May 1, 2021, 4:06 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the active thread is "Dynamic Award Pricing" by UA; questions, experiences, .... {Archive}
The details:
Award travel updates
Introducing a broader range of award prices
Updates to award travel are on the horizon. For flights on or after November 15, 2019, we’ll no longer publish an award chart listing the set amount of miles needed for each flight.The details:
- Some award prices will be lower than what’s currently published in our chart. You may have already seen these prices, and you’ll be able to get them immediately.
- Other award prices may be higher than what you see today, especially if you’re traveling at a popular time. These prices will take effect immediately for travel November 15 or after.
- Starting November 15, we’re removing close-in fees, so you won’t be charged the extra fee of up to $75 for booking last-minute award travel.
- A flexible award travel calendar is available on united.com or in our app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is changing?
For travel on or after November 15, we will no longer publish an award chart listing the set amount of miles needed for award flights. Award pricing will now fluctuate based on a variety of factors, including demand. Additionally, starting November 15, we will no longer charge a fee of up to $75 for award flights booked within 21 days of departure.When will these updates take effect?
The award pricing changes apply immediately to flights on or after November 15, 2019. Until then, award prices will be the same as or lower than what’s currently published in our award chart.How many miles will I need for award travel after November 15?
Award prices will now fluctuate based on a variety of factors. Some air awards will be available for less than what’s listed in our chart, which you may have already noticed. After November 15, award prices may also be higher, especially if you’re traveling at popular times. Use our flexible award calendar to get a monthly view of the award prices for a specific destination.Why are you making these changes?
Increasing award prices for the most in-demand flights allows us to offer better returns for our shareholders. If your award travel is flexible, these updates will help you make the most of your miles.How will these updates affect award travel availability?
United MileagePlus members with Premier® status and qualifying United Chase Cardmembers can continue to book award travel without blackout dates. For other members, most award flights that are available today will continue to be available after these updates take effect.Do the lowest-priced awards have any extra flight restrictions?
No. Our lowest priced awards do not have any added restrictions; the fare rules for all award travel apply.How can I find the lowest priced award for my travel?
The award calendar on united.com or in our app will continue to show the lowest available price for your destination.Will I earn miles on my flight if I book an award?
No. As with current award bookings, award travel in the future will not be eligible to earn miles with MileagePlus or any other loyalty program.What if I need to change my existing award?
If you need to change your award ticket, you will be issued a new ticket for which new pricing and additional fees may apply.What if I purchase a close-in award before November 15
The close-in booking fee will still apply to all tickets booked within 21 days of departure prior to November 15, 2019. We will not refund fees paid prior to November 15, even if travel occurs on or after November 15.
"Dynamic Award Pricing" by UA; questions, experiences, .... {Archive}
Apr 9, 2019, 6:21 am
#826
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAS, ZQN
Programs: UA PP (2MM), BA gold
Posts: 2,198
Just look at the youtube video with 'elmo had 4 ducks'... kinda reminds you on how the 3-5 major airlines and their FFPs move in lock step.
Forget taking UA to the regulator/court/legislature etc. Just like DL pulled this off with Amex, UA & Chase watched this evolution carefully and now took the plunge. Not going to change.
Forget taking UA to the regulator/court/legislature etc. Just like DL pulled this off with Amex, UA & Chase watched this evolution carefully and now took the plunge. Not going to change.
Last edited by zebranz; Apr 9, 2019 at 6:30 am
Apr 9, 2019, 6:21 am
#827
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,501
See here:
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...ticketing.html
Apr 9, 2019, 6:33 am
#828
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,581
A few years ago I shifted my spend away from co-branded credit cards (e.g. Chase's UA Club Visa) to bank point ones (e.g. Sapphire Reserve, AX Plat) to escape being held hostage to a specific loyalty program and whatever changes they decide to make.
Points earned in UR / MR / etc. remain flexible and carry a par value of sorts. Plus with cheap F fares being what they are, using points to have the bank just buy you the flights you want often cost about the same in terms of points as redeeming an award.
Anyways the takeaway for me is to drop the co-branded financial products in favor of those that earn a point that can be transferred to multiple partners or cashed out.
Points earned in UR / MR / etc. remain flexible and carry a par value of sorts. Plus with cheap F fares being what they are, using points to have the bank just buy you the flights you want often cost about the same in terms of points as redeeming an award.
Anyways the takeaway for me is to drop the co-branded financial products in favor of those that earn a point that can be transferred to multiple partners or cashed out.
Apr 9, 2019, 7:23 am
#829
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,089
This maybe the hot news in the aviation community, but for much of the flying public, the devaluation largely non-event. It's not huge issue for DL just like this won't be a huge issue for UA outside of the FT and other similar communities. Within the community, we will keep complain about both programs all the time.
