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, 7:38 am
#241
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
For one, I'm happy that this will help price out some of that demographic.
Flame away!
Nov 1, 2013, 7:39 am
#242
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K3MM
Posts: 202
Who is doing a better status match these days? DL or AA?
Nov 1, 2013, 7:39 am
#243
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Always on the move
Programs: Something lifetime here and there
Posts: 1,867
I hope you can do that before something like say...."*net blocking" kicks in or something similar to that until D day....
Nov 1, 2013, 7:40 am
#244
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 133
FYI the 10,000 mile domestic stopover is eliminated.
It now requires pricing as an additional one-way segment, so a fully saver domestic award with stopover will be 25,000 + 12,500 = 37,500 miles.
No sign of change to international.
It now requires pricing as an additional one-way segment, so a fully saver domestic award with stopover will be 25,000 + 12,500 = 37,500 miles.
No sign of change to international.
Nov 1, 2013, 7:40 am
#245
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 488
Scare tactic on halloween!!!!
Nov 1, 2013, 7:41 am
#246
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: WAS, LAX
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,330
Tweeted United and Chase $flyerunfriendly. Keep it trending, everyone.
Nov 1, 2013, 7:41 am
#247
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
HAHAHA and queue total exit from UA. This 1K has one more flight in 2 weeks that will secure Platinum for next year and then I literally no reason to ever fly UA again, oh and time to give ol' Chase a call and cancel the CC. Consider yourselves victorious in the war against elites UA, you finally did it. Oh and for the record UA, you can't devalue miles the way DL has unless you're going to offer the same quality of product that DL offers.
I literally just booked award travel to Europe for next summer and was between saving my miles and booking Y one way and J the way back and read a quote from Lucky I think saying that holding miles was stupid because you were always at risk of a major devaluation so ended up doing roundtrip in J. Guess I will burn the rest of my miles before Feb 1, or at the very least make a booking and just hold it at the current rates.
I literally just booked award travel to Europe for next summer and was between saving my miles and booking Y one way and J the way back and read a quote from Lucky I think saying that holding miles was stupid because you were always at risk of a major devaluation so ended up doing roundtrip in J. Guess I will burn the rest of my miles before Feb 1, or at the very least make a booking and just hold it at the current rates.
Nov 1, 2013, 7:42 am
#248
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
Nov 1, 2013, 7:43 am
#249
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
Was there an announcement I missed about reduced domestic award availability? 
I seldom have trouble (unless over Christmas or similar) finding saver domestic tix.
The two years I was a 1K, I did it for well under $4000, and Platinum last year was under $3000 (and on-track for the same this year).
As I say, this inflationary reality is hardest on international front-cabin flyers who have been able to enjoy (as have I for domestic redemptions) accruing miles from sub-$200 coast-to-coast trips and spending on international F/J.
I seldom have trouble (unless over Christmas or similar) finding saver domestic tix.The two years I was a 1K, I did it for well under $4000, and Platinum last year was under $3000 (and on-track for the same this year).
As I say, this inflationary reality is hardest on international front-cabin flyers who have been able to enjoy (as have I for domestic redemptions) accruing miles from sub-$200 coast-to-coast trips and spending on international F/J.
Nov 1, 2013, 7:45 am
#250
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Nov 1, 2013, 7:45 am
#251
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: CLT
Programs: FT Member #8119 F & J Free Agent
Posts: 6,550
Why does UA have to make an announcement? Just because you think you did not get enhanced does not mean the results will be to your liking.
Nov 1, 2013, 7:46 am
#252
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: SFO, MNL, SIN, HAM
Programs: UA GS, SQ PPS, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Gold, Hilton Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Accor Plat
Posts: 488
I hope that everybody who is venting here is also sending a quick message to [email protected]. I just send a page long message, letting him know that, as a Global Services member of many years, he will not see a dollar of my premium spend anymore, until they rediscover the value of loyalty and change their customer service policies...
United is a business that will make the decisions most likely to maximise their profit - until you vote with your dollars, there will be no improvement!
There are plenty of better choices, go make them!
United is a business that will make the decisions most likely to maximise their profit - until you vote with your dollars, there will be no improvement!
There are plenty of better choices, go make them!
Nov 1, 2013, 7:47 am
#253
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: UA Gold, Fairmont Platinum, Starwood Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 280
I'm looking for the answer to this question. I want to burn the remaining miles I have to SEAsia and I'm more than happy to book by Feb 1 and miss the increase if I can make changes with the standard caveats w/ changes.
I'm only sitting on about 65k miles for a Y award and not looking forward to a 15k increase to SEAsia
I'm only sitting on about 65k miles for a Y award and not looking forward to a 15k increase to SEAsia
If I book an F award today, will I be able to change it at the mileage I paid, or will I be subject to an additional collection after Feb 1st?
Nov 1, 2013, 7:48 am
#254
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,586
. Just waiting to see how the AA/US merger plays out. I'm assuming either way a massive deval to AA program is next.Problem is I too assume a massive deval to AA is on the way, and AA or DL are really the only alternatives given my travel patterns.
Nov 1, 2013, 7:49 am
#255
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: 36,027
This really hurts the 'Maximizers' the most, those who fly on a $8000 value ticket for $3000 spent. You really can't blame United for this too much as it is a business decision and they came to a realization that they were giving some of the best stuff away in essence for free (Credit card sign ups,etc). If anyone of us were running an airline we would see this differently. Airlines want their planes full of rev paying passengers....Simple economics..... And the minority that we are on FT as far as UA passengers/elites as whole are concerned will have little impact on their level of elite tier members. Lets not kid ourselves.
For my flying patterns, actually there are not.