Nov 1, 2013, 4:08 am
Last edit by: aacharya
Moderator Note: Please keep the wiki post limited to just the facts.
New UA Award/Upgrade Chart (vs. Current Chart)
Changes took effect for travel booked starting February 3, 2014. See UA Insider's post linked here for more info about the date change. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22263212-post2366.html
Awards with *A partners now cost more than similar awards flown only on UA metal.
See below for the round-trip increases on partner metal :
Changes to upgrade policy for intra-Asia and northern South America flights
Questions and Answers
Q: If I book an award in January 2014 and then make changes in February or beyond (in routing, airline, origin, destination, etc), will it be repriced according to new mileage requirements, or will I keep the old pricing on that ticket?
Additional details on changing tickets booked prior to 2/3/14 per UA Insider:
Full details are in post #2588 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22283437-post2588.html
Q: Do these rates apply for tickets purchased after Feb 3 or for travel after Feb 3? That is,if one purchases a ticket now, to fly on Mar 15, will that be new or old pricing?
Q: How will award pricing apply to mixed-carrier Saver Awards?
(reverted to J.Edward's rev)
New UA Award/Upgrade Chart (vs. Current Chart)
Changes took effect for travel booked starting February 3, 2014. See UA Insider's post linked here for more info about the date change. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22263212-post2366.html
Awards with *A partners now cost more than similar awards flown only on UA metal.
- F awards on partners went up 40-80%
- J awards on partners went up 20-40%
- F and J awards on UA metal (or mixed carriers where UA metal is in premium cabin followed by partner segment in lower class) as well some Y awards increased by 5-20% (US to Europe in F up 19%, US to Middle East in F up 20% for example)
See below for the round-trip increases on partner metal :
US ✈ Southern South America: +10,000 J, +5,000 F
US ✈ Europe: +40,000 J, +85,000 F
US ✈ Northern/Central/Southern Africa: +40,000 J, +110,000 F
US ✈ Middle East: +5,000 Y, +40,000 J, +130,000 F
US ✈ Central Asia/India: +5,000 Y, +40,000 J, +120,000 F
US ✈ South Asia: +15,000 Y, +40,000 J, +120,000 F
US ✈ North Asia: +5,000 Y, +40,000 J, +100,000 F
US ✈ Japan: +5,000 Y, +30,000 J, +85,000 F
US ✈ Oceania: +30,000 J, +70,000 F
US ✈ Australia/New Zealand: +25,000 J, +100,000 F
RTW: +20,000 Y, +90,000 J, +100,000 F
US ✈ Europe: +40,000 J, +85,000 F
US ✈ Northern/Central/Southern Africa: +40,000 J, +110,000 F
US ✈ Middle East: +5,000 Y, +40,000 J, +130,000 F
US ✈ Central Asia/India: +5,000 Y, +40,000 J, +120,000 F
US ✈ South Asia: +15,000 Y, +40,000 J, +120,000 F
US ✈ North Asia: +5,000 Y, +40,000 J, +100,000 F
US ✈ Japan: +5,000 Y, +30,000 J, +85,000 F
US ✈ Oceania: +30,000 J, +70,000 F
US ✈ Australia/New Zealand: +25,000 J, +100,000 F
RTW: +20,000 Y, +90,000 J, +100,000 F
Changes to upgrade policy for intra-Asia and northern South America flights
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades and instant upgrades are not applicable
- Regional Premier Upgrades (for any fare class) and Global Premier Upgrades (for flights booked in fare class Z, P, S, T, L, K, G or N) can no longer be requested on or after November 1, 2013
- There is no co-pay exemption for MileagePlus Upgrade Awards requested on or after November 1, 2013
- The above changes do not apply to Copa-operated flights.
Questions and Answers
Q: If I book an award in January 2014 and then make changes in February or beyond (in routing, airline, origin, destination, etc), will it be repriced according to new mileage requirements, or will I keep the old pricing on that ticket?
Our existing change process will apply. Changes to awards that require a change in date do not result in a change to the award price. Any other change will require an add/collect in miles and fees for changes or cancellations will still apply as per our existing policies.
Changes that will not trigger a re-price for itineraries ticketed before February 3, 2014 include:
- Date/time (cabin, region, and award type can't change)
- Carrier on one or more segments (cabin, region, and award type can’t change)
- Origin/Destination within the same regions (carrier and cabin can’t change)
Q: Do these rates apply for tickets purchased after Feb 3 or for travel after Feb 3? That is,if one purchases a ticket now, to fly on Mar 15, will that be new or old pricing?
