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}
Aug 15, 2017, 2:08 pm
#2431
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,158
I was criticized for saying it at the time, but months later I'll say it again: This is exactly what happened with Tango fares on Air Canada - I'm sure United watched with interest.
At first the delta was very small - Over time it grew and grew.
Today, on a YYZ-YVR return fare, the Tango difference is $300 USD ($500 USD vs $800 USD).
The same will happen here - Not overnight, but it will happen. Mark my words.
At first the delta was very small - Over time it grew and grew.
Today, on a YYZ-YVR return fare, the Tango difference is $300 USD ($500 USD vs $800 USD).
The same will happen here - Not overnight, but it will happen. Mark my words.
This is where UA is going to fail. Why on earth would someone choose UA over WN in this situation??
Aug 15, 2017, 2:12 pm
#2432
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,470
Haven't noticed BE fare differentials much until recently. Looking at a high-frequency route like DEN-SFO is showing price consistency among all the carriers - but only if comparing against BE fares. Regular economy adds a 45% premium!!
This is where UA is going to fail. Why on earth would someone choose UA over WN in this situation??
This is where UA is going to fail. Why on earth would someone choose UA over WN in this situation??
Aug 15, 2017, 2:21 pm
#2433
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,419
Here's hoping they fail and have to roll back. I really don't know who this fare is supposed to target -- business travelers aren't known for booking G fares, and price-sensitive leisure travelers may very well prefer to get a full size carry-on and two free checked bags on WN. So, I guess... they're hoping to target price-insensitive Premiers on leisure travel? That's a fairly narrow target.
Aug 15, 2017, 2:37 pm
#2434
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,158
Aug 15, 2017, 3:10 pm
#2435
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
This is another example of UA trying out a wider spread at the lowest fare classes; it's $40 each way on G fares and $20 each way on K fares. You're seeing that odd amount because it's pricing two G--BN fares for basic economy but a mix of K and G for regular economy.
Here's hoping they fail and have to roll back. I really don't know who this fare is supposed to target -- business travelers aren't known for booking G fares, and price-sensitive leisure travelers may very well prefer to get a full size carry-on and two free checked bags on WN. So, I guess... they're hoping to target price-insensitive Premiers on leisure travel? That's a fairly narrow target.
Here's hoping they fail and have to roll back. I really don't know who this fare is supposed to target -- business travelers aren't known for booking G fares, and price-sensitive leisure travelers may very well prefer to get a full size carry-on and two free checked bags on WN. So, I guess... they're hoping to target price-insensitive Premiers on leisure travel? That's a fairly narrow target.
Aug 16, 2017, 11:51 am
#2436
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: MSP/ORD
Programs: UA 1MM/GS, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 318
Looking just now at one-way ORD-MSP pricing on Sep 10th across various flights.
I still see a $40 BE differential on the one flight where G is available, and a $20 BE differential on flights where K or L is the lowest available fare class.
However I saw two things I hadn't seen before. First, on a flight where W is the lowest available fare class, they aren't selling BE. Second, there's a flight where T is the lowest available fare class, and the BE differential is $0 - they'll sell a BE N fare at $110, or a non-BE T fare at $110.
I still see a $40 BE differential on the one flight where G is available, and a $20 BE differential on flights where K or L is the lowest available fare class.
However I saw two things I hadn't seen before. First, on a flight where W is the lowest available fare class, they aren't selling BE. Second, there's a flight where T is the lowest available fare class, and the BE differential is $0 - they'll sell a BE N fare at $110, or a non-BE T fare at $110.
Aug 16, 2017, 12:15 pm
#2437
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
However I saw two things I hadn't seen before. First, on a flight where W is the lowest available fare class, they aren't selling BE. Second, there's a flight where T is the lowest available fare class, and the BE differential is $0 - they'll sell a BE N fare at $110, or a non-BE T fare at $110.
The $0 differential at T is an error. They published TAA0AWEN but forgot TAA0AWBN, and coincidentally TAA7AWBN happens to be the same price as the original fare. It's really mind-boggling that these sort of mistakes not only happen, but seem to be common.
