Changes to MileagePlus Award and Upgrade Policies - Eff. 3-Feb-2014
Jan 8, 16, 4:42 pm - Wikipost
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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 : 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 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?
Originally Posted by UA Insider
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.
Originally Posted by UA Insider
Changes that will not trigger a re-price for itineraries ticketed before February 3, 2014 include:
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?
Originally Posted by UA Insider
The new award pricing takes effect for bookings made on or after Feb 3, 2014 for all future travel dates. If you purchased a ticket prior to then for travel on March 15, and no changes are made to the itinerary, the current pricing will apply.
Originally Posted by UA Insider
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.
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Feb 4, 14, 12:43 pm
#2656
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: DCA, ZRH, JNB, FRA
Programs: UA Global Services 2MM, DL Diamond, AmEx Cent, Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime, Moms love me
Posts: 5,013
Originally Posted by UA Insider
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)
- AKL-NRT NZ C
- NRT-ICN OZ F
- ICN-FRA OZ F
- FRA-IAD UA F
Now I just have to hope LH opens up FRA-IAD in F woot!
Last edited by Xyzzy; Feb 4, 14 at 12:49 pm Reason: Fixed BB code
Feb 4, 14, 12:45 pm
#2657
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: RDU
Posts: 683
Yea, carrier change and destination change in the same region (DPS from KBV). Hope my interpretation is correct.
Feb 4, 14, 12:54 pm
#2658
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 9
Originally Posted by martina
This type of change (shift from Y to F on a feeder flight connecting to international F, ticketed in F) wasn't allowed by a phone agent, who spoke to more than one supervisor to confirm this. 
Can you be more specific about what you were trying to do? Airline/class/itinerary.
Feb 4, 14, 1:04 pm
#2659
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K&1.88MM, MR lifetime Gold, HZ PC,
Posts: 1,697
I'm basically reading it as:
When you booked an award ticket before Feb 3rd, you locked yourself into:
1. A trip between two regions
2. A particular class of service (which you may or may not be already seated in based on availability)
Therefore you can essentially change your airports for origin and destination, change your dates, change your carrier as long as you stay travelling between Europe and North America in F (or whatever your ticket was)
When you booked an award ticket before Feb 3rd, you locked yourself into:
1. A trip between two regions
2. A particular class of service (which you may or may not be already seated in based on availability)
Therefore you can essentially change your airports for origin and destination, change your dates, change your carrier as long as you stay travelling between Europe and North America in F (or whatever your ticket was)
Feb 4, 14, 1:19 pm
#2660
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oakland, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Expl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,484
Originally Posted by lazard
Not sure if I'm understanding correctly. My current itinerary is BKK to FRA in TG F and then FRA-LIS-EWR on mixed LH and TAP C. If a direct flight from FRA-EWR on LH F opens up, would that trigger a reprice?
Originally Posted by SFO777
Indeed good news.
So as I read it, sounds like I can change my DTW-FRA LH First ticket to DEN-FRA LH First if and when LH releases a DEN-FRA First seat.. with no mileage repricing and only the MP kettle change fee.
So as I read it, sounds like I can change my DTW-FRA LH First ticket to DEN-FRA LH First if and when LH releases a DEN-FRA First seat.. with no mileage repricing and only the MP kettle change fee.
Originally Posted by cricketer
I'm basically reading it as:
When you booked an award ticket before Feb 3rd, you locked yourself into:
1. A trip between two regions
2. A particular class of service (which you may or may not be already seated in based on availability)
Therefore you can essentially change your airports for origin and destination, change your dates, change your carrier as long as you stay travelling between Europe and North America in F (or whatever your ticket was)
When you booked an award ticket before Feb 3rd, you locked yourself into:
1. A trip between two regions
2. A particular class of service (which you may or may not be already seated in based on availability)
Therefore you can essentially change your airports for origin and destination, change your dates, change your carrier as long as you stay travelling between Europe and North America in F (or whatever your ticket was)
As others have said, I guess we'll find out as folks start to post their experience with this.
Feb 4, 14, 1:23 pm
#2661
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: SPG, AA, BA, CO, UA, US, B6, DL, Amex MR, HH
Posts: 988
Was just able to price out the following change online:
SEA-NRT (NH I)
HND-BKK (NH X)
BKK-SYD (TG O)
to
SEA-NRT (NH I)
HND-BKK (NH I) - different flight, same date
BKK-SYD (TG O) - different flight, same date
There was no change in the amount of miles required, only charging me the change fee (and surprisingly since I wasn't changing cities, a refund of some taxes).
I think the key word is 'include', and we're just being given some examples of changes that won't reprice - obviously not giving us the example that would cost them the most money. The first sentence is (IMHO) the actual rule, and would allow for changes like this not repricing.
SEA-NRT (NH I)
HND-BKK (NH X)
BKK-SYD (TG O)
to
SEA-NRT (NH I)
HND-BKK (NH I) - different flight, same date
BKK-SYD (TG O) - different flight, same date
There was no change in the amount of miles required, only charging me the change fee (and surprisingly since I wasn't changing cities, a refund of some taxes).
