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TATL Basic Economy (renamed Dec 2018); all BE to earn 50% PQMs, earn 100% PQDs

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Old Jun 6, 2018, 1:40 pm
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Last edit by: Kacee
The TATL -LGT Fares will be called Basic Economy Effective 12/11/2018, Additional Restrictions will Apply

Now even more ways to fly across the Atlantic
-- Atlantic Joint Venture offering with Air Canada and Lufthansa Group
New ways to fly across the Atlantic Effective June 5, 2018, United Airlines in line with Atlantic Joint Venture partners Air Canada and Lufthansa Group, will introduce a new fare option in select trans-Atlantic markets.

Created for our customers who may be more price-sensitive, these lowest-priced fares are the first step towards a Basic Economy product on trans-Atlantic United flights. The fare includes the same inflight experience as standard United Economy but with important restrictions that you'll want to review carefully before booking.
What is the new fare option?
For customers traveling between the United States or Canada and select European countries in specific lower Economy booking classes, the new fare option will not include a complimentary first checked baggage allowance, upgrades or the ability to make changes following purchase.
Customers purchasing this fare for travel ticketed and operated on United will be eligible for advance seat assignments, one standard carry-on bag and one personal item, and the same United Economy cabin experience and services, including dining options, Wi-Fi for purchase and inflight entertainment.

What date is the fare option applicable?
The fare option is applicable for first ticket and first travel date on or after June 5, 2018, for all points of sale. The first bag fee does not apply to tickets purchased before June 4, 2018
.
How is the fare option identified?
For all Atlantic joint venture carriers, the last 3 characters of the fare basis code will be -LGT, and the fare type code is ERU/EOU.
For point of origin U. S. the fare is planned for booking classes K , L and T.
For point of origin E.U. and Canada, the fare is planned for booking classes K, L, T, S and W. Booking classes are subject to change and may vary by route.
The fares will vary from market to market and depend on availability. Customers traveling between the U.S. or Canada and Europe will be able to see if this fare is available on their flight when booking.

What are the conditions of the new fare option?
The new fare has some important restrictions compared to a standard United Economy ticket:
• The fare does not include a free baggage allowance for checked baggage.
• The fare is non-refundable and non-changeable except as stated in the United 24-hour flexible booking policy.
• The fare cannot be combined with any other fare type.
• The fare is not eligible for upgrades to a premium cabin (complimentary, purchased or instrument).
Are there any exemptions from the first bag fee?
The following customers are exempt from the fee when checking in with United and traveling on United or United Express for the first segment of a trans-Atlantic itinerary:
• MileagePlus Premier members
• Chase MileagePlus cardholders
• Members of the U.S. military
• Star Alliance Gold members
Will earn 50% PQMs, 100% PQDs, RDMs, Lifetime miles and segment credit toward 4 UA segments needed for elite status
-- BE and TATL BE earns will be the same
BE uses N fares, TATL BE / -LGT can be a number of the lower discount economy fare classes
No changes -- dates, fare class, truly non-refundable ... and no upgrades
Other -LGT restrictions
Normal TATL fares include a free check bag -- -LGT fares do not for non-elites / non-credit card holders
No Premier seating benefits - i.e., no free Economy Plus

To aviod TATL BE fares
ITA Matrix
Originally Posted by jsloan
Use f !..-lgt for your extension codes to avoid TATL BE.
Google Flights -- select 1 Carry-on bag
related threads
United's Basic Economy - Discussion, Q&A, ...

Benefit impact of restricted economy fares on UA Elites (Basic Econ, -LGT, Light Econ
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TATL Basic Economy (renamed Dec 2018); all BE to earn 50% PQMs, earn 100% PQDs

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Old Mar 21, 2019, 12:34 pm
  #391  
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Central New Jersey
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Posts: 6,238
Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
As *G, you should be able to preselect seat assignment. As this is a LH ticket, that may be messing things up.

