Recent changes to award availability?
Dec 8, 2015 | 12:51 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SE USA
Programs: DL DM/MM , IHG Plat, MR Titanium, HH Gold, EK Frequent Kettle, UA Silver, AA and Avis Hater
Posts: 2,156
Recent changes to award availability?
So I don't use UA miles often, I fly DL and UA is my overflow since I hate AA. I only fly UA if DL does not fly somewhere. Maybe 8-10 flights a year.
The last time I redeemed UA miles about a year ago, it was very easy.
A few weeks ago I went to use one and there was plenty of availability but they wanted this outrageous service charge because it was within 30 days and I'm not elite. I got super pissed and burned a ton of miles on a car. But I still have enough left for one ticket....or so I thought.
I just went to book a ticket for March and there is low availability on only one day. What gives?
Word over at DL is that UA has such better redemptions, etc. Not from what I am seeing.
My last couple of trips on UA were not very good either. I also flew LOT and did not get my UA points. Not sure who's fault that is. I sent it in but got no response.
I have no desire to fly UA at all at this point. But I despise AA (2 lost bags and one invol in 3 trips). What to do?
I would use my remaining points for an upgrade but wait! Nothing but RJ's....and if there is a mainline flight the co-pay is more than the upgrade is worth!
Guess I will burn the rest of my useless miles on a car. By the way, last time I got charged full price for the car even though I used UA points, so I had to dispute the charge. I did not blame UA for that at the time but who knows?
I used to be Plat on CO pre-merger and it was quite good. This is a shame.
Rant over. Merry Christmas everybody!
The last time I redeemed UA miles about a year ago, it was very easy.
A few weeks ago I went to use one and there was plenty of availability but they wanted this outrageous service charge because it was within 30 days and I'm not elite. I got super pissed and burned a ton of miles on a car. But I still have enough left for one ticket....or so I thought.
I just went to book a ticket for March and there is low availability on only one day. What gives?
Word over at DL is that UA has such better redemptions, etc. Not from what I am seeing.
My last couple of trips on UA were not very good either. I also flew LOT and did not get my UA points. Not sure who's fault that is. I sent it in but got no response.
I have no desire to fly UA at all at this point. But I despise AA (2 lost bags and one invol in 3 trips). What to do?
I would use my remaining points for an upgrade but wait! Nothing but RJ's....and if there is a mainline flight the co-pay is more than the upgrade is worth!
Guess I will burn the rest of my useless miles on a car. By the way, last time I got charged full price for the car even though I used UA points, so I had to dispute the charge. I did not blame UA for that at the time but who knows?
I used to be Plat on CO pre-merger and it was quite good. This is a shame.
Rant over. Merry Christmas everybody!
Last edited by dilbertsdaddy; Dec 8, 2015 at 1:12 pm
Dec 8, 2015 | 1:37 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,568
So I don't use UA miles often, I fly DL and UA is my overflow since I hate AA. I only fly UA if DL does not fly somewhere. Maybe 8-10 flights a year.
The last time I redeemed UA miles about a year ago, it was very easy.
A few weeks ago I went to use one and there was plenty of availability but they wanted this outrageous service charge because it was within 30 days and I'm not elite. I got super pissed and burned a ton of miles on a car. But I still have enough left for one ticket....or so I thought.
I just went to book a ticket for March and there is low availability on only one day. What gives?
Word over at DL is that UA has such better redemptions, etc. Not from what I am seeing.
My last couple of trips on UA were not very good either. I also flew LOT and did not get my UA points. Not sure who's fault that is. I sent it in but got no response.
I have no desire to fly UA at all at this point. But I despise AA (2 lost bags and one invol in 3 trips). What to do?
I would use my remaining points for an upgrade but wait! Nothing but RJ's....and if there is a mainline flight the co-pay is more than the upgrade is worth!
Guess I will burn the rest of my useless miles on a car. By the way, last time I got charged full price for the car even though I used UA points, so I had to dispute the charge. I did not blame UA for that at the time but who knows?
I used to be Plat on CO pre-merger and it was quite good. This is a shame.
Rant over. Merry Christmas everybody!
The last time I redeemed UA miles about a year ago, it was very easy.
A few weeks ago I went to use one and there was plenty of availability but they wanted this outrageous service charge because it was within 30 days and I'm not elite. I got super pissed and burned a ton of miles on a car. But I still have enough left for one ticket....or so I thought.
I just went to book a ticket for March and there is low availability on only one day. What gives?
Word over at DL is that UA has such better redemptions, etc. Not from what I am seeing.
My last couple of trips on UA were not very good either. I also flew LOT and did not get my UA points. Not sure who's fault that is. I sent it in but got no response.
I have no desire to fly UA at all at this point. But I despise AA (2 lost bags and one invol in 3 trips). What to do?
I would use my remaining points for an upgrade but wait! Nothing but RJ's....and if there is a mainline flight the co-pay is more than the upgrade is worth!
Guess I will burn the rest of my useless miles on a car. By the way, last time I got charged full price for the car even though I used UA points, so I had to dispute the charge. I did not blame UA for that at the time but who knows?
I used to be Plat on CO pre-merger and it was quite good. This is a shame.
Rant over. Merry Christmas everybody!
Dec 8, 2015 | 1:48 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SE USA
Programs: DL DM/MM , IHG Plat, MR Titanium, HH Gold, EK Frequent Kettle, UA Silver, AA and Avis Hater
Posts: 2,156
UA has decimated saver award availability over the past 1-2 years, in particular far out for domestic routes (int'l availability seems to release a bit earlier). Where are you trying to go? For int'l travel, the number of seats may not be all that much more limited, but UA's capacity release schedule/policies have made it much more difficult to locate a day where there is saver availability on both the int'l leg and any necessary domestic connections to that trip.
Simple domestic itinerary with many scheduled flights.
BTW, do they really expect you to change airports from IAD to DCA when connecting?
Dec 8, 2015 | 2:23 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,568
Unfortunately I have had a really hard time with North America availability (on desirable days). you'll find hub-to-hub "deserts" of availability (e.g. months of no IAD-SFO availability on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays); I think this changes closer-in but no promises.