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
Jan 27, 2014, 10:49 pm
#2206
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
there is no definitive answer from UA yet, but many are assuming this would lead to a re-pricing.
Jan 28, 2014, 1:25 am
#2207
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
Made couple of ticketed award reservations before 1 Feb, but I need to make some changes on routing (without changing the departure and arrival cities) after 1 Feb in case if some flights open up the award seats, will I need to pay for the mileage in difference? For example, now oneway Asia-Oceania costs only 25,000 miles oneway on business but after 1 Feb it will cost 40,000 miles oneway !
United has said anything more than a date change will cause a re-pricing at the new levels. "Anything" is not confusing to me.
Is this more than a date change? Yes. It is a routing change.
The ticket will therefore need to be reissued and it will do so at the new rates based on what UA has already said.
What part of ANY voluntary change other than a date change is confusing to people?
Jan 28, 2014, 4:31 am
#2208
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
Feb 1 is 4 days away - since UA has not given answers to many unanswered questions, I doubt they ever will. Silence is just an easy way of saying no
Jan 28, 2014, 6:07 am
#2209
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
Don't forget, "we" are the beta testers for their idiocies.
Jan 28, 2014, 6:39 am
#2210
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Glad my miles were used already.
It's not a race to the bottom. It's a race to be the next UA.
It's not a race to the bottom. It's a race to be the next UA.
Jan 28, 2014, 6:49 am
#2211
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
Actually, I think this is pretty close to the truth.
Also goes in line with what I have been hearing lately from the (fake) 1K line. They plug everything into the computer, and what pops out is the only acceptable answer.
A whole lot easier then publishing rules and policies....might be why we are now (apparently) limited to 4 segments on a one-way award itinerary.
Also goes in line with what I have been hearing lately from the (fake) 1K line. They plug everything into the computer, and what pops out is the only acceptable answer.
A whole lot easier then publishing rules and policies....might be why we are now (apparently) limited to 4 segments on a one-way award itinerary.
Jan 28, 2014, 7:16 am
#2213
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: UA Pleb, HH Gold, PWP General Secretary
Posts: 23,199
Pro Tip: If you're dumping miles in advance of 2/1 be sure to confirm your tickets with OALs just in case UA doesn't issue the ticket correctly.
Jan 28, 2014, 11:34 am
#2214
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Auckland, NZ
Programs: UA 1K, QF Plat, HHonors Diamond,
Posts: 82
Exact time of change to new award redemption rates?
Hi all,
I've been trying to search high and low for the exact time the award redemption rates will switch over to the post-Jan 31st values? Will it be midnight CST Feb 1 (given that is where UA's HQ is) or is it a rolling changeover based on where you as the MP member are located?
For the flights I'm looking at, there is actually a substantial decrease in the required no of miles under the new awards rates to come into effect, so want to lock those in as soon as the rates switch over (if all IT systems behave that is)!
Cheers!
I've been trying to search high and low for the exact time the award redemption rates will switch over to the post-Jan 31st values? Will it be midnight CST Feb 1 (given that is where UA's HQ is) or is it a rolling changeover based on where you as the MP member are located?
For the flights I'm looking at, there is actually a substantial decrease in the required no of miles under the new awards rates to come into effect, so want to lock those in as soon as the rates switch over (if all IT systems behave that is)!
Cheers!
Jan 28, 2014, 11:43 am
#2215
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,646
As people are making last minute bookings I strongly recommend remembering UAs propensity to make schedule changes, often very disruptive ones, on their own metal for advanced reservations. For this reason if I do make a booking I'm doing it 100% on partner metal and will eat the positioning costs to lax/sea/sfo rather than risk UA scheduling whims. This is probably most important for those originating in cities with infrequent service.
Jan 28, 2014, 11:58 am
#2216
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
As people are making last minute bookings I strongly recommend remembering UAs propensity to make schedule changes, often very disruptive ones, on their own metal for advanced reservations. For this reason if I do make a booking I'm doing it 100% on partner metal and will eat the positioning costs to lax/sea/sfo rather than risk UA scheduling whims. This is probably most important for those originating in cities with infrequent service.
Jan 28, 2014, 12:02 pm
#2217
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: 10^7 mm from Ȱ
Programs: Hyatt D/HHonors D/ SPG P/ Marriott P/ IHG P/ UA 1K/ AA EXP/ DL D
Posts: 1,976
Jan 28, 2014, 12:05 pm
#2218
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Where I'm at
Programs: UA 1P 1MM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,741
What's UA's responsibility on award bookings that are disrupted by involuntary schedule changes ?
Jan 28, 2014, 12:07 pm
#2219
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,646
If UA metal connection to the gateway doesn't align with partner schedule, they'll reaccommodate you, but you can bet it would be on UA metal the whole way.
Jan 28, 2014, 12:10 pm
#2220
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: Mileage Plus, AAdvantage, Executive Club
Posts: 198
When you book an award, before you enter all your information, on the summary page, there's a link to "View Rules and Restrictions." Behind that link, and the captcha, are the fare rules for that award.