Jun 29, 2017, 10:49 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Award redemption changes coming Nov. 1, 2017
http://mileageplusupdates.com/ (Thanks @joelfreak for providing link.) *NEW* November 1, 2017 award chart
TPG has some tables showing changes to redemption costs.
https://thepointsguy.com/2017/06/uni...eryday-awards/
http://mileageplusupdates.com/ (Thanks @joelfreak for providing link.)
- Standard awards being replaced by "EveryDay Award" -- variable pricing
- Some increases in longer haul international premium cabin saver awards (Generally 10% or less if any at all)
- Some decreases on shorter non-stop partner saver flights outside the US
- No changes for North America saver economy
- No-show award redeposit fee $125 -- for everyone, no elite exemption.
- Round the World awards are gone
- No changes in UA/UX/Copa or *A mileage upgrades
TPG has some tables showing changes to redemption costs.
https://thepointsguy.com/2017/06/uni...eryday-awards/
What if I need to change my existing Standard Award on or after November 1, 2017?
Any changes will require a ticket reissue and new pricing and additional fees may apply.
Any changes will require a ticket reissue and new pricing and additional fees may apply.
UA MP award changes 1 Nov 2017 (Everyday award/dynamic price, No RTW, No Show fee,..)
Jul 6, 2017, 6:28 am
#196
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Rowley, MA / Edgartown, MA / Christiansted, St. Croix (USVI)
Programs: UA LT GS/4.96MM, Marriott LT Titanium, IHG Platinum, Global Entry, TSA Pre✓, Korea SeS, APEC
Posts: 579
"[we] are also introducing an updated Saver Award chart for tickets booked on or after November 1, 2017. You’ll notice that some routes will have pricing changes, including lower prices for most short-haul intra-region Economy awards for regions outside of the U.S., such as flights within Europe."
In my book, if you deliberately omit important information in order to mislead your customer, that is dishonest. If you deliberately mis-characterize a price increase as an "update," it's a lie. If you think, your customers are so dumb that they won't see through this transparent perfidy, it's arrogant. If you think lying to your customers in an arrogant manner won't affect your business, you're just a total dim-witted moron.
And yes.. UA used to be more straightforward than the other carriers... but not anymore. I hate doing business with liars.
In my book, if you deliberately omit important information in order to mislead your customer, that is dishonest. If you deliberately mis-characterize a price increase as an "update," it's a lie. If you think, your customers are so dumb that they won't see through this transparent perfidy, it's arrogant. If you think lying to your customers in an arrogant manner won't affect your business, you're just a total dim-witted moron.
And yes.. UA used to be more straightforward than the other carriers... but not anymore. I hate doing business with liars.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 7, 2017 at 12:01 am Reason: Discuss the issues, not the poster
Jul 6, 2017, 8:37 am
#197
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: UA Gold MM, HHonors Gold, Hertz Five Star Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis First
Posts: 462
{T}his is a free market, I suggest you find another carrier to fly. Frequent flyer programs are marketing tools and nothing more, UA will adjust their program to compete with other carriers and it’s purely business. If you think UA owes any of us program consistency you are mistaken, it’s about customer retention and minimizing cost, again marketing. The airline industry is cut-throat with tiny margins, it’s a game of survival. UA is only being smart and channeling their customer investments where they think they will get the greatest ROI.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 7, 2017 at 12:02 am Reason: quote updated to reflect Moderator edit
Jul 6, 2017, 1:02 pm
#198
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Platinum Elite, National Executive, United Gold
Posts: 1,181
Does anyone think UA will honor the redemption rates for bookings made before Nov. 1st? Trying to debate between a OZ F and KE J/F (via UR and SPG transfer) award booking during Christmas vacation, but would be great to change the OZ F routing to LH or NH F.
Jul 12, 2017, 12:09 pm
#199
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,429
They did after previous devaluation. I myself did two booked trips without need for additional mileage.
Jul 13, 2017, 12:28 am
#200
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: DL Gold, UA nothing (ex-GS), Marriott lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 920
Jul 24, 2017, 4:18 am
#201
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: SYD; Central Coast, NSW
Programs: UA, 1K 2MM
Posts: 947
MP email: Changes to Awards Program from Nov 1
Received an email today from UA MP of changes to the flight awards program http://mileageplusupdates.com/?utm_m...327ea5a23c3807 announcing a number of significant changes to flight awards program and award flight miles required from Nov 1. Business class saver awards from Oz to USA and Europe return increased by 20,000 miles which is quite a devaluation in the MP program. Perhaps I missed this in previous posts but is a major shift in the awards program that I was unaware of until today's email from MP. After 28 years of loyalty and enjoying the benefits of my flying days with UA, particularly before the merger, I am now a free range flyer and discovered the true essence of quality service and product that UA sadly cannot emulate. The MP program is now becoming as uncompetitive and irrelevant as the airline.
