Best strategy for getting Family of 4 Saver Awards : 2018
May 19, 2017, 2:00 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Carmel Valley(was Hawaii)
Programs: United 1K 2.7 MM
Posts: 1,174
I actually think booking award tickets is easier than trying to book paid tickets since award tickets are done on a one way basis so you can snag the tickets instead of having to wait for the return dates. I did this for family members for December to Australia - booked them one way to Australia, then when the return dates opened up booked the returns.
May 20, 2017, 9:21 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: denver
Posts: 233
The change/redeposit fee, assuming no status on UA, is $75 per passenger.
However...
What constitutes a "long layover" at Cairo? Anything longer than 24 hours will definitely increase the price of the award, as it will become a stopover.
Good luck!
However...
What constitutes a "long layover" at Cairo? Anything longer than 24 hours will definitely increase the price of the award, as it will become a stopover.
Good luck!
Yes planning on doing a 12-20 hour layover in Cairo just to see the pyramids, we did that in Sydney two years ago and it worked perfectly. (We find it's easier for our family to dive into culture on short stays in smaller cities and just hit the highlight of the megacities)
May 20, 2017, 10:01 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,998
The change/redeposit fee, assuming no status on UA, is $75 per passenger.
However...
What constitutes a "long layover" at Cairo? Anything longer than 24 hours will definitely increase the price of the award, as it will become a stopover.
Regardless, in this situation, with the current state of UA's tools, I'm not sure I can recommend booking the one-ways in advance. In order to get this itinerary at 85K per person, you must take advantage of the "Excursionist Perk," where you can get LXR-AMM for no additional miles. _That_ requires a round-trip itinerary.
Whereas, under the old system, it would have been reasonably straightforward to call and convert a one-way award into a round-trip award, the current system sometimes appears to require current availability on all segments, including the ones you already have reserved. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone has been able to quantify "sometimes," or to find a pattern. But, there's definitely a risk that you'll call them up and the agent will be unable to make the change you want.
The best advice I can give is:
1 - Check frequently, starting from T-330
2 - Consider signing up for a service that monitors availability (e.g., ExpertFlyer)
3 - Check each set of flights as a one-way. In other words, search DEN-LXR, then LXR-AMM, then AMM-DEN. If you find availability on each of those, try booking the multi-city itinerary. If you cannot find those same flights, call. It's distressingly frequent for UA to show more availability on one-way searches than when the multi-city search is used. The agent will be able to stitch together an award, and if you mention that you tried to book it online and it wouldn't work, they'll normally waive the phone booking fee.
Good luck!
However...
What constitutes a "long layover" at Cairo? Anything longer than 24 hours will definitely increase the price of the award, as it will become a stopover.
Regardless, in this situation, with the current state of UA's tools, I'm not sure I can recommend booking the one-ways in advance. In order to get this itinerary at 85K per person, you must take advantage of the "Excursionist Perk," where you can get LXR-AMM for no additional miles. _That_ requires a round-trip itinerary.
Whereas, under the old system, it would have been reasonably straightforward to call and convert a one-way award into a round-trip award, the current system sometimes appears to require current availability on all segments, including the ones you already have reserved. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone has been able to quantify "sometimes," or to find a pattern. But, there's definitely a risk that you'll call them up and the agent will be unable to make the change you want.
The best advice I can give is:
1 - Check frequently, starting from T-330
2 - Consider signing up for a service that monitors availability (e.g., ExpertFlyer)
3 - Check each set of flights as a one-way. In other words, search DEN-LXR, then LXR-AMM, then AMM-DEN. If you find availability on each of those, try booking the multi-city itinerary. If you cannot find those same flights, call. It's distressingly frequent for UA to show more availability on one-way searches than when the multi-city search is used. The agent will be able to stitch together an award, and if you mention that you tried to book it online and it wouldn't work, they'll normally waive the phone booking fee.
Good luck!
For instance, I just got an 18+ hour layover in Cairo on a "saver" biz award for 2 because I fleetingly saw a flight listed on the previous day, but which was actually on the day I wanted but early in the morning, and did not show anywhere on the day I was actually searching.
It was really strange because the inventory would come and go, maybe only showing-up in only 1 out of 4 searches. Clearing the caches seems to help bring the inventory back, but it is inconsistent at best.
For further clarification, I only do O/W awards because I am always trying for the highest cabin, and LH doesn't release F inventory until 2-weeks from the flight.
Last edited by zombietooth; May 20, 2017 at 7:17 pm
May 20, 2017, 10:41 am
#20
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS, BWI, DCA, IAD
Programs: American, Delta, JetBlue, United
Posts: 2,049
I am in a similar place. About the same dates but for Europe. Ideal is IAH-LHR direct. Not likely to happen in June....so I am open to flying TATL to AMS/FRA/MUC or from EWR/IAD/ORD.
Will need 4 tix. Have about 200K miles with United and another 350K with Chase which can be transferred as needed.
As of right now, I intend to focus on getting first acceptable route outbound on United or partners as a one way. The return can be on United, Air France, Singapore or (God forbid) BA.
Am I planning this right?
Will need 4 tix. Have about 200K miles with United and another 350K with Chase which can be transferred as needed.
As of right now, I intend to focus on getting first acceptable route outbound on United or partners as a one way. The return can be on United, Air France, Singapore or (God forbid) BA.
Am I planning this right?
May 20, 2017, 3:43 pm
#21
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: United, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 21
OP let me apologize for partially hijacking this thread. My bad.
That being said, no intent of paying cash. Chase points can be transferred to Air France, BA and Singapore as well as to United. Given the points I have with UA, I will have to use them or partners for one way at least. The other could be United or one of the others if there is greater availability.
I will keep your suggestion about surcharges in mind as I go through this. Thanks.
That being said, no intent of paying cash. Chase points can be transferred to Air France, BA and Singapore as well as to United. Given the points I have with UA, I will have to use them or partners for one way at least. The other could be United or one of the others if there is greater availability.
I will keep your suggestion about surcharges in mind as I go through this. Thanks.
May 21, 2017, 4:28 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: denver
Posts: 233
OP let me apologize for partially hijacking this thread. My bad.
That being said, no intent of paying cash. Chase points can be transferred to Air France, BA and Singapore as well as to United. Given the points I have with UA, I will have to use them or partners for one way at least. The other could be United or one of the others if there is greater availability.
I will keep your suggestion about surcharges in mind as I go through this. Thanks.
That being said, no intent of paying cash. Chase points can be transferred to Air France, BA and Singapore as well as to United. Given the points I have with UA, I will have to use them or partners for one way at least. The other could be United or one of the others if there is greater availability.
I will keep your suggestion about surcharges in mind as I go through this. Thanks.