Dec 27, 2016, 9:23 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: WineCountryUA

United's Announcement and FAQ

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

How to Beat United's Draconian New Routing Restrictions

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}

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Feb 21, 2019, 4:15 pm

#3031

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,400

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenteamuimui

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?

Essentially, yes. (Or, more likely, they'd just say they can't make the change). From a customer point of view, it looks like a change, not a new booking, because the confirmation number is the same. However, there are many reports that, behind the scenes, the system works as if it were creating an entire new record, which means there'd need to be current availability on each partner leg. (For UA-operated flights, the agents can force availability to make it work, but they can't do that on partner flights).

You're welcome to try it, but don't be surprised if that turns out to be the case.

Feb 21, 2019, 9:32 pm

#3032

Stgermainparis

Join Date: Feb 2013

Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat

Posts: 5,940

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenteamuimui

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 have to agree with the others. My recent experience: booked a UA award Europe-USA on a partner airline. Called within 24 hours to change to add outbound USA-Europe plus excursionist intra Europe flight. Was told they’d have to cancel original booking and rebook. They also said no guarantee award seats would go back into inventory. I suggest going into this process assuming that you may be stuck with the one way and having a back up plan. If you call and there’s space for your rebooking then awesome. Also keep in mind that the change fee would apply and might be more than the intra Europe flight (I’m not sure but think change fee may be $150 unless you have UA status).

Feb 21, 2019, 9:40 pm

#3033

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,400

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stgermainparis

I’m not sure but think change fee may be $150 unless you have UA status.

With no status, the charge is $75 per passenger if the change is made more than 60 days prior to departure; $125 otherwise.

Feb 22, 2019, 8:47 am

#3034

HolyTiger

Join Date: Sep 2015

Posts: 63

United is starting the MEL-SFO route this fall/winter. Should we expect decent award availability since it will be a new route?

Any other US to Australia routes offer a decent chance at a J redemption?

Feb 22, 2019, 9:19 am

#3035

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 56,450

Quote:

Originally Posted by HolyTiger

United is starting the MEL-SFO route this fall/winter. Should we expect decent award availability since it will be a new route?

Don't expect anything and you won't be disappointed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HolyTiger

Any other US to Australia routes offer a decent chance at a J redemption?

People have had some success with IAH-SYD. But the best advice for finding saver J awards is to check all the options every day.

Feb 22, 2019, 9:26 am

#3036

HolyTiger

Join Date: Sep 2015

Posts: 63

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

Don't expect anything and you won't be disappointed.

I don't. I'm expecting to connect through Asia on our return. We lucked out with QF F from DFW for departure, lightning doesn't generally strike twice.

People have had some success with IAH-SYD. But the best advice for finding saver J awards is to check all the options every day.

I've been watching all Australia to US routes and thats the one i never find availability on but that would be my preferred choice.
I do see the SYD-LAX/SFO last minute availability popup on some dates.

Feb 22, 2019, 3:27 pm

#3037

findark

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2014

Location: MSP

Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found

Posts: 14,410

Saver Business space on UA metal is very difficult to find in advance, and I've never had much luck to Australia. Upgrade space (PZ) though is comparatively easy in my opinion.

Feb 22, 2019, 8:50 pm

#3038

FlyingHighlander

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: USA

Posts: 1,153

Quote:

Originally Posted by findark

Saver Business space on UA metal is very difficult to find in advance, and I've never had much luck to Australia. Upgrade space (PZ) though is comparatively easy in my opinion.

remind me....PZ is space you can upgrade to instantly with a GPU?

Feb 22, 2019, 10:35 pm

#3039

WineCountryUA

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: 66,850

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingHighlander

remind me....PZ is space you can upgrade to instantly with a GPU?

If PZ>0, yes

Feb 23, 2019, 12:26 am

#3040

747FC

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: Hawai'i Nei

Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE

Posts: 7,141

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

If PZ>0, yes

Could you kindly note what the equivalent code is for domestic RPU use? Thank you.

