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}
Feb 13, 2019, 9:00 am
#3016
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
RNE, placing high value on getting just the right flights in the cabin I want.
Feb 13, 2019, 9:22 am
#3017
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,122
I often book just when award windows open. I used to wait for the return to open before booking a RT, but I got burned a couple of times: the outbound was gone or only offered less-desirable options. (This is especially likely with scant BF seats!) Nowadays, I book one-ways to and from. Yes, if I need to cancel I get hit with double redeposit fees, but I don't cancel often and the fees are minimal anyway. Plus, there's always the chance a schedule change gets me a fee-free redeposit.
RNE, placing high value on getting just the right flights in the cabin I want.
RNE, placing high value on getting just the right flights in the cabin I want.
It sounds like we both do it the same way and for the same reasons. I usually only book awards for high value premium cabin flights for very long distance destinations. The difference between a preferable and a not so preferable option can be an additional 10 - 18 hours of travel time and this can really shorten your actual time at the destination by at least a day.
Feb 19, 2019, 3:25 pm
#3018
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Been looking for J saver awards to either VRN (first choice) or VCE (second choice) for late August, early September. Originating from SFO.
There is some good award availability to either location via LH or OS TATL to about March 26 and then nothing. In August, there are some awards to VCE on LOT but they're like 20 hours or more outbounds, some approaching 30 hours so a long layovers in WAW.
Is there reason to hope that within 2 months of my target travel dates (last week of August or first week of September for the outbound) there would be more options, especially the more rational travel times of around 15 hours via LH?
Or am I only seeing awards on LH metal for close-in dates and/or because it's winter and they're unlikely to be available in late August or early September, which are still in peak season for TATL flights?
There is some good award availability to either location via LH or OS TATL to about March 26 and then nothing. In August, there are some awards to VCE on LOT but they're like 20 hours or more outbounds, some approaching 30 hours so a long layovers in WAW.
Is there reason to hope that within 2 months of my target travel dates (last week of August or first week of September for the outbound) there would be more options, especially the more rational travel times of around 15 hours via LH?
Or am I only seeing awards on LH metal for close-in dates and/or because it's winter and they're unlikely to be available in late August or early September, which are still in peak season for TATL flights?
Now for instance, there are J saver awards for April 1, 2 and 3, a week after March 26. So maybe they're releasing some J savers gradually, so that there's always a moving window of 8-10 weeks out from when you search?
Is that a typical pattern for releases of awards?
Feb 19, 2019, 7:10 pm
#3019
Join Date: May 2009
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 3
I'm flying SMF to FRA in mid June to early July. I've got 250K miles. I'd love Business Class both ways but no Business savers are available. So I thought I'd take the economy tickets at 70K each and buy the economy plus option. But that seems expensive too at $300 a leg. I called in about the Premium Plus and I can get that for 240K for both flights. I'm a Premier member and could wait to see if there are Plus seats available 24 hours before departure - but what are the odds of that happening. Can someone advise me the best method to get the most comfortable seats?
Feb 19, 2019, 7:20 pm
#3020
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,362
You mean that you are Silver Premier and can select Economy Plus at check-in, correct? Premium Plus will not be available automatically regardless of Premier level.
Feb 19, 2019, 7:22 pm
#3021
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,418
I'm flying SMF to FRA in mid June to early July. I've got 250K miles. I'd love Business Class both ways but no Business savers are available. So I thought I'd take the economy tickets at 70K each and buy the economy plus option. But that seems expensive too at $300 a leg. I called in about the Premium Plus and I can get that for 240K for both flights. I'm a Premier member and could wait to see if there are Plus seats available 24 hours before departure - but what are the odds of that happening. Can someone advise me the best method to get the most comfortable seats?
Note also that award availability is dynamic. If you search daily, you have a decent chance of finding something that works.
Personally I would not pay the "Everyday" award price; it's not a good redemption value. But if you don't have a better use for the miles . . . .
