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}
May 29, 2018, 6:12 pm
#3226
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May 30, 2018, 3:30 am
#3227
Join Date: Jan 2017
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Changed a while ago. BE seat selection purchases start at $5 and up. Only regular economy seats are available for purchase, E+ seats are greyed out until check in when you may be offered one anyways.
May 30, 2018, 4:49 pm
#3228
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,095
I wonder how they decide on the pricing? Price for the RT ticket I handled was $9 on SNA-EWR and $12 on the EWR-SNA return.
May 30, 2018, 11:16 pm
#3229
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Jun 4, 2018, 1:27 pm
#3230
Join Date: Nov 2004
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1K flying in BE
Hello. Are 1K flyers traveling in BE offered the usual economy free snacks/drinks?
Thanks
Thanks
Jun 4, 2018, 3:03 pm
#3231
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Jun 4, 2018, 3:09 pm
#3232
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Posts: 894
Hmmm.. 1K flyers in BE receive 1K luggage allowance. No E+ availabilty and no PQM or PQD, but DO accrue award miles based on dollar spend times premiere multiplier.
Jun 4, 2018, 3:28 pm
#3233
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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It's a mixed bag on what you do and don't get, but snack boxes cost UA real money and is meant to reward 1Ks. BE is to compete with ULCCs, so just don't see have one on us @:-) But of course I don't have a definitive answer as I've never flown BE.
Jun 4, 2018, 3:57 pm
#3234
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
BE customers have enjoyed the Advance Seat Assignment Offer for purchase since February 18, although it may not have been available in all markets initially.
This topic from March was somewhat related to that.
I wonder if the offer will expand with more options to further increase ancillary revenue. For example, offering BE customers a full-sized carry-on bag with or without Premier Access (including being promoted from BG 5 to BG 2) for purchase while still retaining the restricted nature of the BE ticket so the customer can save a dollar or two vs a regular branded Economy fare with Premier Access.
This topic from March was somewhat related to that.
I wonder if the offer will expand with more options to further increase ancillary revenue. For example, offering BE customers a full-sized carry-on bag with or without Premier Access (including being promoted from BG 5 to BG 2) for purchase while still retaining the restricted nature of the BE ticket so the customer can save a dollar or two vs a regular branded Economy fare with Premier Access.
Last edited by mozilla; Jun 4, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Jun 4, 2018, 4:12 pm
#3235
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,095
United's Basic Economy FAQ does not address this. Did not look at 1K page - maybe a question for UA's Twitter team. Do they still answer?
It's a mixed bag on what you do and don't get, but snack boxes cost UA real money and is meant to reward 1Ks. BE is to compete with ULCCs, so just don't see have one on us @:-) But of course I don't have a definitive answer as I've never flown BE.
It's a mixed bag on what you do and don't get, but snack boxes cost UA real money and is meant to reward 1Ks. BE is to compete with ULCCs, so just don't see have one on us @:-) But of course I don't have a definitive answer as I've never flown BE.
Jun 4, 2018, 5:10 pm
#3237
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Here's what United has to say:
Originally Posted by UAL.com
MileagePlus members with Premier® 1K® status free alcoholic beverages and snacks in United Economy®.
Link to above quote.
Jun 4, 2018, 5:13 pm
#3238
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,095
Probably the same way they keep track of other BE pax to keep them from poaching better seats and/or overhead space @:-)
Here's what United has to say:
Bolding mine. BE is not Economy, but again, we'll have to wait for first hand report, and we all know FA can bend the rules or make up their own ....
Link to above quote.
Here's what United has to say:
Bolding mine. BE is not Economy, but again, we'll have to wait for first hand report, and we all know FA can bend the rules or make up their own ....
Link to above quote.
Jun 4, 2018, 5:29 pm
#3239
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Originally Posted by UAL.com
MileagePlus members with Premier® 1K® status free alcoholic beverages and snacks in
Link to above quote.
BE is a fare class in United Economy®. United Economy® is the cabin, not the fare class. So yes BE is United Economy®.
How would you apply this line of reasoning to E+ or E-???
My guess and only a guess, is an 1K on any paid fare and award fare will receive the 1K food/drink benefit will sitting in United Economy®.
Jun 4, 2018, 5:44 pm
#3240
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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BE is a fare class in United Economy®. United Economy® is the cabin, not the fare class. So yes BE is United Economy®.
How would you apply this line of reasoning to E+ or E-???
My guess and only a guess, is an 1K on any paid fare and award fare will receive the 1K food/drink benefit will sitting in United Economy®.
Guess we'll have to agree to disagree on our guesses.
Hopefully an FA or a 1K with actual experience will chime it.