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}
Nov 8, 2018, 9:42 pm
#3436
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,342
The fare is pulled so I can't confirm. But you're right, I think it's NK causing the super low BE fare.
For the following week I checked all three:
NK has $63.19
DL has $88 BE and $118 coach fare (as the post above me mentioned the $30 price differential)
UA has a $94 coach fare and is not offering BE on this day. This one books to "L".
-RM
For the following week I checked all three:
NK has $63.19
DL has $88 BE and $118 coach fare (as the post above me mentioned the $30 price differential)
UA has a $94 coach fare and is not offering BE on this day. This one books to "L".
-RM
Nov 14, 2018, 6:16 am
#3437
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Texas
Programs: Former 1K turned UA Kettle
Posts: 413
Here's a question: I used to be able to exclude basic economy from the Chase UR portal search. Now that they moved their search over to Expedia's platform it no longer seems possible and the only economy options I get are basic economy.
Question: If I book BE thru UR, can I call in to UA within the 24 hour window for cancellation and upfare to a regular economy fare bucket? Can BE be upfared at all?
Question: If I book BE thru UR, can I call in to UA within the 24 hour window for cancellation and upfare to a regular economy fare bucket? Can BE be upfared at all?
Nov 14, 2018, 6:25 am
#3438
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,391
Only if you're Global Services. For most passengers, BE flights can be cancelled, but not changed, within the 24-hour window. (At least, those are the most recent reports).
Nov 27, 2018, 8:26 pm
#3439
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: YUL
Programs: UA 1K, MR Bonvoy Bonzaiiiii, National EE
Posts: 622
Nov 27, 2018, 8:38 pm
#3440
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,391
Actually, it changed a while back. Select North American itineraries offer Basic Economy.
Nov 27, 2018, 8:40 pm
#3441
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,834
Dec 4, 2018, 7:38 pm
#3442
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Westchester county, NY
Programs: DL DM, MAR gold
Posts: 175
Lesson learned on basic economy that is not disclosed at all by United - you cannot check in online and have to go to a kiosk plus have an agent manually check you in. To me, this almost totally defeats the purpose. I bought tickets for a day trip, knowing that we would have no luggage (or even a carry-on), but had to arrive early at the airport both ways, evidently so that the check-in agent could confirm that we had no carry-ons. The gate agent could have easily done (and did) the same screening and saved us 30 minutes each way. Not worthwhile for me until (or if) this is addressed.
Dec 4, 2018, 7:45 pm
#3443
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,691
Q: How does the check-in process work with Basic Economy tickets?
A: With Basic Economy, you'll only be able to check in for your flight through united.com or the United app if you indicate that you're checking a bag. To check your bag, you'll go to a check-in counter or designated kiosk in the airport lobby. If you begin check-in and do not indicate that you're checking a bag, you'll need to finish checking in for your flight at the airport.
Dec 4, 2018, 7:58 pm
#3444
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
Lesson learned on basic economy that is not disclosed at all by United - you cannot check in online and have to go to a kiosk plus have an agent manually check you in. To me, this almost totally defeats the purpose. I bought tickets for a day trip, knowing that we would have no luggage (or even a carry-on), but had to arrive early at the airport both ways, evidently so that the check-in agent could confirm that we had no carry-ons. The gate agent could have easily done (and did) the same screening and saved us 30 minutes each way. Not worthwhile for me until (or if) this is addressed.
edit: actually that is clearly stated in the text mduell quoted.
Dec 4, 2018, 8:22 pm
#3445
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,884
Lesson learned on basic economy that is not disclosed at all by United - you cannot check in online and have to go to a kiosk plus have an agent manually check you in. To me, this almost totally defeats the purpose. I bought tickets for a day trip, knowing that we would have no luggage (or even a carry-on), but had to arrive early at the airport both ways, evidently so that the check-in agent could confirm that we had no carry-ons. The gate agent could have easily done (and did) the same screening and saved us 30 minutes each way. Not worthwhile for me until (or if) this is addressed.
Dec 4, 2018, 11:15 pm
#3446
Join Date: Jan 1999
Posts: 409
For most domestic airports, United lets passengers without bags check in at the kiosk up to 30 minutes before the flight, so how early does one really need to be at the airport?
Dec 4, 2018, 11:19 pm
#3447
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,391
Also, a BE customer doesn't merely need to use the kiosk; an employee actually has to come over and verify there's no carry-on. It can be quite a wait for an actual employee at some airports.
Dec 5, 2018, 8:35 am
#3448
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
N.B.: You do not need to see a physical agent if you have the MP CC or have status -- you can check in on the app as normal. Only non-status, non-CC pax.
Dec 11, 2018, 7:16 am
#3449
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: KBP/TLV
Programs: UA, AE
Posts: 378
Basic Economy TATL appears to give half PQM.
Last edited by rawilliam; Dec 11, 2018 at 7:18 am Reason: delete pic convervion
Dec 11, 2018, 7:37 am
#3450
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,391