Apr 3, 2019, 8:38 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the master thread is UA MP Saver Award/Upgrade Inventory (& partners) -when is it released?
United Saver Award/Upgrade Inventory (& partners) - when is it released? [Archive]
Nov 12, 2018, 5:33 pm
#3466
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New York NY
Programs: UA Gold, CO Plat, CO Million Miler
Posts: 2,617
Nov 13, 2018, 7:12 pm
#3467
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New York NY
Programs: UA Gold, CO Plat, CO Million Miler
Posts: 2,617
As someone who wrote much of the wiki regarding waitlisting for a premium award when only a saver economy award is available, I'm feeling a little dumb here regarding the possibility of waitlisting alternate flights on a saver economy award. For instance, if I book a saver LHR-EWR economy award on either UA or Air Lingus , it it possible to waitlist for a CDG-EWR UA saver economy award?
Nov 13, 2018, 9:03 pm
#3468
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,453
As someone who wrote much of the wiki regarding waitlisting for a premium award when only a saver economy award is available, I'm feeling a little dumb here regarding the possibility of waitlisting alternate flights on a saver economy award. For instance, if I book a saver LHR-EWR economy award on either UA or Air Lingus , it it possible to waitlist for a CDG-EWR UA saver economy award?
Dec 6, 2018, 11:19 am
#3469
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 13
I am booking a flight to and from Costa Rica with points for my honeymoon in May. When I was checking options the other day, I found the lowest points fare according to the chart (17,500) each way once I signed in with my Mileage Plus account. However, when I went back to book, the points price jumped to 27,000 for the return flight. Is this something that just fluctuates, and I should keep an eye out and book when I find it at 17,500? Or are there tricks (clearing browsing history, using a VPN to change my location, booking on a certain day of the week) that will help me find the lowest fare?
Thanks
Thanks
Dec 6, 2018, 11:35 am
#3470
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
I am booking a flight to and from Costa Rica with points for my honeymoon in May. When I was checking options the other day, I found the lowest points fare according to the chart (17,500) each way once I signed in with my Mileage Plus account. However, when I went back to book, the points price jumped to 27,000 for the return flight. Is this something that just fluctuates, and I should keep an eye out and book when I find it at 17,500? ...
Different days are definitely a possibility. Saver inventory varies by flight, date, ....
Dec 6, 2018, 12:56 pm
#3471
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 13
Thanks! Is it possible to create an alert for this? I found ExpertFlyer, but am hoping there is a free option.
Dec 6, 2018, 2:48 pm
#3472
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
for "X" saver economy inventory, yes. If you have a newer MP card credit or status, you want to find the slightly more plentiful "XN" inventory space but not possible to set alerts for XN.
No alerts on UA.com, EF is one of the service for alerts. All the alert service require a subscription.
No alerts on UA.com, EF is one of the service for alerts. All the alert service require a subscription.
Dec 6, 2018, 6:09 pm
#3473
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 13
for "X" saver economy inventory, yes. If you have a newer MP card credit or status, you want to find the slightly more plentiful "XN" inventory space but not possible to set alerts for XN.
No alerts on UA.com, EF is one of the service for alerts. All the alert service require a subscription.
No alerts on UA.com, EF is one of the service for alerts. All the alert service require a subscription.
Dec 6, 2018, 6:24 pm
#3474
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,139
The first and the last statements are both possible, but someone cancelling a reservation won't necessarily return the seat back to XN inventory.
Dec 6, 2018, 6:33 pm
#3475
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
United changes the number of seats allocated to XN class "from time to time" (it could be basically whenever, but a recalculation usually occurs whenever a ticket is sold/canceled, ~twice a week, and at certain intervals before departure like T-30, T-21, T-14, and T-7 days) based on how the current flight load compares to their predicted flight demand at that time, plus some fuzz factor to stop you from gaming the system. About the only predictable thing is that buying a ticket will cause all buckets with less than 9 inventory to decrease by 1, although even that is not guaranteed. Canceling a ticket will not, in general, replenish that bucket (especially if it is strongly 0).
Dec 6, 2018, 6:46 pm
#3476
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,402
Right. Inventory is extremely dynamic; the notion that there are a certain number of seats preallocated for award travel, deep discounts, etc. is an urban myth. Some flights likely go out with zero award travel; on others, they may be willing to fill the cabin with saver award tickets right up until departure.
Dec 15, 2018, 10:17 pm
#3477
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,135
Ua49 bom-ewr
guys
i'm trying to evaluate if united is going to release award space early in the week like they did last week (Sun & Mon were available). I know it's a silly question but anybody care to comment? Currently expertflyer showing 6 seats on 17th, 9 on 18th and 15 available on the 19th
also does expertflyer show the class of the seats that are curently left? I don't see it in seat map and wondering if that's a method to determine if award space may get released soon
thx
i'm trying to evaluate if united is going to release award space early in the week like they did last week (Sun & Mon were available). I know it's a silly question but anybody care to comment? Currently expertflyer showing 6 seats on 17th, 9 on 18th and 15 available on the 19th
also does expertflyer show the class of the seats that are curently left? I don't see it in seat map and wondering if that's a method to determine if award space may get released soon
thx
Last edited by sam007; Dec 15, 2018 at 11:10 pm
Dec 15, 2018, 11:25 pm
#3478
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
It is better to look at Fare class inventory -- expertflyer shows the paid fare class numbers in "Flight Availability Results"
"Expert Mode" on united.com is better, https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...cket-data.html
Additionally, https://www.cablepick.net/united can reveal the number of unsold premium cabin seat.
What you want to see is some availability of discount business fare class inventory that might be converted to award space if not sold.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 15, 2018 at 11:31 pm
Dec 16, 2018, 12:56 am
#3479
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,135
Seatmaps can be problematic and sometimes misleading.
It is better to look at Fare class inventory -- expertflyer shows the paid fare class numbers in "Flight Availability Results"
"Expert Mode" on united.com is better, https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...cket-data.html
Additionally, https://www.cablepick.net/united can reveal the number of unsold premium cabin seat.
What you want to see is some availability of discount business fare class inventory that might be converted to award space if not sold.
It is better to look at Fare class inventory -- expertflyer shows the paid fare class numbers in "Flight Availability Results"
"Expert Mode" on united.com is better, https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...cket-data.html
Additionally, https://www.cablepick.net/united can reveal the number of unsold premium cabin seat.
What you want to see is some availability of discount business fare class inventory that might be converted to award space if not sold.
Any other fare classes I'm missing and what do you think are my chances for the 18th that a saver award becomes avialable? As a reference point, last week, both Sun & Mon had award seats available
thanks
Dec 16, 2018, 1:53 am
#3480
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
General PZ>0 is neededforI is become available.