May 31, 2019, 9:43 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Benefits of booking as a round-trip:
Older thread:
One-Way vs Roundtrip (MileagePlus Award Travel)
- Free “stopover” in the region of destination via the Excursionist Perk
- Only one change/reschedule /cancel fee applies if you change/cancel the ticket, so OWs could be as much as are 2x (for those subject to fees)
- Another potential issue for international trips is a bit more hassle in proving RT to immigration folks. Be prepared to show proof of onward travel.
- RTs may make it easier to avoid hassles of “exit taxes”
- RTs may be less likely to have potential SSSS issues. OWs may have more.
- Book when inventory is available (and not need available in both directions)
- Much, much easier to change a single direction of travel (as availability in the other direction is not needed}
- Can cancel inbound/return after flying outbound and still get miles refunded
- For a short while, if eligible, two $5 travel bank credits for two reservations (until April 2020 at the latest)
- UA search engine may find more one-way options if not including the other direction in the search
Older thread:
One-Way vs Roundtrip (MileagePlus Award Travel)
2x One-Way Awards vs Round Trip Award
Nov 30, 2016, 4:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: UA MileagePlus 2MM
Posts: 1,567
Why book RT MP award tickets?
This is the second time this has happened to me. A few years apart hence my making the same mistake twice 
- I book a RT awards on a *A partner in Europe or UA EWR-CUN. Fly the outbound and then decide to cancel return. Both times told I cannot get the miles refunded for the return flight I canceled in advance. Just don't understand the rule since a one way x2 costs the same in miles and you can cancel either tickets prior to travel with full mileage and tax refund. As a GS I got the miles back for the unused portions (I suppose due to status) but it just doesn't make any sense if booking 2 oneway awards costs the same and doesn't carry the penalty of foregoing miles. Any ideas for this supposed inconsistency?
Adam
- I book a RT awards on a *A partner in Europe or UA EWR-CUN. Fly the outbound and then decide to cancel return. Both times told I cannot get the miles refunded for the return flight I canceled in advance. Just don't understand the rule since a one way x2 costs the same in miles and you can cancel either tickets prior to travel with full mileage and tax refund. As a GS I got the miles back for the unused portions (I suppose due to status) but it just doesn't make any sense if booking 2 oneway awards costs the same and doesn't carry the penalty of foregoing miles. Any ideas for this supposed inconsistency?Adam
Nov 30, 2016, 5:14 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,884
Change fees?
The fee to change is still a "reissue fee" I'm pretty sure, so if you change both directions at once, you should only pay one fee on a round-trip. On separate one-ways, that would cost twice. Obviously, for a GS, that is irrelevant, but for lower level MP members or non-elites, that would be a factor.
The fee to change is still a "reissue fee" I'm pretty sure, so if you change both directions at once, you should only pay one fee on a round-trip. On separate one-ways, that would cost twice. Obviously, for a GS, that is irrelevant, but for lower level MP members or non-elites, that would be a factor.
Feb 5, 2017, 9:07 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 144
Award Travel - Round Trip v. One Way
Is there a benefit in award travel with booking round trip v. two one-way tickets?
I assume the benefit to one way travel is that if you for some reason change your plans the way out the return flight isn't cancelled.
But what about change fees? Is the change fee applied once to the whole trip (round trip) or individually to each leg changed?
I assume the benefit to one way travel is that if you for some reason change your plans the way out the return flight isn't cancelled.
But what about change fees? Is the change fee applied once to the whole trip (round trip) or individually to each leg changed?
Feb 5, 2017, 9:32 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
Benefits of booking as a round-trip:
- free stopover in region of destination via the Excursionist Perk
- only one change/cancel fee applies if you change/cancel the ticket
Benefits of booking as two one-ways:
- much, much easier to change a single direction of travel
- can cancel inbound after flying outbound and still get miles refunded
- free stopover in region of destination via the Excursionist Perk
- only one change/cancel fee applies if you change/cancel the ticket
Benefits of booking as two one-ways:
- much, much easier to change a single direction of travel
- can cancel inbound after flying outbound and still get miles refunded
Feb 5, 2017, 9:35 pm
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,134
Once per ticket. So if you need to change both directions, two one-ways would double the change fees.
Feb 6, 2017, 3:59 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: dark side of the moon
Programs: papa card, UA 1K
Posts: 707
Is there a benefit in award travel with booking round trip v. two one-way tickets?
I assume the benefit to one way travel is that if you for some reason change your plans the way out the return flight isn't cancelled.
But what about change fees? Is the change fee applied once to the whole trip (round trip) or individually to each leg changed?
I assume the benefit to one way travel is that if you for some reason change your plans the way out the return flight isn't cancelled.
But what about change fees? Is the change fee applied once to the whole trip (round trip) or individually to each leg changed?
UA award system. However there are some good articles out there (I don't have links to hand) but I think travelisfree.com had a good article.
Feb 6, 2017, 4:29 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
IMO it's because there really isn't any 'most' to get out of it. UA enhanced away all the good stuff.
Feb 6, 2017, 8:42 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
When I book a r/t I always do it as 2 one-ways because most of the time it is A-B-A or A-B C-A and I don't really need to take advantage of stops and things like that in between. Example I have LAX-VIE-BUD and TXL-VIE-LAX on their own awards. Sad to say but I have them as 2 tickets because I don't trust UA's IT in the event that I did want to change something-for example if LH F opens up closer to the outbound.
Most of the times my awards are just a single one-way as in an upcoming trip in April that is SFO-HND J (GPU) HND-BKK (TG F award) CNX-BKK-HKG F ($) HKG-SFO J (GPU).
Most of the times my awards are just a single one-way as in an upcoming trip in April that is SFO-HND J (GPU) HND-BKK (TG F award) CNX-BKK-HKG F ($) HKG-SFO J (GPU).
Feb 6, 2017, 9:05 pm
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: 1K---2,909,450 BIS miles
Posts: 214
Feb 6, 2017, 9:24 pm
#13
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: 66,836
IME I got 6 bonuses for award tickets last year, including two I had to write in for.
Feb 6, 2017, 9:37 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 6,484
Feb 6, 2017, 9:39 pm
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,134