Jul 24, 2017, 10:59 am
#202
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,141
Any real-world experience here about whether waitlisted I or O awards that clear are considered a change in the reservation requiring a change fee?
I'm referring to post October 2016 bookings. I know from experience that my pre October 2016 booking did not have a change fee when an alternate flight in O opened up.
I'm referring to post October 2016 bookings. I know from experience that my pre October 2016 booking did not have a change fee when an alternate flight in O opened up.
Jul 24, 2017, 11:14 am
#203
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
Any real-world experience here about whether waitlisted I or O awards that clear are considered a change in the reservation requiring a change fee?
I'm referring to post October 2016 bookings. I know from experience that my pre October 2016 booking did not have a change fee when an alternate flight in O opened up.
I'm referring to post October 2016 bookings. I know from experience that my pre October 2016 booking did not have a change fee when an alternate flight in O opened up.
Initially the agent said I had to pay a change fee, then realized the miles came froma 1K account, so he said it was waived. i had no clue they would charge a change fee for that, but i guess they do.
Jul 25, 2017, 7:51 am
#204
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Book award ticket now or wait until Nov 1st?
There there will be upcoming 'enhancements' in MP program, as we know. I want to book award ticket in Y SEA-SFO-SIN-SFO-RNO.
Because it is in Economy, that 80K miles return and usually it should not be a problem in terms of seats. Question is - what are chances that after Nov 1st there will be less miles required on this route?
Because it is in Economy, that 80K miles return and usually it should not be a problem in terms of seats. Question is - what are chances that after Nov 1st there will be less miles required on this route?
Jul 25, 2017, 8:06 am
#205
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,886
I thought UA made the new pricing public, though I can't find it on their general award page...probably on the Hub. But according to this post, https://thepointsguy.com/2017/06/uni...eryday-awards/ - US-S. Asia will remain the same in economy. The difference will be if there are no saver awards avaialble, and then you'll be subject to the new 'everyday' award type vs. standard - that will have a ceiling, but could be somewhere between the saver rate and that ceiling.
I would also not assume availability will remain (on any route), you never know when it might go, so if you know your dates, I would go ahead and book it now. Always better to book earlier.
I would also not assume availability will remain (on any route), you never know when it might go, so if you know your dates, I would go ahead and book it now. Always better to book earlier.
Jul 25, 2017, 8:18 am
#207
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
I thought UA made the new pricing public, though I can't find it on their general award page...probably on the Hub. But according to this post, https://thepointsguy.com/2017/06/uni...eryday-awards/ - US-S. Asia will remain the same in economy. The difference will be if there are no saver awards avaialble, and then you'll be subject to the new 'everyday' award type vs. standard - that will have a ceiling, but could be somewhere between the saver rate and that ceiling.
I would also not assume availability will remain (on any route), you never know when it might go, so if you know your dates, I would go ahead and book it now. Always better to book earlier.
I would also not assume availability will remain (on any route), you never know when it might go, so if you know your dates, I would go ahead and book it now. Always better to book earlier.
If you have status that allows free cancellations and redeposit of award tix, can't hurt to book now.
Jul 25, 2017, 9:25 am
#208
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
This is a terrible assumption to make.
Jul 25, 2017, 2:38 pm
#209
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
I'm thinking of booking an award to South Asia in J before the price increase. UA seems to have plenty of availability on NH or BR but not on its own metal.
So would be saving 20k for a round trip instead of redeeming after Nov 1 2017.
Also weighing this redemption vs. redeeming a J TATL award, which doesn't increase much in price to Europe. And not at all for *A partner redemptions.
You would think there might be a rush of J saver award redemptions to Asia and Australia or NZ before the award chart change?
So would be saving 20k for a round trip instead of redeeming after Nov 1 2017.
Also weighing this redemption vs. redeeming a J TATL award, which doesn't increase much in price to Europe. And not at all for *A partner redemptions.
You would think there might be a rush of J saver award redemptions to Asia and Australia or NZ before the award chart change?
Jul 25, 2017, 2:47 pm
#210
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Most folks don't care about long-haul premium travel; that's not their target redemption. Of the very, very small subset that does want that, not all pay so much attention to the program changes.
FlyerTalk is a horrible sample set to consider representative of the overall traveling public.