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 we’ll 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 we’ll 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?
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,454
J9 indicates the availability with respect to the fare bucket. Ranging from 0 to 9 (does not go any higher), so there are at least 9 tickets available at the J fare bucket, highest in the class cabin - full fare without any discount.
#93
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,938
I've always wondered why they don't list the actual number ... instead of "9" as the max. Legacy software?
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,352
It’s a pretty fundamental limit, though; a party of nine can buy one PNR via the website or a travel agent; you can use nine upgrade certificates to upgrade them; a Platinum or higher can guest everyone into E+, etc. Party of 10? You have to call group sales, premier benefits don’t apply, upgrades are difficult / impossible to use, etc.
It’s all tied to the same basic design principle.
#95
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
Has this functionality been temporarily removed? I can't see the buckets on the web or my phone. I re-verified I have expert mode enabled, even disabled and reneabled it, but it's not working. Can someone else comment?
EDIT: It works if I search cash fares; it does not for award searches. I swear it used to work when I was doing award searches.
EDIT: It works if I search cash fares; it does not for award searches. I swear it used to work when I was doing award searches.
#96
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: 66,761
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,352
It's been several years since it worked on award searches. Originally it worked on all searches, then it was broken for a while, and then they brought it back on cash searches only.
#98
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, IHG Silver, Hilton Silver, Hertz PC, National Exec Elite, Avis PC
Posts: 1,283
#99
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,483
#100
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
Anyone else having married segment issues when the flight starts with a 1-cabin plane?
Case in point, if I search from my home airport, which the flights invariably begin on a CRJ to ORD, and I select EWR as my final destination, the fare buckets look like this:
First segment on the 1-cabin Devil's Chariot™: Available fare classes:Y0YN0B0M0E0U0H0HN0Q0V0W0S0T0L0K0G0N9XN0X9
Connecting to ORD-EWR: Available fare classes:J0JN0C0D0Z0ZN0P0PN0PZ0IN0I0Y0YN0B0M0E0U0H0 HN0Q0V0W0S0T0L0K0G0N9XN0X9
Searching each flight individually:
First segment: Available fare classes: Y9YN9B9M9E9U9H9HN9Q9V9W9S9T9L9K9G9N9XN9X9
Connecting to ORD-EWR: Available fare classes: J9JN9C9D9Z8ZN8P5PN0PZ0IN0I0Y9YN9B9M9E9U9H9HN9Q9V9W 9S9T9L9K9G9N9XN9X9
It's not actually a married segment issue, I don't think, because when searching together, despite most fare buckets showing -0-, all 4 options (Basic, Regular Economy, Flexible Economy and First/Business) show various booking classes when clicking through (N, G, E and P, for the 4 options, respectively). Also, if I search between 2 airports where connecting as well, but on 2-class aircraft the whole way, this doesn't happen. Something's happening that united.com doesn't like when it's a 1-cabin starting flight. Also, on the return flight home, 2-cabin then connecting to a 1-cabin, it displays correctly as well.
Kind of annoying when looking for a cursory upgrade chance to see nothing when it comes to expert mode.
Case in point, if I search from my home airport, which the flights invariably begin on a CRJ to ORD, and I select EWR as my final destination, the fare buckets look like this:
First segment on the 1-cabin Devil's Chariot™: Available fare classes:Y0YN0B0M0E0U0H0HN0Q0V0W0S0T0L0K0G0N9XN0X9
Connecting to ORD-EWR: Available fare classes:J0JN0C0D0Z0ZN0P0PN0PZ0IN0I0Y0YN0B0M0E0U0H0 HN0Q0V0W0S0T0L0K0G0N9XN0X9
Searching each flight individually:
First segment: Available fare classes: Y9YN9B9M9E9U9H9HN9Q9V9W9S9T9L9K9G9N9XN9X9
Connecting to ORD-EWR: Available fare classes: J9JN9C9D9Z8ZN8P5PN0PZ0IN0I0Y9YN9B9M9E9U9H9HN9Q9V9W 9S9T9L9K9G9N9XN9X9
It's not actually a married segment issue, I don't think, because when searching together, despite most fare buckets showing -0-, all 4 options (Basic, Regular Economy, Flexible Economy and First/Business) show various booking classes when clicking through (N, G, E and P, for the 4 options, respectively). Also, if I search between 2 airports where connecting as well, but on 2-class aircraft the whole way, this doesn't happen. Something's happening that united.com doesn't like when it's a 1-cabin starting flight. Also, on the return flight home, 2-cabin then connecting to a 1-cabin, it displays correctly as well.
Kind of annoying when looking for a cursory upgrade chance to see nothing when it comes to expert mode.
#101
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,155
The advice has always been to look for upgrade space on segments individually from point to point - UA will price the itinerary correctly, but at least you know if you can run the upgrade request after ticketing and clear.
#102
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,413
#103
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
...Yet more egregious is that when it's a 1-cabin flight followed by a 2-cabin flight, it's showing darn near zeros for ALL cabins, and as I said above, including zeros for the multitude of fares it actually offers you (N for basic, W/V/S for economy, a higher one for unrestriceted, and a first fare, whether it be a P, Z, C, J, etc).
#104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,384
It's not actually a married segment issue, I don't think, because when searching together, despite most fare buckets showing -0-, all 4 options (Basic, Regular Economy, Flexible Economy and First/Business) show various booking classes when clicking through (N, G, E and P, for the 4 options, respectively). Also, if I search between 2 airports where connecting as well, but on 2-class aircraft the whole way, this doesn't happen. Something's happening that united.com doesn't like when it's a 1-cabin starting flight. Also, on the return flight home, 2-cabin then connecting to a 1-cabin, it displays correctly as well.
Kind of annoying when looking for a cursory upgrade chance to see nothing when it comes to expert mode.
Kind of annoying when looking for a cursory upgrade chance to see nothing when it comes to expert mode.
Mixed cabin used to bypass married segment control, which could be very useful if there were suppression rules for through inventory. A good example was SFO-EWR-DCA would suppress J space if EWR-DCA was two-cabin but if taking an E45 it would use broken inventory (sadly, flying nonstop from IAD in a recliner was usually the better choice anyway).
#105
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
Sounds like an issue with Expert Mode rather than inventory then?
Mixed cabin used to bypass married segment control, which could be very useful if there were suppression rules for through inventory. A good example was SFO-EWR-DCA would suppress J space if EWR-DCA was two-cabin but if taking an E45 it would use broken inventory (sadly, flying nonstop from IAD in a recliner was usually the better choice anyway).
Mixed cabin used to bypass married segment control, which could be very useful if there were suppression rules for through inventory. A good example was SFO-EWR-DCA would suppress J space if EWR-DCA was two-cabin but if taking an E45 it would use broken inventory (sadly, flying nonstop from IAD in a recliner was usually the better choice anyway).