Pete

I may want to change my dates for an upcoming return trip, something I do very rarely. On the https://www.united.com/en/us/manageres/tripdetails/ page, there is a "Change Flight" option. At present I just want to see what my options are without making any commitment. If I select this option, does it in any way commit me to actually make changes?

threeoh

No, you can still back out. That button just will give you some options. It's pretty clear when you get to the point where you are actually making the change (and of course, you'll have to pay change fee / fare difference if applicable).

The change feature on the website sometimes behaves poorly, so if you're not seeing what you'd expect (i.e. the same itineraries you could buy today) you should call in too.

WineCountryUA

No
Note if a multi-person PNR, make sure all are included or the PNR will get split.

BTW, the online flight change is sometimes wonky and comes up with expensive fares -- if the fare seems out of whack, call.

Pete

Thank you, threeoh and WineCountryUA.

TnTWalter

Dumb question...wanting to book family of 5 to Lihue, HI. United seems to have best deal...when I am on the page there's an offer for credit card. 25k points and $250 credit with first purchase. made me think maybe I can use the credit card to book the flight....do i need to sign up for deal first? or can i do at check out? i know there's a 60k mileage offer but no credit issued. which would be better in this situation ? or should i just not worry about it? i like the check bag and priority boarding whereas if i just book without the united card i don't get either... thanks. sorry if really dumb question. newbie. Trish

findark

Not at all a dumb question

There's a lot here to unpack, and it depends quite a bit on your personal preferences and the situation. A good resource to be aware of is the https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chas...orer-card.html thread, which has some of the best information about the card in particular. I'm not familiar with the current sign-up bonuses, but historically I would call 50k miles the minimum for a good offer, and they have ranged as high as 70k miles + $50 credit + FYF (first year free).

Whether the $250 credit is a good deal depends a lot on how you value miles. Most people on FT value them between $0.014 and $0.020 (giving a value of $490 to $700 of the miles you are missing out on for the credit), but this is heavily colored by the fact that we usually use them for premium cabin travel (e.g. I'm flying to Europe in J for 160k r/t) or in situations where, combined with our status, they offer an excellent deal for a close-in refundable ticket. If you are not in a situation where you can accumulate a lot of United miles and/or make status on United, the value of miles to you may be far less - and the $250 credit is a sure thing today whereas miles are a depreciating currency that doesn't earn interest.

I'm not 100% sure, but you should be able to click through the ad in a way which allows you to claim the credit against your current purchase if you are approved.

threeoh

Assuming you get the card before you fly, you'll still get priority boarding (BG2). It says you need to pay with the card, but you don't.

However, to get the checked bag benefit you do need to make the purchase with the card.

TnTWalter

Thanks for answering.

I think for me the best would be to be able to get the $250 credit so the airfare doesn't hurt as much. I would want to count the airfare as my qualifying purchase [>$2k]....
I'm just now sure if it's instantaneous which would defeat the purpose of going with that deal if that makes sense.

I hate to apply to find out I can't use on airfare purchase today...

findark

Given the wording of the ad ("your purchase with credit") I'm 90% sure you can charge the flight to your new card, but someone with more recent experience can confirm.

cpmac

findark

No. Award flights earn neither award miles nor status credit.

PushingTin

Looking to book 4 tickets in and out of DEN-LHR-DEN. I have enough points for the return flights, but not the outbound. From what I see, they have to be two different itins because of points and dollars.

DEN-LHR-DEN is about $1500 RT.
DEN-LHR one way is no economy, only flex econ, and is $2000+ for the one way.

So instead of doing all four people on one leg with miles, do I do two people both ways with miles and two people on separate itin with dollars.

I'm Plat and the rest of the fam is GM. Wife and 14 &12 YO kids.

Who to put on the itin with me?
If I'm going to pay for a ticket, I want the PQM and PQDs, can I get the fam tickets with miles if I'm not on the itin.

If we are on different Itins, will I be able to get the free bags at check in?
If they aren't on my itin, they won't get E+ free since they are GMs, correct.

I'm thinking of just buying tickets and having it so that I have enough miles to buy all four, all legs next year. I'll be 1K and have GPUs, which if I have a Chase UA card, will have award base tickets be upgradable, correct?

jsloan

Yes.

One of your kids. That way, neither appears as an unaccompanied minor in UA's system.

Yes.

YMMV. Assume you won't -- then, the award ticket luggage allowance is one bag (at 50 lbs) per passenger. How many will you need? You and the child on your reservation will each get 3x70 lbs, so that's 6x70lbs + 2x50 lbs = 520lbs total of luggage across 8 pieces.

You can call and get everyone seated together, assuming the paid tickets aren't basic economy.

No, you will not be able to upgrade award tickets with a GPU even though you have a Chase UA card. That benefit only applies to CPUs. Only GS GPUs can upgrade award tickets.

I would not recommend this approach. With the coming devaluation, there's literally no limit to what UA may decide to charge for award tickets next summer. You may find that you've saved all year and still don't have enough. A bird in the hand, and all that.

PushingTin

Thanks. I don't like to keep a lot of points around, I do burn them, and I agree on devaluation- especially on things like TATL direct flights. They already cost double what the connection flights do.

Who knows with my wife, It gets utterly ridiculous, beyond worthy of joking. She wants to do a trip will all kinds of transfers and movement, when we have to have an Explorer or larger for our
bags. I do the EU for 2.5 weeks with legit LH sized carry-on only.

Thanks for the insights.

Question: As a Plat, I can book and change or cancel award travel anytime, right?

jsloan

8 bags is a lot even for an Explorer (plus four carry-ons, so 12). The problem here is that it's going to be up to the check-in agent in each case whether they want to extend that benefit or not. If you do think it's likely that you'll need more bags, you're going to be risking having to pay $100 each for each award passenger's second bag and $200 each for their third, in each direction. Honestly, if you need 12 bags plus 4 carry-ons, your plan of buying the tickets this year and using points next year might make sense.

For a Plat, there is no fee to cancel award travel 61+ days prior to departure. Within 60 days, the cancellation fee is $50 per person. There are no last-minute booking fees, though. Of course, the award seats you want could disappear if you wait to book...