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}
Nov 17, 2016, 4:14 pm
#466
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
I mean, I've watched someone's rollaboard in the gate area while they run to the bathroom, but in that case I haven't actually taken possession of the bag. I think carrying a stranger's bag down the jetbridge would make me quite nervous.
Nov 17, 2016, 4:25 pm
#467
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,414
I'm a little confused....
A) Will Basic Economy fares be a systemwide thing?(including TATL and TPAC flights)
B) what will be the average price difference between Basic Economy and the cheapest EQM-earning economy fares on TATL & TPAC flights? (let's say a Basic Economy TATL roundtrip is $900, will the cheapest EQM-earning fare be $1500?)
C) does a Basic Economy passenger still get free baggage allowance on TATL & TPAC flights?
A) Will Basic Economy fares be a systemwide thing?(including TATL and TPAC flights)
B) what will be the average price difference between Basic Economy and the cheapest EQM-earning economy fares on TATL & TPAC flights? (let's say a Basic Economy TATL roundtrip is $900, will the cheapest EQM-earning fare be $1500?)
C) does a Basic Economy passenger still get free baggage allowance on TATL & TPAC flights?
A) Eventually they will be systemwide. They will probably start out only in markets like ORD-FLL, where NK is a serious competitor.
B) On DL MSP-LHR, it is as little as $25 on a half-round-trip basis ($630 for E, $680 for V r/t a/i). It seems like the inventory requirements are a little strange**, but the fare differential for E is ($25).
C) Hard to tell. Delta allows the normal allowance.
**For the experts following along, because why should anything ever make sense? (bolding mine)
Code:
>$LB1
001 MSPLON 17NOV16 DL USD 225.00 VLI78BE STAY-07/12MBK-E
FARE CLS EXPLANATION BOOK CODES
-------- ---------------------- ----------
VLI78BE BASIC SEASON ECONOMY RT UNBUNDLED FARES E
VLI78BE APPLIES FOR ROUND TRIP FARES
BOOKING CODE EXCEPTIONS
VIA DL T/E REQUIRED E WHEN T AVAILABLE
VIA DL NO BOOKING CODE DATA EXISTS
Last edited by findark; Nov 17, 2016 at 4:33 pm
Nov 17, 2016, 4:31 pm
#468
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 63
I am so disappointed in this. As a long term loyal customer, I feel my business and loyalty is no longer valued. I am seriously considering switching to AA. I believe they offer challenges to status match. I hope they too do not join in this race to the bottom.
If I wanted to fly a LCC I would most definitely go with Southwest. It's a shame they do not offer business class and long route domestic travel.
It's just despicable to take away lifetime miles. I am scared my corporate policy will make me travel BE. In which case, if it does I will switch to another airline and cancel my United MP credit card and will most likely never fly United again.
If I wanted to fly a LCC I would most definitely go with Southwest. It's a shame they do not offer business class and long route domestic travel.
It's just despicable to take away lifetime miles. I am scared my corporate policy will make me travel BE. In which case, if it does I will switch to another airline and cancel my United MP credit card and will most likely never fly United again.
Nov 17, 2016, 4:37 pm
#470
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 85
I am so disappointed in this. As a long term loyal customer, I feel my business and loyalty is no longer valued. I am seriously considering switching to AA. I believe they offer challenges to status match. I hope they too do not join in this race to the bottom.
If I wanted to fly a LCC I would most definitely go with Southwest. It's a shame they do not offer business class and long route domestic travel.
It's just despicable to take away lifetime miles. I am scared my corporate policy will make me travel BE. In which case, if it does I will switch to another airline and cancel my United MP credit card and will most likely never fly United again.
If I wanted to fly a LCC I would most definitely go with Southwest. It's a shame they do not offer business class and long route domestic travel.
It's just despicable to take away lifetime miles. I am scared my corporate policy will make me travel BE. In which case, if it does I will switch to another airline and cancel my United MP credit card and will most likely never fly United again.
Nov 17, 2016, 5:07 pm
#471
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
I presume the reason it won't be offered in other markets is UA's JV's/partnerships - Canada (AC), Asia (NH), and Europe (J++).
In the long term, perhaps the product will find its way into these markets too, but I'm sure UA will closely monitor initial performance before jumping into a system-wide rollout. Renegotiating interline/distribution agreements and standardizing fares categories is no mean feat.. UA still uses K as the lowest fare TATL - if it's too much work to introduce G, imagine how difficult it will be to introduce N.
Nov 17, 2016, 7:06 pm
#472
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LA
Posts: 1,281
I have an idea....why not paint some old United planes, rebrand and create a spinoff airline, and perhaps name it something like I don't know....TED and the price sensitive folks can fly that airline.
Nov 17, 2016, 7:43 pm
#473
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
Nov 17, 2016, 7:54 pm
#474
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
New Basic Economy fares now coming Jan 2017 (master thd) ...
Nov 17, 2016, 8:01 pm
#475
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: UA 1.5mm, *gold, AA - P, Marriot Titanium
Posts: 71
YES - You my friend (original poster) nailed it perfectly. UA has for some reason developed a culture of taking their top tier Elite Flyers (Plat 1K) for granted. It has really become more apparent since the merger. With the consolidations we are down to the Big 3 domestic long hauls. I think UA believes that hub flyers in DEN (Me) or SFO, IAH which have limited Big 3 long haul competition will not defect because they will need to connect. Therefore, why care. Tighten the screws to them however you can. I switched to AA on Feb 1, 2016 (they matched status), and could not be a happier camper. AA CPU 90% of the time - UA CPU 25% as a 1K 2MM Flyer. Yes I need to connect, but after reviewing my previous UA flight patterns for the last two years I had to connect on UA much of the time because they have reduced the frequency and size of the aircraft out of DEN to the point where the Non stops never worked. The bonus in all of this - The Admirals Clubs are far superior - sushi and lobster Mac and cheese not to mention you can actually find a place to sit and work unlike UA Clubs packed with Chase day pass users. Only downside, the old US Air fleet are crap, no "Main Cabin Extra", and their first seats are as horrible as UA First, but they are retrofitting them over the next 2 years. Flew LHR to DFW on a 777-300 ER using System wides with my family - best flight we ever had - all the seats had aisle access no climbing over someone else. Incredible service. I would run, not walk away from UA and don't look back.
Nov 17, 2016, 8:25 pm
#476
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
When you visit the AA forum, this would be a good place to start:
New Basic Economy fares now coming Jan 2017 (master thd) ...
New Basic Economy fares now coming Jan 2017 (master thd) ...
Nov 17, 2016, 9:19 pm
#477
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 85
When you visit the AA forum, this would be a good place to start:
New Basic Economy fares now coming Jan 2017 (master thd) ...
New Basic Economy fares now coming Jan 2017 (master thd) ...
Nov 17, 2016, 9:28 pm
#478
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: UA peon (+decades 1K), AA Exec Plt
Posts: 1,117
One carryon means any thing else is checked luggage. $25 ATM the counter. TBD at th gate.
Nov 17, 2016, 10:07 pm
#480
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: Hyatt Globalist (2020:Exp), United Gold
Posts: 1,525
Just spotted this weirdness:
L0 K0 G0...N9 ??? For paid tickets, I have never seen a lower bucket with a higher number.
Could this mean the lowest bucket is going to be Economy Basic? Somewhat makes sense...
Could this mean the lowest bucket is going to be Economy Basic? Somewhat makes sense...
Last edited by wh6cto; Nov 17, 2016 at 10:07 pm Reason: grammar fixed