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}
Sep 13, 2017, 5:05 pm
#2791
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: Hertz PC
Posts: 657
If it a roller carryon they are [over-enforcers]. But they don't care how big of a backpack a person uses.
Last edited by Ocn Vw 1K; Sep 13, 2017 at 9:22 pm Reason: As a substitute for member's use of offensive term per FT Rule 16.
Sep 13, 2017, 5:06 pm
#2792
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
NOW, it's even MORE maddening!
I called Chase again. I'm again told that I have a Mileage Plus Signature Card, and, that this card DOES include a free checked bag, but nothing mentioned about Priority Boarding. . . .
So, I decided to check my Chase account online. When I click on "CARD BENEFITS", it takes me to THIS page:
I called Chase again. I'm again told that I have a Mileage Plus Signature Card, and, that this card DOES include a free checked bag, but nothing mentioned about Priority Boarding. . . .
So, I decided to check my Chase account online. When I click on "CARD BENEFITS", it takes me to THIS page:
Sep 13, 2017, 5:15 pm
#2793
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,019
NOW, it's even MORE maddening!
I called Chase again. I'm again told that I have a Mileage Plus Signature Card, and, that this card DOES include a free checked bag, but nothing mentioned about Priority Boarding. . . .
So, I decided to check my Chase account online. When I click on "CARD BENEFITS", it takes me to THIS page:
I called Chase again. I'm again told that I have a Mileage Plus Signature Card, and, that this card DOES include a free checked bag, but nothing mentioned about Priority Boarding. . . .
So, I decided to check my Chase account online. When I click on "CARD BENEFITS", it takes me to THIS page:
Not true. I have seen UA call out a backpack that was clearly larger than a personal carry-on. No point in suggesting one can expect to get away with something that does not conform:
Personal item
The maximum dimensions for your personal item that fits under the seat in front of you, such as a shoulder bag, purse, laptop bag or other small item, are 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm). If you are traveling on a Basic Economy ticket, your personal item will be the only item you can bring on board.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 13, 2017 at 7:55 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member; please use multi-quote
Sep 13, 2017, 5:24 pm
#2794
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
I HAVE gotten the free checked bag in the past, but, NEVER got the priority boarding on my BP. I had to ask / beg for it.
I think the Chase link is incorrect, because they don't have an online page anymore with the benefits of the card I have from the CO days, so, they show the Explorer page, which is WRONG!
Sep 13, 2017, 7:47 pm
#2795
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion; IHG Platinum; Marriott Gold; Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,071
davetravels: I have one of those old cards in addition to a Club Card (and I have Platinum status). But I do know that the old card comes with few flight benefits. If you don't get priority boarding, and I doubt you do, then you won't be allowed to bring a carry-on onto the plane. You'll be in Group 5 which is the defined group for no carry-ons that won't fit under the seat in front of you.
As an aside, I keep the old card because I earn 5,000 PQMs each year for $5,000 spend on united.com. And I get triple award miles for every dollar I spend on United. If your card does that then I don't think you get Priority Boarding with it.
As an aside, I keep the old card because I earn 5,000 PQMs each year for $5,000 spend on united.com. And I get triple award miles for every dollar I spend on United. If your card does that then I don't think you get Priority Boarding with it.
Sep 13, 2017, 8:10 pm
#2796
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
Diminishing fare differentials?
Are the fare differentials between N and underlying class getting smaller? The +$x seems to have reduced from a ridiculous $40/segment on several routes to $20 or $15, and I'm almost ready to buy a UA ticket again.
Sep 13, 2017, 8:54 pm
#2797
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
It very much depends upon the route and the fare class. $40 seems to be the going rate for G fares in most markets; then, $15-$20 seems standard for K and L fares. But, they've eliminated entirely in some markets, and there was a report of a (seemingly intentional) $208 difference recently. The overall trend seems positive for the customer, but we may see more tweaks at any time.
Sep 13, 2017, 9:02 pm
#2798
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
It very much depends upon the route and the fare class. $40 seems to be the going rate for G fares in most markets; then, $15-$20 seems standard for K and L fares. But, they've eliminated entirely in some markets, and there was a report of a (seemingly intentional) $208 difference recently. The overall trend seems positive for the customer, but we may see more tweaks at any time.
Sep 13, 2017, 9:13 pm
#2799
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,453
Sep 13, 2017, 9:24 pm
#2800
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
Sorry, I should have been more specific, and perhaps I'm behind the times—for a while my impression was that the going rate had risen to $40 for even K and L fares, but the surcharge for those seems to have fallen to $15-$20. Perhaps some part of that is mistaken, though, as I'd not been attentively tracking.
What I was describing is what I've seen in the past week or so -- along with BE being removed entirely from some routes ^ -- and, except for the $40 on G, has mostly been an improvement. K/L fares at $30 were common for a while as UA played with its price points to see what people would pay.But Kacee is definitely correct -- it's market-by-market.
Sep 13, 2017, 9:30 pm
#2801
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,453
I, too, should have been more specific. What I was describing is what I've seen in the past week or so -- along with BE being removed entirely from some routes ^ -- and, except for the $40 on G, has mostly been an improvement. K/L fares at $30 were common for a while as UA played with its price points to see what people would pay.
What I was describing is what I've seen in the past week or so -- along with BE being removed entirely from some routes ^ -- and, except for the $40 on G, has mostly been an improvement. K/L fares at $30 were common for a while as UA played with its price points to see what people would pay.I'm on SAN-SFO on Friday . . . it's booked "Full" in Y and blocked 1 one in F but with 45 empty Y seats (on a 738). That sounds like an awful lot of BE pax.
Sep 13, 2017, 9:47 pm
#2802
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
Sep 14, 2017, 3:35 pm
#2804
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
Sep 15, 2017, 6:41 pm
#2805
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 121
...it's literally double the cost of the flight; seems like they no longer cap it at $40.