Rant - UA mile uselessness on trans-ocean non-UA flights.
Feb 11, 2016, 1:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, *A Silver
Posts: 4,896
Rant - UA mile uselessness on trans-ocean non-UA flights.
Here's my somewhat poorly worded incoherent rant.
After being slapped with a big devaluation in early 2015?, UA mile value just seems to get worse and worse. The worst of which is married segments. I'm looking to redeem an award from IAD to Asia, really, anywhere in Asia will do, on premium cabin not on UA, and there's next to nothing! No I don't want to fly on UA 772 or connect in EWR and Pittsburg. Only some NH J (which is very good) show up on scattered dates, tucked waaaaay in the back on page 6 of award availability, and the occasional rare sighting of TK J through IST. Not to mention some time in there UA seem to have sneaked in other devaluations - for example on my PVG-NRT-IAD flight, which was 120K when booked in F originally, now randomly wants to charge 130K when changing dates. And then there are times when flying to SE Asia costs 140K for some reason. I remember the good old days when I could fly to Asia and back in F for 140K plus a stop over / openjaw....
And why is HK considered South Asia when I can fly to parts of China more southern than HK for 10K less?
It seems like now the best use of UA miles is for intra-Asia segments rather than US-Asia on non-UA metal?
After being slapped with a big devaluation in early 2015?, UA mile value just seems to get worse and worse. The worst of which is married segments. I'm looking to redeem an award from IAD to Asia, really, anywhere in Asia will do, on premium cabin not on UA, and there's next to nothing! No I don't want to fly on UA 772 or connect in EWR and Pittsburg. Only some NH J (which is very good) show up on scattered dates, tucked waaaaay in the back on page 6 of award availability, and the occasional rare sighting of TK J through IST. Not to mention some time in there UA seem to have sneaked in other devaluations - for example on my PVG-NRT-IAD flight, which was 120K when booked in F originally, now randomly wants to charge 130K when changing dates. And then there are times when flying to SE Asia costs 140K for some reason. I remember the good old days when I could fly to Asia and back in F for 140K plus a stop over / openjaw....
And why is HK considered South Asia when I can fly to parts of China more southern than HK for 10K less?It seems like now the best use of UA miles is for intra-Asia segments rather than US-Asia on non-UA metal?
Last edited by TOMFORD; Feb 11, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Feb 11, 2016, 2:11 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
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Posts: 5,220
Here's my somewhat poorly worded incoherent rant.
After being slapped with a big devaluation in early 2015?, UA mile value just seems to get worse and worse. The worst of which is married segments. I'm looking to redeem an award from IAD to Asia, really, anywhere in Asia will do, on premium cabin not on UA, and there's next to nothing! No I don't want to fly on UA 772 or connect in EWR and Pittsburg. Only some NH J (which is very good) show up on scattered dates, tucked waaaaay in the back on page 6 of award availability, and the occasional rare sighting of TK J through IST. Not to mention some time in there UA seem to have sneaked in other devaluations - for example on my PVG-NRT-IAD flight, which was 120K when booked in F originally, now randomly wants to charge 130K when changing dates. And then there are times when flying to SE Asia costs 140K for some reason. I remember the good old days when I could fly to Asia and back in F for 140K plus a stop over / openjaw.... And why is HK considered South Asia when I can fly to parts of China more southern than HK for 10K less?
It seems like now the best use of UA miles is for intra-Asia segments rather than US-Asia on non-UA metal?
After being slapped with a big devaluation in early 2015?, UA mile value just seems to get worse and worse. The worst of which is married segments. I'm looking to redeem an award from IAD to Asia, really, anywhere in Asia will do, on premium cabin not on UA, and there's next to nothing! No I don't want to fly on UA 772 or connect in EWR and Pittsburg. Only some NH J (which is very good) show up on scattered dates, tucked waaaaay in the back on page 6 of award availability, and the occasional rare sighting of TK J through IST. Not to mention some time in there UA seem to have sneaked in other devaluations - for example on my PVG-NRT-IAD flight, which was 120K when booked in F originally, now randomly wants to charge 130K when changing dates. And then there are times when flying to SE Asia costs 140K for some reason. I remember the good old days when I could fly to Asia and back in F for 140K plus a stop over / openjaw....
