Feb 9, 2019, 5:12 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread -- the active thread is United's Basic Economy - Discussion, Q&A, ...
Important Note: these fares became available 21 Feb 2017 for MSP for travel beginning 18 Apr 2017. More markets were added 19 April 2017 for travel starting 9 May 2017.
Related thread: Basic Economy Airport and Plane Experiences (First or Second Hand)
If you booked before the dates above, you did not have a BE fare. If purchased on united.com you will see a warning like:
4. MileagePlus members will earn full Premier qualifying dollars, 50% Premier qualifying miles and 0.5 Premier qualifying segments for each flight, as well as lifetime miles and toward the four-segment minimum.
Link to UA's description of how these fares will work: Basic Economy.
Here are the key facts:
related threads
New UA/*A TATL -LGT Economy fare - no free first bag, no changes/upgrades allowed
Benefit impact of restricted economy fares on UA Elites (Basic Econ, -LGT, Light Econ
Pre-announcement speculation thread (now closed) New "Budget Economy" fares
Important Note: these fares became available 21 Feb 2017 for MSP for travel beginning 18 Apr 2017. More markets were added 19 April 2017 for travel starting 9 May 2017.
Related thread: Basic Economy Airport and Plane Experiences (First or Second Hand)
If you booked before the dates above, you did not have a BE fare. If purchased on united.com you will see a warning like:
4. MileagePlus members will earn full Premier qualifying dollars, 50% Premier qualifying miles and 0.5 Premier qualifying segments for each flight, as well as lifetime miles and toward the four-segment minimum.
Link to UA's description of how these fares will work: Basic Economy.
Here are the key facts:
- No seat assignments until check-in. Seats will be assigned by the system and cannot be changed.*NEW* When purchasing a Basic Economy ticket, you will not receive a complimentary seat assignment but may be able to purchase advance seat assignments during booking and up until check-in opens. If you don’t purchase an advance seat assignment, your seat will be automatically assigned to you prior to boarding, and you won't be able to change your seat once it's been assigned.
- No guarantee of adjacent seats with companions
- No voluntary ticket changes after 24 hour purchase period
- Carry on limited to 1 personal item unless the customer is a MP Premier member, primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card, or Star Alliance *G
- Customers ineligible for carry-on who bring one to the gate will be charged a $25 convenience fee to gate-check in addition to standard baggage fees (source: @united twitter)
- Customers will not be eligible for Economy Plus or premium cabin upgrades. This includes all forms of upgrades (CPU,supported or purchased). Likewise for E+ access (elite or purchased).
- Customers will board in the last boarding group (currently Group 5) unless the customer is a MP Premier member, primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card, or Star Alliance *G
- Companions on same PNR will have same boarding group and carryon if one on the PNR has a waiver
- No combinability with regular economy fares or partner carriers. Interline travel is not permitted.
- Tickets will earn RDMs (based on fare and status), PQMs (50% of distance), PQSs (0.5), PQDs, in addition it will count for minimum 4 segment and lifetime miles (New as of Dec 2018)
- Basic Economy tickets will use booking code 'N'
- Online check-in only with paid checked bag, otherwise need to see a United representative to verify the onboard bag allowance and receive a boarding pass.
related threads
New UA/*A TATL -LGT Economy fare - no free first bag, no changes/upgrades allowed
Benefit impact of restricted economy fares on UA Elites (Basic Econ, -LGT, Light Econ
Pre-announcement speculation thread (now closed) New "Budget Economy" fares
United's Basic Economy - Discussion, Q&A, ... {Archive}
May 10, 2017, 3:48 pm
#1591
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
But on the broader point, if United was not doing what everyone with examples, on multiple city pairs has shown they are doing - matching a BE to a competitors Y when the flights get close in, and demanding a "elite surcharge" of $30 +/- to get elite benifits - well someone would have posted a counter example. You don't have a counter example, but are welcome to believe United is doing something all of the actual evidence shows they are not doing.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 10, 2017 at 4:21 pm Reason: repaired quote
May 10, 2017, 4:24 pm
#1592
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Marriott Ti/LTP
Posts: 1,329
My travel policy is actually fairly lenient. We can take a non-stop even if it is significantly more than a 1-stop - there is no cost limit. Business if >2700mi, PE if >5h. This is not a "crappy" travel policy; in fact, I think it is a fairly good one.
