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}
Aug 3, 2016, 10:35 am
#46
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
That is the basic premise of modern marketing.
Aug 3, 2016, 10:37 am
#47
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,015
50$ for plats will not be so much fun. However, its not terrible if one splurges on an LH-F award T-14days.
Aug 3, 2016, 10:40 am
#48
Join Date: May 2006
Location: MYF/CMA/SAN/YYZ/YKF
Programs: COdbaUA 1K MM, AA EXP, Bonbon Gold, GHA Titanium, Hertz PC, NEXUS and GE
Posts: 5,838
More obnoxious, anti-passenger behavior by United. I guess they thought people were "over entitled" again.
Aug 3, 2016, 10:41 am
#49
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 644
How is the new Excursionist Perk different from the current stopover policy?
The Excursionist Perk is not defined by time, while the stopover policy is. For international itineraries, a break in the journey over 24 hours is considered a stopover; for domestic, the break must be over four hours. Additionally, the stopover policy is based on fare rules with region and routing restrictions that some customers found confusing.
Aug 3, 2016, 10:41 am
#50
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
No one has asked the most important question about these booking and award fee changes.....
How would they fit with dynamic award pricing? In other words, is this a move that paves the way for dynamic award pricing in 2017? @:-)
How would they fit with dynamic award pricing? In other words, is this a move that paves the way for dynamic award pricing in 2017? @:-)
Aug 3, 2016, 10:43 am
#51
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 24
This is definitely another devaluation, but at least the way I read the new rules OJ shouldn't be affected..and in one small case may be improved from current rules:
DEN-CDG-ORD allowable now and with new rules
DEN-LHR, CDG-ORD allowable now and with new rules
DEN-LHR(stopover)-CDG-ORD allowable now and with new rules
DEN-LHR(stopover)-CDG, FRA-ORD This is the questionable one, but according to what they've said, the "free one-way" must have the same origin and destination region. If you look at the above ticket as 3 one ways: DEN-LHR, LHR-CDG, FRA-ORD clearly LHR-CDG is in the same region
Using that logic: DEN-LHR, CDG-FRA, FCO-ORD should also be allowed with CDG-FRA being the free leg. This is actually BETTER than what is currently possible with an award ticket as this would be 3 open-jaws (you can't currently have an open jaws on your stopover)
There's of course a lot of negative in not being able to have a stopover in a third region and only being able to have a stopover at all if the first leg departs from the same region the last leg arrives in.
DEN-CDG-ORD allowable now and with new rules
DEN-LHR, CDG-ORD allowable now and with new rules
DEN-LHR(stopover)-CDG-ORD allowable now and with new rules
DEN-LHR(stopover)-CDG, FRA-ORD This is the questionable one, but according to what they've said, the "free one-way" must have the same origin and destination region. If you look at the above ticket as 3 one ways: DEN-LHR, LHR-CDG, FRA-ORD clearly LHR-CDG is in the same region
Using that logic: DEN-LHR, CDG-FRA, FCO-ORD should also be allowed with CDG-FRA being the free leg. This is actually BETTER than what is currently possible with an award ticket as this would be 3 open-jaws (you can't currently have an open jaws on your stopover)
There's of course a lot of negative in not being able to have a stopover in a third region and only being able to have a stopover at all if the first leg departs from the same region the last leg arrives in.
Aug 3, 2016, 10:46 am
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
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Using that logic: DEN-LHR, CDG-FRA, FCO-ORD should also be allowed with CDG-FRA being the free leg. This is actually BETTER than what is currently possible with an award ticket as this would be 3 open-jaws (you can't currently have an open jaws on your stopover)
There's of course a lot of negative in not being able to have a stopover in a third region and only being able to have a stopover at all if the first leg departs from the same region the last leg arrives in.
There's of course a lot of negative in not being able to have a stopover in a third region and only being able to have a stopover at all if the first leg departs from the same region the last leg arrives in.
Aug 3, 2016, 10:47 am
#53
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,302
Aug 3, 2016, 10:47 am
#54
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,849
Aug 3, 2016, 10:48 am
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
This is definitely another devaluation, but at least the way I read the new rules OJ shouldn't be affected..and in one small case may be improved from current rules:
DEN-CDG-ORD allowable now and with new rules
DEN-LHR, CDG-ORD allowable now and with new rules
DEN-LHR(stopover)-CDG-ORD allowable now and with new rules
DEN-LHR(stopover)-CDG, FRA-ORD This is the questionable one, but according to what they've said, the "free one-way" must have the same origin and destination region. If you look at the above ticket as 3 one ways: DEN-LHR, LHR-CDG, FRA-ORD clearly LHR-CDG is in the same region
Using that logic: DEN-LHR, CDG-FRA, FCO-ORD should also be allowed with CDG-FRA being the free leg. This is actually BETTER than what is currently possible with an award ticket as this would be 3 open-jaws (you can't currently have an open jaws on your stopover)
There's of course a lot of negative in not being able to have a stopover in a third region and only being able to have a stopover at all if the first leg departs from the same region the last leg arrives in.
