, AA-PP, AS, DL, HH G, SPG Gold, TA nada
Posts: 2,043
Totally worth it. I believe you need to sign up for the 9.99 a month plan to monitor "O" availability on Expertflyer. I was in the same boat as you as of last week when EF notified me via email that there were 3 GFseats on the SFO-FRA flight. Snagged them all, this was for December.
Mar 14, 2013, 4:00 pm
#715
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,192
Mrs ANC and I have EWR-ZRH(Destination)-BCN(Stopover)-VIE-JFK in BF for July. We booked back in December.
I also have EF and am using it to watch TK space as well should we choose to make some adjustments.
I also have EF and am using it to watch TK space as well should we choose to make some adjustments.
Mar 14, 2013, 4:46 pm
#716
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,125
I'm trying to fly to ZAG in September, and saver C/F is almost totally unavailable. UA metal is also almost totally unavailable--everything TATL is on partners, mostly LH.
Well, that's what EF is for... I booked my wife on a saver Y award and have EF alerts for saver Y and saver C and saver F on the UA metal flights (why UA metal? because I want to use GPUs on mine--and no, there's no R availability, either).
I can't imagine mid-week, early-to-mid-September will remain unavailable for the next 6 months. Of course, I could be wrong and my wife will strangle me for her having to fly to FRA and me to MUC and her via BRU and me via ZRH on the way back...
Well, that's what EF is for... I booked my wife on a saver Y award and have EF alerts for saver Y and saver C and saver F on the UA metal flights (why UA metal? because I want to use GPUs on mine--and no, there's no R availability, either).
I can't imagine mid-week, early-to-mid-September will remain unavailable for the next 6 months. Of course, I could be wrong and my wife will strangle me for her having to fly to FRA and me to MUC and her via BRU and me via ZRH on the way back...
Mar 16, 2013, 11:00 pm
#717
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: Hilton Gold, *A Focus
Posts: 16
No saver availability over the summer?
I've been really impressed with United's availability for sudden spur-of-the-moment type award travel, but was recently trying to book a return flight for a Japan trip, TYO to the southeast, and July/August are both completely devoid of saver awards. Nothing. Plenty going to Japan, but nothing coming back.
Actually I tried airports up and down the coast, and found that only JFK has any appreciable availability. Is this typical? Is July too far out right now to be booking award travel anymore?
Actually I tried airports up and down the coast, and found that only JFK has any appreciable availability. Is this typical? Is July too far out right now to be booking award travel anymore?
Last edited by Eileron; Mar 16, 2013 at 11:06 pm
Mar 16, 2013, 11:12 pm
#718
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 362
I've also found it incredibly hard to book a saver award trip from Europe to the USA during July. Virtually no availability on partners either - in the end found an itinerary with TK. I guess it's summertime, school vacation, they figure they'll sell a lot of the seats...
Mar 17, 2013, 6:38 am
#719
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,167
I've been really impressed with United's availability for sudden spur-of-the-moment type award travel, but was recently trying to book a return flight for a Japan trip, TYO to the southeast, and July/August are both completely devoid of saver awards. Nothing. Plenty going to Japan, but nothing coming back.
Actually I tried airports up and down the coast, and found that only JFK has any appreciable availability. Is this typical? Is July too far out right now to be booking award travel anymore?
Actually I tried airports up and down the coast, and found that only JFK has any appreciable availability. Is this typical? Is July too far out right now to be booking award travel anymore?
Once you're inside 2-3 weeks from any date, the space should open up somewhere. Doesn't help w/advance planning though.
Mar 18, 2013, 8:47 am
#720
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: SPG
Posts: 7
Why can't I find saver award space?
So what gives? For the past 12 months, whenever I try to book a Saver award ticket from SFO to either Boston or Maui, there is never Saver award availability. And I start booking on the very first day when the window opens. Same experience when I have looked at redeeming tickets for travel to Europe. And this also is happening despite being 1K and, in theory, having access to extra inventory! Has Untied effectively doubled the mileage requirement for award tickets?