But UA is still pricing itself out of it.
Last edited by GoSh4rks; May 10, 2017 at 4:32 pm
May 10, 2017, 9:51 pm
#1593
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: UA - Platinum; Starwood - Platinum; Alaska - MVP75; IHG - Platinum; Hilton - Gold; Marriott - Gold
Posts: 670
First timer questions about Basic Economy:
I am a Premier Platinum with United.
My questions:
1. Will I be paying for the checked luggage? If yes, how much?
2. I can't carry any carry-on luggage and/or laptop bag?
3. What will be my boarding group?
I am a Premier Platinum with United.
My questions:
1. Will I be paying for the checked luggage? If yes, how much?
2. I can't carry any carry-on luggage and/or laptop bag?
3. What will be my boarding group?
May 10, 2017, 9:56 pm
#1594
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
2 - Incorrect; as a platinum, you may still bring a carry-on plus a personal item (i.e., laptop bag). If you did not have status, you would not be allowed the carry-on, but the personal item would still be OK.
3 - You'll board in group 1.
The major changes for you would be:
1 - No E+ (in fact, no advance seat assignment of any kind)
2 - No possibility for a CPU
3 - No PQM / PQD accrual
May 10, 2017, 10:39 pm
#1595
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: UA - Platinum; Starwood - Platinum; Alaska - MVP75; IHG - Platinum; Hilton - Gold; Marriott - Gold
Posts: 670
1 - No change (3 bags at 70 lbs for free)
2 - Incorrect; as a platinum, you may still bring a carry-on plus a personal item (i.e., laptop bag). If you did not have status, you would not be allowed the carry-on, but the personal item would still be OK.
3 - You'll board in group 1.
The major changes for you would be:
1 - No E+ (in fact, no advance seat assignment of any kind)
2 - No possibility for a CPU
3 - No PQM / PQD accrual
2 - Incorrect; as a platinum, you may still bring a carry-on plus a personal item (i.e., laptop bag). If you did not have status, you would not be allowed the carry-on, but the personal item would still be OK.
3 - You'll board in group 1.
The major changes for you would be:
1 - No E+ (in fact, no advance seat assignment of any kind)
2 - No possibility for a CPU
3 - No PQM / PQD accrual
Can I use electronic certificate if flying in basic economy?
Am I entitled to book economy plus seats?
If flying with family (3 people) can they also get access to economy plus seats?
May 10, 2017, 10:51 pm
#1596
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
No economy plus seats for you or the family on a BE fare.
May 10, 2017, 11:00 pm
#1597
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,888
No, you can not book E+ (as previously mentioned) - and you will not get a seat in E- in advnace.
No, no one will be sitting in E+ on a BE fare (save for operational needs (i.e. E- overbooked and only seats remaining are E+).
There's a pretty big difference from what SQ/TG and UA did with regard to mileage accrual. SQ/TG basically have a super cheap fare that earns no miles, and you can pay $100-$200 to upgrade to a fare with more flexibility and 100% mileage (in their own programs). UA gives 5 miles per dollar spent, so paying the premium to upgrade out of BE doesn't earn significantly more RDMs, and with EQMs you still have to make PQD. Also, SQ/TG don't restrict elite benefits on the lowest fares.
Each carrier is doing things a little differently, of course. But let's be clear....it's a different road down the same path.
May 10, 2017, 11:16 pm
#1598
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: UA - Platinum; Starwood - Platinum; Alaska - MVP75; IHG - Platinum; Hilton - Gold; Marriott - Gold
Posts: 670
Thanks a bunch. This really helps.
