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)
Mar 28, 2024, 7:31 pm
#616
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,423
"Saver" is probably a word that needs to be retired, but a long as we're going to use it, it really needs to mean "books into I/IN X/XN." And since this flight books into I.. it's a "saver award" priced dynamically by UA.
The idea that ET is making a bunch of separate inventory available for some partners under the common *A inventory code seems like a stretch. And considering that I know that I saw this last year on a different route involving different airlines... there's not really much point continuing this further. I was asked for an example and I provided one.
Mar 28, 2024, 7:47 pm
#617
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
Well, sure, if you define "saver" to mean "not priced dynamically," but that's not a particularly useful definition.
"Saver" is probably a word that needs to be retired, but a long as we're going to use it, it really needs to mean "books into I/IN X/XN." And since this flight books into I.. it's a "saver award" priced dynamically by UA.
The idea that ET is making a bunch of separate inventory available for some partners under the common *A inventory code seems like a stretch. And considering that I know that I saw this last year on a different route involving different airlines... there's not really much point continuing this further. I was asked for an example and I provided one.
"Saver" is probably a word that needs to be retired, but a long as we're going to use it, it really needs to mean "books into I/IN X/XN." And since this flight books into I.. it's a "saver award" priced dynamically by UA.
The idea that ET is making a bunch of separate inventory available for some partners under the common *A inventory code seems like a stretch. And considering that I know that I saw this last year on a different route involving different airlines... there's not really much point continuing this further. I was asked for an example and I provided one.
Mar 28, 2024, 8:03 pm
#618
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,863
So what is a non-saver partner award? I know what a non-save award is for UA (JN vs I) but for a partner using UA miles? And how can you tell that is what is being offer?
Mar 28, 2024, 8:22 pm
#619
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 546
As an example, JX currently makes some additional awards available to AS at the non-saver level. Those would be priced higher than the saver award on the same flight. Another example is in the JV that DL has with some of its partners. Many of those partner awards are dynamically priced non-saver awards, because they share information on underlying cash fares among them.
Mar 28, 2024, 9:01 pm
#620
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,423
Incidentally, back on United, the ET flight from HKG to BKK on July 5th is 27.5K miles -- the same as the TG flights. So it's not a blanket price increase for ET, or for fifth freedom flights. And I don't see any evidence that the KUL-SIN ET inventory is any better on MilagePlus than it is anywhere else, and all of the flights we've been discussing book into I and are inside a single MileagePlus region (South Asia).
Last edited by jsloan; Mar 28, 2024 at 11:15 pm
Mar 28, 2024, 9:41 pm
#621
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,863
As an example, JX currently makes some additional awards available to AS at the non-saver level. Those would be priced higher than the saver award on the same flight. Another example is in the JV that DL has with some of its partners. Many of those partner awards are dynamically priced non-saver awards, because they share information on underlying cash fares among them.
And the carriers involved have not traditionally had a special relationship with UA and not others.
Mar 28, 2024, 10:17 pm
#622
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,075
As an example, JX currently makes some additional awards available to AS at the non-saver level. Those would be priced higher than the saver award on the same flight. Another example is in the JV that DL has with some of its partners. Many of those partner awards are dynamically priced non-saver awards, because they share information on underlying cash fares among them.
DL metal award levels will both rely on meeting award fare rule requirements, as well as having award bucket level inventory availability since they have multiple award buckets for their own metal -- for example OJ/OC/OD/OI/OZ buckets for D1 awards (similar to J/C/D/I/Z buckets for D1 revenue fares).
Last edited by xliioper; Mar 29, 2024 at 10:26 am
Mar 29, 2024, 2:47 am
#623
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
July 4-5, BKK-SIN, I class: 33K for TG/ET via KUL, 27.5K for everyone else (nonstop or connecting). In fact: KUL-SIN is 33K by itself for ET and 27.5K for SQ, both nonstop.
I don't see any other examples at the moment, but I'm sure I'll stumble across them at some point. The chart is dead.
I don't see any other examples at the moment, but I'm sure I'll stumble across them at some point. The chart is dead.
But especially with an ET 5th freedom award, I'm not surprised by a small difference in the saver rate.
Mar 29, 2024, 6:40 am
#625
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,697
UA never agreed to sell you travel for a given number of miles. Charts were subject to availability and that is at the discretion of the airline
Your relationship with the airline has one common agreement
”Increasing award prices for the most in-demand flights allows us to offer better returns for our shareholders.”
Chasing faux currency miles for travel is a fools’ folly on this era of information
Your relationship with the airline has one common agreement
”Increasing award prices for the most in-demand flights allows us to offer better returns for our shareholders.”
Chasing faux currency miles for travel is a fools’ folly on this era of information
Mar 29, 2024, 10:16 am
#626
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,423
Yes, there were exceptions on the old chart, but never based upon the carrier, just the route. And they were discounts.
The simple fact of the matter is that UA now has the ability to base their partner award prices on something besides the route and class of service, and they're showing the willingness to do so. Given UA's track record, I'm comfortable betting on this being the start of a larger trend, and not some one-off mistake that never gets repeated.
Apr 3, 2024, 8:14 pm
#627
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, UA 1k.
Posts: 296
For instance, today I am seeing FRA-JFK on SQ26 for 43k but then DBV-FRA-JFK on LH + SQ26 for 30k, same dates, same SQ26. Definitely DP.
Apr 4, 2024, 8:04 am
#628
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
If you think that's fully dymanic pricing, Delta would like to have a word.
Apr 6, 2024, 8:42 am
#629
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: San Francisco Penninsula
Programs: Bear Backers
Posts: 934
Depends on the day
Can someone explain how the points required to book a flight keep going up? I've been checking SFO->AKL and 2 weeks ago, the one way business seats were 200k looking all the way through next december. Then about a week ago, I noticed they were all 250k. Today I notice the ones closer to next year are now 300k. Those seem like pretty massive across the board increases in such a short time looking out to next year. Is there an announcement I missed?
Sorry. This is Melbourne to Sfo but same things are probably going on. We did get 200 each sfo to Akl on Dec29 but that was gone after we booked.
Last edited by oskidunker; Apr 14, 2024 at 2:21 pm