Feb 19, 2019, 7:49 pm
#3022
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: HND, NRT
Programs: UA Gold (1K 2016–2023 by miracle extensions; RIP 1K status), 1MM
Posts: 220
I'm flying SMF to FRA in mid June to early July. I've got 250K miles. I'd love Business Class both ways but no Business savers are available. So I thought I'd take the economy tickets at 70K each and buy the economy plus option. But that seems expensive too at $300 a leg. I called in about the Premium Plus and I can get that for 240K for both flights. I'm a Premier member and could wait to see if there are Plus seats available 24 hours before departure - but what are the odds of that happening. Can someone advise me the best method to get the most comfortable seats?
By
Premium Plus seats are a lot nicer than regular economy/Economy Plus seats (similar to domestic first). And the PP service, when it launches, is supposed to be much better as well. Whether it's worth it for you is another question.
Feb 21, 2019, 8:51 am
#3024
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,937
I’m not sure if this is the right place for my question but here goes. I booked UA saver award for 5 pax via ANA (USA-CUN). UA is showing United Economy as service class. Does this mean one carryon is free? Bc when I click on baggage info, it says Basic Economy tix are not allowed carryon and must pay to check. I don’t know if this is just a generic warning.
If we don’t have a free carryon and I end up getting a UA cc, will that fix the issue? I obviously would not have used that cc for the award booking fees. And in this scenario, could we just check the bag? Does it apply to all pax on same PRN?
If we don’t have a free carryon and I end up getting a UA cc, will that fix the issue? I obviously would not have used that cc for the award booking fees. And in this scenario, could we just check the bag? Does it apply to all pax on same PRN?
Feb 21, 2019, 8:55 am
#3025
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,418
Feb 21, 2019, 8:55 am
#3026
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,362
Yes. Award tickets don't book into Basic Economy (yet; you never know what the future may bring).
Feb 21, 2019, 8:59 am
#3027
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,937
Feb 21, 2019, 3:58 pm
#3028
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: SFO
Posts: 54
Questions about booking united award with excursionist perk
hi there, I am a noob when it comes to Star Alliance awards...have a few questions about booking a trip with MileagePlus miles
I saw a business class availability on a partner segment on April 21st and wanted to book it now (to secure it) from Europe to US (West Coast), how easy is it to change/add the leg on the way to Europe (hoping to get a last minute award) from west cost so it's a multi-stop/round trip booking with a free segment within Europe 7 - 10 days prior to 4/21?
Many thanks!
I saw a business class availability on a partner segment on April 21st and wanted to book it now (to secure it) from Europe to US (West Coast), how easy is it to change/add the leg on the way to Europe (hoping to get a last minute award) from west cost so it's a multi-stop/round trip booking with a free segment within Europe 7 - 10 days prior to 4/21?
Many thanks!
Feb 21, 2019, 4:08 pm
#3029
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,362
hi there, I am a noob when it comes to Star Alliance awards...have a few questions about booking a trip with MileagePlus miles
I saw a business class availability on a partner segment on April 21st and wanted to book it now (to secure it) from Europe to US (West Coast), how easy is it to change/add the leg on the way to Europe (hoping to get a last minute award) from west cost so it's a multi-stop/round trip booking with a free segment within Europe 7 - 10 days prior to 4/21?
Many thanks!
I saw a business class availability on a partner segment on April 21st and wanted to book it now (to secure it) from Europe to US (West Coast), how easy is it to change/add the leg on the way to Europe (hoping to get a last minute award) from west cost so it's a multi-stop/round trip booking with a free segment within Europe 7 - 10 days prior to 4/21?
Many thanks!
Feb 21, 2019, 4:11 pm
#3030
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: SFO
Posts: 54
my bad, just wanted to get some clarity on what you said. If there were availability on the last min leg and in intra-europe leg (which should be plenty?), are you saying that my original Europe - West Coast leg could get dropped since they would have to drop the reservation and make a new one? Instead of making changes to the existing one?