Dec 27, 2016, 9:23 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
United's Announcement and FAQ
Kacee's Interpretation
Main Impact Since October 6
Useful Links
This is an archive thread, the active thread is Award booking questions/ issues/ routing/ excursionist problems / help
Kacee's Interpretation
Main Impact Since October 6
- Fee Changes such as platinum members are subject to various award fees
- No more free stopover - replaced with Excursionist Perk
- Agents no longer have the ability to find routings that do not show up on united.com
- Manually constructing trips using multi-city search results in multiple award fares being charged
- Changing any segment MIGHT require current availability for all existing Os&Ds in the PNR (as if a brand new booking is made) - YMMV
- Singapore Airlines segments are priced separately (add-ons)
Useful Links
This is an archive thread, the active thread is Award booking questions/ issues/ routing/ excursionist problems / help
UA award booking,change questions/fees/issues/routing/excursionist problems {Archive}
May 31, 2018, 4:10 pm
#2566
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 7
Interesting thanks for the reply. No workaround I suppose? Ie calling united....?
of course lifemiles doesn’t see the three leg options at all.
of course lifemiles doesn’t see the three leg options at all.
May 31, 2018, 4:19 pm
#2567
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,695
Wait and see if UA changes their mind. But the longhaul J may disappear in the meantime.
May 31, 2018, 4:40 pm
#2568
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
May 31, 2018, 4:50 pm
#2569
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
If I search for availability in economy from ORD to SYD the UA engine gives me availability nearly every day one stop through LAX or IAH.
However if I search in J, the engine only gives me 2 stop options, with both domestic legs in economy! This is the case nearly every day.
Im happy to do the first leg in economy but don’t want to fly via Omaha or likewise. Why does the J award always have such terrible connections??
However if I search in J, the engine only gives me 2 stop options, with both domestic legs in economy! This is the case nearly every day.
Im happy to do the first leg in economy but don’t want to fly via Omaha or likewise. Why does the J award always have such terrible connections??
Try this
make the economy award booking (with preferred and then immediately call and ask to change the SYD segment to business saver award (no fee if done in 24 hours.
If the agent can not do, ask for supervisor hep -- if still no, then cancel -- again no fee if done in 24 hours.
May 31, 2018, 5:37 pm
#2570
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 7
Excllent will try thanks!!!
seems incredulous that this two legged sheninagans literally is present on every day in June.
Mind you im also thankful that united has opened up three seats on nearly every day on the long leg in business!!
seems incredulous that this two legged sheninagans literally is present on every day in June.
Mind you im also thankful that united has opened up three seats on nearly every day on the long leg in business!!
Jun 1, 2018, 8:36 am
#2571
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SLC
Programs: United Gold, Hilton Silver, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 768
Or, if you'd prefer both to fly and to use UA miles, you could book BRU-FCO in Y for 8K miles. (CDG-FCO would be more unless there's some *A carrier that flies it nonstop). European business class is just coach with a blocked middle seat. Personally, I think you've hit on the right strategy -- if you see award space that fits your needs, book it as it becomes available, even if that means multiple one-ways.
The Excursionist Perk is great for many things, but intra-European J isn't one of them.
The Excursionist Perk is great for many things, but intra-European J isn't one of them.
Jun 1, 2018, 9:33 am
#2572
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,426
Thanks for the responses. One of the reasons I was hoping to maintain the business class was for the luggage. What would be the luggage charge for two bags if I booked separately? I guess it varies by airline, but with business class on *A, does it include a baggage allowance?
Ultimately, I expect it would be cheaper to pay for the luggage than to pay for the change fees resulting from trying to piece together an Excursionist Perk itinerary from separate one-way tickets, but YMMV. I'd also consider taking the train, as opposed to flying, for intra-European legs, but that's a broader discussion.
Jun 5, 2018, 5:48 am
#2573
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYS
Programs: UA 1K MM, IHG Plat Amb, HH Diamond
Posts: 311
I am booked today in J with points on LX JFK-ZRH. I am allowed 2 bags in J and 1 extra with the *Alliance Gold. LX's website shows me with 0 luggage allowance and tells me to pay in advance for any checked baggage to avoid higher costs. Phone agent at LX has no answer and says that UA should put a note in the record with your status. UA says its in your record and not sure why they can't see it. I printed out all paperwork showing my allowance plus the extra bag from Swiss website. Any other ideas?
Jun 5, 2018, 6:34 am
#2574
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
I am booked today in J with points on LX JFK-ZRH. I am allowed 2 bags in J and 1 extra with the *Alliance Gold. LX's website shows me with 0 luggage allowance and tells me to pay in advance for any checked baggage to avoid higher costs. Phone agent at LX has no answer and says that UA should put a note in the record with your status. UA says its in your record and not sure why they can't see it. I printed out all paperwork showing my allowance plus the extra bag from Swiss website. Any other ideas?
I expect the exact same thing will happen to you.
Safe Travels,
James
Jun 5, 2018, 8:34 am
#2575
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,428
I am booked today in J with points on LX JFK-ZRH. I am allowed 2 bags in J and 1 extra with the *Alliance Gold. LX's website shows me with 0 luggage allowance and tells me to pay in advance for any checked baggage to avoid higher costs. Phone agent at LX has no answer and says that UA should put a note in the record with your status. UA says its in your record and not sure why they can't see it. I printed out all paperwork showing my allowance plus the extra bag from Swiss website. Any other ideas?
Jun 7, 2018, 11:44 pm
#2576
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 184
How do cancellations work with round trip award tickets if I already took the first leg? Am I unable to cancel the second leg? Or can I still modify the second leg?
Jun 8, 2018, 12:10 am
#2577
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,426
You should be able to modify it, but you will not be able to redeposit the miles if you choose to cancel it. That is, there's no way to turn a roundtrip award into a one-way award after travel has commenced.
Jun 8, 2018, 12:15 am
#2578
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 184
Thanks that makes sense. Any experience of how this would work with the excursionist perk? if i booked A-B, B-C (excursionist), C-A, and then I fly the first two segments and change my last segment to C-D, violating the excursionist requirement. (I'm not planning on doing so, but just wondering if this is a loophole in United's system or not)
Jun 8, 2018, 12:53 am
#2579
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,426
Thanks that makes sense. Any experience of how this would work with the excursionist perk? if i booked A-B, B-C (excursionist), C-A, and then I fly the first two segments and change my last segment to C-D, violating the excursionist requirement. (I'm not planning on doing so, but just wondering if this is a loophole in United's system or not)
It's also possible that the system simply couldn't make the change once you'd gotten that far into the trip.
Jun 12, 2018, 10:54 am
#2580
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
I booked an award ticket CMH-ORD-YVR, for a relative. The ORD-YVR leg is on AC metal and has an AC flight #. Buckets are XN CMH-ORD on UX and X ORD-YVR on AC.
The original booking has a > 5 hour layover in ORD. I now see a later flight CMH-ORD in XN has opened up. But there is no more X availability on AC to YVR.
Can I get a change on the first leg to shorten the connection time at ORD, and keep the second leg as booked? Or does there have to be award space still open on both legs to make such a change? And is there a charge for such changes as 1K?
The original booking has a > 5 hour layover in ORD. I now see a later flight CMH-ORD in XN has opened up. But there is no more X availability on AC to YVR.
Can I get a change on the first leg to shorten the connection time at ORD, and keep the second leg as booked? Or does there have to be award space still open on both legs to make such a change? And is there a charge for such changes as 1K?