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, 7:00 am
#211
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS/ BOM
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,567
So Much for being FlyerFriendly!!! Me and my wife were banking our miles in the hopes of traveling to Asia (India) on a RT FC saver award ticket which would have cost us 160K miles on a *A flight and now this increase. This combined with their inability to process UG on time is really a low blow for all of us! They want us to use United Metal to travel around the world, they better start more flights then!! Taking away our options and not providing replacements makes people really mad!
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Nov 1, 2013 at 7:23 am
Nov 1, 2013, 7:00 am
#212
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: San Juan Capistrano, CA
Programs: UA Premier Gold (1MM), AS MVP
Posts: 989
This only pulls forward for me the deadline to use up my miles. Too bad it is *just* short of the 330 day window that will coincide with normal end-of-Christmas/NYE travel. I was not going for 1K next year anyway - I am happy to sit in the back as a lifetime Gold, since I sat in the back most of this year as a 1K anyway... 
Unfortunately I was also planning to use my 2014 1K status to give me the flexibility to book and cancel those 250k miles, but after Feb 1 2014, that too is effectively gone...
Unfortunately I was also planning to use my 2014 1K status to give me the flexibility to book and cancel those 250k miles, but after Feb 1 2014, that too is effectively gone...
Nov 1, 2013, 7:01 am
#213
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
Nov 1, 2013, 7:05 am
#214
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
During this whole post-merger uncertainty the last year or so at least we could say Mileage Plus was solid. Now it's Delta by another name. Great. 
Nov 1, 2013, 7:06 am
#215
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Gold, UA MM, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,329
Nov 1, 2013, 7:06 am
#216
Join Date: May 2009
Location: ATL
Posts: 516
Alright, I think I'm done here. When UA has extremely limited availability to where I want to go and my only choice is to pay a premium to fly another airline, I think that's enough devaluation for me. Once these miles are gone, I'm done going out of my way to fly UA.
Other airlines have as good or better premium economy now, and aren't going through endless devaluation periods.
First you got rid of my E+ access with silver, then you reduced how many miles I earned as silver and gold, and now you increase how many miles it takes to fly. I'll use the miles I have left (before Feb 1), status match, and not look back.
Other airlines have as good or better premium economy now, and aren't going through endless devaluation periods.
First you got rid of my E+ access with silver, then you reduced how many miles I earned as silver and gold, and now you increase how many miles it takes to fly. I'll use the miles I have left (before Feb 1), status match, and not look back.
Nov 1, 2013, 7:08 am
#217
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,166
Not sure if anyone has said this...it's a full frontal attack on the airline's best & most frequent customers. No other way to read it...they want to cut back our ease of upgrades & ability to redeem miles on superior *A carriers.
GMs & Silvers (no offense to the latter) probably aren't redeeming a lot for these global premium seats, and aren't looking for R space
GMs & Silvers (no offense to the latter) probably aren't redeeming a lot for these global premium seats, and aren't looking for R space
Nov 1, 2013, 7:10 am
#218
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 512
Cue the double PQM promotions!
Just kidding
Just kidding
Nov 1, 2013, 7:10 am
#219
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Gold, UA MM, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,329
Nov 1, 2013, 7:10 am
#220
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: CLT
Programs: FT Member #8119 F & J Free Agent
Posts: 6,550
Nov 1, 2013, 7:11 am
#221
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,018
While for those who use their miles primarily for international front-cabin travel this is indeed bad news, for those of us who only use miles for intra-U.S. mainland domestic flights, the good news is that the cost stayed the same which means that it’s likely that it will be several more years before the 25K domestic r/t saver awards will be devalued. ^
Nov 1, 2013, 7:13 am
#222
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: CLT
Programs: FT Member #8119 F & J Free Agent
Posts: 6,550
While for those who use their miles primarily for international front-cabin travel this is indeed bad news, for those of us who only use miles for intra-U.S. mainland domestic flights, the good news is that the cost stayed the same which means that it’s likely that it will be several more years before the 25K domestic r/t saver awards will be devalued. ^
Nov 1, 2013, 7:15 am
#223
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,444
These are the November cost cuts. BOHICA...
Nov 1, 2013, 7:15 am
#224
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K/MM, AA EXP, Marriott Plat
Posts: 192
Absolutely brutal. Essentially it takes almost all the value out of overseas redemptions, especially combined with the significantly enhanced "availability" (i.e no availability) of C and F awards. What an absolute joke.
Well the only thing that talks as they say is dollars. Just cancelled my Chase card and rebooked two C flights to Europe on AA.
AA is next after the merger closes.
Well the only thing that talks as they say is dollars. Just cancelled my Chase card and rebooked two C flights to Europe on AA.
AA is next after the merger closes.
Nov 1, 2013, 7:15 am
#225
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,330
Offer every Kettle who wants a new Visa card 25K or whatever free miles, and this is what you get. :-:
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