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}
Jul 29, 2018, 6:42 pm
#3331
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Jul 29, 2018, 6:59 pm
#3332
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Jul 29, 2018, 9:21 pm
#3333
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Jul 29, 2018, 9:39 pm
#3334
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Anyone can accomplish the same on any fare by simply not selecting a seat in advance. And there's an equally good chance it will result in middle E- assignment.
And I'm sure many, particularly families, would prefer the certainty of advance seat assignments, even if it means no E+.
And I'm sure many, particularly families, would prefer the certainty of advance seat assignments, even if it means no E+.
Jul 30, 2018, 9:04 am
#3335
Join Date: May 2015
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It is very clear that we both get free checked bags, but it is incredibly unclear about whether we both get a carry on. I dont understand the ambiguity.
Jul 30, 2018, 9:15 am
#3336
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Anyone can accomplish the same on any fare by simply not selecting a seat in advance. And there's an equally good chance it will result in middle E- assignment.
And I'm sure many, particularly families, would prefer the certainty of advance seat assignments, even if it means no E+.
And I'm sure many, particularly families, would prefer the certainty of advance seat assignments, even if it means no E+.
Jul 30, 2018, 9:28 am
#3337
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I had a moment of panic this morning as I quickly booked 2 RT's last week while on a conference call. In my head the airfare was way too cheap (in hindsight) and my fear was Basic Economy. Turns out I'm fine, but I do wish I could permanently block these from being an option.
Jul 30, 2018, 9:40 am
#3338
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I had a moment of panic this morning as I quickly booked 2 RT's last week while on a conference call. In my head the airfare was way too cheap (in hindsight) and my fear was Basic Economy. Turns out I'm fine, but I do wish I could permanently block these from being an option.
While using the website there are a plethora of other (mostly useful) options but that is not one of them.
That said, having a fare preference of "unrestricted" fares seems to do a decent job of making the BE column not appear at all the majority of the time, but I'm still absolutely terrified that one of these days I'm going to get tricked into accidentally booking that product.
Jul 30, 2018, 9:50 am
#3339
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I had a moment of panic this morning as I quickly booked 2 RT's last week while on a conference call. In my head the airfare was way too cheap (in hindsight) and my fear was Basic Economy. Turns out I'm fine, but I do wish I could permanently block these from being an option.
Jul 30, 2018, 10:15 am
#3340
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
Buying through Concur or another sales channel is the danger here I think. It's basically (heh) impossible to buy BE on the United website without noticing it. They have done a really good job of making it very obvious and adding a lot of friction to the UI (I imagine both to avoid disappointed customers, and to encourage people to buy up to regular Y). There is a massive pop-up, and you have to check a check box AND click the BE button. This is not the case of a company trying to sneak some unfavorable terms into the fine print.
You also get a reminder email within the 24 hour cancel window that shows that you bought a BE ticket, just in case.
You also get a reminder email within the 24 hour cancel window that shows that you bought a BE ticket, just in case.
Jul 30, 2018, 10:24 am
#3341
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2) You have a shot at free E+, probably a middle. You do not have a GREAT shot.
Jul 30, 2018, 10:35 am
#3342
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A lot of this depends upon the route -- which is the rub. If you're flying on a leisure route -- and BE is a product aimed at the leisure market -- you have a great shot at E+. If you're flying on a business route, you don't.
Jul 30, 2018, 3:10 pm
#3343
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Full-sized carry-on bags are not permitted
You're not allowed a full-sized carry-on bag unless you're a MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation, the primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or a Star Alliance™ Gold member.
You're not allowed a full-sized carry-on bag unless you're a MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation, the primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or a Star Alliance™ Gold member.
Jul 30, 2018, 3:33 pm
#3344
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Based upon my experience, the language in the reservation confirmation and the subsequent emails is inconsistent, so I understand why @jamesinclair may be confused. Right now, I don't have the time to search through my emails for the exact wording that was used in the different emails.
I did have a printout of the rules with me, just in case; however, it was not necessary and we had no issue with each bringing on board full-sized carry ons, as we were both assigned to be boarding group 2, which is one of the perks of my having the MileagePlus Explorer card.
I did have a printout of the rules with me, just in case; however, it was not necessary and we had no issue with each bringing on board full-sized carry ons, as we were both assigned to be boarding group 2, which is one of the perks of my having the MileagePlus Explorer card.
Jul 30, 2018, 3:43 pm
#3345
Join Date: Sep 2014
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There are reports from several people (including you and me) that same-PNR companions of CC holders get full-size carry-on on BE tickets, and as far as I know, no reports of the contrary. Whatever the website says, de facto they are allowed consistently.