DEN-CDG-ORD allowable now and with new rules
DEN-LHR, CDG-ORD allowable now and with new rules
DEN-LHR(stopover)-CDG-ORD allowable now and with new rules
DEN-LHR(stopover)-CDG, FRA-ORD This is the questionable one, but according to what they've said, the "free one-way" must have the same origin and destination region. If you look at the above ticket as 3 one ways: DEN-LHR, LHR-CDG, FRA-ORD clearly LHR-CDG is in the same region
Using that logic: DEN-LHR, CDG-FRA, FCO-ORD should also be allowed with CDG-FRA being the free leg. This is actually BETTER than what is currently possible with an award ticket as this would be 3 open-jaws (you can't currently have an open jaws on your stopover)
There's of course a lot of negative in not being able to have a stopover in a third region and only being able to have a stopover at all if the first leg departs from the same region the last leg arrives in.
Aug 3, 2016, 10:52 am
#56
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 24
Here's why I am worried. They don't seem to differentiate between layover and stopovers now:
How is the new Excursionist Perk different from the current stopover policy?
The Excursionist Perk is not defined by time, while the stopover policy is. For international itineraries, a break in the journey over 24 hours is considered a stopover; for domestic, the break must be over four hours. Additionally, the stopover policy is based on fare rules with region and routing restrictions that some customers found confusing.
How is the new Excursionist Perk different from the current stopover policy?
The Excursionist Perk is not defined by time, while the stopover policy is. For international itineraries, a break in the journey over 24 hours is considered a stopover; for domestic, the break must be over four hours. Additionally, the stopover policy is based on fare rules with region and routing restrictions that some customers found confusing.
The Excursionist Perk is still a change from current stopover policy.
1. There is now no question of which region is actually the stopover vs the destination so pricing the award is easier. It's simply 3 one-ways with the leg that stays in the same region being no cost.
2. If you have a 25 hour layover technically that wouldn't be a stopover so long as it's meets other routing rules.
Aug 3, 2016, 10:58 am
#57
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Platinum, SPG+Marriott Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 33
I see what you're saying and agree it's not 100% clear from their website, but I still find it unlikely that they will start charging for each segment. That would be an insane devaluation if true, so I'm just hoping it's not :-P
The Excursionist Perk is still a change from current stopover policy.
1. There is now no question of which region is actually the stopover vs the destination so pricing the award is easier. It's simply 3 one-ways with the leg that stays in the same region being no cost.
2. If you have a 25 hour layover technically that wouldn't be a stopover so long as it's meets other routing rules.
The Excursionist Perk is still a change from current stopover policy.
1. There is now no question of which region is actually the stopover vs the destination so pricing the award is easier. It's simply 3 one-ways with the leg that stays in the same region being no cost.
2. If you have a 25 hour layover technically that wouldn't be a stopover so long as it's meets other routing rules.
Aug 3, 2016, 11:02 am
#58
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 24
DEN-LHR, BKK-HKG, JNB-ORD meets their rules as well (with BKK-HKG being the free leg)
"Travel must end in the same MileagePlus defined region where travel originates." DEN and ORD are same region
"The origin and destination of the Excursionist Perk is within a single MileagePlus defined region." BKK and HKG are in the same region south asia...
It'll be interesting to see what the new .bomb will allow
Aug 3, 2016, 11:06 am
#59
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 24
Layover is <24 hour connection typically as the same airport (there are exceptions in cities with two airports like NRT and HND where you may actually change airports in that 24 hours)
Stopover is any connection that's > 24 hours, current rules are you are not allowed an open-jaw so you must depart same airport (if you come in NRT you could depart NRT or HND but not KIX for example)
Last edited by dlman18; Aug 3, 2016 at 11:18 am Reason: fixed stopover explanation as open-jaws are not allowed on stopovers currently
Aug 3, 2016, 11:06 am
#60
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 302
HEre is my question. Does it say anywhere that the Free excursionist thing needs to eb in the middle of a trip? from this quote fromt he website I dont see anything.
Therefore would this work: EWR-LHR-EWR cdg-fra(free)
EDIT: NVM realized i Missed one tha said travel Must end where it originates.
The Excursionist Perk is a free one-way award within select multi-city itineraries. Members who book an itinerary with three or more one-way awards will be eligible to receive one of those one-way awards for free, if it meets all of these conditions:
The Excursionist Perk cannot be in the MileagePlus defined region where your travel originates. (For example, if your journey begins in North America, you will only receive the Excursionist Perk if travel is within a region outside of North America.)
Travel must end in the same MileagePlus defined region where travel originates.
The origin and destination of the Excursionist Perk is within a single MileagePlus defined region.
The cabin of service and award type of the free one-way award is the same or lower than the one-way award preceding it.
If two or more one-way awards qualify for this benefit, only the first occurrence will be free.
The Excursionist Perk cannot be in the MileagePlus defined region where your travel originates. (For example, if your journey begins in North America, you will only receive the Excursionist Perk if travel is within a region outside of North America.)
Travel must end in the same MileagePlus defined region where travel originates.
The origin and destination of the Excursionist Perk is within a single MileagePlus defined region.
The cabin of service and award type of the free one-way award is the same or lower than the one-way award preceding it.
If two or more one-way awards qualify for this benefit, only the first occurrence will be free.
EDIT: NVM realized i Missed one tha said travel Must end where it originates.