Updated handling for mixed UA-Partner United/partner award itineraries: As we shared with the initial announcement, the Star Alliance/Partner partner award pricing will apply to Business or First awards for itineraries that include at least one flight segment operated by a MileagePlus partner carrier in Business or First.
However, as a customer benefit we have made an exception for most itineraries which require connecting onto a MileagePlus/Star partner in First or Business for a short distance. Specifically, if a United/Copa award itinerary contains a connecting segment on a MileagePlus/Star partner that is wholly within one MileagePlus award region, then the United award price will apply.
However, as a customer benefit we have made an exception for most itineraries which require connecting onto a MileagePlus/Star partner in First or Business for a short distance. Specifically, if a United/Copa award itinerary contains a connecting segment on a MileagePlus/Star partner that is wholly within one MileagePlus award region, then the United award price will apply.
- For example: IAD-FRA in United BusinessFirst connecting to FRA-FCO in Lufthansa Business, will be priced at the United mileage award amount.
- Note that this exception will not apply to a few specific regions and routings, such as intra-Africa connecting segments and certain fifth-freedom routes (e.g. BKK-KUL operated by Lufthansa)
Changes to MileagePlus Award and Upgrade Policies - Eff. 3-Feb-2014
Nov 6, 2013, 5:17 am
#1501
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
Sorry if it's been posted, don't want to dig through 101 pages, but if there a link to the FULL new *A chart anywhere? I want to check out all of the rates for routings that don't involve the U.S. to see if it's worth keeping any of my UA miles for something like an intra SE Asia zone award or Europe to Australia or something. Thanks.
Nov 6, 2013, 5:23 am
#1502
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,814
I think UA (and Copa in this case) would gladly get your paid F. However, i'm confused with your "more MM miles" statement. Earning extra PQMs does not translate to more MM miles as MM miles are BIS miles (not PQMs).
Nov 6, 2013, 6:52 am
#1503
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
Fly longer/more segments get the pax in question more PQM, more RDM and a quicker track to MM.
Nov 6, 2013, 7:04 am
#1504
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Somewhere...
Programs: AA PLT/3MM, UA GM/1MM, DL DM/1MM, FB Plat, AS MVP Gold, WN AList+
Posts: 1,588
Pretty sure GUWonder meant that because they're not aware of FT, they don't know the devaluation is going to hit. Right now, they know it costs 100k miles roundtrip US to Europe on any *A partner in J. Until they get an official communication from UA, they'll believe that. When is that announcement going to come? Already lots of saver seats have been taken by FT members because of the "advance notice" they got, so regular frequent flyers - who are well aware of the MP program - have less availability to choose from.
It is quite obvious they are trying to sneak this one in with as little as possible 'announcement' to the masses - much like DL did earlier this year - while still be able to state that this was 'public notice' back in November when the complaints start on 2/1/15.
Nov 6, 2013, 7:17 am
#1505
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,263
GUM is the former Continental Micronesia hub, a prior subsidiary of CO, and they were known for their great service. I think that great service still remains but I've never been on an empty NRT-GUM flight. I am normally on the 3/4pm 737-800 flight which is always full up front. I wonder if you were on one of the 777s earlier in the day or late in the evening?
Nov 6, 2013, 7:30 am
#1506
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
I passed to a couple of colleagues of mine already this week (most of whom have huge MP balances in their accounts) that this had occurred. Nobody had any idea of this coming. I just went on to COdbaUA.com to see where this was announced and the only way to find out about it is to go into the award charts - unbelievable. Before that - nothing.
It is quite obvious they are trying to sneak this one in with as little as possible 'announcement' to the masses - much like DL did earlier this year - while still be able to state that this was 'public notice' back in November when the complaints start on 2/1/15.
It is quite obvious they are trying to sneak this one in with as little as possible 'announcement' to the masses - much like DL did earlier this year - while still be able to state that this was 'public notice' back in November when the complaints start on 2/1/15.
Nov 6, 2013, 7:43 am
#1507
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
Is there actually any doubt that United is hoping won't people won't notice until it's too late? I have likewise passed the information along to my friends, and I am trying to burn my miles down to 0 with bookings made now before availability vanishes or UA constructs other ways to try to bully us into keeping our miles around for UA metal redemptions post 2/1/14.
