Nov 1, 2013, 4:08 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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.

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

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?

Quote:

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.

Additional details on changing tickets booked prior to 2/3/14 per UA Insider:

Quote:

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)

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?

Quote:

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.

Q: How will award pricing apply to mixed-carrier Saver Awards?

Quote:

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.

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)

(reverted to J.Edward's rev)

Changes to MileagePlus Award and Upgrade Policies - Eff. 3-Feb-2014

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Feb 4, 2014, 11:21 am

#2656

Gunner14

Join Date: Jun 2013

Location: RDU

Posts: 735

I know this probably won't be definitively answered until there have been some personal experiences but is my interpretation that the following wouldn't be repriced correct?

Current:
ORD-FRA (UA F)
FRA-BKK (TG F)
BKK-KBV (TG C)

Change:
ORD-FRA (LH F)
FRA-BKK (TG F)
BKK-DPS (TG C)

Feb 4, 2014, 11:28 am

#2657

lewende

Join Date: Aug 2011

Location: 10^7 mm from Ȱ

Programs: Hyatt D/HHonors D/ SPG P/ Marriott P/ IHG P/ UA 1K/ AA EXP/ DL D

Posts: 1,976

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunner14

This is a tricky one. I would say no reprice but don't count me on that.

In contrast, I have a similar booking, and I am pretty confident I won't be repriced:

Current:
ORD-FRA (LH C)
FRA-BKK (TG F)
BKK-HKT (TG C)

Change:
ORD-FRA (LH F)
FRA-BKK (TG F)
BKK-HKT (TG C)

Feb 4, 2014, 11:34 am

#2658

Kraut

Join Date: Jan 2011

Posts: 123

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunner14

My interpretation from Aaron's new post is your itinerary would not reprice to new levels since you are going from UA F to LH F on the same segment, ORD-FRA.

Quote:

Changes that will not trigger a re-price for itineraries ticketed before February 3, 2014 include:

Carrier on one or more segments (cabin, region, and award type can’t change)

Feb 4, 2014, 11:43 am

#2659

ironmanjt

Join Date: Mar 2003

Location: anywhere and everywhere

Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion

Posts: 5,528

Quote:

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)

Excellent! I have:

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, 2014 at 11:49 am Reason: Fixed BB code

Feb 4, 2014, 11:45 am

#2660

Gunner14

Join Date: Jun 2013

Location: RDU

Posts: 735

Yea, carrier change and destination change in the same region (DPS from KBV). Hope my interpretation is correct.

Feb 4, 2014, 11:50 am

#2661

787fan

Suspended

Join Date: Jun 2012

Programs: UA PP, AA, DL, BA, CX, SPG, HHonors

Posts: 2,002

I'm a bit confused by Aaron's post ..... I currently have the following :

EWR - (UA F) - LHR - (CA F) - PEK - (CA J) - PVG

which of the following may trigger re-pricing ?

1. JFK - (CA F) - PEK - (CA J) - PVG (take nonstop out of JFK instead of 1-stop via Europe)

or

2. EWR - (UA F) - LHR - (CA F) - PEK - (CA J) - SHA (switch PuDong to HongQiao)

Feb 4, 2014, 11:54 am

#2662

IAHTRVLR

Join Date: Dec 2013

Posts: 13

Quote:

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, 2014, 12:04 pm

#2663

cricketer

Join Date: Aug 2001

Location: SFO/SJC

Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC

Posts: 2,350

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)

Feb 4, 2014, 12:19 pm

#2664

Thunderroad

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Dec 2003

Location: Benicia, California, USA

Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold

Posts: 10,820

Quote:

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?

Quote:

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cricketer

I hope you're right, cricketer. This would seem to take care of SFO777's scenario. But I'm less clear on lazard's, which involve switching part of an itinerary from C to F (albeit in the context of what seems to be an F award ticket).

As others have said, I guess we'll find out as folks start to post their experience with this.

Feb 4, 2014, 12:23 pm

#2665

dinosims

Join Date: Dec 2005

Location: NYC

Programs: SPG, AA, BA, CO, UA, US, B6, DL, Amex MR, HH

Posts: 1,009

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.

Quote:

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, 2014, 12:25 pm

#2666

mherdeg

Join Date: Jan 2009

Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)

Programs: UA 1K

Posts: 5,894

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinosims

This is a great data point, thanks.

Feb 4, 2014, 12:34 pm

#2667

Thunderroad

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Dec 2003

Location: Benicia, California, USA

Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold

Posts: 10,820

Quote:

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.

+1

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, 2014, 12:40 pm

#2668

enki

Join Date: Nov 2011

Location: SEA

Programs: AS 75k, OW Emerald, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, National EE

Posts: 303

Quote:

Originally Posted by cricketer

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.

Last edited by enki; Feb 4, 2014 at 1:03 pm Reason: small formatting change

Feb 4, 2014, 1:00 pm

#2669

claurianta2

Join Date: Aug 2006

Location: Canada

Posts: 347

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

Feb 4, 2014, 1:16 pm

#2670

martina

Join Date: Jul 1999

Location: California, USA

Programs: UA 1K 2MM

Posts: 301

Quote:

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.

Today, change in segment (Y->F domestic) on a ticketed international F ticket did trigger a reprice.