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
Mar 12, 2014, 9:54 am
#2941
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K, IHG Platinum Ambassador, Marriott Gold
Posts: 94
currently i am holding the following:
SMF-IAD (UA F)
IAD-BOS (UA Y)
BOS-ZRH (LX J)
stop
ZRH-ATH (LX J)
dest
ATH-IST (TK J)
IST-YYZ (TK J)
YYZ-DEN (UA F)
i'd like to change to
SFO-FRA-ZRH (LH J)
stop
ZRH-ATH (no change to this segment)
dest
ATH-FRA-DEN (LH J)
then later, attempt to change LH J -> LH F using the recent successes reported in the other thread.
is this first change going to result in a re-price?
SMF-IAD (UA F)
IAD-BOS (UA Y)
BOS-ZRH (LX J)
stop
ZRH-ATH (LX J)
dest
ATH-IST (TK J)
IST-YYZ (TK J)
YYZ-DEN (UA F)
i'd like to change to
SFO-FRA-ZRH (LH J)
stop
ZRH-ATH (no change to this segment)
dest
ATH-FRA-DEN (LH J)
then later, attempt to change LH J -> LH F using the recent successes reported in the other thread.
is this first change going to result in a re-price?
Mar 12, 2014, 9:57 am
#2942
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,648
Why would you want to change from LX and TK J to LH J? I would just wait until LH F space was available and try to call in at that point, if that was your end goal. I wouldn't expect this to work since you have a J award and no F segments, but you can always try when space is available.
being that i am traveling with my wife, she values direct routings as much or more than fancy products.
we also prefer having the afternoon SFO-FRA departure for better sleep in route, than the short BOS-ZRH segment. our TK routing has an overnight in YYZ, whereas the FRA routing gets us back to the US in a single day, prolonging our vacation by a day.
Mar 12, 2014, 10:01 am
#2943
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K, IHG Platinum Ambassador, Marriott Gold
Posts: 94
other posters have reported that they successfully changed J to F by paying on the difference in the old award rates, so long as their flights didn't change.
being that i am traveling with my wife, she values direct routings as much or more than fancy products.
we also prefer having the afternoon SFO-FRA departure for better sleep in route, than the short BOS-ZRH segment. our TK routing has an overnight in YYZ, whereas the FRA routing gets us back to the US in a single day, prolonging our vacation by a day.
being that i am traveling with my wife, she values direct routings as much or more than fancy products.
we also prefer having the afternoon SFO-FRA departure for better sleep in route, than the short BOS-ZRH segment. our TK routing has an overnight in YYZ, whereas the FRA routing gets us back to the US in a single day, prolonging our vacation by a day.
Mar 12, 2014, 10:06 am
#2944
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,476
I ultimately agree with the comment that you should be happy with your first LH itinerary because you might wound up stuck with it.
Mar 12, 2014, 10:27 am
#2945
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,648
It's kosher. But as noted, you may potentially run into difficulty with a second change. On the other hand, these successful changes J to F seem to be getting done on the website, and you're more likely to have success changing the simpler (second) itinerary on the website.
I ultimately agree with the comment that you should be happy with your first LH itinerary because you might wound up stuck with it.
I ultimately agree with the comment that you should be happy with your first LH itinerary because you might wound up stuck with it.
Mar 12, 2014, 10:43 am
#2946
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
Don't forget IAD/JFK/EWR-ZRH as options too. Or the sneaky JFK-GVA flight (would require another connection).
Mar 12, 2014, 10:47 am
#2947
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,476
SFO-JFK-ZRH gets you ps, so that's a great option. Otherwise you're talking domestic F for 5+ hours. I personally don't think LX J is worth that.
Mar 12, 2014, 10:54 am
#2948
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,648
i would do JFK if i could get SMF-LAX-JFK in J. might be a tough proposition during the week of thanksgiving.
domestic F+Y as currently ticketed, actually, given that IAD-BOS is unlikely to clear the WL on an A319 for two pax.
