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 30, 2017, 12:05 pm
#2056
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,469
Can someone explain why this is happening / what this means?
Searched UA.com for a one way flight:
Where: LAX - ORD
Date: 08/17
Filtered by: "Nonstop Only"
It shows that a basic economy ticket costs $258 while a normal economy costs $243. Screenshot attached.
Why? How? Huh? It's a little early for Saturday website shenanigans and I assume this isn't normal...
Searched UA.com for a one way flight:
Where: LAX - ORD
Date: 08/17
Filtered by: "Nonstop Only"
It shows that a basic economy ticket costs $258 while a normal economy costs $243. Screenshot attached.
Why? How? Huh? It's a little early for Saturday website shenanigans and I assume this isn't normal...
For this trip, the price of standard Economy is the same or lower than the price of Basic Economy.
We’ve updated your itinerary to standard Economy, which has fewer restrictions.
We’ve updated your itinerary to standard Economy, which has fewer restrictions.
Jun 30, 2017, 12:07 pm
#2057
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
Jun 30, 2017, 1:21 pm
#2058
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
I had even crazier back in Post 2009
Jun 30, 2017, 2:39 pm
#2059
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
Looks like they forgot to publish an N match for WAA3AKEN on LAX/ORD. The BE fare is actually a much more expensive S-BN fare.
Ironic that adding an algorithmic post-fix seems to have been deemed easier than telling the fare writers to get their house in order.
Ironic that adding an algorithmic post-fix seems to have been deemed easier than telling the fare writers to get their house in order.
Jun 30, 2017, 2:41 pm
#2060
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
Jul 3, 2017, 7:52 am
#2061
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: A menace to everything in the sky. Yes. Even birds.
Programs: Eh+ Rapid Rolleyes
Posts: 14,519
I noticed this morning that BE fares are now showing as sold out when the lower Y fares aren't offered.
I'm not sure if this is set via a price thresh-hold or fare bucket (assuming the latter). Assuming this is not a holiday weekend glitch this seems to be a back-tracking of UA offering BE fares on expensive Y tickets.
Curious what triggered this - a backlash from angry customers, an attrition of corporate bookings, or just common sense finally prevailing that charging people $900 for a one-way fare and then asking them to pony up $20 for a seat assignment wasn't exactly a good business move.
Anyone have more details?
I'm not sure if this is set via a price thresh-hold or fare bucket (assuming the latter). Assuming this is not a holiday weekend glitch this seems to be a back-tracking of UA offering BE fares on expensive Y tickets.
Curious what triggered this - a backlash from angry customers, an attrition of corporate bookings, or just common sense finally prevailing that charging people $900 for a one-way fare and then asking them to pony up $20 for a seat assignment wasn't exactly a good business move.
Anyone have more details?
Jul 3, 2017, 8:00 am
#2062
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Bay Area - East Bay
Programs: UA 1k, AS 75k, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 641
I'm right here 
. I'd be booking domestic BE 100% of the time on UA if status miles were included. Elite status ensures I'm exempt from most of the restrictions. UA irrops also isn't too bad domestically. Internationally it's a different deal, as UA has awful performance on long hauls out of most hubs.
. I'd be booking domestic BE 100% of the time on UA if status miles were included. Elite status ensures I'm exempt from most of the restrictions. UA irrops also isn't too bad domestically. Internationally it's a different deal, as UA has awful performance on long hauls out of most hubs.
Jul 3, 2017, 8:42 am
#2063
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Houston/DC
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 564
I noticed this morning that BE fares are now showing as sold out when the lower Y fares aren't offered.
I'm not sure if this is set via a price thresh-hold or fare bucket (assuming the latter). Assuming this is not a holiday weekend glitch this seems to be a back-tracking of UA offering BE fares on expensive Y tickets.
Curious what triggered this - a backlash from angry customers, an attrition of corporate bookings, or just common sense finally prevailing that charging people $900 for a one-way fare and then asking them to pony up $20 for a seat assignment wasn't exactly a good business move.
Anyone have more details?
I'm not sure if this is set via a price thresh-hold or fare bucket (assuming the latter). Assuming this is not a holiday weekend glitch this seems to be a back-tracking of UA offering BE fares on expensive Y tickets.
Curious what triggered this - a backlash from angry customers, an attrition of corporate bookings, or just common sense finally prevailing that charging people $900 for a one-way fare and then asking them to pony up $20 for a seat assignment wasn't exactly a good business move.
