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
Nov 1, 2013, 8:57 am
#316
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
We wondered why UA didn't wait until Friday to announce their blocking EF out of award & upgrade inventory... well, it was because UA had this stinking turd to drop on our laps instead. 
Seriously, UA has done what exactly to improve the program for those who have stayed loyal? Seems like every change they make hurts the loyal traveler--death by a thousand cuts.
Seriously, UA has done what exactly to improve the program for those who have stayed loyal? Seems like every change they make hurts the loyal traveler--death by a thousand cuts.
This is a sad year for FFPs:
UP
Skypeos
MR
Hertz
Aeroplan
Enough of the BS.
Nov 1, 2013, 8:58 am
#317
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
Nov 1, 2013, 8:58 am
#318
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,762
Boy, with all the service degradations, the ONLY thing that UA had going for it was MileagePlus and the ease of booking on partners. Jeez. even aeroplan doesn't look so bad compared to this.
My most frequent int'l hop is to TLV. UA *RARELY* releases seats on their non stops from EWR, which means they've now effectively made it vastly more expensive to redeem OAL...
My most frequent int'l hop is to TLV. UA *RARELY* releases seats on their non stops from EWR, which means they've now effectively made it vastly more expensive to redeem OAL...
Nov 1, 2013, 8:59 am
#319
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
Mileage redemption rates go up? Just open a new credit card and grab the bonus. Next, hit them back with Manufactured Spend. Then close the card.
Rinse, repeat.
Churn, Churn Churn.
Rinse, repeat.
Churn, Churn Churn.
Nov 1, 2013, 9:00 am
#320
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 1,231
This is extremely disappointing to say the least.
Nov 1, 2013, 9:00 am
#321
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
By paying UA the money UA wanted. UA is unilaterally responsible for this major devaluation of the UA "loyalty" program.
From MileagePlus to MileageMinus, UA management is responsible for this. How quickly the giants fall.
Doesn't work for everyone -- perhaps it doesn't even work for a large fraction of UA MP customers -- hit by this change.
From MileagePlus to MileageMinus, UA management is responsible for this. How quickly the giants fall.
Doesn't work for everyone -- perhaps it doesn't even work for a large fraction of UA MP customers -- hit by this change.
Last edited by GUWonder; Nov 1, 2013 at 11:42 am
Nov 1, 2013, 9:01 am
#322
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
Yes they did. Europe went from 100k to 125k in J for example.
Though DL still have partners like Saudia that basically have 9 award seats on every flight, and China Eastern/China Airlines/China Southern/Virgin Australia with 4+ seats. So if you don't care that much about quality/"maximising" then DL miles can get you where you want, when you want (not domestically).
Though DL still have partners like Saudia that basically have 9 award seats on every flight, and China Eastern/China Airlines/China Southern/Virgin Australia with 4+ seats. So if you don't care that much about quality/"maximising" then DL miles can get you where you want, when you want (not domestically).
Nov 1, 2013, 9:03 am
#323
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 923
They did a few years ago. I used to be with SkyTeam and was hoarding miles. I saw the writing on the wall, and used them up before the devaluation to SkyPesos. Saw the same thing with MP. And it appears AA is next. The only Q that I cannot figure out is whether I should be rooting for DOJ...
Nov 1, 2013, 9:04 am
#324
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: UAL Premier Gold, HHonors Gold, B6 Mosaic
Posts: 135
UA has been ticking me off as of late - spent the entirety of a recent layover in ORD as a gate agent played around with SHARES to figure out why I was mysteriously left off of the upgrade list. Service is generally surly (with a few exceptions, of course), and it's getting harder and harder to find Channel 9 available (no, I'm not going to pay for DirecTV).
As a BOS-based flyer, I'm mostly loyal to UA because of the MileagePlus program. Not sure if the grass is really that much greener at DL in terms of service, but their route network on own metal out of BOS rivals that of UA's. I never would have seriously considered leaving UA because collecting SkyPesos wasn't an attractive option. Guess I'll be rethinking that decision...
As a BOS-based flyer, I'm mostly loyal to UA because of the MileagePlus program. Not sure if the grass is really that much greener at DL in terms of service, but their route network on own metal out of BOS rivals that of UA's. I never would have seriously considered leaving UA because collecting SkyPesos wasn't an attractive option. Guess I'll be rethinking that decision...
Nov 1, 2013, 9:05 am
#325
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Costa Rica
Programs: UA 1K, Priority Platinum, Marriot Gold, Delta Platinum
Posts: 308
I tweeted to American and delta if they wanted my revenue. American answered to call aadvantage call center for a status match.
Nov 1, 2013, 9:05 am
#326
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New England
Programs: UA 1P, Hyatt Diamond, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,502
Thanks a lot, $MI/J! Now I am diverting ALL my travel to WN, AA, US,B6 and DL.
Nov 1, 2013, 9:08 am
#327
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
UA has been ticking me off as of late - spent the entirety of a recent layover in ORD as a gate agent played around with SHARES to figure out why I was mysteriously left off of the upgrade list. Service is generally surly (with a few exceptions, of course), and it's getting harder and harder to find Channel 9 available (no, I'm not going to pay for DirecTV).
As a BOS-based flyer, I'm mostly loyal to UA because of the MileagePlus program. Not sure if the grass is really that much greener at DL in terms of service, but their route network on own metal out of BOS rivals that of UA's. I never would have seriously considered leaving UA because collecting SkyPesos wasn't an attractive option. Guess I'll be rethinking that decision...
As a BOS-based flyer, I'm mostly loyal to UA because of the MileagePlus program. Not sure if the grass is really that much greener at DL in terms of service, but their route network on own metal out of BOS rivals that of UA's. I never would have seriously considered leaving UA because collecting SkyPesos wasn't an attractive option. Guess I'll be rethinking that decision...
Nov 1, 2013, 9:08 am
#328
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AA EXP2M, DL 1MM DM ext, UA PP <=> HH G/Marr PE/Hyatt G/IHG P FT RA ( Recovering Addict)
Posts: 4,596
This feels worse than many Halloween movies I have seen!
Nov 1, 2013, 9:11 am
#330
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
Any other changes that Delta made that lapdog UA will follow?