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,..)
Jun 29, 2017, 10:54 pm
#107
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat Pro, VS Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 838
These are not bad changes. I am more PO'd and affected by the routing rules change last October. The increase in standard award pricing is unfortunate and sets a bad precedent for dynamic pricing, but as it stands post Nov 1 these rates at the highest level still are superior to delta & AA.
Jun 29, 2017, 11:03 pm
#108
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1MM, Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,003
These are not bad changes. I am more PO'd and affected by the routing rules change last October. The increase in standard award pricing is unfortunate and sets a bad precedent for dynamic pricing, but as it stands post Nov 1 these rates at the highest level still are superior to delta & AA.
Jun 29, 2017, 11:07 pm
#109
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Jun 29, 2017, 11:14 pm
#110
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,467
Well they've been doing that for the last two years to the point that many of the more desirable routes are basically not available at the UA saver level.
It's *A partner availability that makes UA miles valuable to me.
It's *A partner availability that makes UA miles valuable to me.
Jun 29, 2017, 11:15 pm
#111
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: dark side of the moon
Programs: papa card, UA 1K
Posts: 707
Jun 29, 2017, 11:20 pm
#112
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 754
I'm 100% when booking saver award seats so far this year. In each case AS, AA, and DL did not have saver inventory. How this all shakes out is going to depend greatly on whether the saver award space diminishes.
Last edited by economyplusfan; Jun 29, 2017 at 11:43 pm
Jun 29, 2017, 11:22 pm
#113
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,942
Lots of things have to be aligned for this ("holding for friends") to happen ...
Holding seats with miles that you have no intention of flying in order to hold F seats available for gate upgrade if you know you'll be top of list or close to it. Friends hold seats for friends etc.
Personally, whatever the reason, I think the $125 is fair. You are potentially costing the airline money if you hold a seat that is then unavailable to be sold.
Prior to today's announcement, I assumed that a mileage ticket that you didn't show up for forfeited the reservation and miles. I was surprised to hear that you could actually cancel and refund after the fact.
Personally, whatever the reason, I think the $125 is fair. You are potentially costing the airline money if you hold a seat that is then unavailable to be sold.
Prior to today's announcement, I assumed that a mileage ticket that you didn't show up for forfeited the reservation and miles. I was surprised to hear that you could actually cancel and refund after the fact.
Jun 30, 2017, 12:28 am
#116
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Syd
Programs: UA 1k 1MM, VA G
Posts: 886
Being syd based... just got bent over for most any usable option for burning miles to Europe or S/N asia
The redemption prices for J/F are now nearly the price or worse of just buying a ticket for cash....
about the only good(ish) option left is the 65k F redemption to Japanafter nov1
Looks like I'm burning every mile in my account for future trips in the next few months
Jun 30, 2017, 1:16 am
#118
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
UA isn't doing this change in order to make customers in the main better off. UA is doing this devaluation to reduce UA's costs for UA mileage accounts/balances -- all while trying to avoid the destruction of its historical gravy train because it still wants to sell the "gravy" from the train like a traveling snake-oil salesman.
Jun 30, 2017, 1:34 am
#119
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: DL Gold, UA nothing (ex-GS), Marriott lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 920
I’ve been eyeing this offer for a while but these changes just made it less appealing.
Jun 30, 2017, 1:53 am
#120
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: UA MileagePlus 2MM
Posts: 1,567
I have no doubt that the "saver" award space will diminish. The patterns of reducing the "saver award space" will be ugly enough that you can bet that the overall cost in UA miles of award seat mile flown will be materially worse for consumers than it already is.
UA isn't doing this change in order to make customers in the main better off. UA is doing this devaluation to reduce UA's costs for UA mileage accounts/balances -- all while trying to avoid the destruction of its historical gravy train because it still wants to sell the "gravy" from the train like a traveling snake-oil salesman.
UA isn't doing this change in order to make customers in the main better off. UA is doing this devaluation to reduce UA's costs for UA mileage accounts/balances -- all while trying to avoid the destruction of its historical gravy train because it still wants to sell the "gravy" from the train like a traveling snake-oil salesman.