And why is HK considered South Asia when I can fly to parts of China more southern than HK for 10K less?It seems like now the best use of UA miles is for intra-Asia segments rather than US-Asia on non-UA metal?
Feb 11, 2016, 2:40 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, *A Silver
Posts: 4,896
I have to plan ahead, can't tell my boss I'm leaving on vacation in 2 weeks. I see a lot of OZ out of/into JFK, but I'm based in DC and would prefer to fly out of IAD if possible.
Feb 11, 2016, 3:17 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Here's my somewhat poorly worded incoherent rant.
After being slapped with a big devaluation in early 2015?, UA mile value just seems to get worse and worse. The worst of which is married segments. I'm looking to redeem an award from IAD to Asia, really, anywhere in Asia will do, on premium cabin not on UA, and there's next to nothing! No I don't want to fly on UA 772 or connect in EWR and Pittsburg. Only some NH J (which is very good) show up on scattered dates, tucked waaaaay in the back on page 6 of award availability, and the occasional rare sighting of TK J through IST. Not to mention some time in there UA seem to have sneaked in other devaluations - for example on my PVG-NRT-IAD flight, which was 120K when booked in F originally, now randomly wants to charge 130K when changing dates. And then there are times when flying to SE Asia costs 140K for some reason. I remember the good old days when I could fly to Asia and back in F for 140K plus a stop over / openjaw.... And why is HK considered South Asia when I can fly to parts of China more southern than HK for 10K less?
It seems like now the best use of UA miles is for intra-Asia segments rather than US-Asia on non-UA metal?
After being slapped with a big devaluation in early 2015?, UA mile value just seems to get worse and worse. The worst of which is married segments. I'm looking to redeem an award from IAD to Asia, really, anywhere in Asia will do, on premium cabin not on UA, and there's next to nothing! No I don't want to fly on UA 772 or connect in EWR and Pittsburg. Only some NH J (which is very good) show up on scattered dates, tucked waaaaay in the back on page 6 of award availability, and the occasional rare sighting of TK J through IST. Not to mention some time in there UA seem to have sneaked in other devaluations - for example on my PVG-NRT-IAD flight, which was 120K when booked in F originally, now randomly wants to charge 130K when changing dates. And then there are times when flying to SE Asia costs 140K for some reason. I remember the good old days when I could fly to Asia and back in F for 140K plus a stop over / openjaw....
And why is HK considered South Asia when I can fly to parts of China more southern than HK for 10K less?It seems like now the best use of UA miles is for intra-Asia segments rather than US-Asia on non-UA metal?
Feb 11, 2016, 3:22 pm
#6
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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AFAIK, married segments on awards are only an issue on UA and LH flights.
UA does not control its partners' releases of award availability.
UA does not control its partners' releases of award availability.
Feb 11, 2016, 5:34 pm
#8
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Join Date: Jun 2012
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I've had similar issues and worked the problem by booking alternative flights that I could live with and then changing to the preferred flights when they open up close to the day of departure window. I've always been able to change to the flights I wanted. In some cases I changed to a more complex routing with additional cities/stopovers that didn't increase the cost or miles needed.
So in your case it would be possible to book the JFK OZ award and then switch to an IAD-NRT-XXX using NH/XX or IAD-FRA/MUC-XXX using LH/XX for example when those flights open up which they tend to do. You might have to adjust your departure by a day or two in the worst case, but this shouldn't impact your notice to the boss...
V/r,
-Cyborg
So in your case it would be possible to book the JFK OZ award and then switch to an IAD-NRT-XXX using NH/XX or IAD-FRA/MUC-XXX using LH/XX for example when those flights open up which they tend to do. You might have to adjust your departure by a day or two in the worst case, but this shouldn't impact your notice to the boss...
V/r,
-Cyborg
Feb 11, 2016, 6:05 pm
#9
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IAD to Asia you've really only got the UA and NH nonstop options. Everything else you're going to have to connect, either domestic or in Europe. And that adds an extra layer of difficulty finding award seats, particularly since domestic UA award availability can be pretty poor.
I am a firm believer that diligent, patient searching will be rewarded. There are still some real pearls out there (including NZ to AKL in J, for the first time in years). Don't forget the option of booking the long-haul (e.g., IAH-NRT or LAX-ICN), taking whatever you can get right now for the domestic connection, and waitlisting for the domestic connection you really want.
