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 18, 2020, 5:25 pm
#3961
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 734
Is there any way of discovering how many BE ticket holders there are for an upcoming flight who haven't yet purchased seat assignments? I presume that the seat maps won't actually show which BE seats actually get filled until after the flight takes off. Thanks.
Jul 18, 2020, 5:30 pm
#3962
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,663
Jul 28, 2020, 10:56 am
#3963
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 251
My wife and 3 of her sisters are traveling on a BE fare. I am thinking of booking a ticket for me as well even though I won;t be actually traveling (me being the Chase explorer cc holder), so everybody in the group gets PB in group 2 and can take carry on bags on board. The ticket is a $27 fare, so it will pay for itself. I will of course book 2 one -ways, so it does not get auto canceled for me being a no show. Am I doing it correctly?
Jul 28, 2020, 11:03 am
#3964
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
My wife and 3 of her sisters are traveling on a BE fare. I am thinking of booking a ticket for me as well even though I won;t be actually traveling (me being the Chase explorer cc holder), so everybody in the group gets PB in group 2 and can take carry on bags on board. The ticket is a $27 fare, so it will pay for itself. I will of course book 2 one -ways, so it does not get auto canceled for me being a no show. Am I doing it correctly?
Would not make a habit of doing this but one-off will not be noticed.
Aug 10, 2020, 8:15 pm
#3966
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
RDU-ORD RT
Two E- seats were assigned to me and my wife at about T-2 days. Because of schedule change, I called United at about T-36 h and moved to a later nonstop flight. The seats were not reassigned by 1K agent. At check-in, two E+ seats were assigned.
On return flight, two E- seats were assigned. At airport, I realized that United moved us to E+ in the last few hours. I was happy to get E+ seats for my wife and me on the entire trip although it was E-175 aircraft and a 2 hour flight.
Good job, United. This is my first trip since January.
On return flight, two E- seats were assigned. At airport, I realized that United moved us to E+ in the last few hours. I was happy to get E+ seats for my wife and me on the entire trip although it was E-175 aircraft and a 2 hour flight.
Good job, United. This is my first trip since January.
Aug 21, 2020, 10:34 pm
#3967
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 1
Basic economy
I am a united gold member. If I buy a basic economy ticket do I still get the upgrades associated with being a gold member?? Like economy plus seats at booking, 2 free checked bags, added to upgrade list? Or does the basic economy super cheap ticket cancel all that out?
thanks!
thanks!
Aug 21, 2020, 10:56 pm
#3968
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
Welcome to FT!
There are two types of Basic Economy -- Domestic and International to Europe. They are handled a bit differently.
Assuming you are asking about a domestic BE
No selectable E+ (or any advance seat selection) and no upgrades. Yes to the 2 checked bags and carryon bag and premier boarding.
Assuming you are asking about a domestic BE
No selectable E+ (or any advance seat selection) and no upgrades. Yes to the 2 checked bags and carryon bag and premier boarding.
Aug 22, 2020, 3:52 pm
#3969
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: San Francisco
Programs: 1K 2.2MM
Posts: 2,352
Are SDC allowed with basic econ until Aug 31?
I called ua twice, they weren't sure so...
Until Aug 31, if you buy basic econ tix you can change date. Does that also mean you can same day change once travel begins too?
Thx if you know...
Until Aug 31, if you buy basic econ tix you can change date. Does that also mean you can same day change once travel begins too?
Thx if you know...
Aug 22, 2020, 3:56 pm
#3970
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
You can make a changed for no fee but fare differences are not waived. (SDC waives the fare difference).
Might an agent do a SDC, YMMV.
Aug 22, 2020, 4:08 pm
#3971
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: San Francisco
Programs: 1K 2.2MM
Posts: 2,352
Thanks. Pretty much what I expected. In fact I was surprised too see the no exchange fee option for basic econ. So as a 1k, I'd be losing seat selection, comp upgrade and mileage earnings....but can carry a bag on. Is that right?
Aug 22, 2020, 4:50 pm
#3972
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
yes
You will get reduced mileage earnings
from this thread's wiki --- Wiki has been updated
Out of date
Yes and checked bags and priority boarding
You will get reduced mileage earnings
from this thread's wiki --- Wiki has been updated
Out of date
Tickets will earn RDMs (based on fare and status), PQMs (50% of distance), PQSs (0.5), PQDs, in addition it will count in full for minimum 4 segment and lifetime miles (New as of Dec 2018)
Yes and checked bags and priority boarding
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 22, 2020 at 6:07 pm Reason: update
Aug 22, 2020, 5:22 pm
#3973
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,419
Under the PQP program currently in effect, the number of PQPs for a BE flight are identical to the number of PQPs for a non-BE flight at the same price. However, a BE flight does not count as a PQF, whereas a non-BE flight would. That's the only difference.
Aug 22, 2020, 6:01 pm
#3974
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
Too long without traveling
Did a mindless cut & paste from the wiki but the wiki is out-of-date 
Too long without traveling, forgetting the basics
Thanks for the correction and time to fix the wiki
Too long without traveling, forgetting the basics
Thanks for the correction and time to fix the wiki
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 22, 2020 at 6:08 pm
Sep 3, 2020, 6:14 pm
#3975
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,063
Since under the recent announcement, (1) the elimination of domestic change fees and (2) the allowance of same-day changes (SDC) both exclude Basic Economy (BE), is the percentage of the cabin occupied by BE ticket holders likely to increase or decrease?