RNE, the voice of reason.
Nov 6, 2013, 7:59 am
#1508
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 264
Quote:
Originally Posted by UA Insider View Post
Originally Posted by DWFI View Post
Aaron - if I book an award in Jan 2014 and then make changes in Feb or beyond (in routing, airline, origin, destination, etc), will it be repriced according to new mileage reqs. or will I keep the old pricing on that ticket?
Hi DWFI, Our existing change process will apply. Changes to awards that require a change in date do not result in a change to the award price. Any other change will require an add/collect in miles and fees for changes or cancellations will still apply as per our existing policies.
Aaron Goldberg
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
What is not clear to you? UA Insider clearly said that except Date Change, all other changes would result to reprice the award. When it is repriced after Feb 1, which chart do you think UA would use?
Originally Posted by UA Insider View Post
Originally Posted by DWFI View Post
Aaron - if I book an award in Jan 2014 and then make changes in Feb or beyond (in routing, airline, origin, destination, etc), will it be repriced according to new mileage reqs. or will I keep the old pricing on that ticket?
Hi DWFI, Our existing change process will apply. Changes to awards that require a change in date do not result in a change to the award price. Any other change will require an add/collect in miles and fees for changes or cancellations will still apply as per our existing policies.
Aaron Goldberg
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
What is not clear to you? UA Insider clearly said that except Date Change, all other changes would result to reprice the award. When it is repriced after Feb 1, which chart do you think UA would use?
I booked a one way ticket from BKK to MSP using UA miles
BKK -> NRT (J) (Thai Airways)
NRT -> ORD (F) (ANA Airways)
ORD -> MSP (F) (United)
My question is if BKK-> NRT seat opens up in F and if i upgrade to F from J, will my ticket be repriced using the new award chart?
Nov 6, 2013, 8:12 am
#1509
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
Sorry if it's been posted, don't want to dig through 101 pages, but if there a link to the FULL new *A chart anywhere? I want to check out all of the rates for routings that don't involve the U.S. to see if it's worth keeping any of my UA miles for something like an intra SE Asia zone award or Europe to Australia or something. Thanks.
Good luck with AA. Or DL. Or LH. Or BA. Or whoever you choose...
Mr. (or Ms.) GetSetJetSet:
The Mileage Plus Upgrade and Award Charts (linked at the top of the wiki) provide your answer.
- Old = tickets booked before 2/1/14, can be changed up until travel dates per existing UA change rules.
- New: tickets booked 2/1/14 and beyond.
Old Europe to Northern Africa on a *A award ticket: 17.5 - 30 - 45 (Y - C - F)
Old Europe to Central / Southern Africa on a *A award ticket: 30 - 45 - 60
New Europe to Northern Africa on a *A award ticket: 30 - 55 - 100
New Europe to Central / Southern Africa on a *A award ticket: 30 - 55 - 100
So, if you fly in economy (I doubt it with the GSJS FT moniker), then there is no change Europe to Southern Africa.
C will go from 45,000 to 55,000 miles.
F (as in many of the *A changes) will take a big jump from 60,000 miles to 100,000 miles. Ouch.
The new award chart also combines Northern Africa with Southern / Central Africa, which has the effect of increasing Northern Africa awards by an even greater percentage.
Lark
PS Northern Africa: Algeria Morocco Canary Islands Tunisia Libya
Central Southern Africa: Angola Madagascar Benin Malawi Botswana Mali Burkina Faso Mauritania Burundi Mauritius Cameroon Mozambique Cape Verde Namibia Central African Republic Niger Chad Nigeria Comoros Reunion Island
Congo Rwanda Cote D’Ivoire Sao Tome and Principe Democratic Republic of Congo Senegal Djibouti Seychelles Equatorial Guinea Sierra Leone Eritrea Somalia Ethiopia South Africa Gabon Sudan Gambia Swaziland Ghana Tanzania
Guinea Togo Guinea-Bissau Uganda Kenya Zambia Lesotto Zimbabwe Liberia
The Mileage Plus Upgrade and Award Charts (linked at the top of the wiki) provide your answer.
- Old = tickets booked before 2/1/14, can be changed up until travel dates per existing UA change rules.
- New: tickets booked 2/1/14 and beyond.
