Jan 1, 2018, 9:57 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Welcome to this thread to ask your basic, simple questions about United Airlines, its operations, or the MileagePlus program. We know that the airline is complex and we’ve created this thread for new and veteran members to ask those basic questions about United Airlines that you think must have an easy answer but just can’t find it or aren’t sure where to look.

UA Moderator Team
Ocn Vw 1K, l'etoile, J.Edward, goalie, Pat89339, WineCountryUA

These are the two rules for this thread:

Use this thread for a simple, basic question. Moderators may move posts to other threads if the question deserves its own thread.
Any member who can post a constructive, patient answer is welcome to reply.

Generally, there are not long discussions of an issue in this thread. If it appears that is needed, the posts will be moved to an existing thread or used as the start of a new separate thread.

Additional tools for members seeking information about MileagePlus:

United MileagePlus Master Wiki

"New" United Airlines Forum Glossary

Here is a link to recent previous threads:
Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2017]

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2016 Part II]

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2016 Part I]

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2015 -Part II]...

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2015 Thread]...

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2018]

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Oct 27, 2018, 9:16 am

#1516

fumje

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2015

Posts: 11,471

Quote:

Originally Posted by flockavelliFT

I'm currently based in Germany but will relocate to the SF Bay Area in 2019 at least for 1 year. My plan is to go for UA 1K in 2019.
My question: is there any need to update my location to the U.S. as there might be any relevant mail sent? Or special promos only to people with U.S. addresses? Outstanding credit card offers which I might miss out (I do have a 750+ credit score currently) on? I really didn't think so, but wanted to make sure.
I am aware that keeping German location will allow me to bypass the PQD requirement.

Consider reading this thread:
Any Drawbacks from having MP account registered to foreign address?

I would not advocate misrepresenting your address, but if you can claim to retain ties of some kind to your German address, it certainly seems beneficial for the MP program.

flockavelliFT likes this.

Oct 27, 2018, 11:13 pm

#1517

sameruval

Join Date: Jul 2018

Posts: 201

Three quick, probably stupid questions. I'm based in Canada, and with the upcoming Air Canada upheaval in 2020 I'm focusing on earning with United for now.

1. My wife doesn't have a MileagePlus account and isn't really interested in one. If I book an itinerary with United for the two of us, would her potential PQM/PQD earnings go off into the ether, or would they be credited to me?

2. For flights booked through United on AC metal, is there still the option to purchase a last minute upgrade while checking in on Air Canada's website?

and lastly

3. This is more of a general question. If I book a domestic Canadian flight through United.com on AC metal, does that constitute Cabotage?

Oct 27, 2018, 11:24 pm

#1518

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 66,861

Quote:

Originally Posted by sameruval

Three quick, maybe stupid questions. I'm based in Canada, and with the upcoming Air Canada upheaval in 2020 I'm focusing on earning with United for now.

1. My wife doesn't have a MileagePlus account and isn't really interested in one. If I book an itinerary with United for the two of us, would her potential PQM/PQD earnings go off into the ether, or would they be credited to me? ...

only credited to the traveler. Might as well set up the account for the RDMs

Quote:

Originally Posted by sameruval

2. For flights booked through United on AC metal, is there still the option to purchase a last minute upgrade while checking in on Air Canada's website? ...

Probably a better question for the AC forum -- some carriers restrict the offers to their tickets and some will do it for any ticket stock

Quote:

Originally Posted by sameruval

.... 3. This is more of a general question. If I book a domestic Canadian flight through United.com on AC metal, does that constitute Cabotage?

Cabotage is a flight operator issue, who ticketed the flight does not matter. However, UA may not ticket such a flight.

Oct 28, 2018, 12:21 am

#1519

sameruval

Join Date: Jul 2018

Posts: 201

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

Cabotage is a flight operator issue, who ticketed the flight does not matter. However, UA may not ticket such a flight.

Thanks for the answers!

Interestingly it seems I would be able to book itineraries such as YYZ-YOW and YYZ-YHZ through the United website (obviously on AC metal with AC flight numbers) for better RDM earnings as compared to what I'd get with Aeroplan, but the Air Canada website won't let you even search for domestic flights within the United States even if there was a flight on United metal between the two destinations.

Oct 28, 2018, 1:20 am

#1520

EmailKid

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by sameruval

Interestingly it seems I would be able to book itineraries such as YYZ-YOW and YYZ-YHZ through the United website (obviously on AC metal with AC flight numbers) for better RDM earnings as compared to what I'd get with Aeroplan, but the Air Canada website won't let you even search for domestic flights within the United States even if there was a flight on United metal between the two destinations.

i picked YVR-YYC and looks like UA will indeed sell the flights.