I am a firm believer that diligent, patient searching will be rewarded. There are still some real pearls out there (including NZ to AKL in J, for the first time in years). Don't forget the option of booking the long-haul (e.g., IAH-NRT or LAX-ICN), taking whatever you can get right now for the domestic connection, and waitlisting for the domestic connection you really want.
Feb 11, 2016, 6:39 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
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Posts: 5,518
In other words, you don't want to be a valuable customer to UA, but still expect awards that are convenient for you on their partners? Totally makes sense...
Feb 11, 2016, 7:58 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, *A Silver
Posts: 4,896
I have been loyal more than I have reaped my rewards (otherwise I wouldn't be worrying about the leftover miles). How outrageous of me to even dare to have a single word of complaint.
Feb 11, 2016, 10:27 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2003
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Feb 11, 2016, 10:56 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,685
To summarize: You want premium cabin award space out of a specific UA hub without connecting to Trans Pac destinations on non-UA metal, not on off days, but on specific days using UA miles, whom you have abandoned.
The same request could be said about almost any carrier. We all desire the holy grail, but often have to change days, connect, or fly on a carrier that isn't our 1st choice, sometimes, even on the carrier which is has a hub where we want to fly out of, the same carrier that we earned our miles on.
To me it seems you are looking at the wrong inventory. Based on your variables and lack of flexibility, you might want to look at "revenue" vs "award" tickets. Either that, or be flexible with your variables.
The same request could be said about almost any carrier. We all desire the holy grail, but often have to change days, connect, or fly on a carrier that isn't our 1st choice, sometimes, even on the carrier which is has a hub where we want to fly out of, the same carrier that we earned our miles on.
To me it seems you are looking at the wrong inventory. Based on your variables and lack of flexibility, you might want to look at "revenue" vs "award" tickets. Either that, or be flexible with your variables.
Feb 11, 2016, 11:30 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,449
Welcome to the new United
Here's my somewhat poorly worded incoherent rant.
After being slapped with a big devaluation in early 2015?, UA mile value just seems to get worse and worse. The worst of which is married segments. I'm looking to redeem an award from IAD to Asia, really, anywhere in Asia will do, on premium cabin not on UA, and there's next to nothing! No I don't want to fly on UA 772 or connect in EWR and Pittsburg. Only some NH J (which is very good) show up on scattered dates, tucked waaaaay in the back on page 6 of award availability, and the occasional rare sighting of TK J through IST. Not to mention some time in there UA seem to have sneaked in other devaluations - for example on my PVG-NRT-IAD flight, which was 120K when booked in F originally, now randomly wants to charge 130K when changing dates. And then there are times when flying to SE Asia costs 140K for some reason. I remember the good old days when I could fly to Asia and back in F for 140K plus a stop over / openjaw.... And why is HK considered South Asia when I can fly to parts of China more southern than HK for 10K less?
It seems like now the best use of UA miles is for intra-Asia segments rather than US-Asia on non-UA metal?
After being slapped with a big devaluation in early 2015?, UA mile value just seems to get worse and worse. The worst of which is married segments. I'm looking to redeem an award from IAD to Asia, really, anywhere in Asia will do, on premium cabin not on UA, and there's next to nothing! No I don't want to fly on UA 772 or connect in EWR and Pittsburg. Only some NH J (which is very good) show up on scattered dates, tucked waaaaay in the back on page 6 of award availability, and the occasional rare sighting of TK J through IST. Not to mention some time in there UA seem to have sneaked in other devaluations - for example on my PVG-NRT-IAD flight, which was 120K when booked in F originally, now randomly wants to charge 130K when changing dates. And then there are times when flying to SE Asia costs 140K for some reason. I remember the good old days when I could fly to Asia and back in F for 140K plus a stop over / openjaw....
And why is HK considered South Asia when I can fly to parts of China more southern than HK for 10K less?It seems like now the best use of UA miles is for intra-Asia segments rather than US-Asia on non-UA metal?
Feb 12, 2016, 3:27 am
#15
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2. AFAIK - airlines always treat HKG by itself. HKG never mixes into China even they can be placed in the same award region.
3. Airlines are free to define countries/territories into different award regions.
