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Changes to MileagePlus Award and Upgrade Policies - Eff. 3-Feb-2014

Old Nov 1, 2013, 4:08 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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.
  • 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

Changes to upgrade policy for intra-Asia and northern South America flights
  1. Complimentary Premier Upgrades and instant upgrades are not applicable
  2. 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
  3. There is no co-pay exemption for MileagePlus Upgrade Awards requested on or after November 1, 2013
  4. 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?
Originally Posted by UA Insider
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.
Additional details on changing tickets booked prior to 2/3/14 per UA Insider:
Originally Posted by UA Insider
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)
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?
Originally Posted by UA Insider
The new award pricing takes effect for bookings made on or after Feb 3, 2014 for all future travel dates. If you purchased a ticket prior to then for travel on March 15, and no changes are made to the itinerary, the current pricing will apply.
Q: How will award pricing apply to mixed-carrier Saver Awards?
Originally Posted by UA Insider
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.
  • 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)
(reverted to J.Edward's rev)
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Changes to MileagePlus Award and Upgrade Policies - Eff. 3-Feb-2014

Old Nov 1, 2013, 2:01 am
  #91  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 114
Originally Posted by DWFI
Aaron - if I book an award in Jan 2014 and then make changes in Feb or beyond (in routing, airline, origin, destination, etc), will it be repriced according to new mileage reqs. or will I keep the old pricing on that ticket?
That's a question I also would like to ask. I've booked an award months ago for late February and it was booked in J hoping F will open close to the departure. I don't have the miles for the new chart reprice. I wonder if I will have a chance of an upgrade with the old chart pricing or all hope is lost.
Plusflyer is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2013, 2:02 am
  #92  
 
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So if I want to fly to a place where UA doesn't fly like AKL, it's 260 now vs 160???
pinerd is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2013, 2:04 am
  #93  
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Originally Posted by pigx5
I really don't know how UA is going to attract people?? We have SMI/J?
You don't think "network" is still the predominant reason? Must be a lot of corporate contracts locked into UA, too. I've seen a couple UA flyers come over and sample AA at SFO and return because the network didn't meet their needs. It's a pretty powerful tool when you're looking for nonstop flights from a hub. Are those flyers really looking at award levels when they choose their carrier?
tom911 is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2013, 2:05 am
  #94  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by ctownflyer
Comparison of the current saver award chart with the new United and Partner chart:
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/35875

#UnitedUnfriendly
Let's get it trending folks...
https://twitter.com/DansDeals/status/396180927878922240
FYI, Travel Summary has a much easier to read (and I think more accurate) breakdown of the changes from the old to the new chart.

http://travel-summary.com/united-air...s-award-chart/
TravelWonk is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2013, 2:06 am
  #95  
 
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Originally Posted by tom911
You don't think "network" is still the predominant reason? Must be a lot of corporate contracts locked into UA, too. I've seen a couple UA flyers come over and sample AA at SFO and return because the network didn't meet their needs. It's a pretty powerful took when you're looking for nonstop flights from a hub. Are those flyers really looking at award levels when they choose their carrier?
Yes. But these changes must make some more people out of United.
pigx5 is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2013, 2:07 am
  #96  
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
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Originally Posted by UA Insider


As always, I’m here and will do my best to answer any clarifying questions you may have.

Aaron Goldberg
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
Seriously? Just like you have answered or clarified questions in this thread:

Starting in 2014: Changes to Premier Qualification

Last edited by Pat89339; Nov 1, 2013 at 8:38 am
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Old Nov 1, 2013, 2:08 am
  #97  
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come to think of it, i'm guessing it has to do with partner fuel surcharge that is forced imposed on UA, so they could either directly pass the YQ to the consumer, or just jack up the partner chart to account for it

if you're willing to stay on UA metal, the devaluation for F/J is ~20% only.

silver lining - flat bed EWR-HNL is still 40K one-way and US-Aussie F on UA metal is no change at 80K
787fan is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2013, 2:09 am
  #98  
 
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Originally Posted by uastarflyer
"No change" is correct, but where there is a change perhaps show the difference only (eg 2.5k for mainland-hawaii in Y)
Tweaked it a bit, thanks.
ctownflyer is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2013, 2:10 am
  #99  
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Originally Posted by dsquared37
MileageRupies. Or are there other suggestions?
Seems as if the Zimbabwe Dollar is now worth more than the UA Pesos/Rupies!
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Old Nov 1, 2013, 2:10 am
  #100  
 
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I missed the part about how this change will enhance the customer experience or some other spin.

Premium redemptions for *alliance are ridiculous. Out of the ballpark. Game changer.

For all slack Delta has taken for SkyPesos, we now see United is trying to race Delta to the bottom.

Small changes - I get it. But this is miserable for premium redemptions in particular.
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Old Nov 1, 2013, 2:11 am
  #101  
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Originally Posted by tom911
You don't think "network" is still the predominant reason? Must be a lot of corporate contracts locked into UA, too. I've seen a couple UA flyers come over and sample AA at SFO and return because the network didn't meet their needs. It's a pretty powerful tool when you're looking for nonstop flights from a hub. Are those flyers really looking at award levels when they choose their carrier?
+1
DL just had a $1.2 billion dollar quarterly profit, skypesos notwithstanding.

Very few pax choose an airline based on frequent flyer redemption charts.
Kacee is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2013, 2:14 am
  #102  
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Originally Posted by FriendlySkies
Seems as if the Zimbabwe Dollar is now worth more than the UA Pesos/Rupies!
Agreed. It was the first thing that came to mind but there isn't a good verbal flow: MileageZimbabwe.

MileageMugabe?
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Old Nov 1, 2013, 2:15 am
  #103  
 
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Originally Posted by DBCme
I missed the part about how this change will enhance the customer experience or some other spin.

Premium redemptions for *alliance are ridiculous. Out of the ballpark. Game changer.

For all slack Delta has taken for SkyPesos, we now see United is trying to race Delta to the bottom.

Small changes - I get it. But this is miserable for premium redemptions in particular.
They don't even bother to spin it anymore. They know that with an oligopoly, many of us have few choices.
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Old Nov 1, 2013, 2:16 am
  #104  
 
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looks like travel to Mexico, Latin/South American countries seems untouched.... any takers?
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Old Nov 1, 2013, 2:18 am
  #105  
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I'm sure the numerous people on FT who 3 years ago were cheering on the merger and touting all the benefits it would bring are just as happy now as they were back then?

Here's hoping that AA-US doesn't go through or else we can all kiss this hobby goodbye. Mergers aren't good for customers...full stop.
travelinmanS is online now  

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