Apr 9, 2019, 7:47 am
#830
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
Apr 9, 2019, 8:01 am
#831
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Delta DM CO PE OZ GE AMTRAK
Posts: 524
For most economy flyers, that is probably true. But I think it is less true for the premium seats, especially long-haul. There, I think UA downgrading its FFP may have an impact if it causes the product to be less perceived as value for money. I'm guessing UA believes it can sell all its Polaris seats at a premium price due to strong demand. We shall see.
Apr 9, 2019, 8:02 am
#832
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,322
This maybe the hot news in the aviation community, but for much of the flying public, the devaluation largely non-event. It's not huge issue for DL just like this won't be a huge issue for UA outside of the FT and other similar communities. Within the community, we will keep complain about both programs all the time.
Apr 9, 2019, 8:15 am
#833
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,903
that is exactly the point. united wants to sell these seats for thanksgiving for cash for example, instead of offering them at 160K miles (hard cap per redemption chart). Whereas at other times, it can be offered at less than current level. i don't see anything wrong with this approach.
Apr 9, 2019, 8:20 am
#834
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,621
My point was that BA only lets you redeem Avios when AA saver seats are available, and sometimes not even then. Dynamic pricing will eliminate low-mile redemption, especially at the last minute. Therefore I expect it to eliminate Avios redemption for AA at any reasonable value.
Apr 9, 2019, 8:30 am
#835
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MM Plat; AA MM Gold; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 15,866
Apr 9, 2019, 8:33 am
#836
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,235
On a flight now and they're making the credit card sales pitch, which includes the comment, "You'll get 60,000 miles, which is enough for 2 round trip tickets in the Continental US." They may need to modify that comment.....
Apr 9, 2019, 8:37 am
#837
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
Just add shorthaul and off-peak that should last for another year.
Apr 9, 2019, 8:55 am
#838
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,199
I've seen short-haul, off-peak offerings from Delta that were on par with a Polaris seat to Asia I could book with United....or at least could book, in the past tense. Add Kirby's hate and thirst for revenge against customers, and I would say a EWR-FLL round trip between Dec-May will likely hover around 70-90,000 miles in coach.
I am now really trying to grasp the most basic value proposition offered by United as opposed to a global partner, or DL/AA/B6 domestically...if their goal was to create an airline whose only real unique selling feature was periodically popping up as the cheapest ticket, or best scheduled option, well it looks like they did it.
In a perfect world, the board would fire Kirby and he could go work for Fedex or UPS where he will finally meet and interact with the "passengers" that will make him the happiest.
I am now really trying to grasp the most basic value proposition offered by United as opposed to a global partner, or DL/AA/B6 domestically...if their goal was to create an airline whose only real unique selling feature was periodically popping up as the cheapest ticket, or best scheduled option, well it looks like they did it.
In a perfect world, the board would fire Kirby and he could go work for Fedex or UPS where he will finally meet and interact with the "passengers" that will make him the happiest.
Apr 9, 2019, 9:08 am
#839
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 77
It is a given that changes to a FF program are NEVER intended for the net benefit of the flier. This has always been the case. The best you can do is work the program to your own best advantage, and be on the lookout for sweet spots. I have always treated miles as currency, and I never spend them unless the exchange rate is at least 2 cents, and preferably 3-4 cents. If I believed my miles were only worth 1.4 cents, as TPG estimates, then I would never bother to pursue them. With UA miles, the best yield has usually been achieved through international biz class redemptions, and most often on partner airlines. For the time being, it does not sound like this has changed. In fact, eliminating the close-in booking fee is a net advantage. With the new changes, there may be some opportunities to score a decent yield on domestic flights, though the 5k awards (if they exist) will probably be on flights with a cash price of $100. If it turns out that I can no longer achieve my target yield on UA, then I agree with those who recommend switching to a cash-back credit card. However, there will still be some value to the bonus miles from new credit cards. The sign-up bonuses for most cash-back cards are meager.
Apr 9, 2019, 9:10 am
#840
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,421
This maybe the hot news in the aviation community, but for much of the flying public, the devaluation largely non-event. It's not huge issue for DL just like this won't be a huge issue for UA outside of the FT and other similar communities. Within the community, we will keep complain about both programs all the time.
I don't understand your statement about "People don't expect to use Skymiles.". Are you saying most people don't have enough miles when they see the results of a redemption search?
To be fair, SM has good US domestic redemption rates. You can use VS for DL's INTL premium cabin.
I don't understand your statement about "People don't expect to use Skymiles.". Are you saying most people don't have enough miles when they see the results of a redemption search?
To be fair, SM has good US domestic redemption rates. You can use VS for DL's INTL premium cabin.People that think massive devaluation doesn’t occur need to go back and revisit what was possible only a few years ago.