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 5, 2019, 1:41 pm
#481
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: SYD
Programs: UA 1K; VA Gold; QF Gold; HHonors Gold; Marriott Gold; National ExecElite
Posts: 419
Apr 5, 2019, 1:43 pm
#482
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Look up - On a ✈ DELTA ✈ jet NOW!
Programs: Blogger & Delta Diamond Medallion Million Miler
Posts: 4,174
1 million miles anyone? Just wait (for a little bit)....
Oh now you all can look forward to award prices like this! 
PS - This is not fake - a real award search!
PS - This is not fake - a real award search!
Apr 5, 2019, 1:45 pm
#483
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 2,350
- What happens to partner awards in the long run is a huge question for me
- This is not surprising, and also not completely irrational. That's even more true if the people it impacts worst are those who know best how to take advantage of the system. Welcome to life, folks, myself included.
- If this affects award inventory, there's a possibility that we see awards priced at less than standard but more than saver for a lot of travel dates. Makes sense from a market economics perspective.
- The pain will come in a couple of years. In the short term, I'd expect to see some cheaper awards at off-peak times. Great news for redemptions for my extended family who are retired and have 100% flexibility, for example. In the long term, as the system responds to "market forces" those lower bounds will rise.
Bottom line - yet another step in devaluation, one that we all knew was coming. As such, the age-old wisdom of earn them and burn them holds strong, unless you are ridiculously miles-rich, of course.
Apr 5, 2019, 1:51 pm
#484
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
Could be some massive devaluations for GS members if saver and saver award conversions go away.
Apr 5, 2019, 1:59 pm
#485
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
Between the increase in PQD required to make 1K (to match DL), and now the adoption of the DL mileage "chart..." I really feel like UA wants me to fly DL. I just wish DL had better partners. SkyTeam is unappealing.
Apr 5, 2019, 2:00 pm
#486
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 36
I think, airlines feel safe devaluing their miles based on the fact that blogs keep promoting them no matter what they'll do. Blogs are getting compensated for every sign up and they will always promote some SWEAT SPOT that is sour according to yesterdays standards.
Apr 5, 2019, 2:01 pm
#487
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,656
Took a while for UA to follow DL, but I will respond in kind. I will no longer worry about status, even ignoring how close I am to MM at this point. When the economy takes another turn will they want me back? Don't know and don't care at this point. Don't have time for some grand vacation this summer, and for the first time I'm thinking of dumping my huge mileage balance on anything to get rid of them. The obsessive nature I have had for over a decade with airline and hotels is coming to an end. What worked in my favor seems to have come to an end, and there is no reason to waste time and money to be loyal, and for what, a chance at an upgrade that is sold out from under my feet to a nobody? Better to be the nobody and pay when I care.
Apr 5, 2019, 2:24 pm
#488
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
United Eliminating Fixed Award Pricing
Just got this from UA.
We’re removing our award chart and introducing a broader range of award prices.
Danforth, we're making some updates to award travel. Here's what you need to know:
■ 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.
Apr 5, 2019, 2:36 pm
#489
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 55
I swear to goodness...some of these policies seem like they are written in Swahili. I'm so very thankful for Flyertalk trying to decipher some of this gibberish.
Apr 5, 2019, 2:39 pm
#490
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: England - UK
Posts: 512
Is this going to have any repercussions with Marriott as they are partners? For UK readers transferring Marriott points to United is the only real way to earn United points.
Apr 5, 2019, 2:40 pm
#491
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: WN A-list., Marriott Plat, National EX, UA Silver
Posts: 289
What a shame UA ... Wonder how many years it will take you to catch up to DL and offer as little value as possible in your rewards program? Thankfully partner awards aren't affected yet but it is only a mater of time. Time to start planning to my next vacation to burn my miles while I can still get some high value redemption (just like I did with Marriott). The 5k special was just a tactic to lighten the blow of an massive upcoming devaluation.
I live in an AA hub yet I chose to fly UA because they have a better rewards program and status benefits. At least I am just starting out with United and have not heavily invested in working toward MM status so leaving will be easy. Will be considering switching to AA or back to WN (if only AS was an option ).
I guess Marriott and UA partnership is made to be. First Marriott destroyed their program and lost many of their most loyal customers. Now UA is take a big step down the same path .
... Wonder how many years it will take you to catch up to DL and offer as little value as possible in your rewards program? Thankfully partner awards aren't affected yet but it is only a mater of time. Time to start planning to my next vacation to burn my miles while I can still get some high value redemption (just like I did with Marriott). The 5k special was just a tactic to lighten the blow of an massive upcoming devaluation.I live in an AA hub yet I chose to fly UA because they have a better rewards program and status benefits. At least I am just starting out with United and have not heavily invested in working toward MM status so leaving will be easy. Will be considering switching to AA or back to WN (if only AS was an option
).I guess Marriott and UA partnership is made to be. First Marriott destroyed their program and lost many of their most loyal customers. Now UA is take a big step down the same path
.
Apr 5, 2019, 2:40 pm
#492
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: 42,211
Would Kirby do it any other way? When he can't think of a way to screw customers on his own, he just copies Delta.
He must be really happy this week - first screw over Polaris customers with stripped out meal service, now follow it up with screwing everyone else.
I wonder how this change will affect partner awards. I'm rich with miles because I only use them to move my folks and I between Toronto and Florida on Air Canada. If these former 12,000 awards are going to be Deltafied to the typical nonsense I see at Delta for 75,000 in coach, I'm not even sure what I'll do with the miles.
He must be really happy this week - first screw over Polaris customers with stripped out meal service, now follow it up with screwing everyone else.
I wonder how this change will affect partner awards. I'm rich with miles because I only use them to move my folks and I between Toronto and Florida on Air Canada. If these former 12,000 awards are going to be Deltafied to the typical nonsense I see at Delta for 75,000 in coach, I'm not even sure what I'll do with the miles.
Apr 5, 2019, 2:46 pm
#493
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,656
Would Kirby do it any other way? When he can't think of a way to screw customers on his own, he just copies Delta.
He must be really happy this week - first screw over Polaris customers with stripped out meal service, now follow it up with screwing everyone else.
I wonder how this change will affect partner awards. I'm rich with miles because I only use them to move my folks and I between Toronto and Florida on Air Canada. If these former 12,000 awards are going to be Deltafied to the typical nonsense I see at Delta for 75,000 in coach, I'm not even sure what I'll do with the miles.
Apr 5, 2019, 2:46 pm
#494
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
What's happened with DL is that TATL J awards are 160k or higher.
But then they have these occasional sales which bring it down to 125k or something like that. Except from SFO, the routings are HORRIBLE, like over 20 hours outbound and return.
I guess it's time to look around at switching.
When will we be able to see this new pricing scheme, any award travel scheduled after Nov 15 or do we have to wait until Nov 15 to get an idea of the horror?
By then may not be the best time to book some qualifying flights for 2020.
But then they have these occasional sales which bring it down to 125k or something like that. Except from SFO, the routings are HORRIBLE, like over 20 hours outbound and return.
I guess it's time to look around at switching.
When will we be able to see this new pricing scheme, any award travel scheduled after Nov 15 or do we have to wait until Nov 15 to get an idea of the horror?
By then may not be the best time to book some qualifying flights for 2020.