Row 32 will require an extra fee as preferred seats (not free for *G)


Looking today at EWR-MAD in BE, previously (as of last fall) I was able to choose my seat at time of purchase, and as an elite was able to select Economy Plus. Now that option does not appear doable.::
With Basic Economy:
  1. Seats are assigned prior to boarding. Advance seat assignments may be available for purchase during booking and up until check-in opens. Prices vary based on route and availability. You will not be eligible to purchase Economy Plus® seating or premium cabin upgrades, or receive Economy Plus subscription benefits.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 21, 2019 at 3:36 pm Reason: repaired quote
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Old Mar 21, 2019, 3:41 pm
  #392  
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Originally Posted by mauld
Looking today at EWR-MAD in BE, previously (as of last fall) I was able to choose my seat at time of purchase, and as an elite was able to select Economy Plus. Now that option does not appear doable.::
With Basic Economy:
  1. Seats are assigned prior to boarding. Advance seat assignments may be available for purchase during booking and up until check-in opens. Prices vary based on route and availability. You will not be eligible to purchase Economy Plus® seating or premium cabin upgrades, or receive Economy Plus subscription benefits.
There are two forms of BE,
1, Domestic/Northamerican -- where UA elites are not able to make seat assignments without a fee
2. TALT version -- where UA elites should be able Post Dec 11, seat assignment restriction was added
The phrase you quote is for Domestic BE.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 21, 2019 at 4:41 pm
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Old Mar 21, 2019, 4:29 pm
  #393  
 
Join Date: May 1999
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Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
There are two forms of BE,
1, Domestic/Northamerican -- where UA elites are not able to make seat assignments without a fee
2. TALT version -- where UA elites should be able
The phrase you quote is for Domestic BE.
The quote came from the booking page for EWR-MAD, where no seat map appeared allowing for seat selection on UA non stop Newark to Madrid.
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Old Mar 21, 2019, 4:43 pm
  #394  
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Originally Posted by mauld

The quote came from the booking page for EWR-MAD, where no seat map appeared allowing for seat selection on UA non stop Newark to Madrid.
You are correct, in Mid-Dec 2018, UA made a number of changes in the TATL BE, some good, some bad and in the bad was removing the advance seat assignments. -- my bad for forgetting the change.
The TATL -LGT Fares will be called Basic Economy Effective 12/11/2018, Additional Restrictions will Apply
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Old Mar 21, 2019, 8:27 pm
  #395  
 
Join Date: May 1999
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Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
You are correct, in Mid-Dec 2018, UA made a number of changes in the TATL BE, some good, some bad and in the bad was removing the advance seat assignments. -- my bad for forgetting the change.
The TATL -LGT Fares will be called Basic Economy Effective 12/11/2018, Additional Restrictions will Apply
I had flown the previous incarnation of TALT BE a number of times and had no issues with the general restrictions, but I had always been able to select my own seat in premium economy. Now the prices are the same, but with no seat selection, I’ll most likely go the slightly higher route. (Ex: this past Oct, I flew EWR-MAD in BE for $437 r/t non stop-- and was able to select a E + seat. The prices are now approximately the same, but NO option to choose ANY seat )

Last edited by mauld; Mar 22, 2019 at 11:00 am
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Old Mar 22, 2019, 10:19 pm
  #396  
 
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Hi, so I've recently received the Explorer card. I've also booked a Basic Economy ticket for the very first time for SFO-LHR and return. I wouldn't normally even think of it, but Basic Economy was more than $200 less than normal Economy. I'll board in Group 2, and I'll still be able to bring a carry-on because it's international/I'm a cardholder. I paid $60 extra for seat assignments, but I'll still come out ahead. I won't be able to cancel, but the trip is fairly soon, and I know I'll be going anyway.

The only thing I couldn't figure out is: will I still only be able to check in at the airport, or will I be able to do OLCI/app check-in? I searched multiple sites and couldn't find an answer. UA's FAQ on Basic Economy was a little ambiguous.
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Old Mar 23, 2019, 7:12 am
  #397  
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Originally Posted by char777
.....
The only thing I couldn't figure out is: will I still only be able to check in at the airport, or will I be able to do OLCI/app check-in? I searched multiple sites and couldn't find an answer. UA's FAQ on Basic Economy was a little ambiguous.
Per UA
Q: How does the check-in process work with Basic Economy tickets?
A:
For trans-Atlantic flights, the check-in process with Basic Economy tickets is the same as for standard Economy tickets.

