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}
May 26, 2018, 4:23 pm
#3211
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Greetings all, I am based in the ar East and the UK. I have never tied UA BE before. I'll have two companions and I am a * Gold. It says on UA website that the BE's restrictions on carry-on are waived. Does that mean 2 o my companions would get a carry-on and one personal item?
If you have purchased Basic Economy, you will only be allowed one personal item, unless you are a Premier® member or a primary card member using a qualifying MileagePlus credit card.1 Everyone else who is traveling on a Basic Economy ticket and brings a full-sized carry-on bag to the gate will be required to check their bag and pay the applicable checked bag fee plus a $25 gate handling charge. Payment is by credit card only.
May 26, 2018, 5:08 pm
#3212
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
The rules are on UA's website. The passenger requesting the carry-on waiver must be a UA Premier member. From your profile, it does not appear that you have UA status and thus you would be limited to one personal item, as would your companion. It is possible that an agent would let you board with the second piece, but your companion clearly not. Note that if your second piece does need to be checked, UA will assess you not only the bag fee but a $25 penalty. The risk calculation is up to you.
If you have purchased Basic Economy, you will only be allowed one personal item, unless you are a Premier® member or a primary card member using a qualifying MileagePlus credit card.1 Everyone else who is traveling on a Basic Economy ticket and brings a full-sized carry-on bag to the gate will be required to check their bag and pay the applicable checked bag fee plus a $25 gate handling charge. Payment is by credit card only.
If you have purchased Basic Economy, you will only be allowed one personal item, unless you are a Premier® member or a primary card member using a qualifying MileagePlus credit card.1 Everyone else who is traveling on a Basic Economy ticket and brings a full-sized carry-on bag to the gate will be required to check their bag and pay the applicable checked bag fee plus a $25 gate handling charge. Payment is by credit card only.
Q: What is my carry-on baggage allowance when I buy a Basic Economy ticket?
A: With Basic Economy, you'll be allowed to bring on board one personal item that fits under the seat in front of you, such as a shoulder bag, purse, laptop bag or other small item that is 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm) or less. Mobility aids and other assistive devices are also permitted. You will not be allowed a full-sized carry-on bag unless you're a MileagePlus Premier member, a primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit cardor a Star AllianceTM Gold member.
A: With Basic Economy, you'll be allowed to bring on board one personal item that fits under the seat in front of you, such as a shoulder bag, purse, laptop bag or other small item that is 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm) or less. Mobility aids and other assistive devices are also permitted. You will not be allowed a full-sized carry-on bag unless you're a MileagePlus Premier member, a primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit cardor a Star AllianceTM Gold member.
* Customers who have purchased a Basic Economy ticket will be in the last boarding group, with the exception of Premier members, Chase Cardmembers of qualifying cards and Star Alliance Gold members, who will still receive their priority boarding.
I forget if *G same-PNR companions get BG2, which is OP's original question here (I know Chase cardholders and UA Gold do, not sure about *G).
OP, regardless of answers here you can double-check when you check in online. If your companions' boarding passes say "Boarding Group 2" you are fine. If they say "Boarding Group 5" they will have to check the bag (and cheaper to do that at the counter than waiting till the gate). Yours should say BG2 regardless.
May 26, 2018, 8:45 pm
#3213
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
Basically, *G gets you Boarding Group 2. Anyone in BG2 is allowed the full normal carry-on plus personal item. Anyone in BG5 is not.
I forget if *G same-PNR companions get BG2, which is OP's original question here (I know Chase cardholders and UA Gold do, not sure about *G).
I forget if *G same-PNR companions get BG2, which is OP's original question here (I know Chase cardholders and UA Gold do, not sure about *G).
May 26, 2018, 9:57 pm
#3214
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
Funny, non-UA*G is probably the people who should be most inclined to buy BE, as you get the carry on bag waiver, UC access, no BG5 boarding, and you wouldn't have gotten E+ for free automatically anyway. Doubly so if the original fare class would have earned 0 or 10-25% miles only in your FFP.