Old Europe to Northern Africa on a *A award ticket: 17.5 - 30 - 45 (Y - C - F)
Old Europe to Central / Southern Africa on a *A award ticket: 30 - 45 - 60
New Europe to Northern Africa on a *A award ticket: 30 - 55 - 100
New Europe to Central / Southern Africa on a *A award ticket: 30 - 55 - 100
So, if you fly in economy (I doubt it with the GSJS FT moniker), then there is no change Europe to Southern Africa.
C will go from 45,000 to 55,000 miles.
F (as in many of the *A changes) will take a big jump from 60,000 miles to 100,000 miles. Ouch.
The new award chart also combines Northern Africa with Southern / Central Africa, which has the effect of increasing Northern Africa awards by an even greater percentage.
Lark
PS Northern Africa: Algeria Morocco Canary Islands Tunisia Libya
Central Southern Africa: Angola Madagascar Benin Malawi Botswana Mali Burkina Faso Mauritania Burundi Mauritius Cameroon Mozambique Cape Verde Namibia Central African Republic Niger Chad Nigeria Comoros Reunion Island
Congo Rwanda Cote D’Ivoire Sao Tome and Principe Democratic Republic of Congo Senegal Djibouti Seychelles Equatorial Guinea Sierra Leone Eritrea Somalia Ethiopia South Africa Gabon Sudan Gambia Swaziland Ghana Tanzania
Guinea Togo Guinea-Bissau Uganda Kenya Zambia Lesotto Zimbabwe Liberia
Nov 6, 2013, 8:32 am
#1510
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: U.K.
Programs: QR P; HH D; IHG SpAmb
Posts: 772
I only got through the first 10 or so pages of this thread, then gave up both due to frustration and lack of time.
I'm based in Europe but used to spend most of my miles on J awards in Asia (mostly travelling between Japan, China, Singapore, Korea) on SG/TG/OZ/NH, which after the changes i don't think i'd want to do any more.
Is there an alternative A* FFP that would still have rates similar to the current saver award rates intra-asia in MP?
I'm based in Europe but used to spend most of my miles on J awards in Asia (mostly travelling between Japan, China, Singapore, Korea) on SG/TG/OZ/NH, which after the changes i don't think i'd want to do any more.
Is there an alternative A* FFP that would still have rates similar to the current saver award rates intra-asia in MP?
Nov 6, 2013, 8:36 am
#1511
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 825
I think it can make sense to burn them down to zero if you think that you're unlikely to earn enough miles in the future to book a decent award under the new chart. But surely that describes a minority of people. In general, I agree with you.
Nov 6, 2013, 8:45 am
#1512
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA 1k/1mm+, National EE, IC Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,605
What will happen in my case ?
I booked a one way ticket from BKK to MSP using UA miles
BKK -> NRT (J) (Thai Airways)
NRT -> ORD (F) (ANA Airways)
ORD -> MSP (F) (United)
My question is if BKK-> NRT seat opens up in F and if i upgrade to F from J, will my ticket be repriced using the new award chart?
I booked a one way ticket from BKK to MSP using UA miles
BKK -> NRT (J) (Thai Airways)
NRT -> ORD (F) (ANA Airways)
ORD -> MSP (F) (United)
My question is if BKK-> NRT seat opens up in F and if i upgrade to F from J, will my ticket be repriced using the new award chart?
Nov 6, 2013, 8:47 am
#1513
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
For those of us moving to the dAArk side or to US, getting rid of MP miles is very logical
Nov 6, 2013, 8:56 am
#1514
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
According to UAInsider, it gets repriced.
What will happen in my case ?
I booked a one way ticket from BKK to MSP using UA miles
BKK -> NRT (J) (Thai Airways)
NRT -> ORD (F) (ANA Airways)
ORD -> MSP (F) (United)
My question is if BKK-> NRT seat opens up in F and if i upgrade to F from J, will my ticket be repriced using the new award chart?
I booked a one way ticket from BKK to MSP using UA miles
BKK -> NRT (J) (Thai Airways)
NRT -> ORD (F) (ANA Airways)
ORD -> MSP (F) (United)
My question is if BKK-> NRT seat opens up in F and if i upgrade to F from J, will my ticket be repriced using the new award chart?
Nov 6, 2013, 8:59 am
#1515
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA 1k/1mm+, National EE, IC Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,605