Mar 21, 2014, 9:58 pm
#2949
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Gold, UA MM 1K, UK Gold, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 397
Sin-hkg - cpu/rdu
Is there no longer CPU and RDU on this route?
Mar 21, 2014, 10:08 pm
#2950
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
They are not anymore, announced in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...eb-2014-a.html and the table has been updated
Mar 21, 2014, 10:31 pm
#2951
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Gold, UA MM 1K, UK Gold, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 397
Sin-hkg - cpu/rdu
Oh .... We'll I guess back to SQ then!
Mar 22, 2014, 12:27 am
#2952
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SIN
Programs: UA 1K MM, SQ PPS, CX Silver, Accor Platinum, Marriott Gold, SPG Silver
Posts: 679
That's what I'm doing. The idea that you can't even use a regional upgrade (never mind a CPU) is ridiculous for a 3.5 hour flight.
Even worse, all I can assume is this is essentially a trap for people between SIN and the US, where if the GPU clears from SIN to HKG but not overwater, I'd assume they now take the GPU, as it's not CPU eligible anymore. Previously if the main overwater segment didn't clear you got it back.
One more reason I just don't even care if I requal for 1k status this year (vs almost 300k last year). For a trip of that length, the overall quality of the trip in an exit row on SQ is essentially a wash with UA business, especially considering you have options other than 5:30 AM or whenever UA896 leaves...
Even worse, all I can assume is this is essentially a trap for people between SIN and the US, where if the GPU clears from SIN to HKG but not overwater, I'd assume they now take the GPU, as it's not CPU eligible anymore. Previously if the main overwater segment didn't clear you got it back.
One more reason I just don't even care if I requal for 1k status this year (vs almost 300k last year). For a trip of that length, the overall quality of the trip in an exit row on SQ is essentially a wash with UA business, especially considering you have options other than 5:30 AM or whenever UA896 leaves...
Apr 6, 2014, 7:48 pm
#2953
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: MDT / BWI / IAD
Programs: UA Plat 1MM
Posts: 477
I just had a pre-increase GF - O award (IAD-ZRH) change to BF on a 2-cabin plane (itinerary now indicates I award). I would think UA owes me the difference in award price (135K vs 100K miles, I believe - pre-increase), but nothing forthcoming from them. I'm reluctant to ask for the difference to be refunded, as I might want to use change the ticket to a 3-cabin O award in the future.
Do you think they would refund miles at some point without inquiry (I'd be shocked...)?
Is it safe to assume that my record will show original O award that could be changed to a different 3-cabin flight in the future?
Cheers.
Do you think they would refund miles at some point without inquiry (I'd be shocked...)?
Is it safe to assume that my record will show original O award that could be changed to a different 3-cabin flight in the future?
Cheers.
Apr 6, 2014, 10:59 pm
#2954
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,476
I just had a pre-increase GF - O award (IAD-ZRH) change to BF on a 2-cabin plane (itinerary now indicates I award). I would think UA owes me the difference in award price (135K vs 100K miles, I believe - pre-increase), but nothing forthcoming from them. I'm reluctant to ask for the difference to be refunded, as I might want to use change the ticket to a 3-cabin O award in the future.
Do you think they would refund miles at some point without inquiry (I'd be shocked...)?
Is it safe to assume that my record will show original O award that could be changed to a different 3-cabin flight in the future?
Cheers.
Do you think they would refund miles at some point without inquiry (I'd be shocked...)?
Is it safe to assume that my record will show original O award that could be changed to a different 3-cabin flight in the future?
Cheers.
I highly doubt you will get a refund without asking. Agree, I would wait and try to change back to a flight with F (Lufthansa, anyone?), which would render the refund issue moot.
Apr 14, 2014, 3:19 am
#2955
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 3
Is USA - Europe - Japan - SE Asia still a valid routing for USA-SE Asia? (less than 4 segments totally)