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}
Jun 20, 2017, 12:48 am
#1966
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
Programs: AA/DL/UA
Posts: 10,766
Somehow Spirit Airlines manages to allow their passengers to check in online 24 hours in advance, despite the fact that you have to pay for a carry-on that goes in the overhead bin.
Does UA think that their Basic Economy customers are dumber than all of Spirit Airlines' customers combined, or is the objective that by putting the screws to Basic Economy ticket holders as hard as possible, they will get more people to pay extra for regular Economy?
Does UA think that their Basic Economy customers are dumber than all of Spirit Airlines' customers combined, or is the objective that by putting the screws to Basic Economy ticket holders as hard as possible, they will get more people to pay extra for regular Economy?
Jun 20, 2017, 6:07 am
#1967
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
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Somehow Spirit Airlines manages to allow their passengers to check in online 24 hours in advance, despite the fact that you have to pay for a carry-on that goes in the overhead bin.
Does UA think that their Basic Economy customers are dumber than all of Spirit Airlines' customers combined, or is the objective that by putting the screws to Basic Economy ticket holders as hard as possible, they will get more people to pay extra for regular Economy?
Does UA think that their Basic Economy customers are dumber than all of Spirit Airlines' customers combined, or is the objective that by putting the screws to Basic Economy ticket holders as hard as possible, they will get more people to pay extra for regular Economy?
Jun 20, 2017, 6:27 am
#1968
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
What is to be seen is whether UA wins in this approach and other airlines adopt the same pricing scheme, or if UA fails. If the latter happens, I may adopt the strategy of switching to DL or AA once my MM is completed and fly with an airline that doesn't make me pay a "tax" to attain status.
Jun 20, 2017, 8:47 am
#1969
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,361
Somehow Spirit Airlines manages to allow their passengers to check in online 24 hours in advance, despite the fact that you have to pay for a carry-on that goes in the overhead bin.
Does UA think that their Basic Economy customers are dumber than all of Spirit Airlines' customers combined, or is the objective that by putting the screws to Basic Economy ticket holders as hard as possible, they will get more people to pay extra for regular Economy?
Does UA think that their Basic Economy customers are dumber than all of Spirit Airlines' customers combined, or is the objective that by putting the screws to Basic Economy ticket holders as hard as possible, they will get more people to pay extra for regular Economy?
Spirit takes a different approach: they raise the price longer you wait to pay for the bag.
Jun 20, 2017, 9:16 am
#1970
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,420
Jun 20, 2017, 9:26 am
#1971
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
I will never be able to buy a super cheap ticket again. Specifically, $84 r.t. DEN-ORD was my favorite. That will now be $124 minimum with the $20 difference between N and G on each segment. Still not bad, but will have to pay it to be able to accrue lifetime miles, sit in E+, earn PQD and PQM, and have an upgrade seat. To add insult to injury, this upcharge exists all the way to M fares.
I understand this is a business and increased revenue is good for the business, but it is going to come at the cost of loyalists, as I will likely choose to fly other airlines once I achieve my MM milestone, which isn't too far away now..... vs. flying United exclusively to achieve higher milestones beyond 1MM. I see a status match to DM on DL coming in 2019.
Jun 20, 2017, 9:28 am
#1972
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Houston/DC
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 564
In my business, there are certain repeating themes with some of my clients. I take steps to mitigate risk on my end and maximize revenue. Isn't that what businesses are supposed to do?
Jun 20, 2017, 9:37 am
#1973
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They charge a $25 penalty if BE pax check at the gate.
So UA is more punitive than Spirit in that it both disallows online check-in and charges a penalty for gate-checking.
I treat my clients with respect. It's sad that some don't see the value in that.
Jun 20, 2017, 9:48 am
#1974
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
My son-in-law scored a $ 500.00 o/w UA ticket LAX-NRT in W which was instantly upgradeable with GPU. He originates out of PHX but the upgrade from there was not available, waitlist only and the ticket price was doubled. To get to LAX he is offered $ 100.00 o/w in BE, reg. economy is + $17.00. He is 1K, so carry on and baggage is no problem for the 45 minute ride. As I understand it UA states "no interlining". Technically he is not interlining, just continuing on an UA flight. Can he check luggage through on two separate tickets, BE and biz? Or does this have nothing to do with BE and depends on the check-in agent?
Jun 20, 2017, 10:12 am
#1975
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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Posts: 56,420
He is 1K, so carry on and baggage is no problem for the 45 minute ride. As I understand it UA states "no interlining". Technically he is not interlining, just continuing on an UA flight. Can he check luggage through on two separate tickets, BE and biz? Or does this have nothing to do with BE and depends on the check-in agent?
Checking bags through on UA-UA separate tix can be a challenge even without this issue. I would leave at least three hours for the connection and assume I will have to reclaim my bag(s) at LAX.
Jun 20, 2017, 10:55 am
#1976
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,016
My son-in-law scored a $ 500.00 o/w UA ticket LAX-NRT in W which was instantly upgradeable with GPU. He originates out of PHX but the upgrade from there was not available, waitlist only and the ticket price was doubled. To get to LAX he is offered $ 100.00 o/w in BE, reg. economy is + $17.00. He is 1K, so carry on and baggage is no problem for the 45 minute ride. As I understand it UA states "no interlining". Technically he is not interlining, just continuing on an UA flight. Can he check luggage through on two separate tickets, BE and biz? Or does this have nothing to do with BE and depends on the check-in agent?
Jun 20, 2017, 11:17 am
#1978
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: 14,426
Jun 20, 2017, 11:29 am
#1979
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
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Jun 20, 2017, 11:44 am
#1980
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Join Date: Sep 2008
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Consider consequences of missing the flight versus $17 (which will give PQMs and upgrade possibility).