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}
Oct 5, 2016, 6:28 pm
#601
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 58
so if I book a one-way award flight now, and the price drops tomorrow (maybe new rates kick in), wil lI be able to cancel it (within 24 hours) and rebook with the new rates?
Oct 5, 2016, 6:37 pm
#602
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: United
Posts: 13
Thats not true at all though. There was previously a specific set of close in fees that were applied to any new bookings OR changes made within 21 days.
The post october-6 fees change close-in fees for changes to existing travel an extended period of within 60 days. They just only note them being applicable to close-in changes, without specifically mentioning whether or not the same changes are applied to close-in new bookings.
The growth of the "close-in" time frame, at least for changes to the ticket, is one of the biggest changes at play here.
Oct 5, 2016, 7:59 pm
#603
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,419
The Excursionist Perk lives
Just tried sample award bookings ex-MNL. When I searched MNL-AUS/AUS-SFO/SFO-MNL, the AUS-SFO segment appeared in the search results as "0 miles," so they clearly have made some of the necessary updates to support the new system.
Oddly, when I searched MNL-AUS/AUS-HNL/HNL-MNL, the return legs showed 20K each (in Y). Since AUS-HNL is not Ex-Perk eligible, they should have been 22.5K and 35K. It priced out properly on the summary page, but I didn't try to proceed with a booking.
I expect this to correct itself soon, but there may be a few extra hours for people to take advantage of the older system before UA completes their software changes.
Oddly, when I searched MNL-AUS/AUS-HNL/HNL-MNL, the return legs showed 20K each (in Y). Since AUS-HNL is not Ex-Perk eligible, they should have been 22.5K and 35K. It priced out properly on the summary page, but I didn't try to proceed with a booking.
I expect this to correct itself soon, but there may be a few extra hours for people to take advantage of the older system before UA completes their software changes.
Oct 5, 2016, 9:24 pm
#604
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Plat, AS MVP, HH Gold, MR Gold
Posts: 1,848
Got next summer's family trip to Europe booked before the rule change! Saver economy with a stopover.
I have always appreciated Plat as the status where maybe I didn't get the upgrades, but at least they didn't nickel and dime me. This fee change is a nickel or dime I don't like.
I have always appreciated Plat as the status where maybe I didn't get the upgrades, but at least they didn't nickel and dime me. This fee change is a nickel or dime I don't like.
Oct 5, 2016, 10:05 pm
#605
Used to be 'joony'
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NEC
Programs: General Member!
Posts: 203
"Scheduled maintenance in progress: We are unable to book or change select multi-city award travel itineraries at this time."
Oct 5, 2016, 10:12 pm
#607
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 1,782
Rates are certainly not functioning correctly at this time. Seeing slight discounts on some routings. Seems to be pricing better on Y.
I would highly recommend making some searches.
I would highly recommend making some searches.
Last edited by wcalvert; Oct 5, 2016 at 10:30 pm
Oct 5, 2016, 10:28 pm
#608
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 1,782
Edit: see message above
Oct 5, 2016, 10:37 pm
#609
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: United
Posts: 13
So here's an interesting brain burner.
Booked an award ticket around 10:45 central time. Got a reservation confirmation and payment confirmation via e-mail around 10:55. The reservation page on my united.com profile says This reservation was ticketed and confirmed on Wed., Oct. 5, 2016 at 11:00 p.m. Central Time.
But the eTicket Itinerary and Receipt shows "Issue Date: October 6, 2016"
How is that possible? I checked the fare rules as advertised before going through with the purchase and it definitely showed the legacy rules. But I have a feeling if I did have to change the itinerary for some reason, this is only going to cause problems.
Booked an award ticket around 10:45 central time. Got a reservation confirmation and payment confirmation via e-mail around 10:55. The reservation page on my united.com profile says This reservation was ticketed and confirmed on Wed., Oct. 5, 2016 at 11:00 p.m. Central Time.
But the eTicket Itinerary and Receipt shows "Issue Date: October 6, 2016"
How is that possible? I checked the fare rules as advertised before going through with the purchase and it definitely showed the legacy rules. But I have a feeling if I did have to change the itinerary for some reason, this is only going to cause problems.
Oct 5, 2016, 10:40 pm
#610
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 1,782
Getting an unable to process request on any multicity searches now. looks like they fully brought it down until they get it working.
Oct 5, 2016, 10:40 pm
#611
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 1,782
So here's an interesting brain burner.
Booked an award ticket around 10:45 central time. Got a reservation confirmation and payment confirmation via e-mail around 10:55. The reservation page on my united.com profile says This reservation was ticketed and confirmed on Wed., Oct. 5, 2016 at 11:00 p.m. Central Time.
But the eTicket Itinerary and Receipt shows "Issue Date: October 6, 2016"
How is that possible? I checked the fare rules as advertised before going through with the purchase and it definitely showed the legacy rules. But I have a feeling if I did have to change the itinerary for some reason, this is only going to cause problems.
Booked an award ticket around 10:45 central time. Got a reservation confirmation and payment confirmation via e-mail around 10:55. The reservation page on my united.com profile says This reservation was ticketed and confirmed on Wed., Oct. 5, 2016 at 11:00 p.m. Central Time.
But the eTicket Itinerary and Receipt shows "Issue Date: October 6, 2016"
How is that possible? I checked the fare rules as advertised before going through with the purchase and it definitely showed the legacy rules. But I have a feeling if I did have to change the itinerary for some reason, this is only going to cause problems.
Oct 6, 2016, 3:01 am
#612
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: IAH / HOU
Programs: UA GS, DL-Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Somethingist, Marriott Titanium Lifetime
Posts: 2,853
Booked a regular, one-way domestic saver for 12,500 miles and it posted to my account as:
Dynamic Award Saver Miles Only
instead of "Saver Award WC21P" which is how one way domestic saver redemptions at 12,500 miles had been posting for some time.
Does this mean Dynamic Awards are coming with the changes that start today? (I was seeing everything at either 12,500 saver or 25,000 standard for the route I booked)
Will there be a miles and dollars option?
What else might this change in nomenclature signal?
Dynamic Award Saver Miles Only
instead of "Saver Award WC21P" which is how one way domestic saver redemptions at 12,500 miles had been posting for some time.
Does this mean Dynamic Awards are coming with the changes that start today? (I was seeing everything at either 12,500 saver or 25,000 standard for the route I booked)
Will there be a miles and dollars option?
What else might this change in nomenclature signal?
Oct 6, 2016, 8:49 am
#613
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, DL Platinum, UA Gold, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 89
More multi-city changes coming?
Has anybody else noticed the banner on the United page saying, "Scheduled maintenance in progress: we are unable to book or change select multi-city award travel itineraries at this time." Maybe it's nothing, but just seemed a little odd.
Oct 6, 2016, 8:49 am
#614
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Ohio, USA
Programs: UA - MM/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 122
Just took a look at my award booking I confirmed on Monday...for late November CLE/EWR/ZUR [2 day stopover]/IST/SEZ/IST/IAD/CLE - 80K mile. Wanted to check what the miles would be if I booked today...it jumped to 100K, an increase of 20K miles or 25% more miles for same routing....
Way to go United!!!!
Way to go United!!!!
Oct 6, 2016, 8:54 am
#615
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 163
Today/tonight is when they are switching over to the new award rules, which affects multi-city awards substantially.