Anyone have more details?
Jul 3, 2017, 9:06 am
#2064
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
). In addition to the regular -N and -Y fares, they've added -S (making the BE fare -BS... truth in advertising?) They've also published -FS and -FN first class fares to go along with the /UPDI series. Example, at $303, KAA2AKES/UPDI and KAG2AKFS are both published; KAA2AGFN is $318.AUS-DTW, on the other hand, is still publishing BE for every non-refundable fare.
Jul 3, 2017, 1:41 pm
#2065
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
The -F- fares have been on the market for several months now. They are the reintroduction of "true" Premium cabin fares to the domestic market, vs. the /UPDI fares which book into a premium booking class at the time of booking but are otherwise Economy fares in every aspect.
Jul 3, 2017, 1:56 pm
#2066
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Aurora, CO
Programs: Statusless and proud
Posts: 7,582
Just booked a BE fare from DEN-MCI. I'm a credit card holder, so I can just check my bag. I'm flying alone, so don't really care where I sit. I don't have status anymore, so wasn't eligible for E+ anyway. It's a 2-2 configuration, so no middle seat. And I'm not intending on getting close to status this year nor MM ever. Any reason I should have shelled out the extra $40?
Chris
Chris
Jul 3, 2017, 3:35 pm
#2067
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
Credit card holders board with Group 2 and can carry on their bag.
Maybe IRROPS? Reports earlier on this thread that they won't put you on another airline unless there are no United options for the next 48 hours.
But, I'd say, "no".
Any reason I should have shelled out the extra $40
But, I'd say, "no".
Jul 3, 2017, 4:22 pm
#2068
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
It appears to be a market-by-market thing. AUS-SFO is no longer showing BE above an S fare, and they appear to have rolled out a new set of fares. (findark, I think they just enjoy keeping you busy ). In addition to the regular -N and -Y fares, they've added -S (making the BE fare -BS... truth in advertising?) They've also published -FS and -FN first class fares to go along with the /UPDI series. Example, at $303, KAA2AKES/UPDI and KAG2AKFS are both published; KAA2AGFN is $318.
AUS-DTW, on the other hand, is still publishing BE for every non-refundable fare.
). In addition to the regular -N and -Y fares, they've added -S (making the BE fare -BS... truth in advertising?) They've also published -FS and -FN first class fares to go along with the /UPDI series. Example, at $303, KAA2AKES/UPDI and KAG2AKFS are both published; KAA2AGFN is $318.AUS-DTW, on the other hand, is still publishing BE for every non-refundable fare.
Definitely market by market, as the others I peeked at haven't changed. I'd like to believe this is a sign of UA folding and going to the DL strategy, but only time will tell.
-S fares (in eighth position) are a normal thing; they are special/sale/"your favorite s-word here" fares, and are always heavily discounted fares that are non-refundable and have a close-in sell-by date. (No practical difference that I can tell from -N but *shrug*).
-FN versus /UPDI is new and weird. The latter prohibits nonstop routing, but is otherwise mostly similar; I wonder if it's possible that a long routing would trigger a different fare-by-rule provision and a higher fare. They've also introduced -K- (-KN/-KY) fares which book into F, are more expensive, have a higher premium RBD, and have weird restrictions.
But this is a little OT for BE.
Jul 5, 2017, 3:01 pm
#2069
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 687
As was reported on TPG, the Kirby “there will always be one Basic Economy seat available” thinking is gone, and now only at the lowest available level is Basic Economy available.
So, if the cheap fare codes are gone, there will be no Basic Economy!
https://thepointsguy.com/2017/07/uni...y-improvement/
So, if the cheap fare codes are gone, there will be no Basic Economy!
https://thepointsguy.com/2017/07/uni...y-improvement/
Jul 5, 2017, 3:26 pm
#2070
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
As was reported on TPG, the Kirby “there will always be one Basic Economy seat available” thinking is gone, and now only at the lowest available level is Basic Economy available.
So, if the cheap fare codes are gone, there will be no Basic Economy!
https://thepointsguy.com/2017/07/uni...y-improvement/
So, if the cheap fare codes are gone, there will be no Basic Economy!
https://thepointsguy.com/2017/07/uni...y-improvement/
But certainly welcome.
Note I see BE being sold down to a W on SFO-SAN.