May 1, 2021, 1:27 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Award travel updates
The details:
Archive: "Dynamic Award Pricing" by UA; questions, experiences, .... {Archive}
Introducing a broader range of award prices
Updates to award travel are on the horizon. For flights on or after November 15, 2019, we’ll no longer publish an award chart listing the set amount of miles needed for each flight.The details:
- Some award prices will be lower than what’s currently published in our chart. You may have already seen these prices, and you’ll be able to get them immediately.
- Other award prices may be higher than what you see today, especially if you’re traveling at a popular time. These prices will take effect immediately for travel November 15 or after.
- Starting November 15, we’re removing close-in fees, so you won’t be charged the extra fee of up to $75 for booking last-minute award travel.
- A flexible award travel calendar is available on united.com or in our app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is changing?
For travel on or after November 15, we will no longer publish an award chart listing the set amount of miles needed for award flights. Award pricing will now fluctuate based on a variety of factors, including demand. Additionally, starting November 15, we will no longer charge a fee of up to $75 for award flights booked within 21 days of departure.When will these updates take effect?
The award pricing changes apply immediately to flights on or after November 15, 2019. Until then, award prices will be the same as or lower than what’s currently published in our award chart.How many miles will I need for award travel after November 15?
Award prices will now fluctuate based on a variety of factors. Some air awards will be available for less than what’s listed in our chart, which you may have already noticed. After November 15, award prices may also be higher, especially if you’re traveling at popular times. Use our flexible award calendar to get a monthly view of the award prices for a specific destination.Why are you making these changes?
Increasing award prices for the most in-demand flights allows us to offer better returns for our shareholders. If your award travel is flexible, these updates will help you make the most of your miles.How will these updates affect award travel availability?
United MileagePlus members with Premier® status and qualifying United Chase Cardmembers can continue to book award travel without blackout dates. For other members, most award flights that are available today will continue to be available after these updates take effect.Do the lowest-priced awards have any extra flight restrictions?
No. Our lowest priced awards do not have any added restrictions; the fare rules for all award travel apply.How can I find the lowest priced award for my travel?
The award calendar on united.com or in our app will continue to show the lowest available price for your destination.Will I earn miles on my flight if I book an award?
No. As with current award bookings, award travel in the future will not be eligible to earn miles with MileagePlus or any other loyalty program.What if I need to change my existing award?
If you need to change your award ticket, you will be issued a new ticket for which new pricing and additional fees may apply.What if I purchase a close-in award before November 15
The close-in booking fee will still apply to all tickets booked within 21 days of departure prior to November 15, 2019. We will not refund fees paid prior to November 15, even if travel occurs on or after November 15.
Archive: "Dynamic Award Pricing" by UA; questions, experiences, .... {Archive}
"Dynamic Award Pricing" by UA; questions, experiences, .... (No Award Chart Nov 2019)
May 27, 2023, 11:50 am
#286
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 85
By this definition of dynamic, even fixed award charts would be considered to have dynamic pricing because they are subject to availability and vary in price based on the route.
May 27, 2023, 10:55 pm
#287
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,426
The idea that there is some magical hidden chart underlying the “saver” award prices is increasingly apocryphal.
May 28, 2023, 9:26 pm
#288
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,870
Seems like there been another round of updates/devaluations, with Australia and Africa awards increasing.
https://www.dansdeals.com/points-tra...le-east-india/
https://www.dansdeals.com/points-tra...le-east-india/
May 29, 2023, 2:32 am
#289
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,075
No. I’m saying, you can put in a city pair and get different prices for I inventory depending upon which partner is operating the flight, and/or whether or not it’s a nonstop. Japan to South Asia was ranging between something like 49.7K and 51.8K when I looked recently.
The idea that there is some magical hidden chart underlying the “saver” award prices is increasingly apocryphal.
The idea that there is some magical hidden chart underlying the “saver” award prices is increasingly apocryphal.
