United's $75 Late Booking Fee? (Close-in Booking Fee)
Apr 19, 2013, 9:53 am
#46
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,941
I have millions of miles with European and Arabian programs, and not a single one of them charges a fee for issuing award tickets. And anything outside a 2 days window is not really last minute, anyways, so no operational reason to raise the fee 21 days before departure.
A purely arbitrary charge.
A purely arbitrary charge.
Apr 19, 2013, 10:28 am
#47
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: USA, Europe
Programs: AAdvantage, Flying Blue, Mileage Plus
Posts: 839
I have millions of miles with European and Arabian programs, and not a single one of them charges a fee for issuing award tickets. And anything outside a 2 days window is not really last minute, anyways, so no operational reason to raise the fee 21 days before departure.
A purely arbitrary charge.
A purely arbitrary charge.
Apr 19, 2013, 11:25 am
#48
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
There are Pros and Cons to every program, they arent equal a person simply needs to look at them and decide which if any works best for them
Apr 19, 2013, 11:36 am
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,884
I have millions of miles with European and Arabian programs, and not a single one of them charges a fee for issuing award tickets. And anything outside a 2 days window is not really last minute, anyways, so no operational reason to raise the fee 21 days before departure.
A purely arbitrary charge.
A purely arbitrary charge.
Look - there are lots of seemingly arbitrary charges in many industries, including air travel. Change fees are usually fall under this. Fuel surcharges, even bag charges. How about the fact that a fare to YYZ from ORD can cost $100 more than one to BUF each way, before even talking about the extra taxes/fees, despite the fact that as the crow flies, the extra distance is ~12 miles?
If you don't want to pay the close in fees, don't book the award ticket.
Apr 19, 2013, 4:55 pm
#50
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
If people want a fixed fee per miles, let's just go back to the old days when CAB regulated and approved all fares. No discounts, no freebies - everybody pays a fare which allows the carrier a fair profit overall.
Oh yeah, but I guess that means air travel was for high-end business and the wealthy only.
Oh yeah, but I guess that means air travel was for high-end business and the wealthy only.
Apr 19, 2013, 6:53 pm
#51
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
Sydney to Los Angeles on United - 40,000 points plus US$175, including the close-in fee
I know which I'd prefer to be booking...
Taxes and fees are about $100, the rest is fuel surcharge (QF) or the close-in fee (UA)
Apr 19, 2013, 7:30 pm
#52
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: USA, Europe
Programs: AAdvantage, Flying Blue, Mileage Plus
Posts: 839
Look at something like Flying Blue - you earn 25% of miles flown on the cheaper fares and to redeem miles for a typical international awards costs hundreds of Euros in fuel surcharges - literally almost equal to the cost of a paid ticket. I'd much rather have to pay a $75 close-in fee than put up with this crap.
Apr 19, 2013, 7:40 pm
#53
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SOF
Programs: A3 Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 849
Observation
One other thing to note is that award availability gets better closer to the travel date with airlines having more accurate data on the loads for the flights, so one is almost guaranteed to fall within the 21-day window and unless has status, would have to cough up the $75 fee.
Whereas other programs may charge YQ taxes, for redemption on US partners, there are none, so one is still better off to redeem on US airlines from other programs.
Whereas other programs may charge YQ taxes, for redemption on US partners, there are none, so one is still better off to redeem on US airlines from other programs.
Apr 19, 2013, 9:49 pm
#54
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage EXPLAT, Hilton Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Citi Exec MC, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,443
$75 boohoo. Considering the cash outlay award tickets can offset, $75 is pennies. For me to book a last minute trip in Intl F to HKG at saver rates would be well worth an extra $75 fee. If $75 is going to break the bank when traveling, perhaps you should not be traveling?
I hate it when people complain about their travels when they travel on dirt cheap fares. What do you expect?
Now if you're putting down $10K for a full fare J ticket, then you've earned to right to complain if things don't go right. $10K should buy a minimal level of competency from an airline.
I hate it when people complain about their travels when they travel on dirt cheap fares. What do you expect?
Now if you're putting down $10K for a full fare J ticket, then you've earned to right to complain if things don't go right. $10K should buy a minimal level of competency from an airline.
Apr 20, 2013, 6:36 am
#55
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Everybody wants everything. If that were the case, there would be no competition among carriers and that too would be a bad thing.
If the $75 fee is a deal breaker for OP, he should either book earlier or fly a different carrier. If the surcharges on that carrier are a deal breaker, it's somewhere that can be reached by bus.
If the $75 fee is a deal breaker for OP, he should either book earlier or fly a different carrier. If the surcharges on that carrier are a deal breaker, it's somewhere that can be reached by bus.
Dec 4, 2013, 7:31 am
#58
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Placerville, Ca USA
Posts: 27
Help with Award ticket?
I have never booked a ticked with United miles, only American.
I have enough to book a round trip for my military son to come home from San Antonio Texas to Sacramento for Christmas.
When I go to book it, the site says there is an $80 charge ($160RT) to book the flight.
Any idea why I have to pay $160 for a domestic flight when I have enough miles?
Does it help that the person taking the flight is military?
I have enough to book a round trip for my military son to come home from San Antonio Texas to Sacramento for Christmas.
When I go to book it, the site says there is an $80 charge ($160RT) to book the flight.
Any idea why I have to pay $160 for a domestic flight when I have enough miles?
Does it help that the person taking the flight is military?
Dec 4, 2013, 7:38 am
#59
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 199
Assuming you do not have UA status, this is probably the close in booking fee for booking within 21 days ($75) plus taxes ($5). If you book them as two one ways you'll pay the close in fee twice, but booked as RT you should only have to pay it once.
As wonderful as you son's decision to be a member of the military is, I don't see anyway that those fees are waived.
As wonderful as you son's decision to be a member of the military is, I don't see anyway that those fees are waived.