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 23, 2017, 4:20 pm
#2011
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oregon
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, UA 1MM Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Plat, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,001
I'm assuming this is a r/t search. They allow you to choose Basic Economy here so that you can also have it available on the return. I agree it's not the greatest system.
Those are all the same fare. There's a bug on .bomb where the same fare shows a slightly different price under different columns.. still not sure why but you can see the PQDs.
Those are all the same fare. There's a bug on .bomb where the same fare shows a slightly different price under different columns.. still not sure why but you can see the PQDs.
Jun 23, 2017, 4:21 pm
#2012
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tx
Programs: AA, UA, WN
Posts: 812
So now that BE has infected my home airport, UA is matching WN with their BE fares....I can't wait to book it....
. We have several trips with non elite members so now I don't have a convincing argument to fly UA. Thank you UA for making the WN decision easier. 
Did the $1B revenue claim include revenue to other carriers?
. We have several trips with non elite members so now I don't have a convincing argument to fly UA. Thank you UA for making the WN decision easier. Did the $1B revenue claim include revenue to other carriers?
Jun 23, 2017, 4:28 pm
#2013
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oregon
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, UA 1MM Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Plat, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,001
So now that BE has infected my home airport, UA is matching WN with their BE fares....I can't wait to book it..... We have several trips with non elite members so now I don't have a convincing argument to fly UA. Thank you UA for making the WN decision easier.
Did the $1B revenue claim include revenue to other carriers?
. We have several trips with non elite members so now I don't have a convincing argument to fly UA. Thank you UA for making the WN decision easier. Did the $1B revenue claim include revenue to other carriers?
IMO, matching Spirit with BE fares is a lot different than matching Southwest. WN allows for free carry-ons and checked bags, and theoretically A group boarding, with even their Wanna Get Away fares.... I think that is a stupid move. Stooo-pid.
Jun 23, 2017, 5:08 pm
#2014
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
I was searching for some positioning fares and even with a trip to SEA to catch Southwest, they are WAY more expensive than legacies for flights to Texas. Spirit is naturally cheapest, but UA almost matches on some days. But WN is WAY more expensive.
Jun 23, 2017, 5:57 pm
#2015
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tx
Programs: AA, UA, WN
Posts: 812
Just how much more is the non-BE fare?
IMO, matching Spirit with BE fares is a lot different than matching Southwest. WN allows for free carry-ons and checked bags, and theoretically A group boarding, with even their Wanna Get Away fares.... I think that is a stupid move. Stooo-pid.
IMO, matching Spirit with BE fares is a lot different than matching Southwest. WN allows for free carry-ons and checked bags, and theoretically A group boarding, with even their Wanna Get Away fares.... I think that is a stupid move. Stooo-pid.
Also drinks are only $5 on wn
Jun 23, 2017, 6:07 pm
#2016
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,478
For SFO-SAN next Thursday, UA selling either a $249 N fare or a fully flexible $255 U fare. The U is the lowest non-BE fare that can be purchased on this route within seven days of departure.
I thought UA wasn't selling BE when only flexible fares are on sale.
Regardless this is just insane. Anyone with a booking portal that requires cheapest fare will get royally screwed here due to the $6 differential between a BE fare and a fully flexible fare.
I thought UA wasn't selling BE when only flexible fares are on sale.
Regardless this is just insane. Anyone with a booking portal that requires cheapest fare will get royally screwed here due to the $6 differential between a BE fare and a fully flexible fare.
Jun 23, 2017, 6:14 pm
#2017
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
Or is UA really trying to screw road warriors (thankfully not one anymore).
Jun 23, 2017, 6:21 pm
#2018
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA 1K 25 years/2MM, Honors LT Diamond, AVIS & Hertz Prez Club
Posts: 4,753
Jun 23, 2017, 6:23 pm
#2019
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: dark side of the moon
Programs: papa card, UA 1K
Posts: 707
I think UA is ultimately screwing itself in the medium term which in a weird way should be good for elites as it will need to hold on to them therefore less chance MP will be further devalued......
Jun 23, 2017, 6:39 pm
#2020
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,478
WN has raised its Anytime fares from SFO/OAK to SAN . . . They're now $17-19 higher than UA's flexible fare. My theory is they're seeing business pax fleeing the UA BE fares on this route.
Jun 23, 2017, 7:11 pm
#2021
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: DL Gold, UA nothing (ex-GS), Marriott lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 920
WN sounds like a no brainer for this trip, but I would try to get it all on 1 PNR or you’ll never be able to sit together
Jun 23, 2017, 10:13 pm
#2022
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,424
Now if you're getting VX F for that price too...
Code:
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Cxr Basis BC Cbn Price Tp AP Min Max Days Rf ---------------------------------------------------------------------- UA HAA0AKBN N Y $234.00 OW N UA UAA0AKEY U Y $240.00 OW Y UA URA0AKBR N Y $240.00 RT N UA HAA0AKEN H Y $249.00 OW N
Jun 23, 2017, 10:26 pm
#2023
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,478
Jun 23, 2017, 10:39 pm
#2024
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,424
Jun 23, 2017, 10:53 pm
#2025
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,478