Feb 23, 2019, 12:32 am

#3041

findark

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2014

Location: MSP

Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found

Posts: 14,410

Quote:

Originally Posted by 747FC

Could you kindly note what the equivalent code is for domestic RPU use? Thank you.

It's the same: PZ

Mar 1, 2019, 9:53 am

#3042

747FC

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: Hawai'i Nei

Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE

Posts: 7,141

Allow me to Vent

I'm trying to get from HNL to CTS on a J or O award. On several possible travel dates, United comes up with seats on either ANA (in O) or UA (J). However, in each case, one needs to transfer airports to catch a connecting flight. For example:

Fly ANA O-class into HND, but need to transfer to NRT to get to CTS. No connecting flights showing to CTS from HND..

Fly UA J-class into NRT, but need to transfer to HND to get to CTS. No connecting flights showing to CTS from NRT.

Is this crazy or what?

Mar 7, 2019, 3:20 pm

#3043

Leedsflyer

Join Date: Mar 2007

Location: Yorkshire, UK

Programs: *A "Top 1000 2015", FB Lifetime Plat.; BA Silver; Ma; Hilton Diamond.rriott Gold

Posts: 497

Can't ticket award flight AMS-LIS-MAD-BOG-UiO?

Trhying to book award flight AMS-MAD via LIS on day X and MAD-BOG-UIO on day X+1. I can book each separately, but if I try to book as a single ticket, using a multi city itinerary, then I get an error after selecting the second leg flightsI get:Error

Due to rapidly changing partner availability the following flights are no longer available. Please choose another flight or modify your search criteria.

TAP Portugal flight TP1018 - 20/12/2019 - 18:05 - Lisbon, PT (LIS) to Madrid, ES (MAD)

But there is still availability if I retry immediately. Is there something about this routing that means it won't ticket? I'd do it all on one day but I can't get to MAD in time from AMS to catch the 1350.

If I book the AMS-MAD section on LH via FRA on day X then I can get through to the next page. So it seems to be someting specific to using TP.

Any ideas as the TP timings are more convenient?

Thanks!

PS When I choose AMS-FRA-MAD + AMS-BOG-UIO it shows a 80k+25k = 105 miles for a biz award. But there is less than 24 hours between arriving and departing MAD so it's a layover rather than a stopover isn't it, so should be a total of 80k miles? I can book DUB-MAD-BOG-UIO for 80k miles in biz.

Last edited by Leedsflyer; Mar 7, 2019 at 3:35 pm Reason: added a PS about mileage used

Mar 7, 2019, 3:32 pm

#3044

seenitall

Join Date: Oct 2009

Programs: All of them, UA-Plat, 1MM*G

Posts: 881

Any particular reason for this itinerary? AMS-IAH-UIO would seem to be a lot more convenient. All on UA metal with just one connection.
AMS-IAH, 1105-1430, UA21
IAH-UIO, 1820-2335, UA1035

Mar 7, 2019, 3:38 pm

#3045

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,400

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leedsflyer

PS When I choose AMS-FRA-MAD + AMS-BOG-UIO it shows a 80k+25k = 105 miles for a biz award. But there is less than 24 hours between arriving and departing MAD so it's a layover rather than a stopover isn't it, so should be a total of 80k miles? I can book DUB-MAD-BOG-UIO for 80k miles in biz.

As soon as you use multi-city search, United will now price it as point-to-point, regardless of whether it's a stopover or not. The only way to get the 80K price is to get AMS-UIO for the 80K price is to get it to appear on a single search result or to get a kind agent to relax the rules for you, normally by booking the long segment first and then calling to add the shorter segment.

That's what I'd recommend, anyway; book what you can, let it ticket, and then call within 24 hours to add the rest and see if you can get the lower price. If it doesn't work out, you can cancel.