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, 2:47 pm
#496
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
Apr 5, 2019, 2:51 pm
#497
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 369
Not sure if that's the best way to stick it to them. I haven't seen any good deals in those catalogs.
Apr 5, 2019, 2:51 pm
#498
formerly smoaky
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 303
Close in fees were the trade off for having cheaper award availability at the last minute. Now those awards will be dynamically prices (expensive as a last minute ticket is), so whatever you save on the close in fee you'll lose many times over in the miles you pay for the ticket.
Apr 5, 2019, 2:54 pm
#499
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
On second thought, given I have historically used my UA miles for international J travel on *A partners and not UA itself - because if UA award availability is available, it almost certainly means I can use a GPU instead - this probably won't impact me all that much. However, if that goes away, I would be very disincentivized to collect UA miles at all and would stick to purely CC programs with multiple transfer partners.
Apr 5, 2019, 2:57 pm
#500
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 5,526
While this is certainly unwelcome, and will make us spend miles at a faster rate, I get it.
As a 1K, you currently earn 11 miles/$....and lots of people say miles are worth 1.5 to 2 cents each....that's like United giving you a 16.5 to 22% rebate on everything you buy. By any other standard, that's a darn generous loyalty program.
Like I said it sucks, but I get it...
As a 1K, you currently earn 11 miles/$....and lots of people say miles are worth 1.5 to 2 cents each....that's like United giving you a 16.5 to 22% rebate on everything you buy. By any other standard, that's a darn generous loyalty program.
Like I said it sucks, but I get it...
Apr 5, 2019, 2:57 pm
#501
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
Atlhough I wonder if this will always hold true. When it's close in and you can get saver awards it's usually because the flight isn't well booked. Aren't mileage awards a way to dump inventory without lowering prices for business travelers who must go? Even under the current system they could drop saver inventory close in if they wanted to prevent such gaming, but they don't.
Of course, this could be simply a "pay with points" system whereby you're getting some conversion ratio of points to actual pricing, but it doesn't seem to be quite there.
Apr 5, 2019, 3:06 pm
#502
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,854
Another day when I am grateful to have experienced some of the golden days of United 1K status and achieved MM status, so that I can now (for the past four years or so) enjoy more freedom of choice without the constraints of a single loyalty program. Not that the grass is greener on many other pastures.
It may indeed be time to retire my t/crusty old Chase United Select Visa card. The annual 10k miles sort-of paid for the annual fee and it is at this time my oldest credit line, but the value may just not be there anymore. I still can make United miles every day with my CSR, at a higher rate even.
It may indeed be time to retire my t/crusty old Chase United Select Visa card. The annual 10k miles sort-of paid for the annual fee and it is at this time my oldest credit line, but the value may just not be there anymore. I still can make United miles every day with my CSR, at a higher rate even.
Apr 5, 2019, 3:10 pm
#503
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAS, ZQN
Programs: UA PP (2MM), BA gold
Posts: 2,202
and what will be the new name of MP? Can't be Set Pesos as that belongs to DL. Another change "we have asked for" for being over entitled. More seats at 280,000 miles one way.... I sure hopes the pendulum swings the other way soon.
Apr 5, 2019, 3:12 pm
#504
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 5,526
Apr 5, 2019, 3:12 pm
#505
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,762
MileageMinus of course
there are still some awards that represent a good arbitrage value relative to cash but generally I expect this will dramatically reduce my exposure to the currency (eg drop the card )
there are still some awards that represent a good arbitrage value relative to cash but generally I expect this will dramatically reduce my exposure to the currency (eg drop the card )
Apr 5, 2019, 3:14 pm
#506
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,656
Horrible use of miles, but I'm done with UA. Years of 1K status, a few at Platinum, now Gold. It's clear to me that they don't care. I screwed up for next weeks flight, UA was over $300 higher than AA with similar flight times, but out of loyalty I booked with UA. It's out of pocket as I'm the owner of the company, but will never make this mistake again.
Apr 5, 2019, 3:25 pm
#507
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 369
Horrible use of miles, but I'm done with UA. Years of 1K status, a few at Platinum, now Gold. It's clear to me that they don't care. I screwed up for next weeks flight, UA was over $300 higher than AA with similar flight times, but out of loyalty I booked with UA. It's out of pocket as I'm the owner of the company, but will never make this mistake again.
Apr 5, 2019, 3:39 pm
#508
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Mostly living in the basement
Programs: Newly minted free agent; MR LT(!)TE, HH SE, BA SECM, DL MM, UA PS, 2V Fanboi, CBP GE
Posts: 5,108
In a way, the DL program is actually quite transparent. DL has basically stated they want to consider cash and miles interchangeable, which means their target redemption rate is 1cpm. I imagine UA is heading in exactly the same direction. Of course, this has changed my behavior completely. I mostly don't bother with premium awards anymore (and find myself flying a lot more airlines than in the past). Since I ascribe zero value to miles, I have no problem using (say) 2500 of them to guest someone into the lounge with me (vs $29 in real money I'd otherwise spend).
Right, the programs were unsustainably generous in the past (1 free domestic r/t for every 2 TCONs a top tier elite flies???), but the devaluations are certainly painful for those who were taking advantage.
As a 1K, you currently earn 11 miles/$....and lots of people say miles are worth 1.5 to 2 cents each....that's like United giving you a 16.5 to 22% rebate on everything you buy. By any other standard, that's a darn generous loyalty program.
Like I said it sucks, but I get it...
Like I said it sucks, but I get it...
Apr 5, 2019, 3:44 pm
#509
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Bay Area - East Bay
Programs: UA 1k, AS 75k, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 641
I just had a thought....how badly is this going to break the already broken awards search system?
Apr 5, 2019, 3:45 pm
#510
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: WN A-list., Marriott Plat, National EX, UA Silver
Posts: 289
While this is certainly unwelcome, and will make us spend miles at a faster rate, I get it.
As a 1K, you currently earn 11 miles/$....and lots of people say miles are worth 1.5 to 2 cents each....that's like United giving you a 16.5 to 22% rebate on everything you buy. By any other standard, that's a darn generous loyalty program.
Like I said it sucks, but I get it...
As a 1K, you currently earn 11 miles/$....and lots of people say miles are worth 1.5 to 2 cents each....that's like United giving you a 16.5 to 22% rebate on everything you buy. By any other standard, that's a darn generous loyalty program.
Like I said it sucks, but I get it...