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
Feb 1, 2014, 1:36 am
#2386
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Perth, Australia
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 24
There are in fact all sorts of goodies to/from Australia and other "local" zones, with somewhat improved mileage rates 
It is not just lack of online availability of SQ. I rang and asked about availability from BNE to SIN and vv. Nothing on SQ in business at all (I was told) in all of September and October. Available on TG via BKK, but much less convenient, sad to say.
It is not just lack of online availability of SQ. I rang and asked about availability from BNE to SIN and vv. Nothing on SQ in business at all (I was told) in all of September and October. Available on TG via BKK, but much less convenient, sad to say.
Feb 1, 2014, 1:55 am
#2387
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: PER
Programs: BA Gold, QF Gold, VA Gold, IC Diamond Amb., HH Diamond
Posts: 777
There are in fact all sorts of goodies to/from Australia and other "local" zones, with somewhat improved mileage rates
It is not just lack of online availability of SQ. I rang and asked about availability from BNE to SIN and vv. Nothing on SQ in business at all (I was told) in all of September and October. Available on TG via BKK, but much less convenient, sad to say.
It is not just lack of online availability of SQ. I rang and asked about availability from BNE to SIN and vv. Nothing on SQ in business at all (I was told) in all of September and October. Available on TG via BKK, but much less convenient, sad to say.
SQ insists that they haven't throttled any inventory but since AV and NH seem to echo the same I think something fishy is up
Feb 1, 2014, 3:22 am
#2388
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS/ BOM
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,567
Changes to MileagePlus Award and Upgrade Policies - Eff. Feb. 2014
At least the premier benefits page is fancier and a little cleaner 
Feb 1, 2014, 3:49 am
#2389
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,621
So you could go US to Europe (stopover) to Japan/Korea(destination) for 90k dividend miles in business round trip. Then for 25k Mileage Plus miles you could add a roundtrip economy ticket from Japan to a South Pacific airport, stopping in Bangkok, Sydney and Auckland, and returning to Japan/Korea (via Singapore and/or Perth?) and then flying back to the US via the Pacific. You could even get an open jaw in the South Pacific.
Unless I'm wrong, that would be 115k total miles from two programs, or 150k if you want the whole thing in business class.
Feb 1, 2014, 4:24 am
#2390
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: EWR, SLC, SGN
Posts: 1,113
This has also been devalued. Previously (or for two more days) it was 10/20 instead of 12.5/25 for y/j.
Feb 1, 2014, 6:27 am
#2391
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,157
Feb 1, 2014, 7:19 am
#2392
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Yokohama (near HND, TYO)
Programs: meltdowngraded from "F" and "C" , Accor Plt, BW Dia, ihg G, UA 0.9999MM
Posts: 1,569
I was booking an award ticket in my dream last night. Really.
Feb 1, 2014, 7:28 am
#2393
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Portland OR & Bangkok
Programs: United GS, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 662
Feb 1, 2014, 7:50 am
#2394
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Yokohama (near HND, TYO)
Programs: meltdowngraded from "F" and "C" , Accor Plt, BW Dia, ihg G, UA 0.9999MM
Posts: 1,569
That's interesting, and you could combine it with a US Airways award from US to North Asia for 90k in business class.
So you could go US to Europe (stopover) to Japan/Korea(destination) for 90k dividend miles in business round trip. Then for 25k Mileage Plus miles you could add a roundtrip economy ticket from Japan to a South Pacific airport, stopping in Bangkok, Sydney and Auckland, and returning to Japan/Korea (via Singapore and/or Perth?) and then flying back to the US via the Pacific. You could even get an open jaw in the South Pacific.
Unless I'm wrong, that would be 115k total miles from two programs, or 150k if you want the whole thing in business class.
So you could go US to Europe (stopover) to Japan/Korea(destination) for 90k dividend miles in business round trip. Then for 25k Mileage Plus miles you could add a roundtrip economy ticket from Japan to a South Pacific airport, stopping in Bangkok, Sydney and Auckland, and returning to Japan/Korea (via Singapore and/or Perth?) and then flying back to the US via the Pacific. You could even get an open jaw in the South Pacific.
Unless I'm wrong, that would be 115k total miles from two programs, or 150k if you want the whole thing in business class.
Y/UA C/Partner C miles
Before 2/3/2014, 12.5k/20k/20k.
On or after 2/3/2014, 12.5k/25k/30k
Last edited by O Sora; Feb 2, 2014 at 9:26 am
Feb 1, 2014, 8:02 am
#2395
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Plat, HH Diamond, MR Gold, Hertz Prez Circle
Posts: 572
I thought they'd just roll with the massive cluster because TIMES UP! and no one would be redeeming for a weeks after because we've been burning burning burning with this date in mind. But perhaps they are extending the deadline to ease their ledgers a bit more as well as because UA IT can't get it together? Now that is what I would call the smart move (for them).
Feb 1, 2014, 8:16 am
#2396
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: PDX
Programs: United, SPG, Hyatt
Posts: 167
Feb 1, 2014, 8:25 am
#2397
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Portland OR & Bangkok
Programs: United GS, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 662
New redemption rates have not kicked in yet - booked more flights today. Guess I'll dream about it again tonight! (total miles burned ~795K)
Feb 1, 2014, 9:00 am
#2398
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,450
Is the new February 3, 2014 change posted somewhere online on United.com?
Just tried to make a small change online in the same cabin and they are trying to charge me more miles. I don't think the agent will take an United exec post on FlyerTalk as a source.
Just tried to make a small change online in the same cabin and they are trying to charge me more miles. I don't think the agent will take an United exec post on FlyerTalk as a source.
Feb 1, 2014, 9:07 am
#2399
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Orlando
Programs: DL 4MM/PM, UA 1MM/Gold, AA Paper
Posts: 1,386
The mileage chart url links shown on the top of each page of this posting link to a UA PDF file, which has been changed to show that the effective dates of the mileage changes is now February 3, 2014. They are UA documents.
Feb 1, 2014, 9:13 am
#2400
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Perth, Australia
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 24
Yeah I noticed that when I checked the old chart again. Still that is a crazily affordable redemption, considering it's more expensive to do just Japan to Australia. Still we did get a drop in miles to travel to South Asia which might peak my interest instead of using my miles for miles+copay upgrades across the pond.