May 11, 2017, 7:27 am
#1599
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,361
$60 bucks on top of a RT BE ticket that is $425 is not a "small pricing differential." I'm not being required to buy a BE fare. It is actually the opposite - I am not allowed to. Thus, AA is the remaining choice.
My travel policy is actually fairly lenient. We can take a non-stop even if it is significantly more than a 1-stop - there is no cost limit. Business if >2700mi, PE if >5h. This is not a "crappy" travel policy; in fact, I think it is a fairly good one.
But UA is still pricing itself out of it.
My travel policy is actually fairly lenient. We can take a non-stop even if it is significantly more than a 1-stop - there is no cost limit. Business if >2700mi, PE if >5h. This is not a "crappy" travel policy; in fact, I think it is a fairly good one.
But UA is still pricing itself out of it.
It remains to be seen if seeking a small pricing premium for non-BE fares in some markets will work. So far, the strategy appears to be sticking which would indicate there are not negative trends in the advance purchase numbers.
May 11, 2017, 9:57 am
#1600
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: United 1K 1MM
Posts: 65
How to search and exclude basic economy fares
Now that UA has introduced their basic economy fares, which don't earn PQM or PQD, is there an efficient way to search for fares that are not BE? I've looked on Google flights, and the search results include the BE fares, so I am falsely led to a fare that is low, but is BE.
Does anybody have any search strategies to look for fares that will accrue PQM and PQD, without bringing up the BE fares?
Does anybody have any search strategies to look for fares that will accrue PQM and PQD, without bringing up the BE fares?
May 11, 2017, 10:21 am
#1601
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 1,625
Until the 3rd party search engines (google, kayak, etc) update their algorithms to mention basic economy fares, best bet is go to united.com and ignore the Basic Economy fares column. Also, go to advanced search page and in fare codes box enter every code except basic economy (N).
May 11, 2017, 10:35 am
#1602
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
Until the 3rd party search engines (google, kayak, etc) update their algorithms to mention basic economy fares, best bet is go to united.com and ignore the Basic Economy fares column. Also, go to advanced search page and in fare codes box enter every code except basic economy (N).
Hey if you want to stick with an airline that will charge you more on every single flight to use your status, you are welcome to it.
May 11, 2017, 12:06 pm
#1603
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,414
Until the 3rd party search engines (google, kayak, etc) update their algorithms to mention basic economy fares, best bet is go to united.com and ignore the Basic Economy fares column. Also, go to advanced search page and in fare codes box enter every code except basic economy (N).
SFO :: / f !bc=n&!bc=e :: MSP
but you now have the issue that this screens out E fares on United.
May 11, 2017, 12:08 pm
#1604
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 6,912
+1. Even my worst job from a travel policy standpoint allowed something like +/-$100 each way from "least cost logical fare". BE is $25 each way at its worst, as currently implemented.
The United site makes it easy to ignore BE. If you need a multiple airline search the best I've managed is ITA with e.g.
SFO :: / f !bc=n&!bc=e :: MSP
but you now have the issue that this screens out E fares on United.
The United site makes it easy to ignore BE. If you need a multiple airline search the best I've managed is ITA with e.g.
SFO :: / f !bc=n&!bc=e :: MSP
but you now have the issue that this screens out E fares on United.
May 11, 2017, 2:08 pm
#1605
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: ORD
Posts: 82
I was looking for some cheap vacation flights this afternoon and came across an interesting data point that I don't know if anybody has seen yet. For a June 21 one way LAS-ORD the BE fare is $44, with the buy-up to Y for $40.
$44 is still $20 less than Spirit and $84 is way less than anyone else so still a great deal, but I have seen several times here that the largest price difference will be $25 one way so I wonder if the difference is already starting to get larger...
$44 is still $20 less than Spirit and $84 is way less than anyone else so still a great deal, but I have seen several times here that the largest price difference will be $25 one way so I wonder if the difference is already starting to get larger...