May 27, 2018, 12:29 am
#3215
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
Funny, non-UA*G is probably the people who should be most inclined to buy BE, as you get the carry on bag waiver, UC access, no BG5 boarding, and you wouldn't have gotten E+ for free automatically anyway. Doubly so if the original fare class would have earned 0 or 10-25% miles only in your FFP.
May 27, 2018, 6:27 am
#3216
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
May 27, 2018, 7:20 pm
#3217
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,653
Greetings all, I am based in the ar East and the UK. I have never tied UA BE before. I'll have two companions and I am a * Gold. It says on UA website that the BE's restrictions on carry-on are waived. Does that mean 2 o my companions would get a carry-on and one personal item?
Take a look a the Basic Economy frequently asked questions.
May 28, 2018, 2:06 am
#3218
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: YVR/YUL/LHR/HKG
Programs: TK Gold
Posts: 577
For MileagePlus Explorer Card holders, the luggage restrictions are waived for the member and one companion traveling on the same reservation. I suspect that it is the same for elite frequent fliers.
Take a look a the Basic Economy frequently asked questions.
Take a look a the Basic Economy frequently asked questions.
A: Yes, if you are a primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card at the time of check-in and you provided your MileagePlus number when purchasing a Basic Economy ticket, you and travel companions on the same reservation will maintain your boarding priority and be allowed to bring a full-sized carry-on bag on board if space permits.
I'm aware of it and I am confused with the use of the word "companionS" I'd suppose usually one of my companion would get the perks; however, just not sure when I have two companions traveling with me in same PNRs
Called UA's Hong Kong hotline they weren't sure as well.
May 28, 2018, 9:41 am
#3219
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,653
Q: If my MileagePlus credit card qualifies for priority boarding benefits, will those benefits apply on Basic Economy tickets?
A: Yes, if you are a primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card at the time of check-in and you provided your MileagePlus number when purchasing a Basic Economy ticket, you and travel companions on the same reservation will maintain your boarding priority and be allowed to bring a full-sized carry-on bag on board if space permits.
I'm aware of it and I am confused with the use of the word "companionS" I'd suppose usually one of my companion would get the perks; however, just not sure when I have two companions traveling with me in same PNRs
Called UA's Hong Kong hotline they weren't sure as well.
A: Yes, if you are a primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card at the time of check-in and you provided your MileagePlus number when purchasing a Basic Economy ticket, you and travel companions on the same reservation will maintain your boarding priority and be allowed to bring a full-sized carry-on bag on board if space permits.
I'm aware of it and I am confused with the use of the word "companionS" I'd suppose usually one of my companion would get the perks; however, just not sure when I have two companions traveling with me in same PNRs
Called UA's Hong Kong hotline they weren't sure as well.
MileagePlus® Explorer Card member and one companion on the same reservation are each eligible for waiver of the service charge for the first checked bag (within specified size and weight limits). Must be a MileagePlus Explorer Card member at time of check-in, and ticket(s) must have been purchased using the Card in order to qualify. Applies only on United- and United Express-operated flights, and when baggage check-in occurs with United.
Priority boarding: Premier members, companions traveling on the same reservation and primary cardmembers of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card will still receive their priority boarding privileges. Other Basic Economy customers may be in the last boarding group.
May 29, 2018, 5:39 pm
#3220
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
Sorry if this is known and already posted, but the United Android app offers purchase of seat assignments for $9 or $12 (not sure why the multiple prices) on BE tickets.
May 29, 2018, 5:48 pm
#3221
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,694
May 29, 2018, 5:51 pm
#3222
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
May 29, 2018, 5:52 pm
#3223
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,694
May 29, 2018, 5:55 pm
#3224
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
Then I don't know. Does United offer any fares that don't come with free seat assignments, but you can buy them for about $10 each?
EDIT: According to the BE FAQ, you may be offered to purchase seat assignments, so this is intended functionality.
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...onomy-faq.aspx
EDIT: According to the BE FAQ, you may be offered to purchase seat assignments, so this is intended functionality.
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...onomy-faq.aspx
May 29, 2018, 6:07 pm
#3225
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,694
Huh, that must be a change since the original launch.