I think the key word is 'include', and we're just being given some examples of changes that won't reprice - obviously not giving us the example that would cost them the most money. The first sentence is (IMHO) the actual rule, and would allow for changes like this not repricing.
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:
Feb 4, 14, 1:25 pm
#2662
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,806
Originally Posted by dinosims
Was just able to price out the following change online:
SEA-NRT (NH I)
HND-BKK (NH X)
BKK-SYD (TG O)
to
SEA-NRT (NH I)
HND-BKK (NH I) - different flight, same date
BKK-SYD (TG O) - different flight, same date
There was no change in the amount of miles required, only charging me the change fee (and surprisingly since I wasn't changing cities, a refund of some taxes).
SEA-NRT (NH I)
HND-BKK (NH X)
BKK-SYD (TG O)
to
SEA-NRT (NH I)
HND-BKK (NH I) - different flight, same date
BKK-SYD (TG O) - different flight, same date
There was no change in the amount of miles required, only charging me the change fee (and surprisingly since I wasn't changing cities, a refund of some taxes).
Feb 4, 14, 1:34 pm
#2663
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oakland, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Expl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,484
Originally Posted by boss315
...this is the crux of what is wrong at UA; everything they do is "Ready, fire, aim" there is no inter-departmental training or communication.
But FWIW, one helpful and competent agent who helped me with finalizing a complicated award trip on 1/31 said that she will be in a training regarding new award rules this week. So, better late than never, I guess.
OTOH, interesting that she had no clue re what those new award rules were about...no one had told her that new redemption levels were going into
effect.
Feb 4, 14, 1:40 pm
#2664
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, TK Elite, *A Gold, airberlin Gold, OW Sapphire, Hyatt Diamond, HHonors Gold, National EE
Posts: 302
Originally Posted by cricketer
I'm basically reading it as:
When you booked an award ticket before Feb 3rd, you locked yourself into:
1. A trip between two regions
2. A particular class of service (which you may or may not be already seated in based on availability)
Therefore you can essentially change your airports for origin and destination, change your dates, change your carrier as long as you stay travelling between Europe and North America in F (or whatever your ticket was)
When you booked an award ticket before Feb 3rd, you locked yourself into:
1. A trip between two regions
2. A particular class of service (which you may or may not be already seated in based on availability)
Therefore you can essentially change your airports for origin and destination, change your dates, change your carrier as long as you stay travelling between Europe and North America in F (or whatever your ticket was)
Orig: SFO-IAH-IST-FRA-BKK in TK J, TG F
New: SFO-FRA-IST-BKK in LH F, TK J
But...the regions are NA->SE Asia, it's been ticketed in F. So those are my two parameters. If I have latitude to travel between these regions in F in any way I want, that changes the plan (for next June).
Again, I'm assuming I'm locked in and not expecting to be able to change much. But I very much hope that you're right, cricketeer.
Last edited by enki; Feb 4, 14 at 2:03 pm Reason: small formatting change
Feb 4, 14, 2:00 pm
#2665
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 330
So, besides what Aaron has told us, has anyone found anything positive as far as award redemptions going forward? (i.e. new ways to use stopovers, reduce miles needed, seeing previously unseen award availability etc.)
Any tips and tricks to navigate this brave new world would be great
Any tips and tricks to navigate this brave new world would be great
Feb 4, 14, 2:16 pm
#2666
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Singapore, Singapore
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, SPG Lifetime Plat
Posts: 297
Originally Posted by SFOvacations
+1; that's how I read it. Change in award type is Saver vs Standard, change in Cabin is going from Y award to J award; both will be repriced. Change in segment, ie going from a Y segment to J segment on an already ticketed J award should not trigger a reprice.
Feb 4, 14, 2:26 pm
#2667
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA scum/0.699MM, WN ALP/CP, Hyatt Diamond, MR/SPG Gold,Hertz PC, National EE, Carlson Silver
Posts: 5,191
Originally Posted by cricketer
I'm basically reading it as:
When you booked an award ticket before Feb 3rd, you locked yourself into:
1. A trip between two regions
2. A particular class of service (which you may or may not be already seated in based on availability)
Therefore you can essentially change your airports for origin and destination, change your dates, change your carrier as long as you stay travelling between Europe and North America in F (or whatever your ticket was)
When you booked an award ticket before Feb 3rd, you locked yourself into:
1. A trip between two regions
2. A particular class of service (which you may or may not be already seated in based on availability)
Therefore you can essentially change your airports for origin and destination, change your dates, change your carrier as long as you stay travelling between Europe and North America in F (or whatever your ticket was)
Originally Posted by enki
I also hope that's true. I'm assuming that I can't do the following:
Orig: SFO-IAH-IST-FRA-BKK in TK J, TG F
New: SFO-FRA-IST-BKK in LH F, TK J
But...the regions are NA->SE Asia, it's been ticketed in F. So those are my two parameters. If I have latitude to travel between these regions in F in any way I want, that changes the plan (for next June).
Again, I'm assuming I'm locked in and not expecting to be able to change much. But I very much hope that you're right, cricketeer.
