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 4, 2014, 7:33 am
#2596
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: HPN
Programs: not anymore! I'm FREE!
Posts: 3,459
While I feel your pain (actually, I feel my pain, as I use my miles primarily for premium cabin *A awards), I don't really see an alternative that has lower redemption rates and a similar (or better) ease of earning miles. Do you?
Feb 4, 2014, 7:33 am
#2597
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Pretty sure this one is wrong:
Looks like the UA-metal award C price but on partner Y long-haul and C short-haul.
Phantom space had nothing to do with demand and everything to do with two different reservations systems being used on the back-end, one for inventory searching and another for booking.
Unless LH changes its policies about releasing the space I would not expect that problem to change.
Looks like the UA-metal award C price but on partner Y long-haul and C short-haul.
Phantom space had nothing to do with demand and everything to do with two different reservations systems being used on the back-end, one for inventory searching and another for booking.
Unless LH changes its policies about releasing the space I would not expect that problem to change.
Do you think this is a problem of just/mainly LH's making. Why is that? Is there some reason this was more of an issue with UA's online tool than with other carriers' online tools?
Feb 4, 2014, 7:35 am
#2598
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: YYG
Programs: airlines and hotels and rental cars - oh my!
Posts: 2,997
Cheer up OP, it could be a LOT worse. Witness the substantial number of former Air Canada Aeroplan members who have bailed and taken their business to United and MP. Most are saying how much better it is.
And they mean it.
And they mean it.
Feb 4, 2014, 7:40 am
#2599
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MCO, DCA, IAD
Programs: UA GS 1MM, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,134
Hi everyone,
The updated Saver and Standard Award mileage requirements are now in effect, and I have a few more details to share:
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.Change clarification for itineraries booked before February 3: Many of you have also been asking about what kinds of itinerary changes will re-trigger a re-price to the new award chart, and I can share some additional follow-up details about that. As a reminder, the existing change process will apply, and any change that requires an award to re-price will require an add/collect of the additional miles under the new award price structure. Fees for change/cancel will still apply per our existing policies. Changes that will not trigger a re-price for itineraries ticketed before February 3, 2014 include:Aaron Goldberg
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
The updated Saver and Standard Award mileage requirements are now in effect, and I have a few more details to share:
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.
- 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)
- 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)
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
Thanks for the update.
Feb 4, 2014, 7:42 am
#2600
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MCO, DCA, IAD
Programs: UA GS 1MM, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,134
+1. It's bad but not that bad. Especially with the new exceptions and change policies UA Insider announced today.
Feb 4, 2014, 7:48 am
#2601
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: EWR
Posts: 680
Change clarification for itineraries booked before February 3: Many of you have also been asking about what kinds of itinerary changes will re-trigger a re-price to the new award chart, and I can share some additional follow-up details about that. As a reminder, the existing change process will apply, and any change that requires an award to re-price will require an add/collect of the additional miles under the new award price structure. Fees for change/cancel will still apply 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)
Feb 4, 2014, 7:49 am
#2602
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: UA 1K, AA PLT, SPG PLT
Posts: 1,612
HOWEVER, the big takeaway is the first sentence: COdbaUA only will post responses to our questions AFTER the new rates take effect, even though i'm sure they had the answers immediately after the announcement of the rates changing.
This is pure lack of respect for folks who have earned miles in the program, and sadly, I expect nothing more from UA, which is why i'm leaving UA and spent nearly all of my 377K RDM on award trips using ONLY partners (not a single COdbaUA metal segment).
More of this will happen and the lack of transparency will naturally continue, since the more they pull the wool over people's eyes, the more money in Jeffy Jeff's pockets in the short term.
-jeremy
Feb 4, 2014, 7:51 am
#2603
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: RDU
Posts: 735
Changes that will not trigger a re-price for itineraries ticketed before February 3, 2014 include:Aaron Goldberg
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
- 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)
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
Feb 4, 2014, 7:52 am
#2604
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: LAX,SNA,SAN
Programs: UA GS, Marriott LP, Hertz Gold
Posts: 861
LAX > LHR for summer, same thing.
I myself will not be going to Europe this summer do to lack of availability for reward seats, even in C. If SMI/J wants to turn MP reward flights to domestic locations only then I'm out. I would like to fly to different places than Cedar Rapids or Billings this summer. While I have redeemed millions of miles domestically for 4, I would like to use a few miles to head over the pond in the summer and if UA cannot afford that, I need to find someone who can, if that still exist with DL or AA.
I myself will not be going to Europe this summer do to lack of availability for reward seats, even in C. If SMI/J wants to turn MP reward flights to domestic locations only then I'm out. I would like to fly to different places than Cedar Rapids or Billings this summer. While I have redeemed millions of miles domestically for 4, I would like to use a few miles to head over the pond in the summer and if UA cannot afford that, I need to find someone who can, if that still exist with DL or AA.
Feb 4, 2014, 7:59 am
#2605
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 288
I asked a similar question. I am not too clear about the new policy in place. I am due to fly on TG F (O) for BKK-FRA on Feb 15, then on LH to IAD on the 16th. I have been waiting for opening up a LH O. Scratching my head.
Feb 4, 2014, 8:01 am
#2606
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 164
What about schedule changes on either United or other Star Alliance Carriers (that are not initiated by the customer)? How will these get handled?
Feb 4, 2014, 8:13 am
#2607
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
LAX > LHR for summer, same thing.
I myself will not be going to Europe this summer do to lack of availability for reward seats, even in C. If SMI/J wants to turn MP reward flights to domestic locations only then I'm out. I would like to fly to different places than Cedar Rapids or Billings this summer. While I have redeemed millions of miles domestically for 4, I would like to use a few miles to head over the pond in the summer and if UA cannot afford that, I need to find someone who can, if that still exist with DL or AA.
I myself will not be going to Europe this summer do to lack of availability for reward seats, even in C. If SMI/J wants to turn MP reward flights to domestic locations only then I'm out. I would like to fly to different places than Cedar Rapids or Billings this summer. While I have redeemed millions of miles domestically for 4, I would like to use a few miles to head over the pond in the summer and if UA cannot afford that, I need to find someone who can, if that still exist with DL or AA.
Feb 4, 2014, 8:18 am
#2608
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: ATL
Posts: 186
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)
Feb 4, 2014, 8:20 am
#2609
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 288
Spoke to an agent after my last message but she said it would not pull more miles. I will have to keep monitoring and see what happens.
Feb 4, 2014, 8:21 am
#2610
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Hmm so does this mean those of us that booked say:
MUC - YYZ - DCA on LH F could switch to FRA - IAD on LH F (origin / destination in same region - carrier remains as LH)? Or are we out of luck since the YYZ - DCA (or whatever our connecting portion is say YYZ - ORD / LAX / SFO / etc.) is not on LH F but on UA / AC / US Y/F?
Presumably at the very least we could switch to FRA - YYZ?
MUC - YYZ - DCA on LH F could switch to FRA - IAD on LH F (origin / destination in same region - carrier remains as LH)? Or are we out of luck since the YYZ - DCA (or whatever our connecting portion is say YYZ - ORD / LAX / SFO / etc.) is not on LH F but on UA / AC / US Y/F?
Presumably at the very least we could switch to FRA - YYZ?