Feb 9, 2019, 5:12 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread -- the active thread is United's Basic Economy - Discussion, Q&A, ...
Important Note: these fares became available 21 Feb 2017 for MSP for travel beginning 18 Apr 2017. More markets were added 19 April 2017 for travel starting 9 May 2017.
Related thread: Basic Economy Airport and Plane Experiences (First or Second Hand)
If you booked before the dates above, you did not have a BE fare. If purchased on united.com you will see a warning like:
4. MileagePlus members will earn full Premier qualifying dollars, 50% Premier qualifying miles and 0.5 Premier qualifying segments for each flight, as well as lifetime miles and toward the four-segment minimum.
Link to UA's description of how these fares will work: Basic Economy.
Here are the key facts:
related threads
New UA/*A TATL -LGT Economy fare - no free first bag, no changes/upgrades allowed
Benefit impact of restricted economy fares on UA Elites (Basic Econ, -LGT, Light Econ
Pre-announcement speculation thread (now closed) New "Budget Economy" fares
Important Note: these fares became available 21 Feb 2017 for MSP for travel beginning 18 Apr 2017. More markets were added 19 April 2017 for travel starting 9 May 2017.
Related thread: Basic Economy Airport and Plane Experiences (First or Second Hand)
If you booked before the dates above, you did not have a BE fare. If purchased on united.com you will see a warning like:
4. MileagePlus members will earn full Premier qualifying dollars, 50% Premier qualifying miles and 0.5 Premier qualifying segments for each flight, as well as lifetime miles and toward the four-segment minimum.
Link to UA's description of how these fares will work: Basic Economy.
Here are the key facts:
- No seat assignments until check-in. Seats will be assigned by the system and cannot be changed.*NEW* When purchasing a Basic Economy ticket, you will not receive a complimentary seat assignment but may be able to purchase advance seat assignments during booking and up until check-in opens. If you don’t purchase an advance seat assignment, your seat will be automatically assigned to you prior to boarding, and you won't be able to change your seat once it's been assigned.
- No guarantee of adjacent seats with companions
- No voluntary ticket changes after 24 hour purchase period
- Carry on limited to 1 personal item unless the customer is a MP Premier member, primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card, or Star Alliance *G
- Customers ineligible for carry-on who bring one to the gate will be charged a $25 convenience fee to gate-check in addition to standard baggage fees (source: @united twitter)
- Customers will not be eligible for Economy Plus or premium cabin upgrades. This includes all forms of upgrades (CPU,supported or purchased). Likewise for E+ access (elite or purchased).
- Customers will board in the last boarding group (currently Group 5) unless the customer is a MP Premier member, primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card, or Star Alliance *G
- Companions on same PNR will have same boarding group and carryon if one on the PNR has a waiver
- No combinability with regular economy fares or partner carriers. Interline travel is not permitted.
- Tickets will earn RDMs (based on fare and status), PQMs (50% of distance), PQSs (0.5), PQDs, in addition it will count for minimum 4 segment and lifetime miles (New as of Dec 2018)
- Basic Economy tickets will use booking code 'N'
- Online check-in only with paid checked bag, otherwise need to see a United representative to verify the onboard bag allowance and receive a boarding pass.
related threads
New UA/*A TATL -LGT Economy fare - no free first bag, no changes/upgrades allowed
Benefit impact of restricted economy fares on UA Elites (Basic Econ, -LGT, Light Econ
Pre-announcement speculation thread (now closed) New "Budget Economy" fares
United's Basic Economy - Discussion, Q&A, ... {Archive}
Jul 26, 2018, 10:34 pm
#3316
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
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And ya gotta love how the market is working - googleflights now provides accurate information about the real "price" of these fares, and consumers choose to buy elsewhere. (If you select, "Overhead bin access included," UA and AA will drop below DL, AS, and B6 in the search results, because their BE fares will be excluded.)
Jul 27, 2018, 5:03 am
#3317
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Traveling the World
Posts: 6,072
No PQMs, Boarding Group 5 (unless you have status or CC), seats not together if multiperson itinerary, no upgrade, no E+.
Wonder what will happen if only E+ seats remain.
I hate that Basic Economy exists but on the face of it, it seems to be exactly what you'd expect, no better, no worse
Wonder what will happen if only E+ seats remain.
I hate that Basic Economy exists but on the face of it, it seems to be exactly what you'd expect, no better, no worse
Jul 27, 2018, 9:53 am
#3318
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 674
Let me save that I have status on X airline and the credit card for Y airline, and that I care about W amenity but am indifferent about Z. And then show me the results.
Why do I have to manually filter every time?
