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 30, 2019, 11:17 am
#1096
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: LH Senator, Bonvoy Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 121
Interesting data points for the new EWR-CPT flight via ThePointsGuy:
Economy: 70k to 114k one-way
Business: 207k to 250k one-way
Source: https://thepointsguy.com/news/ewr-cpt-united-fares/
Economy: 70k to 114k one-way
Business: 207k to 250k one-way
Source: https://thepointsguy.com/news/ewr-cpt-united-fares/
Apr 30, 2019, 11:23 am
#1097
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
Interesting data points for the new EWR-CPT flight via ThePointsGuy:
Economy: 70k to 114k one-way
Business: 207k to 250k one-way
Source: https://thepointsguy.com/news/ewr-cpt-united-fares/
Economy: 70k to 114k one-way
Business: 207k to 250k one-way
Source: https://thepointsguy.com/news/ewr-cpt-united-fares/
Apr 30, 2019, 11:27 am
#1098
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: KEWR
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, Hyatt Plat, National Exec, GE/Nexus
Posts: 501
Is there a link on United site for the award chart spreadsheet? I see the interactive portal where you select originating/destination points and then it gives the miles needed, but I don't know of a place where all the combination appears at once?
Apr 30, 2019, 12:59 pm
#1100
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
If they price too high and a lot of people don’t redeem, then what?
i thought carrying a lot of miles in the program was a liability for UA.
Did DL get a lot of people to redeem 150k or more for intercontinental routes each way? Or did high prices cause people to hold off on redemptions and wait for those sales?
i thought carrying a lot of miles in the program was a liability for UA.
Did DL get a lot of people to redeem 150k or more for intercontinental routes each way? Or did high prices cause people to hold off on redemptions and wait for those sales?
Apr 30, 2019, 1:07 pm
#1101
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 77
It is entertaining to hear how everybody thinks THEIR business should be more important to the airline than everybody else's. Airlines make money by selling seats, and they also make money by selling miles. Passengers have no say in designing frequent fliers programs, but it is everybody's right (duty) to play the game for their best personal advantage. Also, contrary to the implication of many posts in this thread, it is a false distinction to suggest that somebody is either a frequent flier or a credit card accumulator. Many people are both. In fact, some of the most aggressive credit card hounds I know also have top elite status.
Apr 30, 2019, 1:46 pm
#1102
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 710
It is from an accounting perspective. When FF programs were first started, there was no expiration to the miles and the airlines quickly realized that the liability would make most of them insolvent. Hence the expiration clause and ongoing devaluation. You also have to remember the airlines are getting paid up front for the credit card miles, so they can match the revenue against the obligation. They have enough history now to make accurate projections on redemption rates, so it's no longer an unbounded liability.
Apr 30, 2019, 2:08 pm
#1103
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 77
I had already printed a copy of the latest award charts so I will use it for reference to see how badly I am getting screwed in the future.
What happens to partner award pricing if I need a connecting UA flight to get to the partner award flight city? Do I first see what the partner flight would be and then add the connecting flight and see if that changes the total amount of points needed? In some cases, I might be better off buying a cheap econ ticket to connect to a J saver award flight.
What happens to partner award pricing if I need a connecting UA flight to get to the partner award flight city? Do I first see what the partner flight would be and then add the connecting flight and see if that changes the total amount of points needed? In some cases, I might be better off buying a cheap econ ticket to connect to a J saver award flight.
May 1, 2019, 3:03 am
#1104
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
What I haven't seen yet is any plans to change the upgrade award chart. This comes in handy when booking international flights and compare them against the various booking classes by carrier with upgrade availability.
My guess is there will be some change, but not dynamic as award bookings.
My guess is there will be some change, but not dynamic as award bookings.
May 1, 2019, 9:28 am
#1105
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
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.
May 1, 2019, 9:43 am
#1106
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,722
Interesting award pricing now for holiday flights to CUN. Old saver award rate was 17.5k miles OW per person, with 40k anytime rate. Very hard to find saver awards on peak dates, and similarly difficult to find saver C at 35k. Now seeing economy award seats offered at 50k OW pp, which is basically a 25% deval. However this 50k rate applies across the board for all US gateway destinations, e.g. CUN-SFO, CUN-LAX and CUN-IAH with varying fares. From SFO the fare is $1k+ so roughly 2 cents per mile, from IAH the yield is about 1.6 cpm. So it does not appear the 1 cpm valuation applies across the board. For low season dates later in January, I see the old 17.5k OW awards which attach to case fares of $328, resulting in a yield of 1.9 cpm.
Now this is admittedly an extreme example with super high holiday fares that are probably 5x higher than low season fares. And typically these fares will start dropping about 3-5 months out - will be interesting to see if the award prices also drop. I'm not betting on it.
I can live with .02 per RDM that I earn from BIS flying, which is above the typical blogger valuation. Though of course I won't be redeeming my Chase UR points on UA metal ...
Now this is admittedly an extreme example with super high holiday fares that are probably 5x higher than low season fares. And typically these fares will start dropping about 3-5 months out - will be interesting to see if the award prices also drop. I'm not betting on it.
I can live with .02 per RDM that I earn from BIS flying, which is above the typical blogger valuation. Though of course I won't be redeeming my Chase UR points on UA metal ...
Last edited by Boraxo; May 1, 2019 at 9:59 am
May 1, 2019, 9:57 am
#1107
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,143
Dynamic Pricing Has Started (Before 11/15 Flights)
I just checked on UA nonstop flights from EWR to KEF for the week of 7/28. Here are the results for the "Business Everyday Awards:"
7/28: 155K
7/29: 92K
7/30: 143K
7/31: 118K
8/1: 155K
8/2: 155K
8/3: 155K
NO saver awards listed on any of these days.
Dynamic Pricing has begun!
ETA: Interesting--If I price the flights from HNL-KEF using the same one-stop routing, each day has the same price of 165K
7/28: 155K
7/29: 92K
7/30: 143K
7/31: 118K
8/1: 155K
8/2: 155K
8/3: 155K
NO saver awards listed on any of these days.
Dynamic Pricing has begun!
ETA: Interesting--If I price the flights from HNL-KEF using the same one-stop routing, each day has the same price of 165K
May 1, 2019, 10:04 am
#1108
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
May 1, 2019, 10:06 am
#1109
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,143
May 1, 2019, 10:50 am
#1110
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,597
I just checked on UA nonstop flights from EWR to KEF for the week of 7/28. Here are the results for the "Business Everyday Awards:"
7/28: 155K
7/29: 92K
7/30: 143K
7/31: 118K
8/1: 155K
8/2: 155K
8/3: 155K
NO saver awards listed on any of these days.
Dynamic Pricing has begun!
ETA: Interesting--If I price the flights from HNL-KEF using the same one-stop routing, each day has the same price of 165K
7/28: 155K
7/29: 92K
7/30: 143K
7/31: 118K
8/1: 155K
8/2: 155K
8/3: 155K
NO saver awards listed on any of these days.
Dynamic Pricing has begun!
ETA: Interesting--If I price the flights from HNL-KEF using the same one-stop routing, each day has the same price of 165K
oh no