May 1, 21, 2:27 pm
Last edit by: GrayAnderson
Award travel updates
Introducing a broader range of award prices
Updates to award travel are on the horizon. For flights on or after November 15, 2019, well 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 whats currently published in our chart. You may have already seen these prices, and youll be able to get them immediately.
- Other award prices may be higher than what you see today, especially if youre traveling at a popular time. These prices will take effect immediately for travel November 15 or after.
- Starting November 15, were removing close-in fees, so you wont 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 whats 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 whats listed in our chart, which you may have already noticed. After November 15, award prices may also be higher, especially if youre 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.
"Dynamic Award Pricing" by UA; questions, experiences, .... (No Award Chart Nov 2019)
Apr 22, 22, 6:03 pm
#316
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,720
But yeah I'm in business class on Finnair to Rome in summer for 57.5k AA miles. RE:competitveness, isn't 60k UA miles to Europe on Polaris still bookable? My parents (not exactly travel hackers, but certainly not clueless either) have booked those fairly recently. In fact they just flew PHX-EWR-MUC (I think MUC? Maybe FRA?) with the 2nd leg on Polaris (probably booked a long time ago). They even both texted me individually to tell me how nice the Polaris lounge in Newark was.
Apr 22, 22, 7:24 pm
#317
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,723
RE:competitveness, isn't 60k UA miles to Europe on Polaris still bookable? My parents (not exactly travel hackers, but certainly not clueless either) have booked those fairly recently. In fact they just flew PHX-EWR-MUC (I think MUC? Maybe FRA?) with the 2nd leg on Polaris (probably booked a long time ago). They even both texted me individually to tell me how nice the Polaris lounge in Newark was.
Apr 23, 22, 8:05 am
#318
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Programs: UA Plat-2MM, Marriott Life Titanium, Hyatt something
Posts: 1,887
Saver awards back to normal
It looks like they fixed the issue that was causing high mileage amounts for saver awards. I checked a bunch of domestic routes and they all are pricing saver awards at the previous levels now. I didnt check international.
Last edited by LAX UA 1K; Apr 23, 22 at 9:20 pm
Apr 23, 22, 8:15 am
#319
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .56 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 14,235
So the issue becomes, how much more rare will Saver awards now be?
Apr 23, 22, 10:35 am
#320
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 30,978
Apr 23, 22, 10:44 am
#321
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.5MM, AA 2MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 5,941
Yes I was looking to book a trip for my wife back from Tokyo for May 2 and this morning the miles required is back to normal -- the glitch in the UA matrix has been patched...
Apr 23, 22, 12:38 pm
#324
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Programs: UA Plat-2MM, Marriott Life Titanium, Hyatt something
Posts: 1,887
For X/XN at least, inventory seems to be driven from the paid fare classes. As the lower paid classes are available, XN and then X become available, although there is not an exact match to the revenue buckets.
Sometimes the low revenue buckets dont have a published fare but they still drive X/XN.
Sometimes the low revenue buckets dont have a published fare but they still drive X/XN.
Apr 23, 22, 7:38 pm
#326
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA Plat & 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Exp, Hilton Gold
Posts: 15,361
Australia nonstops are back to 100k economy/200k business after the unexpected fire sale. I guess that is the new normal.
for Aspen I’m seeing a range of 25k-43k depending on peak dates and times (though 12.5k for off peak). That is similar to what I saw 2 years ago. Definitely dynamic reflection of the underlaying cash prices.
for Aspen I’m seeing a range of 25k-43k depending on peak dates and times (though 12.5k for off peak). That is similar to what I saw 2 years ago. Definitely dynamic reflection of the underlaying cash prices.
Apr 23, 22, 7:54 pm
#327
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.5MM, AA 2MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 5,941
Australia nonstops are back to 100k economy/200k business after the unexpected fire sale. I guess that is the new normal.
for Aspen I’m seeing a range of 25k-43k depending on peak dates and times (though 12.5k for off peak). That is similar to what I saw 2 years ago. Definitely dynamic reflection of the underlaying cash prices.
for Aspen I’m seeing a range of 25k-43k depending on peak dates and times (though 12.5k for off peak). That is similar to what I saw 2 years ago. Definitely dynamic reflection of the underlaying cash prices.
Apr 23, 22, 9:52 pm
#328
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 30,978
@Boraxo - There are some deals still out there -- I picked a random day in November -- 11/21 -- and tried a search from SFO-SYD -- if you want to connect in LAX you can fly in J for 80k (but Y to LAX - no biggie).... Also I've noticed the sort feature is truly broken -- I always scroll to the bottom and display all flights, then ask it to sort - and even that doesn't always work...
not a deal. Std. US-OZ is 80k. Been available for a long time. Booked many of these. 60k was a deal; 80k is just std. I/IN that you are either able to find/book ... or not
Apr 24, 22, 9:15 pm
#329
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA Plat & 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Exp, Hilton Gold
Posts: 15,361
@Boraxo - There are some deals still out there -- I picked a random day in November -- 11/21 -- and tried a search from SFO-SYD -- if you want to connect in LAX you can fly in J for 80k (but Y to LAX - no biggie).... Also I've noticed the sort feature is truly broken -- I always scroll to the bottom and display all flights, then ask it to sort - and even that doesn't always work...
AFAIK the "sort" function has been FUBAR for a # of months. Heck the newest "enhanced" landing page is almost completely useless to me. thankfully I have found that if I do a "change search" after the initial query query that will often send me back to the old familiar list of results with the 30-day calendar and a sort function that usually works (but not always)
May 5, 22, 12:31 pm
#330
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Ohio, USA
Programs: UA - MM/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 122
Award seat "miles" gone through the roof
If there is already another thread [I'm assuming there is] can someone please direct me to it? I have not been on here for a year or so due to non-travel re:Covid, just now getting back into the travel mode. I am shocked at the increase in miles for award seats for almost any overseas travel. I used to think that Delta and American were the worst, but United is right up there with the cost of an economy seat. Or, if there are any economy seats available, the lay-over is often 8-11 hours in either IAD or EWR. As a recent retiree I thought I would be able to use my 805,000 miles to get me to many places over the next few years, but with seats to Europe in economy going for as high as 60-70K one way, that will be eaten up fairly quickly. . I used to encourage friends and family to grab a few Chase CC for the miles, but no longer a viable option. Glad I was able to burn more than 1.3 million miles over the years taking my family of 6 to places like Hawaii, Alaska, Cancun, London, Paris, Cairns, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Athens, Singapore, in economy all for 30-50-80K p/p R/T. In the past, when the pundits on here advised us to burn our miles as they were headed for devaluation, I didn't really believe it would happen, or so soon..... Any suggestions or ideas?