For all other Basic Economy tickets, you'll only be able to check in for your flight through united.com or the United app if you indicate that you're checking a bag. To check your bag, you'll go to a check-in counter or designated kiosk in the airport lobby. If you begin check-in and do not indicate that you're checking a bag, you'll need to finish checking in for your flight at the airport.
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Old Mar 23, 2019, 3:19 pm
  #398  
 
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Good to hear, as for a fairly low price I will still be able to select a seat. The other restrictions don’t bother me, as I always book non refundable and never check baggage, always prefer a small carry on. Also with no difference in check in, the price is definitely worth it.
Amended--- Just looked into the prices with seat selection, and as I do prefer E+ (as opposed to either 'back of the bus' or Preferred), it's cheaper (for me at least to book the lower regular Economy. For my trip EWR-MAD BE is $446 + $114 for Pref ($57 each way)=$560. But Economy is $556 AND I get full miles and get to sit in E+! Granted, I could always sit faaaaaaaar back/middle with no seat choice, and save, but I value a bit more comfort

Last edited by mauld; Mar 24, 2019 at 5:11 am
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Old Apr 4, 2019, 8:49 pm
  #399  
 
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Anybody have experience with flying with 2 people on a single reservation on United's BE internationally? I have a flight from EWR to AMS and then Madrid back to EWR and was wondering if without advanced seat assignment, there is any chance we would sit together, or is it pretty much guaranteed that we'll be split up? I looked at picking seats, but it's $25 per seat, so it ends up adding $100 RT just for seats... quite a bit.
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Old Apr 17, 2019, 3:19 am
  #400  
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
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Question London - NY: Cabin baggage allowance on basic economy ticket

Hi all, I'm flying from London to Newark tomorrow on United Airlines and I have a basic economy ticket. The website has two contradicting pieces of info on the carry on baggage allowance. I read, as a basic economy ticket holder, you can only carry a really small personal item (e.g. a laptop bag) that fits under the seat but I also read that on trans atlantic routes such as London to NY, this requirement is waived and that you can carry a small personal item + a normal cabin suitcase.

Can anyone confirm which of these is correct?

Many thanks in advance!
Upneet
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Old Apr 17, 2019, 3:47 am
  #401  
 
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You're allowed the "normal" carry on allowance on TATL (transatlantic) routes.
This can be found here: https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly.../carry-on.html

Carry-on baggage

Looking for Checked Baggage instead of carry-on baggage?
Safety notice

Effective July 9, 2018, lithium batteries that are installed in any checked or carry-on baggage must be removed by the customer. Once removed, these batteries can be transported on board. Smart bags that do not have a removable battery cannot travel on any United or United Express® flights.
Most travelers can bring on board one full-sized carry-on bag plus one personal item free of charge. If you have purchased Basic Economy for a trans-Atlantic flight, you’ll still be allowed both carry-on items. For all other Basic Economy tickets, you will only be allowed one personal item, unless you are a Premier® member or a primary card member using a qualifying MileagePlus credit card.footnote1
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Old Apr 19, 2019, 1:50 pm
  #402  
 
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I just went to book a vacation trip to Europe (to see part of the WWC), open jaw flights (into CDG, out of BCN) and bouncing between what little decent Y (not on a 777 at 10x, and avoiding the 787 if possible) and just getting PE, I found a decent routing on LH out (on the A388) and back on UA (764). Tickets were $1121 each, so not cheap. But when I went to book on LH, they disclosed that it was their "economy light" fare. Given LH does not do seat assignments anyway, and I get a baggage waiver, that is not an issue, so I booked. No disclosure what so ever that the UA leg would be "BE". None at all. All LH told me was that it was a W, which is not a BE fare.

Anyway, when I went to import into my UA account to get seats it says "BE". So I cancelled.

LH and LH want $2249 for regular Y That his twice the price.

So what is the outcome? Well I booked AF PE for $2100/ticket.

So stupid BE rules, caused this elite to go with another carrier to the tune of $8K+, vs giving UA/LH $4400, which is a decent yield in that market.

Basically UA has now made it impossible for me to fly using my elite benefits on international flights, unless I pay WAY MORE. Good example of why I don't really value any status on UA at this point.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 20, 2019 at 11:17 am Reason: Moved to TATL "-lgt" thread
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Old Apr 19, 2019, 1:54 pm
  #403  
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Originally Posted by spin88
But when I went to book on LH, they disclosed that it was their "economy light" fare. Given LH does not do seat assignements anyway, and I get a baggage waiver, that is not an issue, so I booked. No disclosure what so ever that the UA leg would be "BE".
LH Light fare and UA International BE are the same thing. And... you don't care about seat assignments on LH, but you care so passionately about them on UA that you'll fly another carrier?

