UA changes awards search, mutiple issues, confusing listings, higher mileage?
Oct 27, 2021, 2:25 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 186
UA changes awards search, mutiple issues, confusing listings, higher mileage?
I just noticed that United has replaced the Business Saver column with a Business Mixed Cabin. So if the flight is not non-stop the lower priced (in miles) business award has a mixed cabin. I did find an example or two where the regular business award was discounted to the same award miles price as the business mixed cabin, but they seem to be the exceptions. I wonder if those bargain regular business awards will soon drop off. This seems to be another award devaluation.
Oct 27, 2021, 2:33 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,864
I just noticed that United has replaced the Business Saver column with a Business Mixed Cabin. So if the flight is not non-stop the lower priced (in miles) business award has a mixed cabin. I did find an example or two where the regular business award was discounted to the same award miles price as the business mixed cabin, but they seem to be the exceptions. I wonder if those bargain regular business awards will soon drop off. This seems to be another award devaluation.
Are you saying that you can find two segments where saver award space is available (AAA-BBB & BBB-CCC) but the flight AAA-BBB-CCC wont give you business saver award?
Oct 27, 2021, 2:40 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 186
I live in LAS so except for Canada, all international traveling i do is at least one stop. So, for example, LAS-IST will involve a domestic and international leg. Formerly there was a Business Saver column that often was mixed cabin but the column heading was Business Saver. Now that heading has been replaced with Business Mixed Cabin with the domestic leg being economy and the international leg being first or business.
Oct 27, 2021, 2:55 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,157
Wow, that's horrible from a UI perspective. I booked a few business award tickets earlier this morning and it wasn't showing like that, but it is now.
Specifically for mixed itinerary tickets you need to actually click on the "Details" link to even see it's a mixed itinerary as from the main results screen it looks exactly the same for all-business v's mixed trips. Interestingly, Premium Economy doesn't show this way, and still has the old-style "mixed" flag when it's relevant.
Specifically for mixed itinerary tickets you need to actually click on the "Details" link to even see it's a mixed itinerary as from the main results screen it looks exactly the same for all-business v's mixed trips. Interestingly, Premium Economy doesn't show this way, and still has the old-style "mixed" flag when it's relevant.
Oct 27, 2021, 3:35 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: DC
Programs: AA PPRO, HH Diamond, National EE
Posts: 603
This is also a pain when trying to book with Partner miles. Now I have to go in and search all of the fares on all of the itinerary options to find (I) Fares. I guess everyone decided this week was the week to screw with their programs.
Oct 27, 2021, 3:50 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,157
OK, either they've changed it again, or something just wasn't displaying properly before.
When I looked a short while ago (and when I took the screenshot above) for a simple direct/nonstop flight (where obviously there's no chance of "mixed") it was showing the "mixed" price as 80K (ie, saver) and the "Business" price as 200K (ie, non-Saver). Now it's showing this :
Now that's still a little mis-leading (the "mixed" column isn't actually "mixed" - it's a single flight after all!), however I think I do actually like this change! It means if I don't want a mixed itinerary I can just sort by/look at the "Business" column and know that everything showing there is business all the way. If I'm OK with mixed, I can sort by/look at that column - knowing I need to look at the details to see which legs are economy.
When I looked a short while ago (and when I took the screenshot above) for a simple direct/nonstop flight (where obviously there's no chance of "mixed") it was showing the "mixed" price as 80K (ie, saver) and the "Business" price as 200K (ie, non-Saver). Now it's showing this :
Now that's still a little mis-leading (the "mixed" column isn't actually "mixed" - it's a single flight after all!), however I think I do actually like this change! It means if I don't want a mixed itinerary I can just sort by/look at the "Business" column and know that everything showing there is business all the way. If I'm OK with mixed, I can sort by/look at that column - knowing I need to look at the details to see which legs are economy.
Oct 27, 2021, 4:10 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
OK, either they've changed it again, or something just wasn't displaying properly before.
When I looked a short while ago (and when I took the screenshot above) for a simple direct/nonstop flight (where obviously there's no chance of "mixed") it was showing the "mixed" price as 80K (ie, saver) and the "Business" price as 200K (ie, non-Saver). Now it's showing this :
Now that's still a little mis-leading (the "mixed" column isn't actually "mixed" - it's a single flight after all!), however I think I do actually like this change! It means if I don't want a mixed itinerary I can just sort by/look at the "Business" column and know that everything showing there is business all the way. If I'm OK with mixed, I can sort by/look at that column - knowing I need to look at the details to see which legs are economy.
When I looked a short while ago (and when I took the screenshot above) for a simple direct/nonstop flight (where obviously there's no chance of "mixed") it was showing the "mixed" price as 80K (ie, saver) and the "Business" price as 200K (ie, non-Saver). Now it's showing this :
Now that's still a little mis-leading (the "mixed" column isn't actually "mixed" - it's a single flight after all!), however I think I do actually like this change! It means if I don't want a mixed itinerary I can just sort by/look at the "Business" column and know that everything showing there is business all the way. If I'm OK with mixed, I can sort by/look at that column - knowing I need to look at the details to see which legs are economy.
David
Oct 27, 2021, 4:11 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,324
Oct 27, 2021, 4:29 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,048
this is a great enhancement. If one can finally sort between saver that has all segments in I/IN vs. just some. Long overdue. It has been a pain to find them in many instances.
Oct 27, 2021, 4:32 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: DC
Programs: AA PPRO, HH Diamond, National EE
Posts: 603
Unless I'm missing it though how do you sort it just to see I/IN? Right now all the stuff in the Mixed cabin can include All forms of business fares so the only way to know if all of it is bookable at the saver level is to search every single flight fare code.
Oct 27, 2021, 4:35 pm
#14
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: 66,854
The concept of saver is long gone, so if this is now -- Business Mixed and True Business -- with dynamic pricing and filtering based on status / access, it is a plus (depending on the dynamic price)
Oct 27, 2021, 4:49 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: DC
Programs: AA PPRO, HH Diamond, National EE
Posts: 603
The issue with that is trying to book UA with Partner Miles and still needing to try and find SAVER Awards.