United Removes *A Partner Award Chart (appears initial 10% bump starting 1 July 2020)
Apr 30, 2020, 12:05 am
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Stating back in November that partner awards were not changing "for the time being" and now this overnight downgrade, just doesn't cut it IMHO.
Apr 30, 2020, 12:23 am
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,388
You're certainly entitled to your own opinion. "For the time being," to me, indicated "these will change." And, keep in mind, the switch to dynamic pricing in the first place was also overnight -- boom, there was no cap for flights after November 15. They did notify people, but they didn't provide people any time to make bookings before the charts went away.
Apr 30, 2020, 12:26 am
#93
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,651
Im sick with with whatever this new UA is, and more upset with myself that I didn’t put points to use last month.
Apr 30, 2020, 1:22 am
#94
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,896
Apparently UA managed to convince a judge that words can be broken without any consequences. I think the abrupt change in the UAMP program just after a recent revamp says all that needs to be said about UA.
Apr 30, 2020, 2:05 am
#95
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
One of the benefits of booking award travel was the ability to change itineraries at a nominal $$ cost and equivalent miles (based on availability.) Well this benefit is basically lost with dynamic award pricing because you won’t know what the future mileage charge will be for the same city pairs, class of service, and award redemption level. 😡
SL
SL
Apr 30, 2020, 5:18 am
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,026
Of course this is dynamic pricing. Same flight, different dates, different price = dynamic pricing. There's nothing for *A to be "ready" for. Ever since they added the 2500/3500 booking surcharge for close-in awards to partner itineraries, it's been clear that UA had the ability to charge more points than the chart suggested; that's the only readiness required. Pricing doesn't have to be tied to the cash price or inventory levels to be dynamic -- it just has to change based upon some factor.
As I said, it was announced last year when they removed the award chart for UA as of November 15. While they said that partner award amounts were not changing for the time being, I considered it obvious that they would eventually be increased, and I'm sure I'm not alone.
I'm reminded of the recent topic about whether or not this was a good time to use award miles. It is always a good time to use award miles, because they depreciate constantly. This is just another example of that. I'm not happy that the prices are changing, but I'm certainly not surprised.
As I said, it was announced last year when they removed the award chart for UA as of November 15. While they said that partner award amounts were not changing for the time being, I considered it obvious that they would eventually be increased, and I'm sure I'm not alone.
I'm reminded of the recent topic about whether or not this was a good time to use award miles. It is always a good time to use award miles, because they depreciate constantly. This is just another example of that. I'm not happy that the prices are changing, but I'm certainly not surprised.
Apr 30, 2020, 7:41 am
#97
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
Dynamic pricing, which DL excels at, spits out a different mileage price for every flight based on price.
This is just UA deleting charts so that they can devalue without needing to let us know about it.
Really glad we just gave $5B to bail them out.
Apr 30, 2020, 9:10 am
#98
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,388
Anyway, when UA goes in and makes it worse, by raising the prices even further on some itineraries, then you'll agree that it's dynamic pricing?
Apr 30, 2020, 2:10 pm
#99
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
On the flip side - I just don't see why this is such a big deal given how easily miles are accrued. Everyone knew this was coming. It is what it is.
Apr 30, 2020, 2:17 pm
#100
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 1,155
You'd think given how expensive awards are these days, their new Visa Infinite card would have some good earning rates. Instead it is completely underwhelming.
Apr 30, 2020, 5:24 pm
#101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,896
No - UA convinced Judges in multiple trials that the courts don't have jurisdiction and airlines are mostly exempt from state consumer protections.
On the flip side - I just don't see why this is such a big deal given how easily miles are accrued. Everyone knew this was coming. It is what it is.
On the flip side - I just don't see why this is such a big deal given how easily miles are accrued. Everyone knew this was coming. It is what it is.
Judge Hamilton: To understand the difference between lifetime and fingers crossed? That lifetime doesn’t mean lifetime?
United: That lifetime means lifetime unless…
Judge Wood: Unless we change our mind.
Judge Hamilton: Unless we change our mind.
United: Yes, that’s exactly right. That’s the case.
United: That lifetime means lifetime unless…
Judge Wood: Unless we change our mind.
Judge Hamilton: Unless we change our mind.
United: Yes, that’s exactly right. That’s the case.
Apr 30, 2020, 5:25 pm
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
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Yeah, miles are relatively easy to earn (compared to AA), but only if you stick to UR and never use an MP credit card.
You'd think given how expensive awards are these days, their new Visa Infinite card would have some good earning rates. Instead it is completely underwhelming.
You'd think given how expensive awards are these days, their new Visa Infinite card would have some good earning rates. Instead it is completely underwhelming.
Apr 30, 2020, 10:57 pm
#103
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA Gold/0.744MM, WN AL, Hyatt Diamond, MR Scum, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC
Posts: 5,560
EDI-ZRH in J on LX
ZRH-LAX in J on LX
Still pricing at 70k post 7/1
EDI-BRU in Y on SN
BRU-ZRH in J on LX
ZRH-LAX in J on LX
Pricing at 77k post 7/1
I'm also seeing
EDI-FRA in J on LH
FRA-SFO in J on UA
SFO-LAX in Y on UA
Pricing at 66k post 7/1 which makes no sense (10% increase over what it was earlier in the week and the longhaul is on UA)
All three of these are on the same date in July
Apr 30, 2020, 11:25 pm
#104
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: CTU/TFU(Chengdu, Sichuan, China) - MIG (Mianyang, Sichuan, China) - EWR/JFK/LGA/HPN (Great New York City Metro Area, NY, USA) - HVN/BDL (New Haven/Hartford, CT, USA)
Programs: UA 1MM/F9 Diamond; Marriott Lifetime Gold; IHG Platinum; Choice Privileges Platinum
Posts: 983
There are some counter examples for USA-China itinerary with ANA segments. SFO-NRT-CTU with ANA operating both segments or only NRT-CTU segment will cost 35K, and the same for SFO-DEN-NRT-CTU/SFO-LAX-NRT-CTU with ANA operating NRT-CTU segment; however, SFO-LAX-NRT-CTU will cost 38.5K if ANA operating both LAX-NRT and NRT-CTU segments. This oddity only appears to be with ANA. For itinerary with segments operated by other Asian carriers like Asiana, Air China, Singapore.... it is a consistent 10% increase.
May 1, 2020, 5:08 pm
#105
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
i checked some dates for NYC-BKK in J and saw a handful of one way awards at the previous 90k level. The vast majority though were at the newly inflated 99k level.
At the new award level (and the nominal 2cpm cost) it is more cost effective to book a r/t revenue ticket and earn some miles while you are at it. You do lose the easy change of itinerary functionality though.
SL
At the new award level (and the nominal 2cpm cost) it is more cost effective to book a r/t revenue ticket and earn some miles while you are at it. You do lose the easy change of itinerary functionality though.
SL