Orig: SFO-IAH-IST-FRA-BKK in TK J, TG F
New: SFO-FRA-IST-BKK in LH F, TK J
But...the regions are NA->SE Asia, it's been ticketed in F. So those are my two parameters. If I have latitude to travel between these regions in F in any way I want, that changes the plan (for next June).
Again, I'm assuming I'm locked in and not expecting to be able to change much. But I very much hope that you're right, cricketeer.
SFOvacations earlier posted about award codes and that may be the key. The speculation would be that if the award code doesn't change, then the award doesn't reprice. Any change to region, overall cabin type or award type (standard vs saver and probably OW vs RT) causes the award code to change which triggers the reprice.
From a programming perspective it even makes sense. There is a lookup table with the award code and the number of miles required. If you change award codes (a whole new set has been developed for post 2/3 award apparently) the lookup table points to the new number. As long as the award code stays the same, the table continues to direct the software to the old number.
If this turns out to be the case, we may have to stop bashing UA for just a bit
This is a bit self serving since I am hoping to change my convoluted routing to FRA in J into a more direct route in J or F since it is an overall F award to BKK (without jumping to the new obscene mileage levels)
Feb 4, 14, 2:30 pm
#2668
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA scum/0.699MM, WN ALP/CP, Hyatt Diamond, MR/SPG Gold,Hertz PC, National EE, Carlson Silver
Posts: 5,191
Originally Posted by martina
Today, change in segment (Y->F domestic) on a ticketed international F ticket did trigger a reprice.
Feb 4, 14, 2:37 pm
#2669
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: New York
Programs: UA GS, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,224
Originally Posted by jasonvr
I also hope that cricketer is right and I could see it being interpreted that way. It would essentially boil down to - "If it would have caused a recalculation of miles under the old award chart, it will cause a recalculation now". And that even covers where you change regions with the same number of miles required - that still would have caused a recalculation of miles, even if the number of miles that resulted from the calculation was the same number - so it causes a reprice.
SFOvacations earlier posted about award codes and that may be the key. The speculation would be that if the award code doesn't change, then the award doesn't reprice. Any change to region, overall cabin type or award type (standard vs saver and probably OW vs RT) causes the award code to change which triggers the reprice.
From a programming perspective it even makes sense. There is a lookup table with the award code and the number of miles required. If you change award codes (a whole new set has been developed for post 2/3 award apparently) the lookup table points to the new number. As long as the award code stays the same, the table continues to direct the software to the old number.
If this turns out to be the case, we may have to stop bashing UA for just a bit
This is a bit self serving since I am hoping to change my convoluted routing to FRA in J into a more direct route in J or F since it is an overall F award to BKK (without jumping to the new obscene mileage levels)
SFOvacations earlier posted about award codes and that may be the key. The speculation would be that if the award code doesn't change, then the award doesn't reprice. Any change to region, overall cabin type or award type (standard vs saver and probably OW vs RT) causes the award code to change which triggers the reprice.
From a programming perspective it even makes sense. There is a lookup table with the award code and the number of miles required. If you change award codes (a whole new set has been developed for post 2/3 award apparently) the lookup table points to the new number. As long as the award code stays the same, the table continues to direct the software to the old number.
If this turns out to be the case, we may have to stop bashing UA for just a bit
This is a bit self serving since I am hoping to change my convoluted routing to FRA in J into a more direct route in J or F since it is an overall F award to BKK (without jumping to the new obscene mileage levels)
Feb 4, 14, 2:41 pm
#2670
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United Global Services, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 8,586
UA Award Codes
Originally Posted by jasonvr
I also hope that cricketer is right and I could see it being interpreted that way. It would essentially boil down to - "If it would have caused a recalculation of miles under the old award chart, it will cause a recalculation now". And that even covers where you change regions with the same number of miles required - that still would have caused a recalculation of miles, even if the number of miles that resulted from the calculation was the same number - so it causes a reprice.
SFOvacations earlier posted about award codes and that may be the key. The speculation would be that if the award code doesn't change, then the award doesn't reprice. Any change to region, overall cabin type or award type (standard vs saver and probably OW vs RT) causes the award code to change which triggers the reprice.
From a programming perspective it even makes sense. There is a lookup table with the award code and the number of miles required. If you change award codes (a whole new set has been developed for post 2/3 award apparently) the lookup table points to the new number. As long as the award code stays the same, the table continues to direct the software to the old number.
SFOvacations earlier posted about award codes and that may be the key. The speculation would be that if the award code doesn't change, then the award doesn't reprice. Any change to region, overall cabin type or award type (standard vs saver and probably OW vs RT) causes the award code to change which triggers the reprice.
From a programming perspective it even makes sense. There is a lookup table with the award code and the number of miles required. If you change award codes (a whole new set has been developed for post 2/3 award apparently) the lookup table points to the new number. As long as the award code stays the same, the table continues to direct the software to the old number.
UA uses various codes for award type, region, cabin etc.
WB76M
WF72
YB76
WB72
If the code stays the same, then changes are permitted. No recalculation.
