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}
Jan 21, 2019, 11:06 am
#3496
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,406
It's not a stringent box-check for everyone - if it looks like a personal item and not a carry-on you should be fine.
Jan 22, 2019, 6:52 am
#3497
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
Didn't see this before. Even when one books a r/t in BE OLCI works only segment by segment. My son-in-law has a same day r/t to LAX. He could check in for the morning flight out but the return flight did not yet pop up.
Presumably that one needs to be done separately 24 hrs before departure.
Presumably that one needs to be done separately 24 hrs before departure.
Jan 25, 2019, 10:47 am
#3498
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: GAI
Programs: TK *G, all statuses that come with Ritz, Amex Plat, Citi Prestige cards
Posts: 364
Had a couple of interesting experiences flying on a BE ticket last weekend that may be of interest. One is that my companion and I had pre-assigned seats in E+ when I checked the reservation about 72 hours before departure. Not sure if that was some sort of unpublished *G benefit or if they had operational reasons for pre-assigning those seats, but it was much appreciated especially as I was about to pay for E- seat assignments. I also noticed that I seemed to lose all BE notations and restrictions after using the travel waiver related to the snowstorm at ORD. I'm not surprised that my booking code changed and access to benefits changed accordingly (including the opportunity to SDC in the app back to my original itinerary if for some reason I wanted to be stranded overnight), but it was nonetheless good to confirm that all traces of BE vanished after rebooking and I received 100% mileage credit in TK M&S.
Feb 6, 2019, 8:25 pm
#3499
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
This is an archive thread -- the active thread is United's Basic Economy - Discussion, Q&A, ...
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 9, 2019 at 5:21 pm Reason: archive thread
Feb 8, 2019, 12:25 pm
#3500
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Footnote (added to Wiki, mods pls adjust format if desired, thanks!):
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.
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.
Feb 12, 2019, 1:07 am
#3501
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K3M, Marriott(SPG) Lifetime Plat
Posts: 230
Footnote (added to Wiki, mods pls adjust format if desired, thanks!):
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.
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.
Feb 19, 2019, 2:03 pm
#3503
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: UA Plat, 2MM
Posts: 1,860
Premier Platinum and Basic Economy: No Carry On
I am Premier Platinum and traveling on a domestic flight. I called UA to see if I could bring on a roller board case knowing that I could check it for free. The agent read a statement to me that I could not bring a carry on roller board for Basic Economy. I said I thought that a Premier Platinum could. She put me on hold and came back and read to me the same thing and said no I could not bring a roller board onboard.
I HUCA and the agent said yes I could, and was annoyed that the agent did not know that or where to look for the rules.
It is bothersome that this long into Basic Economy sales the "Premier" Agents do not know the rules, or where to look for them, or how to understand them. If I had not presumed that I could do it, I would have not tried to take it onboard.
In another business environment this person would have to be taken off and retrained.
I HUCA and the agent said yes I could, and was annoyed that the agent did not know that or where to look for the rules.
It is bothersome that this long into Basic Economy sales the "Premier" Agents do not know the rules, or where to look for them, or how to understand them. If I had not presumed that I could do it, I would have not tried to take it onboard.
In another business environment this person would have to be taken off and retrained.
Feb 19, 2019, 3:07 pm
#3504
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,391
Mar 2, 2019, 10:23 am
#3505
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan SE AND 1MM, HHonors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum , L'Accor Platinum
Posts: 9,580
Basic Economy and Star Alliance Gold (Air Canada/Aeroplan)
I want to go between LAS and SFO in the last week of August/first week of Sept.
This would be a return itinerary.
I am Star Alliance Gold through AC/Aeroplan.
Questions:
a) why can I not find the basic economy fares on the UA web site, but I can do so through google flights (which would then re-direct me to the UA web site with the basic economy fare).
b) what privileges do I have on this fare as a Star Alliance Gold member"
i) namely - checked bags allowance, hand baggage allowance, accrual of mileage through my airline frequent flyer plan, lounge access (I know that UA upper tier members do not automatically get United lounge access, but I believe (but I remain to be corrected) that foreign Star Alliance Gold members usually get lounge access, even for US domestic UA flights).
This would be a return itinerary.
I am Star Alliance Gold through AC/Aeroplan.
Questions:
a) why can I not find the basic economy fares on the UA web site, but I can do so through google flights (which would then re-direct me to the UA web site with the basic economy fare).
b) what privileges do I have on this fare as a Star Alliance Gold member"
i) namely - checked bags allowance, hand baggage allowance, accrual of mileage through my airline frequent flyer plan, lounge access (I know that UA upper tier members do not automatically get United lounge access, but I believe (but I remain to be corrected) that foreign Star Alliance Gold members usually get lounge access, even for US domestic UA flights).
Mar 2, 2019, 10:41 am
#3506
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K MM, JL JMB SAPPHIRE, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,267
I believe UA is not offering BE fare on United.ca, try.com instead.
For other questions you will find answers here
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...onomy-faq.aspx
For other questions you will find answers here
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...onomy-faq.aspx
Last edited by gokeeper; Mar 2, 2019 at 12:06 pm
Mar 2, 2019, 2:37 pm
#3507
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: FRA
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 147
This basically happens if you set the site preferences to anything besides USA in my opinion. Going through Google Flights would be an easy workaround.
Mar 2, 2019, 4:00 pm
#3508
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,597
You'll enjoy most star gold benefits including Star Gold priority boarding and check-in and extra luggage allowance. In addition, you are permitted to bring a carry on even on the basic economy fare. The only benefit you wont enjoy is seat selection - a seat will be assigned to you at checkin or at the gate.
I want to go between LAS and SFO in the last week of August/first week of Sept.
This would be a return itinerary.
I am Star Alliance Gold through AC/Aeroplan.
Questions:
a) why can I not find the basic economy fares on the UA web site, but I can do so through google flights (which would then re-direct me to the UA web site with the basic economy fare).
b) what privileges do I have on this fare as a Star Alliance Gold member"
i) namely - checked bags allowance, hand baggage allowance, accrual of mileage through my airline frequent flyer plan, lounge access (I know that UA upper tier members do not automatically get United lounge access, but I believe (but I remain to be corrected) that foreign Star Alliance Gold members usually get lounge access, even for US domestic UA flights).
This would be a return itinerary.
I am Star Alliance Gold through AC/Aeroplan.
Questions:
a) why can I not find the basic economy fares on the UA web site, but I can do so through google flights (which would then re-direct me to the UA web site with the basic economy fare).
b) what privileges do I have on this fare as a Star Alliance Gold member"
i) namely - checked bags allowance, hand baggage allowance, accrual of mileage through my airline frequent flyer plan, lounge access (I know that UA upper tier members do not automatically get United lounge access, but I believe (but I remain to be corrected) that foreign Star Alliance Gold members usually get lounge access, even for US domestic UA flights).
Mar 5, 2019, 2:25 am
#3509
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON, ATH
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, OA Gold (in memoriam), Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 548
Star alliance gold on basic economy fare
As A3*G what do I get when flying economy basic on united? Do i get baggage and seat selection? It's a LGA-CLE flight
Mar 5, 2019, 8:06 am
#3510
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,391