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, 11:50 am
#466
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,716
Had banked about 500k UA miles because I just don't have any good trips planned. But that will change now. Time to burn! No doubt we will see *A blocking through the end of February. But that's okay, if I can find F seats on UA I will be happy to take them out of inventory. That means one less J seat to sell, as J usually upgrades to F. As a result I predict some big hits to UA revenues over the next 12 months, as people burn miles on seats that otherwise would have sold for cash (as well as UA payout to *A partners for seats).
Will be interesting to see if others follow suit. DL doesn't really have any incentive to do so as its lowest Skypeso awards are basically a lie. But I predict AA may do so when the merger gets the green light.
Will also be interesting to see if other *A carriers see a sudden influx of people crediting miles for UA and other *A flights. As UA continues to degrade 1K and other Premier levels, the incentives for crediting miles to UA decrease, particularly for high rev international passengers who already get many of the benefits by paying C fares.
Will be interesting to see if others follow suit. DL doesn't really have any incentive to do so as its lowest Skypeso awards are basically a lie. But I predict AA may do so when the merger gets the green light.
Will also be interesting to see if other *A carriers see a sudden influx of people crediting miles for UA and other *A flights. As UA continues to degrade 1K and other Premier levels, the incentives for crediting miles to UA decrease, particularly for high rev international passengers who already get many of the benefits by paying C fares.
Nov 1, 2013, 11:50 am
#467
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
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, 11:51 am
#468
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,906
7)The major bloggers should be contact the major news organizations to talk about it
Nov 1, 2013, 11:51 am
#469
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 304
Ugh, don't know if it's worth it to do an extra trip to 1k this year. Might join the burn miles and book cheapest (was thinking about this route earlier this year but gave UA another chance)... No changing my south Africa award to F next spring either i guess. Very sad
-dan
-dan
Nov 1, 2013, 11:51 am
#470
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
FYI a thread just opened on the AA forum but AA's response to this was to extend the free MCE (AA version of E+) for their Gold members til end of February and after that provide free access to MCE within 24 hours of departure. They've got to be thrilled in Dallas today.
Nov 1, 2013, 11:52 am
#472
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: AA Plat, UA Gold, AS MVP Gold, HH Diamond, SPG Gold, Club Carlson Gold, US
Posts: 956
Did the rules change about the stop over as well? any insight?
Nov 1, 2013, 11:53 am
#473
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
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, 11:53 am
#474
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA1k; Bonvoy Titanium; Hilton Gold; IHG Gold; AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,794
Had banked about 500k UA miles because I just don't have any good trips planned. But that will change now. Time to burn! No doubt we will see *A blocking through the end of February. But that's okay, if I can find F seats on UA I will be happy to take them out of inventory. That means one less J seat to sell, as J usually upgrades to F. As a result I predict some big hits to UA revenues over the next 12 months, as people burn miles on seats that otherwise would have sold for cash (as well as UA payout to *A partners for seats).
Nov 1, 2013, 11:54 am
#475
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 1,277
This is a long thread already, and I haven't read every post. A search of the thread turned up nothing...
Anyone have any idea what happens now if I'm going to a destination in Europe that UA doesn't fly to? If I book UA on the long-haul portion, but still need a partner to get where I'm going, am I stuck paying the full partner price?
Anyone have any idea what happens now if I'm going to a destination in Europe that UA doesn't fly to? If I book UA on the long-haul portion, but still need a partner to get where I'm going, am I stuck paying the full partner price?
Nov 1, 2013, 11:56 am
#476
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 624
If you hold a Chase card, give them a call. I called up the Sapphire Preferred team, voiced my concern over the increase cost of miles, and I was given 5,000 courtesy points for my trouble. I spit out all of the numbers (like the 63% increase to fly non-UA J to Europe) and that feedback is going to be passed on to United.
Nov 1, 2013, 11:57 am
#477
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: UA S, Marriott P
Posts: 1,154
This is a long thread already, and I haven't read every post. A search of the thread turned up nothing...
Anyone have any idea what happens now if I'm going to a destination in Europe that UA doesn't fly to? If I book UA on the long-haul portion, but still need a partner to get where I'm going, am I stuck paying the full partner price?
Anyone have any idea what happens now if I'm going to a destination in Europe that UA doesn't fly to? If I book UA on the long-haul portion, but still need a partner to get where I'm going, am I stuck paying the full partner price?
Nov 1, 2013, 11:57 am
#478
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,629
That's what I do. Fly AA/DL/AS, accrue to AS. Redemption opportunities good, including many foreign carriers (AS, KL, EK, etc.), just stay away from BA and the YQ fees.
You pretty much surrender upgrades with this strategy, but they're not coming through on UA either and service / reliability is better than UA on all three carriers. AS elites get Main Cabin Extra on AA and discounted EC on DL overseas flights.
You pretty much surrender upgrades with this strategy, but they're not coming through on UA either and service / reliability is better than UA on all three carriers. AS elites get Main Cabin Extra on AA and discounted EC on DL overseas flights.
i can immediately status match to gold AS, so that is super appealing.
i did not know that, my decision might now be made. i want to do AA, but i don't want to end up in this same situation next year at this time.
Nov 1, 2013, 11:59 am
#479
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 923
Exactly. This is why UA killed EF and why UAInsider did not comment on such a huge change a few days ago. UA doesn't want anyone to see that they are going to hold and will be holding seats back until 2/1. I suspect EF may get its access back on 2/1
Nov 1, 2013, 12:00 pm
#480
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,992
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Last edited by zombietooth; Nov 3, 2015 at 11:50 am