Jun 9, 2016, 1:03 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
previous thread UA Economy Plus (E+) - Questions/Experiences [Archive]
Related thread: Economy Plus Essentials and Economy Plus Enhanced Q&A [CONSOLIDATED]
Refunds for Economy Plus fees (upgrades, seat changes, cancellations, ....) [Merged]
Economy Plus Subscriptions -- Q&A, issues, ....
Economy Plus price - Is it Fixed or is the Pricing Dynamic?
UA Premier Silvers have free access to E- at check-in for themselves and 1 companion
UA Premier Gold have free access to E+ at booking for themselves and 1 companion
Related thread: Economy Plus Essentials and Economy Plus Enhanced Q&A [CONSOLIDATED]
Refunds for Economy Plus fees (upgrades, seat changes, cancellations, ....) [Merged]
Economy Plus Subscriptions -- Q&A, issues, ....
Economy Plus price - Is it Fixed or is the Pricing Dynamic?
UA Premier Silvers have free access to E- at check-in for themselves and 1 companion
UA Premier Gold have free access to E+ at booking for themselves and 1 companion
o If Silvers or Golds have more than one companion on their PNR, they will need to call to get their allowed access or split their PNR
UA Premier Platinum, 1Ks and GS have free access to E+ at booking for themselves and up to 8 companion
If the companions are off-PNR, it will require a call. Additionally, you will need to watch the companions' setas because they may be moved to E- on schedule/aircraft changes.
If the companions are off-PNR, it will require a call. Additionally, you will need to watch the companions' setas because they may be moved to E- on schedule/aircraft changes.
UA Economy Plus (E+) - Questions/Worth It?/Experiences [Consolidated]
Mar 26, 2018, 6:16 pm
#16
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,042
It has created a problem that Basic Economy passengers usually don't have an advance seat assignment because it would cost extra. Then when Economy is full, pax without seat assignments become the most likely to get E+ for free. This is not fair. United ought to automatically assign BE less desirable seats toward the back of the plane at the time of ticketing, eliminating any possibility of choice. This would, of course, leave fewer seats to pick from for those who paid for regular E with seat selection. More of those would willingly pay for E+ if it were more reasonably priced. Rather than upgrade BE folks into overpriced empty E+ seats for free, lower E+ prices and sell those seats to paying pax.
Apr 10, 2018, 8:35 am
#17
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 83
LGA-ORD-ANC Will price drop for upgrade to econ-plus?
Clearly I'm not your typical FT-type. In July I'll be flying r/t in steerage from LGA-ORD-ANC. I'm kind of dreading it but I'm on a tight budget. Right now upgrades to economy plus range from $97-153 per leg. Should I expect them to go down? If not, any suggestions on the best seats in the "popular" quarters?
Apr 10, 2018, 8:39 am
#18
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
ORD-ANC are 738's in July it looks like. $100-150 isn't a horrible price to pay for that long of a flight (6.5 hours). I wouldn't expect it to go under $100. If you're on a tight budget, I would skip on the LGA-ORD leg and pay for the ORD-ANC. I myself would grab the last exit row seat window, Probably the A side for some of the views. I would also routinely monitor the seat maps right up until your departure to move around to try and find an open middle or entire row.
Apr 10, 2018, 11:52 am
#20
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,336
If you're really cheap, you could just avoid choosing a seat and hope for a free E+. This has great odds of working if the flight is full and terrible odds if empty. If the loads are still low a few days out, then you can purchase E+. You can even do this at the gate too (provided seats are avail)!
I've never paid for E+ in my life bc I'm so cheap but I usually get it for free due to my status.
I've never paid for E+ in my life bc I'm so cheap but I usually get it for free due to my status.
Apr 10, 2018, 12:14 pm
#21
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
ORD-ANC are 738's in July it looks like. $100-150 isn't a horrible price to pay for that long of a flight (6.5 hours). I wouldn't expect it to go under $100. If you're on a tight budget, I would skip on the LGA-ORD leg and pay for the ORD-ANC. I myself would grab the last exit row seat window, Probably the A side for some of the views. I would also routinely monitor the seat maps right up until your departure to move around to try and find an open middle or entire row.
Apr 10, 2018, 12:22 pm
#22
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,484
E+ prices will move within a fixed range. You need to watch them on your specific flight for a week or two to figure out what the range is.
Apr 10, 2018, 1:24 pm
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Also worth noting that there are great and lousy E+ seats, all depending on personal preference. The price won't drop much, if at all. But the availability of the seats you want likely will. Have to decide how much of a lousier seat you are willing to accept in return for the possible chance of saving $10 on a very long flight for that aircraft.
Apr 10, 2018, 1:42 pm
#24
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 83
Also worth noting that there are great and lousy E+ seats, all depending on personal preference. The price won't drop much, if at all. But the availability of the seats you want likely will. Have to decide how much of a lousier seat you are willing to accept in return for the possible chance of saving $10 on a very long flight for that aircraft.
Apr 10, 2018, 2:54 pm
#25
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,484
Good point, Often1. I read through the seat reviews on seatguru. The ratings for E+ seats are as lousy as for economy. I assume that's mainly due to higher expense and expectations. But still -- rows 11 -12 in E+ are missing windows on UA1266 and UA1562. For $137 bucks, I'd expect a window. Unless seatguru's not a reliable source ...
Apr 10, 2018, 5:44 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,422
Good point, Often1. I read through the seat reviews on seatguru. The ratings for E+ seats are as lousy as for economy. I assume that's mainly due to higher expense and expectations. But still -- rows 11 -12 in E+ are missing windows on UA1266 and UA1562. For $137 bucks, I'd expect a window. Unless seatguru's not a reliable source ...
How tall are you? I'm 6'0" and I find the extra legroom to be crucial -- E+ keeps me loyal to UA. If I were 5'10" or shorter, I don't know that I'd care. Alaska is an extremely expensive destination (by US standards, anyway). You may find that you'd rather have the extra $100 or $200 to spend on your trip than to pay for a few extra inches of legroom.
Apr 11, 2018, 1:17 am
#27
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 350
Question guys. I just booked some cattle award tickets for XMas vacation to Sydney from California. I booked two tickets via Aeroplan and 1 via United. On the Aeroplan tickets, my wife and kid was able to get an offer to upgrade to E+ for $169 a piece, which I bit on. I figure 15 hours flights, a bulkhead seat doesn't hurt on a 789. Now my question is for myself. My seat is only upgradable for $209 (middle between them). Is it more expensive because I booked it with United, will that change as I get closer to flying? THanks
Apr 11, 2018, 12:33 pm
#29
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,042
For regular economy the aisle is always more endurable. I would choose an aisle in E over a middle in E+ myself. It can be hard to tell from the seat maps how many seats are sold. There can be a lot of passengers with unassigned seats. I have bought E+ thinking I would have an empty middle or row, then the entire E+ cabin turned out to be full. Be sure to check for non-reclining seats when you buy E+.