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, 1:26 pm
#2671
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA Gold/0.744MM, WN AL, Hyatt Diamond, MR Scum, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC
Posts: 5,561
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)
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, 2014, 1:30 pm
#2672
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA Gold/0.744MM, WN AL, Hyatt Diamond, MR Scum, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC
Posts: 5,561
Feb 4, 2014, 1:37 pm
#2673
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
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, 2014, 1:41 pm
#2674
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
UA Award Codes
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.
Feb 4, 2014, 1:49 pm
#2675
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
But those codes themselves have changed. I tried pricing out a new partner F ticket from North America to South Asia and the new code is BF73 (the United-only version is YF73). In comparison, I have sitting in my account a similar ticket with the code YF72. So what allows you to keep the code the same?
Feb 4, 2014, 1:49 pm
#2676
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: PNW
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,551
Feb 4, 2014, 2:01 pm
#2677
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
But those codes themselves have changed. I tried pricing out a new partner F ticket from North America to South Asia and the new code is BF73 (the United-only version is YF73). In comparison, I have sitting in my account a similar ticket with the code YF72. So what allows you to keep the code the same?
Hypothetically if the pre-image of new codes BF73 and YF73 is old code YF72, then UA could program its system that allows you to change awards coded YF72 to any award coded BF73 or YF73.
All speculation, though.
Feb 4, 2014, 2:19 pm
#2678
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,432
I can't replicate what I have to see the new fare code as I don't have enough miles in my account now.
Feb 4, 2014, 2:20 pm
#2679
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: AUS
Programs: Mileage Hoarding Anonymous
Posts: 90
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)
Here's what I have:
AUS-ORD-FRA (UA F)
FRA-BKK (TG F)
BKK-CDG (TG F)
(stopover in Paris for a few days)
CDG-FRA-EWR-AUS in LH I (CDG-FRA) and UA F
Here's what I want:
AUS-IAH-FRA (LH F)
FRA-BKK (TG F)
BKK-CDG (TG F)
(stopover in Paris for a few days)
CDG-FRA-IAH-AUS in LH F
My regions are staying the same, so any speculation on whether or not this would be legal and not trigger a re-price? I assume I'll have to pony up a change fee T-14, correct?
Feb 4, 2014, 3:43 pm
#2680
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
How much do you want to bet? I'll take that action. (emphasis mine)
Feb 4, 2014, 3:50 pm
#2681
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat Pro, VS Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 838
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!
Perhaps it's just the award engine not recognizing NRT as a connection and is instead breaking the "fare" into 2 awards -- US-> NRT + NRT -> BKK.
Feb 4, 2014, 3:54 pm
#2682
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Is that accurate? The award is USA -> South Asia, with a connection in NRT. The only F segment is UA-operated; the other flights are in lesser cabins. Why is it not pricing at the 80K level like the below itinerary is, for example.
Perhaps it's just the award engine not recognizing NRT as a connection and is instead breaking the "fare" into 2 awards -- US-> NRT + NRT -> BKK.
Perhaps it's just the award engine not recognizing NRT as a connection and is instead breaking the "fare" into 2 awards -- US-> NRT + NRT -> BKK.
Feb 4, 2014, 3:57 pm
#2683
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,272
Changes to MileagePlus Award and Upgrade Policies - Eff. 3 Feb. 2014
I have a domestic United segment wait listed for IN class (ORD-DCA) on a return from Asia, TPAC MileagePlus partner award in ANA J class. Do I get charged if IN becomes available on the wait listed segment?
Feb 4, 2014, 4:07 pm
#2684
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Is that accurate? The award is USA -> South Asia, with a connection in NRT. The only F segment is UA-operated; the other flights are in lesser cabins. Why is it not pricing at the 80K level like the below itinerary is, for example.
Perhaps it's just the award engine not recognizing NRT as a connection and is instead breaking the "fare" into 2 awards -- US-> NRT + NRT -> BKK.
Perhaps it's just the award engine not recognizing NRT as a connection and is instead breaking the "fare" into 2 awards -- US-> NRT + NRT -> BKK.
Plus a business partner award to South Asia is 80,000 so the price should even match.
Feb 4, 2014, 4:31 pm
#2685
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: ZRH / SEA, DL PM
Posts: 1,162
Success changing date without reprice
I successfully changed date on US-Asia award in C without reprice today.
Initially agent mentioned that system wanted to take extra miles, but after a couple of minutes on hold it was all set. Unlike some times in the past, the ticket was reissued immediately and I got confirmation email before agent disconnected. Very pleasant experience.
The route and carrier stayed the same.
Initially agent mentioned that system wanted to take extra miles, but after a couple of minutes on hold it was all set. Unlike some times in the past, the ticket was reissued immediately and I got confirmation email before agent disconnected. Very pleasant experience.
The route and carrier stayed the same.