Aug 16, 2017, 2:31 pm
#2438
formerly fkhatibloo
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SFO/OAK
Programs: United 1K & 1MM, Marriott Gold, Starwood Gold, Omni Select
Posts: 182
SFO-MCO... Heaven for BE issues
On UA292 for a business trip. I'm guessing 2/3 of this flight is in Basic Economy fares, given the length of the Group 5 line and the number of groups that have been split up. Woman just asked me to give up 7F for a middle so she could sit with her 12-ish year old daughter.
The gentleman in 7C is a much better person than I am, clearly.
What a show
The gentleman in 7C is a much better person than I am, clearly.
What a show
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 16, 2017 at 3:26 pm Reason: Using symbols, spaces or other methods to mask vulgarities is not allowed.
Aug 16, 2017, 4:11 pm
#2439
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,621
Here's hoping they fail and have to roll back. I really don't know who this fare is supposed to target -- business travelers aren't known for booking G fares, and price-sensitive leisure travelers may very well prefer to get a full size carry-on and two free checked bags on WN. So, I guess... they're hoping to target price-insensitive Premiers on leisure travel? That's a fairly narrow target.
Aug 16, 2017, 4:24 pm
#2440
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 2
If you purchase a basic ticket can you still check a free bag if you have the united CC? Also, if you are not assigned a seat and the flight full what would happen if only economy plus seats are left open?
Aug 16, 2017, 4:29 pm
#2441
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
Yes, you still have a free checked bag. If there are no E- seats left, you will be assigned a seat in E+, although note that a lot of Silvers move up in the 24 hours before departure so a full E- cabin now does not guarantee such at check-in.
Aug 16, 2017, 5:26 pm
#2442
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
That reflects the timing of the BE roll-out. As time passes, fewer of the pax who purchase tickets based solely on lowest price will have bought their tix prior to the BE roll-out.
Nor is the large number of BE pax a sign of success. UA doesn't want to sell lots of BE tix (especially now that they've limited the fares to the discount classes). They want customers to be paying up to get out of these fares.
Nor is the large number of BE pax a sign of success. UA doesn't want to sell lots of BE tix (especially now that they've limited the fares to the discount classes). They want customers to be paying up to get out of these fares.
Aug 16, 2017, 5:32 pm
#2443
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Aug 16, 2017, 5:48 pm
#2444
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Auckland, NZ
Posts: 929
There are 2 of us travlling LAS to SFO on UA (booked as 2 PNRs) pure domestic fares this month. We were both Star Gold back in June when the reservations were made and it reflected on the email confirmed (1st bag free). Now neither of us are Star Gold and it shows USD25 per check bag.
Because we entered New Zealand billing address, we were directed to United New Zealand website and paid by NZD (not USD). Booking class "United Economy (S)". We are able to select seats and online view reservation says we are allowed 1 carry-on bag + personal item, and various of upgrade options to E+ and F.
My question is one the day of travel, can UA agents tell we are eligible for a carry-on each? Were we booked into Basic Economy?
Because we entered New Zealand billing address, we were directed to United New Zealand website and paid by NZD (not USD). Booking class "United Economy (S)". We are able to select seats and online view reservation says we are allowed 1 carry-on bag + personal item, and various of upgrade options to E+ and F.
My question is one the day of travel, can UA agents tell we are eligible for a carry-on each? Were we booked into Basic Economy?
Aug 16, 2017, 5:50 pm
#2445
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,419
The most visible sign of failure would be empty seats. A less visible sign of failure would be decreased PRASM -- if people are moving away from UA because they offer BE on higher fares, UA's fare mix would skew lower.
Booking class "United Economy (S)". We are able to select seats and online view reservation says we are allowed 1 carry-on bag + personal item, and various of upgrade options to E+ and F.
My question is one the day of travel, can UA agents tell we are eligible for a carry-on each? Were we booked into Basic Economy?
My question is one the day of travel, can UA agents tell we are eligible for a carry-on each? Were we booked into Basic Economy?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 16, 2017 at 5:59 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member