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, 9:33 am
#346
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,100
Still waiting to hear from UA what the "enhancements" will be for the new program. I don't even think UA Insider is trying to spin any longer, and I kind of doubt there are any actual enhancements coming any time soon.
Nov 1, 2013, 9:33 am
#347
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,376
Nov 1, 2013, 9:35 am
#348
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,376
Or using a program like Lifemiles/AV or BA Avios, that isn't so ridiculous at making shorthaul stupid expensive.
Nov 1, 2013, 9:35 am
#349
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K MM, JL JMB SAPPHIRE, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,267
Nov 1, 2013, 9:35 am
#350
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Homosassa, FL & Ringwood, NJ -UA-G(Lifetime); SPG-Plat (Lifetime)
Posts: 6,120
These changes made buying miles a fools game. It is like a bait and switch. Buy 'X' miles for $$$$. Oh, by the way, we will devalue them at our whim. Pretty pathetic.
Nov 1, 2013, 9:36 am
#351
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,413
Nov 1, 2013, 9:36 am
#352
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
I very much doubt they are matching Aegean elites.
But flying is already the sucker way of earning miles, compared to opening credit cards.
In which case you'd better off booking a UA award to a more LCC friendly place e.g. GVA assuming there is award space of course. One ways on LH can be very expensive intra-europe.
Likely it would be charged at higher rate. Suggestion up thread is to take UA only on award to FRA and then do a revenue ticket (assuming relatively cheap) to keep award cost down for the other segment.
Nov 1, 2013, 9:38 am
#353
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,100
Indeed. The problem is going to be when there are irrops on the UA segment to FRA. Then you're screwed on the "connecting" flight. UA has cost me several hundred dollars this way before when I booked an itin that way because, for example, WAS-BKK was $2000 less than WAS-BKK-HKT, and BKK-HKT was only $200 on TG or another carrier. Of course, then UA goes MX in SEA, and that TG ticket is toast or very pricey to change. I've had that happen in Europe as well (the last time, I booked fully changeable tickets on Croatia Airlines rather than risk the cheaper economy ticket and a UA irrop messing me up).
Nov 1, 2013, 9:38 am
#354
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: CLT
Programs: FT Member #8119 F & J Free Agent
Posts: 6,550
This chart also applies to Business/First Awards for itineraries that include travel on both United and at least one partner when at least one flight segment on a partner is in Business or First.
Nov 1, 2013, 9:42 am
#356
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: By the airport
Programs: US Airways Chmn,SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond,Club Carlson Gold,Hyatt Plat,Avis FP,IHG Plat,Marriott Plat
Posts: 36
Nov 1, 2013, 9:42 am
#357
Senior Moderator; Moderator, Eco-Conscious Travel, United and Flyertalk Cares
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Fulltime travel/mostly Europe
Programs: UA 1.7 MM;; Accor & Marriott Pt; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 17,831
The spin is great:
"We faced a decision other airlines have faced -- to either increase the number of miles required for partner awards or to eliminate them altogether," he adds.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayi...ckets/3344437/
"We faced a decision other airlines have faced -- to either increase the number of miles required for partner awards or to eliminate them altogether," he adds.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayi...ckets/3344437/
Nov 1, 2013, 9:43 am
#358
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Hey you forgot about all the Bloggers showing and explaining why you need to use their links to get all these credit cards and the bonuses and then fly around the world like a king in First Class. Thats besides telling folks to use their links get 10s of 1000s of miles/pts and sell them to a broker and make alot of $$
Part of the proof to the above is that Domestic awards didnt go up, brokers dont sell them (no real $$ in it for them)
It was bound to happen, COdbaUA just isnt able to sit by and watch as 1000s out there buy GCs or VRs and then cash in for an F tkt on a partner with UA miles.
Problem is Im sure theres more enchancements to come still
Part of the proof to the above is that Domestic awards didnt go up, brokers dont sell them (no real $$ in it for them)
It was bound to happen, COdbaUA just isnt able to sit by and watch as 1000s out there buy GCs or VRs and then cash in for an F tkt on a partner with UA miles.
Problem is Im sure theres more enchancements to come still
Nov 1, 2013, 9:43 am
#359
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
If you book on ua.com, there are two columns: saver award, standard award.
Those columns exist for J and are populated for *A partners.
I've always understood there was a saver rate for *A in J. No?
But the "new" redemption chart seems to show only 1 rate for J on *A?
Nov 1, 2013, 9:45 am
#360
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,993
