Last edit by: seanp7
Feb 2023: Many reports that Expert Mode checkbox is being disabled automatically / randomly (in some cases, repeatedly), and users have to opt back in on the website to re-enable Expert Mode.
Note on 18 Oct 2018 the fare class for upgrades changed from R to PZ
Changes to UA's Fare Classes (19-20 October 2018)
Updated instructions (2022)
Archive thread: Expert Mode: better upgrade visibility and opt-in to see fare bucket data {Archive}
Note on 18 Oct 2018 the fare class for upgrades changed from R to PZ
Changes to UA's Fare Classes (19-20 October 2018)
Updated instructions (2022)
Hi Everyone,
I wanted to let you know that well be re-launching Expert Mode as an opt-in feature later this afternoon. This feature will display all fare classes when shopping for flights on united.com. You can opt-in to this feature by logging into your MileagePlus account and following these steps:
As always, thanks for your feedback and patience over the last couple weeks while we worked to make these changes.
Shannon
I wanted to let you know that well be re-launching Expert Mode as an opt-in feature later this afternoon. This feature will display all fare classes when shopping for flights on united.com. You can opt-in to this feature by logging into your MileagePlus account and following these steps:
- Go to united.com > My Account
- Select Manage Profile
- In the Preferences section, select View All Flight Search Preferences
- In the Expert Mode section, read and acknowledge the customer advisements
- Click Save at the bottom of the page
As always, thanks for your feedback and patience over the last couple weeks while we worked to make these changes.
Shannon
Archive thread: Expert Mode: better upgrade visibility and opt-in to see fare bucket data {Archive}
Expert Mode: opt-in to see upgrade visibility/fare bucket data/Issue staying enabled?
#346
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike...
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,339
I'm wondering whether removal was intentional to stp unauthorized data scraping from tools like KVS -- where someone is essentially selling data they have no right to sell.
#347
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,580
While UA continues the app access, that would not seem to be the reason. UA has other avenues to block a scraping sites as they have done in the pass.
#348
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,324
I would assume it's related to the continuous pricing pilot, since that was corrupting/breaking some of the data shown anyway.
#349
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,018
I'm on the most recent version - 4.1.67 that was released yesterday on iOS 16. Still seeing fare buckets under flight details, so it's not a version of the app issue.
Off topic, but this version looks interesting. Appears hotel/food vouchers will be distributed directly via app now.
Off topic, but this version looks interesting. Appears hotel/food vouchers will be distributed directly via app now.
#350
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
I am seeing the fare buckets displayed, but now only displaying the fare buckets relevant for fare rules that you have searched for. Example: If you search a one-way, you may only now see J with all other buckets zeroed out. Same routing/flight/date, and searching for a roundtrip you now see J/C/D/Z all with inventory. This is actually quite a big change, and linked to the continuous pricing work they are doing, I assume.e.
#351
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,300
I am seeing the fare buckets displayed, but now only displaying the fare buckets relevant for fare rules that you have searched for. Example: If you search a one-way, you may only now see J with all other buckets zeroed out. Same routing/flight/date, and searching for a roundtrip you now see J/C/D/Z all with inventory. This is actually quite a big change, and linked to the continuous pricing work they are doing, I assume.e.
#352
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / LHR
Programs: UA GS 2.2MM / UC / AS Gold 75K / Bonvoy Plat / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,018
I did this for a sample of ten routes and days/flights and got the same result on roundtrip vs. one way with a difference in displayed fare class availability. YMMV, as always - on the instance you searched, a one way in all fare class inventory levels might be available.
#353
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,324
#354
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,580
I did this for a sample of ten routes and days/flights and got the same result on roundtrip vs. one way with a difference in displayed fare class availability. YMMV, as always - on the instance you searched, a one way in all fare class inventory levels might be available.
#355
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,300
I wound buying a Z to SFO, and a $99 K from SFO-PHX, where there's a decent chance of upgrade.
And yes, the broken fare (same pricing as separate tix) is about $100 less than the D (but about $200 more than the Z).
Last edited by Kacee; Nov 4, 2022 at 3:16 pm
#356
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,267
I've already seen similar restrictions. For instance, HNL-PHX on Dec. 5, both HNL-SFO and SFO-PHX have Z inventory, but the combined itinerary is Z0, because UA only wants to sell a D or higher for that routing. And there's actually no way to buy that Z on a single ticket - both google flights and the website (using multi-city) will price it (more than $300 less than the D), but UA will not issue the ticket.
#357
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,300
The point is that this is a new level of (anti-consumer) sophistication in both the expert mode display and the booking engine.
#358
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,359
I've already seen similar restrictions. For instance, HNL-PHX on Dec. 5, both HNL-SFO and SFO-PHX have Z inventory, but the combined itinerary is Z0, because UA only wants to sell a D or higher for that routing. And there's actually no way to buy that Z on a single ticket - both google flights and the website (using multi-city) will price it (more than $300 less than the D), but UA will not issue the ticket.
Ghost Inventory?
Get all the way through to purchase, but system refuses to ticket.
(edit add: given your example, I'd have to revise my opinion in post 14 of that thread; seems intentional, then.)
#359
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K MM, JL JMB SAPPHIRE, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,267
I've already seen similar restrictions. For instance, HNL-PHX on Dec. 5, both HNL-SFO and SFO-PHX have Z inventory, but the combined itinerary is Z0, because UA only wants to sell a D or higher for that routing. And there's actually no way to buy that Z on a single ticket - both google flights and the website (using multi-city) will price it (more than $300 less than the D), but UA will not issue the ticket.
In Kacee 's instance, when he looking at the Z class price on HNL-SFO-PHX and click buy, UA system tried to book HNL-SFO-PHX in Z, and failed since it's Z0.
To verify my theory , I did a small experiment.
1, UA1 SFO-SIN on Nov 5 currently showing
Code:
UA 001 J3 C3 D2 Z1 P1 /SFO I SIN 3 1045P 700A+2E0/789 17:15
3, Switch back to GDS and check availability again, same
Code:
UA 001 J3 C3 D2 Z1 P1 /SFO I SIN 3 1045P 700A+2E0/789 17:15
4, Grabbed the last P class in GDS, and it down to
Code:
UA 001 J2 C2 D1 Z0 P0 /SFO I SIN 3 1045P 700A+2E0/789 17:15
Last edited by gokeeper; Nov 5, 2022 at 2:04 am
#360
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,324
The reason I dug into the point is because if UA is correctly revalidating married inventory on a multi-city trip where the city stop is fared as a transfer, this is a very new change. The website used to (incorrectly) fail to do this.
It's not a question of simply validating a second time.
It's not a question of simply validating a second time.