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}
Jan 2, 2018, 11:37 am
#3092
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
This worked for me, I hold an Explorer card and bought a BE ticket with my CSR (didn't use my Explorer card at all) and had my MileagePlus number on my reservation and I was in BG2 and brought a full-size carryon, as did my companion on the same PNR.
Jan 2, 2018, 11:01 pm
#3093
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
You have other choices if AS, HA (both legacies), B6 or WN fly between the cities you want. The big three have often been price matching these carriers lowest fares, with BE fares. Why would anyone choose a UA BE fare for the same price as a normal economy ticket on any if these carriers?
Jan 4, 2018, 2:58 pm
#3094
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Platinum Elite, National Executive, United Gold
Posts: 1,181
Odd pricing strategy:
Jan 4, 2018, 3:03 pm
#3095
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO/SJC/OAK
Programs: OZ Diamond (*G), KQ Asante Gold (ST+), Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,511
Jan 4, 2018, 4:54 pm
#3096
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,694
Jan 4, 2018, 9:23 pm
#3097
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Platinum Elite, National Executive, United Gold
Posts: 1,181
Jan 11, 2018, 8:14 pm
#3098
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: United Silver
Posts: 10
What just happened?
so i need a last minute flight from CHI - DC. United offers 300 dollar flights to DCA and 100 $ flights to BWI. Which is an hour away. I get pissed off. The flights to DCA are all pretty empty, and i begin to rail at United for being evil/greedy -- especially because the 100 dollar flight is basic economy, and my platinum status wont give me an upgrade to Economy Plus seating, which is all i care about. Anyway, i do the 100 buck basic economy seat because i dont like paying an extra 200 bucks for an economy plus seat which is what i thought i was guaranteeing with all my mileage runs last year
i walk to the back of the plane depressed -- and then discover that my seat is 8A a nice economy plus seat, especially after they throw out the women in the row next to me for trying to sit there with a different seat assignment.
So...why did they give me this economy plus upgrade, i didnt even ask for it!
i walk to the back of the plane depressed -- and then discover that my seat is 8A a nice economy plus seat, especially after they throw out the women in the row next to me for trying to sit there with a different seat assignment.
So...why did they give me this economy plus upgrade, i didnt even ask for it!
Jan 11, 2018, 8:39 pm
#3099
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
There have been widespread reports of Premiers on BE fares being auto-assigned E+ if it remains. However, if you fly BE you won't stay Premier for long.
Not really surprising to see a huge premium for DCA - it is after all a lot more convenient than BWI. Even most Scrooge-like company policies would endorse it.
Not really surprising to see a huge premium for DCA - it is after all a lot more convenient than BWI. Even most Scrooge-like company policies would endorse it.
Jan 11, 2018, 9:21 pm
#3100
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
Jan 12, 2018, 4:06 pm
#3101
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
United offers 300 dollar flights to DCA and 100 $ flights to BWI.... the 100 dollar flight is basic economy, and my platinum status wont give me an upgrade to Economy Plus seating, which is all i care about. Anyway, i do the 100 buck basic economy seat because i dont like paying an extra 200 bucks for an economy plus
Jan 16, 2018, 6:20 pm
#3102
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
Mrs. EX flew home to NRT today. Two different itineraries. PHX-LAX BE, LAX-NRT GPU upgrade. Agent in PHX not happy about two itineraries and warnings about being unable to check luggage through all the way ( "the U.S. Government does not like when you do two separate itineraries" ). But in the end she did her the favor and we graciously thanked her. Incidentally, she was able to do OLCI on both itineraries and got a windows seat in E+ on the BE portion. They went to a 739 from the original E190. Wasn't as cheap as SW, but certainly more convenient. Also she got lounge access at PHX.
Jan 16, 2018, 6:23 pm
#3103
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
Jan 17, 2018, 4:06 pm
#3104
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
Interesting.. as of today, UA removed Basic Economy from SFO-MSP, one of the original rollout markets. Not sure if it's a mistake or due to competition from AS. DL has not matched yet, but I'm taking these $89 G fares to the bank.
Jan 17, 2018, 9:06 pm
#3105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,891
Are you sure they removed it, or just screwed up how it works. Did a SFO-MSP search on Feb. 23 - 27 (random dates), and see the $89 G fare, but there is also BE available on the same flight at $119. There are reports of similar upthread. Probably a error somewhere in the implentation of the N fares, or the N is matching to a higher regular class for some reason.