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, 8:21 am
#2611
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: AMEX PLT, AA PPro, Spire AMB
Posts: 1,617
I have FRA-SFO in UA F, will be hoping for LH F (assuming M&M doesn't block them out by then) which is a carrier and time change, which should not be upfared.
Feb 4, 2014, 8:22 am
#2612
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Slightly to the left of center
Posts: 3,475
Pardon for my glass half full....
but, the comments from UA Insider, if I read them correctly, AND are communicated to front line staff, seem to soften the blow a bit.
but, the comments from UA Insider, if I read them correctly, AND are communicated to front line staff, seem to soften the blow a bit.
Feb 4, 2014, 8:27 am
#2613
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
What I'm hoping for is that the rules will be confusing enough that those of us who booked an F award where one segment was only available in J will be able to sweet talk our way into moving the rest by pointing out it isn't really a change in cabin.
Feb 4, 2014, 8:27 am
#2614
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,693
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?
Feb 4, 2014, 8:27 am
#2615
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Feb 4, 2014, 8:30 am
#2617
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
An interesting side-effect of the new rules is that, for some routings, long-haul F and long-haul C saver awards on UA metal now price identically! For example, I was looking at one-way awards SGN>BOS just now:
Both 80K miles per person, and the initial segment in both cases is in NH C. Perhaps it's reflecting the fact that UA GF isn't worth more miles than BF?
Regardless, I'll take GF. Mmmmm, soup.
Both 80K miles per person, and the initial segment in both cases is in NH C. Perhaps it's reflecting the fact that UA GF isn't worth more miles than BF?
Regardless, I'll take GF. Mmmmm, soup.
Feb 4, 2014, 8:37 am
#2618
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 347
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.[INDENT][LIST][*]For example: IAD-FRA in United BusinessFirst connecting to FRA-FCO in Lufthansa Business, will be priced at the United mileage award amount.
Feb 4, 2014, 8:39 am
#2619
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,867
Yeah that's by design if the main overwater leg is on United metal, it's pricing the award as a UA award vs partner metal for the business award.
Feb 4, 2014, 8:39 am
#2620
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: St. John's, NL, Canada
Posts: 357
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?
I have ICN-JFK booked in OZ F. I called to inquire about adding an EWR-YYT segment in UA J, and I was told it would require additional miles.
In this case, the destination would stay in the same region (North America), but the addition of a segment results in a carrier change (from no flight to a United flight) and triggers a reprice. It seems consistent with the new information we have been provided.
Feb 4, 2014, 8:41 am
#2621
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 347
An interesting side-effect of the new rules is that, for some routings, long-haul F and long-haul C saver awards on UA metal now price identically! For example, I was looking at one-way awards SGN>BOS just now:
Both 80K miles per person, and the initial segment in both cases is in NH C. Perhaps it's reflecting the fact that UA GF isn't worth more miles than BF?
Regardless, I'll take GF. Mmmmm, soup.
Both 80K miles per person, and the initial segment in both cases is in NH C. Perhaps it's reflecting the fact that UA GF isn't worth more miles than BF?
Regardless, I'll take GF. Mmmmm, soup.
Feb 4, 2014, 8:44 am
#2622
Join Date: May 2010
Location: BNA
Programs: No preference
Posts: 1,176
The interesting question is how to force such pricing. For example, if in your example ANA happened to have both F and J seats on the flight SGN-NRT, there is no way to tell the system that you'd like J on that flight and then F on the transpacific UA flight (in order to take advantage of UA F price).
Feb 4, 2014, 8:48 am
#2624
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat Pro, VS Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 838
any ideas re: pricing?
My understanding of the new rules is that if I redeem for a ticket that has me in UA Global First -- with the rest of the segments in Star Business/Economy -- the United Award rate will apply.
Any ideas why the United Award rate (80K in Global First to South Asia) isn't applying to the below itinerary? Instead, it seems to be pricing at the Star F 120K level. Thanks!
Any ideas why the United Award rate (80K in Global First to South Asia) isn't applying to the below itinerary? Instead, it seems to be pricing at the Star F 120K level. Thanks!
Feb 4, 2014, 8:59 am
#2625
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 347
My understanding of the new rules is that if I redeem for a ticket that has me in UA Global First -- with the rest of the segments in Star Business/Economy -- the United Award rate will apply.
Any ideas why the United Award rate (80K in Global First to South Asia) isn't applying to the below itinerary? Instead, it seems to be pricing at the Star F 120K level. Thanks!
Any ideas why the United Award rate (80K in Global First to South Asia) isn't applying to the below itinerary? Instead, it seems to be pricing at the Star F 120K level. Thanks!