Originally Posted by spin88
None at all. All LH told me was that it was a W, which is not a BE fare.
Huh? There are absolutely W light ("BE") fares. You bought one. Then you canceled it.
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Old Apr 19, 2019, 2:55 pm
  #404  
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Originally Posted by spin88
I just went to book a vacation trip to Europe (to see part of the WWC), open jaw flights (into CDG, out of BCN) and bouncing between what little decent Y (not on a 777 at 10x, and avoiding the 787 if possible) and just getting PE, I found a decent routing on LH out (on the A388) and back on UA (764). Tickets were $1121 each, so not cheap. But when I went to book on LH, they disclosed that it was their "economy light" fare. Given LH does not do seat assignments anyway, and I get a baggage waiver, that is not an issue, so I booked. No disclosure what so ever that the UA leg would be "BE". None at all. All LH told me was that it was a W, which is not a BE fare.

Anyway, when I went to import into my UA account to get seats it says "BE". So I cancelled.

LH and LH want $2249 for regular Y That his twice the price.

So what is the outcome? Well I booked AF PE for $2100/ticket.

So stupid BE rules, caused this elite to go with another carrier to the tune of $8K+, vs giving UA/LH $4400, which is a decent yield in that market.

Basically UA has now made it impossible for me to fly using my elite benefits on international flights, unless I pay WAY MORE. Good example of why I don't really value any status on UA at this point.
i think you’re confusing domestic and international BE (which I think isn’t totally reasonable, and I’d predicted this would be a challenge when they changed whatever it used to be called (no checked bag/no changes - or whatever the dumbname they used to have) to BE. I’m surprised it was such a frequent traveler that was confused by this

Domestic BE is N, while International BE can be in any fare class (I think, of at least many of them). At LH, I think the fare basis all end in ‘LT’ for light - not sure about in UA. And both products have different conditions. N fares (ie, domestic BE) only allows seat assignments if you pay for them (and that is somewhat new - used to be not allowed), but international BE allows seat assignments. I believe both products don’t allow E+ selections, or upgrades. International BE technically doesn’t allow checked bags for free, though leaving on UA, elite and card waivers apply. Mileage is reduced.

What Im confused about is what you actually wanted. If you wanted PE, why not just book that? You seemed to be ok when you thought regular Y, but when you found out it was BE, were all of a sudden we’re ready to shell out $1000+ more for PE?
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Old Apr 19, 2019, 9:05 pm
  #405  
 
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Originally Posted by emcampbe
What Im confused about is what you actually wanted. If you wanted PE, why not just book that? You seemed to be ok when you thought regular Y, but when you found out it was BE, were all of a sudden we’re ready to shell out $1000+ more for PE?
The LH A388 flight is perfectly fine in Y. LH - due to my being *G will give us decent seats. I picked that flight (and avoided e.g. the UA and Swiss 777 options) because it was decent in Y. I picked the return on UA because it was not (a) the 777 10x options, (b) was a 764, (c) the connection was not in EWR, and (d) as a 1MM (this flight actually would have put me over 2MM), UA would give me E+. So with 4 tickets in the offing, the routing was perfectly fine,and LH/UA was going to get the sale. BUT IT IS NOT FINE IN Y- on a BE fare on UA... sorry, no can do.

And since UA will not honor my status if I fly them on a BE fare, and since the non BE was $2249 I looked elsewhere. (And to be fair to UA, the problem is that LH has a big jump in price between a "light fare" which is not designed to be punative and a regular fare, while UA tries to be punitive and have a lesser price difference. But when you combine these together, it makes buying a combined ticket that avoides BE hard to do, which is the problem I hit).

UA's PE offerings were NOT competitive. Price was ok ($2225/ticket) but then they involved a EWR-SFO leg in Y on the 10x 777. NO way, no how, not gonna happen. AF offers a better product and only a short BCN-CDG flight was not in a PE seat. Given that the delta with the few other decent Y options was not so great, they got the sale.

I am willing to fly a reasonable comfortable Y, and use my status on family trips, but if UA is not going to honor my status or provide a comfortable Y, well then I will look elsewhere, which in this case involves paying more to fly PE.
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