Last edited by xliioper; May 29, 2023 at 2:37 am
May 29, 2023, 2:37 am
#290
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,426
There's basically no one, definitive definition of "dynamic" awards. As previous poster noted, as soon as the airlines went with multiple levels for routes so that mileage amount was dependent on demand (and not simply binary), you could consider that to be "dynamic". Many people simply define it to be when there are no published award charts (so simply having multiple levels alone is not considered "dynamic"). DL uses separate fare basis codes (with award level and mileage amount encoded in them) and an array of different bucket/fare classes for awards (OJ/OC/OD/OI/OZ, for FC/D1 awards, for example, which align with J/C/D/I/Z revenue classes), and yet everyone considers them to be dynamic. You can generally enumerate the different award levels on a route by playing with the award calendar and studying award fare classes, fare basis codes, and fare rules.
May 31, 2023, 5:53 pm
#291
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,147
Alternative routing at 50% off
Was seeking to get two J mileage ticket from EU to HNL. Going westerly, UA wanted 400K miles each, regardless of which departure city I checked. Not having 800K miles right now, I was able to piece together a J itinerary with a stop in Japan that would get us home for 440K total miles. Going easterly is a drag on the body, but the westerly route included problematic timing and connections that was not a piece of cake either.
Oh I miss the good old days of having an agent piece together an International F award!
Oh I miss the good old days of having an agent piece together an International F award!
May 31, 2023, 10:29 pm
#297
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,147
Yes. I grabbed a cheap NH F seat pre-pandemic, but I was referring to the days when one could call UA 330 days in advance and get IFC seats with connecting F domestic to anywhere UA flew. The inventory was always there if one planned way ahead. Don’t get me started about how those seats were like 90K round trip HNL-EU.
Jun 1, 2023, 9:30 am
#298
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
Come on UA... been tracking SFO-EDI for 5 months looking for a decent price/routing in either Y or J. Don't want to release anything? Fine, is what it is. But this is just offensive:
SFO-EWR in J: 120k
EWR-EDI in J: 112.5k
Same flights when booked SFO-EWR-EDI: 245k.
12.5k extra for the privilege of booking as one ticket? come on. Clown program.
SFO-EWR in J: 120k
EWR-EDI in J: 112.5k
Same flights when booked SFO-EWR-EDI: 245k.
12.5k extra for the privilege of booking as one ticket? come on. Clown program.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 1, 2023 at 11:57 am Reason: Using symbols, spaces or other methods to mask vulgarities is not allowed.
Jun 1, 2023, 11:24 am
#299
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: BOS
Programs: UA Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 95
Come on UA... been tracking SFO-EDI for 5 months looking for a decent price/routing in either Y or J. Don't want to release anything? Fine, is what it is. But this is just offensive:
SFO-EWR in J: 120k
EWR-EDI in J: 112.5k
Same flights when booked SFO-EWR-EDI: 245k.
12.5k extra for the privilege of booking as one ticket? come on. Clown program.
SFO-EWR in J: 120k
EWR-EDI in J: 112.5k
Same flights when booked SFO-EWR-EDI: 245k.
12.5k extra for the privilege of booking as one ticket? come on. Clown program.
United cancelled/suspended LHR to BOS later this fall thus an award ticket which I had booked pre-devaluation was automatically meaningfully altered for the worse. It took HUCA a few times and a somewhat exceptional amount of patience/time to convince them to rebook me in a new favorable routing. My guess is they've been instructed to avoid these types of changes if possible (but who knows). The agents kept trying to charge me the new price (JN instead of IN) or offer me an even worse routing. Good times.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 1, 2023 at 11:58 am Reason: updated quote to reflect Moderator edit
Jun 1, 2023, 11:32 am
#300
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA LT GS | UA LT Club | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,250
Come on UA... been tracking SFO-EDI for 5 months looking for a decent price/routing in either Y or J. Don't want to release anything? Fine, is what it is. But this is just offensive:
SFO-EWR in J: 120k
EWR-EDI in J: 112.5k
Same flights when booked SFO-EWR-EDI: 245k.
12.5k extra for the privilege of booking as one ticket? come on. Clown program.
SFO-EWR in J: 120k
EWR-EDI in J: 112.5k
Same flights when booked SFO-EWR-EDI: 245k.
12.5k extra for the privilege of booking as one ticket? come on. Clown program.
UA will happily interline with BA, so it's a seamless connection...
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 1, 2023 at 11:59 am Reason: updated quote to reflect Moderator edit