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]
Mar 27, 2019, 3:14 pm
#3631
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 21
JNB-MRU
I am trying to string together JFK-JNB-MRU-JNB-CPT-IAD in either July/August or October. And failing miserably.
In October, I can find JFK-JNB-CPT-IAD relatively easily for 240k + $128 for two, roundtrip in South African economy on the outbound and Ethiopian business on the return. But I can't find anything to MRU!
United's tool shows absolutely no award space in August, September, or October. It won't even pull up paid fares, which are ~$500 round trip on other carriers. Same with Delta, and BA. What am I missing? Is this just an extraordinarily popular time to fly to MRU?
In October, I can find JFK-JNB-CPT-IAD relatively easily for 240k + $128 for two, roundtrip in South African economy on the outbound and Ethiopian business on the return. But I can't find anything to MRU!
United's tool shows absolutely no award space in August, September, or October. It won't even pull up paid fares, which are ~$500 round trip on other carriers. Same with Delta, and BA. What am I missing? Is this just an extraordinarily popular time to fly to MRU?
Apr 2, 2019, 10:22 pm
#3632
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 462
that is demonstrably false. Late last year I used UA miles to book 4 seats in business class about 7 months before travel. That being said I would not be surprised if LH (like UA) releases more seats within 2 weeks of ETD. However that is too late for most of us who need certainty when planning family vacations
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 2, 2019 at 10:55 pm Reason: repaired quote
Apr 3, 2019, 7:02 pm
#3633
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Programs: UA MM *Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,852
Business Class awards 2020
Just curious as to why UA does not seem to offer BC award miles far out. I have booked Business Class award flights for February. What I do not understand is that UA award chart shows numerous awards on partner airlines. Like AC, LO, OS, LX, SK etc but pretty much nothing of their own in BC. If it does offer space it is generally a mixed cabin award with the UA flight offered only in economy. The only positive about this is that I do not have to fly into the US, which saves me from arriving late in the evening in YVR due to lack of good connections to YVR when coming from Europe and flying on UA
Apr 3, 2019, 7:08 pm
#3634
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,370
It's the strategy they've been using for quite a while now. They hold off on opening saver award bookings until they get an idea for how many tickets they expect to be able to sell in the cabin. If sales fail to meet their expectations, they may open them later.
If you can find saver economy -- which isn't always possible either -- you could book that and then waitlist for business class.
If you can find saver economy -- which isn't always possible either -- you could book that and then waitlist for business class.
Apr 3, 2019, 7:48 pm
#3635
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 812
UA seems to be opening up business saver about a month out recently. They get taken fast through.
Apr 3, 2019, 11:17 pm
#3636
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,542
UA is incredibly stingy even with paid deepest discount business P inventory 6 to 11 months out, much less award inventory.
Routinely DL & AA are cheaper upfront unless planning only a few months out.
Not my company and I live in LA so don’t really care what UA does on its own.
Feel sorry for captives in Denver, Houston, and New Jersey.
Routinely DL & AA are cheaper upfront unless planning only a few months out.
Not my company and I live in LA so don’t really care what UA does on its own.
Feel sorry for captives in Denver, Houston, and New Jersey.
Apr 4, 2019, 6:19 pm
#3637
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,133
UA's policy of very high fares 11 months out has caused me to book DL and AA on my last two vacations. I found that not only were their fares much less expensive, but their hard and soft long-haul products were superior.
May 1, 2019, 12:00 pm
#3638
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: TK G,UA *S
Posts: 1,137
Is there any fix time interval which is used to release LH awards in Y when using United miles?
It seems to me that they do not release these kind of seats much in advance. I can see for example a rule of about 45 days in advance on MEX FRA/MUC flights.
Thanks for any advice
It seems to me that they do not release these kind of seats much in advance. I can see for example a rule of about 45 days in advance on MEX FRA/MUC flights.
Thanks for any advice
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 1, 2019 at 12:06 pm Reason: Moved to consodidated thread
May 1, 2019, 8:41 pm
#3639
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,716
Would not not agree about DL and AA product as neither offers me free E+ or any of the other elite perks I enjoy at UA. Plus I still (for now) value UA miles > DL skypesos
May 1, 2019, 8:48 pm
#3640
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,133
May 1, 2019, 10:48 pm
#3641
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,716
May 3, 2019, 10:16 am
#3642
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 431
So tickets to Turks & Caicos for April 4, 2020 became available for purchase for the first time today, but there are no award seats available.
Can someone tell me when they usually show up for redemption? Do I really have to check the United website every day for the next several months until they show as available?
Can someone tell me when they usually show up for redemption? Do I really have to check the United website every day for the next several months until they show as available?
May 3, 2019, 10:29 am
#3643
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,370
So tickets to Turks & Caicos for April 4, 2020 became available for purchase for the first time today, but there are no award seats available.
Can someone tell me when they usually show up for redemption? Do I really have to check the United website every day for the next several months until they show as available?
Can someone tell me when they usually show up for redemption? Do I really have to check the United website every day for the next several months until they show as available?
United may or may not ever open up these seats for non-status customers, and the number of miles required may or may not change at any time. My guess is that they will open these awards (at Everyday level) to all passengers after a couple of days, but that's all it is -- a guess.
United does not manage its award inventory by opening it up a set number when the flight comes onto the schedule and then selling them until they're gone. They can (and do) adjust inventory, upward or downward, at any time to reflect sales on that flight.
May 12, 2019, 10:51 pm
#3644
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,716
Another data point - just found 3 saver award J seats for June travel on Swiss SFO-ZRH. Would have snagged them but needed 4 - and they were gone within 12 hours.
Unfortunately it is hit or miss - if you want saver seats you basically have to check every day or subscribe to a service or pay an award booking service to monitor your routing.
Unfortunately it is hit or miss - if you want saver seats you basically have to check every day or subscribe to a service or pay an award booking service to monitor your routing.
May 12, 2019, 10:53 pm
#3645
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 61
1st saver good time to reserve for EWR to MUN and AMS to EWR
I'm traveling in October and it looks like only 2 and 5 seats respectively are sold out of the 39. That said, they only have Business everyday not business saver available. Is there a magical time they open the saver seats? I can see saver rates for this week and they are about a 1/3 of the miles!