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}
Apr 23, 2018, 8:52 am
#3181
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
Especially an E175. I flew DL BE on this route with the same equipment. I had to gatecheck my carry on but I was able to select any available economy seat at 24 hours. My bag was already on the belt when I arrived at baggage claim. Never thought I'd buy BE, but in this case it was great.
Apr 23, 2018, 9:58 am
#3183
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,694
Apr 23, 2018, 6:26 pm
#3184
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
Especially an E175. I flew DL BE on this route with the same equipment. I had to gatecheck my carry on but I was able to select any available economy seat at 24 hours. My bag was already on the belt when I arrived at baggage claim. Never thought I'd buy BE, but in this case it was great.
Apr 23, 2018, 7:00 pm
#3185
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
The only thing is I'll never fly UA BE. UA crossed a line for me with BE not accruing lifetime miles. You fly a paid ticket you earn lifetime miles. Period.
Apr 23, 2018, 11:15 pm
#3187
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
Apr 24, 2018, 9:22 am
#3188
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
Agree with you completely. I am lucky that I reached the 1 million milestone but with no chance to ever get to 2 million, I don't care at this point.
Apr 24, 2018, 11:35 am
#3189
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
Apr 24, 2018, 12:08 pm
#3190
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: AAdvantage, MileagePlus, SkyMiles
Posts: 4,161
Any chance UA will do away with the overhead bag limitation/fee, as DL still hasn't instituted a fee or limitation on their respective BE fares for that?
Apr 24, 2018, 12:15 pm
#3191
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
My guess is UA will take a hybrid approach -- they may allow you to purchase Premier Access atop a BE fare, which would implicitly include the carry-on bag.
Sadly, I think BE is here to stay.
It could be worse, though. Yesterday I found a $1750 VIE-HKG LH group P fare -- business class, with no changes except in case of death of a family member. "Basic Business," I guess. If that works out for LH group, be prepared to keep an eye on UA's business class fare rules....
Apr 24, 2018, 2:52 pm
#3192
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
It could be worse, though. Yesterday I found a $1750 VIE-HKG LH group P fare -- business class, with no changes except in case of death of a family member. "Basic Business," I guess. If that works out for LH group, be prepared to keep an eye on UA's business class fare rules....
Apr 24, 2018, 4:05 pm
#3193
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
we need to make every UA flight count. I cannot, however, justify to pay up to $ 100.00 more so that it books into a segment qualifying fare.
Apr 25, 2018, 8:37 pm
#3194
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: ZVE/BDL
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 57
BE just popped up between IAD and BDL (after months of $47 one way fares). BE is still $47, with a $25 differential. Any chance of BE disappearing again, or should I be kicking myself for not pulling the trigger on buying a couple weeks ago?
Apr 25, 2018, 9:14 pm
#3195
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,423
On some routes it comes and goes.. it could disappear again or it could not. Hard to say.