Oct 28, 2018, 11:48 pm

#1521

MTan

Join Date: Jul 2013

Location: Montreal, Quebec

Programs: United, Bonvoy, NEXUS/GE, Amex Plat

Posts: 125

Quote:

Originally Posted by sameruval

Don’t forget to double check AC’s site anyway. Some carriers restrict their cheapest fares to be ticketed exclusively on their own ticket stock, so weigh the cash difference (if any) vs the accrual rates to MP. As for your upgrade question, I’ve found that if the flight number on your ticket is a native AC number, you’ll sometimes get the offer box when checking in online, but not if it’s a UA codeshare (e.g. UA8XXX)

Nov 1, 2018, 10:21 am

#1522

leonidas

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: ORD

Posts: 870

I have an award flight for 3 adults which I may need to cancel. Is the cancellation/redeposit fee of $75 (for gold) for the entire ticket, or per passenger?

Nov 1, 2018, 10:23 am

#1523

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 66,861

Quote:

Originally Posted by leonidas

I have an award flight for 3 adults which I may need to cancel. Is the cancellation/redeposit fee of $75 (for gold) for the entire ticket, or per passenger?

The latter, per passenger -- all ticket fees are per passenger

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...questions.html

Nov 1, 2018, 11:48 am

#1524

leonidas

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: ORD

Posts: 870

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

The latter, per passenger -- all ticket fees are per passenger

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...questions.html

Thanks. Hopefully I won't need to cancel. This is why I always book award tickets with Avios or Southwest miles when travel plans are tentative. UA loves to nickel and dime you.

RNE likes this.

Nov 1, 2018, 11:55 am

#1525

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 56,484

Quote:

Originally Posted by leonidas

UA loves to nickel and dime you.

UA's fees for general members are comparable to DL and AA's. Non-US programs do tend to charge less.

Nov 3, 2018, 8:15 am

#1526

PsiFighter37

Join Date: Mar 2015

Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)

Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC

Posts: 9,011

I don't think there's a dedicated thread for this - but does anyone have any experience booking award tickets via UA for ZH? I know there are problems w/CA every now and then, but curious about ZH.

Nov 3, 2018, 10:09 pm

#1527

Aviator88

vishnu88

Join Date: Feb 2014

Programs: Chase UR, AAdvantage, Dividend Miles, United MileagePlus

Posts: 100

Dynamic award pricing during search?

Hey guys,

Just had this occur to me, which is very strange.

Trying to book a domestic round trip ticket using mileage plus miles. Selected the flights, total came to 25K. took a bathroom break, came back, searched the same flights again and now it's 37.5K! It was not even a 15 min break. Tried logging out, incognito mode, different IP etc.

Are these a part of United's "dynamic award pricing" shenanigans? Any use to waiting till the morning hoping for it to come back down? Or did I just magically time my searches around the scheduled pricing update?

Nov 3, 2018, 10:17 pm

#1528

mahasamatman

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

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: 52,140

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aviator88

Are these a part of United's "dynamic award pricing" shenanigans? Any use to waiting till the morning hoping for it to come back down? Or did I just magically time my searches around the scheduled pricing update?

Someone else may have booked in that span, but keep checking - sometimes the lower price will come back, sometimes it won't.

Nov 3, 2018, 10:42 pm

#1529

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 66,861

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aviator88

.....
Trying to book a domestic round trip ticket using mileage plus miles. Selected the flights, total came to 25K. took a bathroom break, came back, searched the same flights again and now it's 37.5K! It was not even a 15 min break. Tried logging out, incognito mode, different IP etc.

Are these a part of United's "dynamic award pricing" shenanigans? Any use to waiting till the morning hoping for it to come back down? Or did I just magically time my searches around the scheduled pricing update?

25K domestic RT is a saver award, 37.5K is an everyday award -- looks like the saver award inventory disappear (perhaps booked by someone in the meantime?)

Nov 5, 2018, 3:53 am

#1530

Repooc17

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2017

Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold

Posts: 10,518

Quote:

Originally Posted by fumje

Tangential note: the LAX MLL tends to reject non AC boarding passes when they are crowded regardless of access qualifications. I have tried on three occasions and have yet to step beyond the front desk. Never argued the point because they did indeed look quite crowded, and when leaving T8/7 already, it seems worth walking the additional 10 minutes to TBIT.

You haven't missed much.

Or, if you are coming back from *A, just keep walking to UC.

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