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}
Jun 12, 2019, 5:10 pm
#1336
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,405
The chart would be 17.5K Saver / 40K Everyday, so that's a 75% increase. 
Jun 12, 2019, 5:24 pm
#1337
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,618
Jun 17, 2019, 12:36 am
#1338
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,592
Just did some award searches to end of schedule which is around mid May 2020.
Most of the TATL Savers in J that I'm seeing are using TP, LOT or a couple of AC mixed-cabin awards (Y from SFO to YYZ). If you search for TATL Savers in J for this summer and fall, you see a few of them offered through LOT and that's it. Once in awhile there have been some LX awards.
So is MP ever going to offer TATL J Saver awards on its own metal or on LH again?
Most of the TATL Savers in J that I'm seeing are using TP, LOT or a couple of AC mixed-cabin awards (Y from SFO to YYZ). If you search for TATL Savers in J for this summer and fall, you see a few of them offered through LOT and that's it. Once in awhile there have been some LX awards.
So is MP ever going to offer TATL J Saver awards on its own metal or on LH again?
Jun 17, 2019, 1:43 am
#1339
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: IAH / HOU
Programs: UA GS, DL-Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Somethingist, Marriott Titanium Lifetime
Posts: 2,853
Departing from Houston, Turkish often has saver J available to Europe using UA miles.
Saver J on UA metal to Europe is nearly impossible to find from IAH.
Saver J on UA metal to Europe is nearly impossible to find from IAH.
Jun 18, 2019, 2:24 am
#1340
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,720
Yes I just found 2 saver return seats VCE-FRA-SFO on LH for a next day flight. That doesn’t work well for families or others who don’t want to roll the dice on business class for your return flight to US.
Jun 18, 2019, 5:51 am
#1341
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Delaware
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 1,393
I've been watching the rates (Everyday) to / from Australia. Traditionally they were 200k each way in J. About 2-3 weeks ago I noticed some 260ks around Christmas and New Years, but I dismissed it as being a peak week to vacation in the Southern Hemisphere. I looked back on Saturday night and saw a lot of 360ks, especially on FRI SAT SUN over the southern summer (Feb Mar APR). Traveling to/from EWR, the cash price is close to $8,000 round trip. That makes the miles worth 1.11cpm, down from 2.0cpm.
Also, now that rates are no longer fixed, is there a difference between Saver and Everyday awards other than to say it's a cheap flight? When rates were fixed, there were 2 rates. The terms Saver and Everyday were used to differentiate between the two. Now that rates aren't fixed, where do we draw the line? While I guess one could still pay the Everyday rate when a Saver fare is available if really wanted to, but unlike cash tickets, is there any benefit to this?
Also, now that rates are no longer fixed, is there a difference between Saver and Everyday awards other than to say it's a cheap flight? When rates were fixed, there were 2 rates. The terms Saver and Everyday were used to differentiate between the two. Now that rates aren't fixed, where do we draw the line? While I guess one could still pay the Everyday rate when a Saver fare is available if really wanted to, but unlike cash tickets, is there any benefit to this?
Jun 18, 2019, 7:44 am
#1342
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,413
Also, now that rates are no longer fixed, is there a difference between Saver and Everyday awards other than to say it's a cheap flight? When rates were fixed, there were 2 rates. The terms Saver and Everyday were used to differentiate between the two. Now that rates aren't fixed, where do we draw the line? While I guess one could still pay the Everyday rate when a Saver fare is available if really wanted to, but unlike cash tickets, is there any benefit to this?
Jun 18, 2019, 9:05 am
#1343
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,930
I'm looking at DEN-IST for next spring break and TK definitely has space available ORD-IST on a good selection of dates. The challenge is often getting the UA positioning flight with a decent connection. That's for 70K miles. Any time UA shows in the list it's 155K miles.
Last edited by tods27; Jun 18, 2019 at 9:16 am
Jun 18, 2019, 10:37 am
#1344
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,141
Also, now that rates are no longer fixed, is there a difference between Saver and Everyday awards other than to say it's a cheap flight? When rates were fixed, there were 2 rates. The terms Saver and Everyday were used to differentiate between the two. Now that rates aren't fixed, where do we draw the line? While I guess one could still pay the Everyday rate when a Saver fare is available if really wanted to, but unlike cash tickets, is there any benefit to this?
Jun 18, 2019, 10:53 am
#1345
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,405
The limited-availability bucket also allows them to keep partner awards limited to a subset of their seats, allows Premier members and qualifying credit card members to see lower prices, and prevents people from having unlimited SDC availability on any award ticket.
So, I think it’s likely that the X bucket sticks around. Whether or not waitlisting does, I think, is up in the air.
Jun 18, 2019, 11:29 am
#1346
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: Delta Silver, Marriott Gold, HH Diamond, Ex-UA Gold, Ex-AA Gold , Ex-SPG Gold, Peon everywhere else
Posts: 616
I know that most would try to avoid paying the fuel charges associated with using LH miles. In my case I usually travel with the wife and two kids and have been fortunate in being able to use LH miles to book 4 RT business class months in advance. Have even seen first class pop up on rare occassions for 4 (but these usually only a few weeks out). Have always used LH miles to travel Europe. Yes the cost for each of those award tickets lately have ranged between $800 and $1000, but there was no way I could plan ahead with UA miles. Flying out of Mexico City has also been an option for us for lesser fuel charges. In some instances I have resorted to using my UA miles to book hotels instead and using either cash or some other airlines miles to fly. And I don't like rolling the dice when traveling with my children. Yes planning ahead will cost you, but it takes the anxiety out of not having a set itinerary.
Jun 18, 2019, 11:29 am
#1347
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,454
Jun 18, 2019, 11:41 am
#1348
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,141
They will probably keep the concept of a limited-availability inventory bucket to be used with the least-expensive awards, and it’s possible that they’ll allow you to waitlist for some applicable fare. The fact that inventory is zero doesn’t immediately imply that there can’t be a price.
The limited-availability bucket also allows them to keep partner awards limited to a subset of their seats, allows Premier members and qualifying credit card members to see lower prices, and prevents people from having unlimited SDC availability on any award ticket.
So, I think it’s likely that the X bucket sticks around. Whether or not waitlisting does, I think, is up in the air.
Jun 18, 2019, 11:48 am
#1349
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,056
ESV050, 5K, 21-day, Basic Economy
ESX065, 6.5K, 21-day, Basic Economy
YSV055, 5.5K, 21-day
YSX075, 7.5K, 21-day
YST100, 10K, 14-day
YSU120, 12K, 7-day
YSL150, 15K, 14-day
YSL165,16.5K, 7-day
YSL180, 18K, 3-day
Jun 18, 2019, 11:51 am
#1350
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,454
The value proposition of Mileage Plus always was the Saver Award (a published number, regardless of the terminology), and being able to waitlist for it with a reasonable probability that it would clear. UA has already said that there will be dynamic pricing and no award chart. How can one possibly waitlist for a moving target with no published boundary conditions? I'd really like for someone to clue me in because my brain isn't big enough to figure out how it would work, and why UA would want to implement such a system when they have already committed to dynamic pricing.