Jul 27, 2018, 11:15 am
#3319
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
Just as evidence that UA does occasionally use BE to compete with ULCC or fill empty planes, and not just as a sticker-price gimmick, today I bought a BE fare ORD-SFO
AA and WN non-stop were all $282. Connecting on DL was $132 or $282. Most UA flights were $282, one flight (which was at an ok time for me) was $111 Basic, $282 Regular. Snapped it up and paid $10 for a window seat. Otherwise probably would have connected on DL or flown WN (MDW is closer for me). UA offered a $161 discount and got a sale from a price-sensitive customer, presumably without cannibalizing any business traveler revenue.
AA and WN non-stop were all $282. Connecting on DL was $132 or $282. Most UA flights were $282, one flight (which was at an ok time for me) was $111 Basic, $282 Regular. Snapped it up and paid $10 for a window seat. Otherwise probably would have connected on DL or flown WN (MDW is closer for me). UA offered a $161 discount and got a sale from a price-sensitive customer, presumably without cannibalizing any business traveler revenue.
Jul 27, 2018, 2:31 pm
#3320
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 105
United Basic Economy ticket using Explorer Card Benifit
Hello
I Just booked Domestic Basic Economy ticket for Me (Primary Chase explorer card holder) and Family. What kind of benefit i get from Baggage? Do i get to check in free Baggage? Or Do i get to take carry on Free?
Thanks in Advance
I Just booked Domestic Basic Economy ticket for Me (Primary Chase explorer card holder) and Family. What kind of benefit i get from Baggage? Do i get to check in free Baggage? Or Do i get to take carry on Free?
Thanks in Advance
Jul 27, 2018, 4:05 pm
#3321
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,004
You get the normal checked bag waiver. The card benefit does not extend to carry on - you're still subject to the BE limitation of one small item. I'm assuming you have no United status. If you are any level of Premier, the BE carry-on limit is waived.
American's just announced a change to their BE carry-on policy effective Sept 5th. Remains to seen if UA will match AA's (and Delta's) more generous policy. I don't think UA can stick with their policy for much longer: https://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...ons/840313002/
Edit: my bad - as cardholder, you get boarding group 2, which circumvents the BE BG5 limit.
American's just announced a change to their BE carry-on policy effective Sept 5th. Remains to seen if UA will match AA's (and Delta's) more generous policy. I don't think UA can stick with their policy for much longer: https://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...ons/840313002/
Edit: my bad - as cardholder, you get boarding group 2, which circumvents the BE BG5 limit.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Jul 27, 2018 at 4:18 pm
Jul 27, 2018, 4:14 pm
#3322
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,771
You will also be boarding group 2.
Full-sized carry-on bags are not permitted
You're not allowed a full-sized carry-on bag unless you're a MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation, the primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or a Star Alliance™ Gold member.
You're not allowed a full-sized carry-on bag unless you're a MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation, the primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or a Star Alliance™ Gold member.
Jul 27, 2018, 4:35 pm
#3323
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 339
Interesting observation in terms of paid seat assignments on BE:
Flying on an old non-slimline 753 tomorrow and when I paid the $10 for a window seat, I was only offered window seats that did not include anything in or near exit rows that are still marked as economy seats. Namely: 33 A/F and 22 B/C/D/E were all blocked off from my selection even though they were open when I tried to move into them.
I guess IT probably marks specific seats that BE passengers are not allowed to select even if they pay?
Flying on an old non-slimline 753 tomorrow and when I paid the $10 for a window seat, I was only offered window seats that did not include anything in or near exit rows that are still marked as economy seats. Namely: 33 A/F and 22 B/C/D/E were all blocked off from my selection even though they were open when I tried to move into them.
I guess IT probably marks specific seats that BE passengers are not allowed to select even if they pay?
Jul 27, 2018, 4:57 pm
#3324
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
To get the Boarding Group 2 (and full-size carry-on), it doesn't matter what card you used, as long as you are a cardholder.
I can confirm that in practice your companions on the same reservation get BG2 and can bring a full-size carry-on plus personal item.
Jul 28, 2018, 9:28 am
#3325
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 105
With Basic Economy Ticket and Family with Minor traveling? Do United assigned seats of all family member together?
Jul 28, 2018, 10:35 am
#3326
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,367
Jul 28, 2018, 10:57 am
#3327
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,153
It's one of the warnings United gives you before you buy a Basic Economy ticket -- paraphrasing: "if sitting next to other people in your party is important, this is not the right choice for you".
Jul 29, 2018, 6:12 pm
#3328
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: USA
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Posts: 13,457
American's just announced a change to their BE carry-on policy effective Sept 5th. Remains to seen if UA will match AA's (and Delta's) more generous policy. I don't think UA can stick with their policy for much longer: https://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...ons/840313002/
Other than no lifetime BIS miles for BE, this was the major negative.
Jul 29, 2018, 6:32 pm
#3329
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: TOA
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