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 1, 2013, 5:09 am
#166
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,859
So who can find the highest increase? The biggest I found so far is EU to North Africa in First, going from 45k one way to 100k. 122% increase in cost.
Don't think anyone still flies F on those, but it's there in the chart.
Don't think anyone still flies F on those, but it's there in the chart.
Nov 1, 2013, 5:23 am
#168
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NoCal
Programs: UA 1K 2.7MM
Posts: 232
Given everything UA is doing to screw *A, they should just leave. Something that any high-margin UA flyer should also consider doing as well with regards to UA. Of all the vendors I deal with, I know of none that work hard at holding me and my business in contempt. Were UA doing *anything* to mollify us as "valued" (ha ha ha) customers by offering a carrot with the latest sticks, I might be less angry.
Then again, the chief purser (!) on my TAL flight two days ago overheard me and my partner discussing the stupidity of trapping BF passengers in their seats by doing linen on tray tables BEFORE the first drink service and offered this gem:
"We old United people hate virtually everything about this new airline. It's embarrassing what they make us do."
Well said, senior United employee!
Then again, the chief purser (!) on my TAL flight two days ago overheard me and my partner discussing the stupidity of trapping BF passengers in their seats by doing linen on tray tables BEFORE the first drink service and offered this gem:
"We old United people hate virtually everything about this new airline. It's embarrassing what they make us do."
Well said, senior United employee!
Nov 1, 2013, 5:27 am
#169
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
Holy heck, I just woke up to this. Another Friday kick in the face, fantastic. Well, the award redemptions were the only reason I continued to fly United and deal with all the nonsense. I suppose I have some thinking to do.
If AA were smart, they'd send out another wave of status matches. I'd defect in a heartbeat being I already give AA a high percentage of my monthly transcon business.
If AA were smart, they'd send out another wave of status matches. I'd defect in a heartbeat being I already give AA a high percentage of my monthly transcon business.
This devaluation is HUGE to South Asia, especially if any destination United doesn't serve will price out at the higher mile cost.
Nov 1, 2013, 5:34 am
#170
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Gold, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 24
So for *A business/first awards, it is better to switch earnings to Miles and More, no?
Nov 1, 2013, 5:38 am
#172
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 302
I think it is time to start a twitter campaign. Mileage devals are expected but this is ridiculous everyone should include chase and united on their tweets with the hashtag #unitedunfriendly
Nov 1, 2013, 5:40 am
#173
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Costa Rica
Programs: UA 1K, Priority Platinum, Marriot Gold, Delta Platinum
Posts: 308
Wake up to this... Ughh... Now I still don't have it clear regarding the Star alliance Awards Chart vrs the United award chart... Is united only pricing partner flights only when Saver is offered? If not then is the regular price for Award redemption?
I see a great reduction in saver availability on the near future along with GPU restriction to M fares and higher.
I see a great reduction in saver availability on the near future along with GPU restriction to M fares and higher.
Nov 1, 2013, 5:40 am
#174
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
What can/will Chase do about it? They're part of the problem, not the solution.
Nov 1, 2013, 5:43 am
#175
Moderator, Hertz; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRK
Programs: UA 1MM, BA GGL, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond and others
Posts: 12,690
Horrible! Just Horrible!
First they make min spend
Then they change the baggage rules
Now they change the award structure.
And How many mile would a route like this cost?
ORD-FRA on UA then FRA-WAW/ZRH/Europe on LH or another carrier?
First they make min spend
Then they change the baggage rules
Now they change the award structure.
And How many mile would a route like this cost?
ORD-FRA on UA then FRA-WAW/ZRH/Europe on LH or another carrier?
Nov 1, 2013, 5:44 am
#177
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
But the whole cause was that people were earning a one way business class to Europe with every card application. It's the whole way that Chase threw out miles like candy that made the old award chart unsustainable (in United's eyes).
Nov 1, 2013, 5:46 am
#178
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 302
That doesnt mean chase is happy abt this. And chase is uniteds bigeest customer
Nov 1, 2013, 5:47 am
#179
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
I still don't get this: Have they eliminated saver level for *A flights in J?
Nov 1, 2013, 5:47 am
#180
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Au, QR, TK, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt, Shangri-La
Posts: 4,526
Clearly United is betting that the costs of maintaining elite loyalty, including giving us the ability to redeem on partners, outweigh the benefits. Time will tell whether they are correct. I hope not.