Feb 18, 2024, 9:00 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the active thread is Better award availability with United credit cards (as well as elites)
While it had appeared to be true, it has been unclear for some time if the improved award available for MP branded credit cards was intentional or would continue -- however in May 2017, UA started posting in award searches for credit card holders
Quote:
Exclusively available to you as a MileagePlus Premier® member and MileagePlus Chase Cardmember
so this appears to be intentional
Appears to apply to all present and legacy MileagePlus branded cards
Provides better available is for JN, YN, XN(FN?) BUT not IN
Previous threads
Checking for award booking - something new? noting expanded inventory for elites & CC
Premier members who have Chase-issued credit cards are eligible for award ticket upg.
While it had appeared to be true, it has been unclear for some time if the improved award available for MP branded credit cards was intentional or would continue -- however in May 2017, UA started posting in award searches for credit card holders
Quote:
Exclusively available to you as a MileagePlus Premier® member and MileagePlus Chase Cardmember
so this appears to be intentional
Appears to apply to all present and legacy MileagePlus branded cards
Provides better available is for JN, YN, XN
Previous threads
Checking for award booking - something new? noting expanded inventory for elites & CC
Premier members who have Chase-issued credit cards are eligible for award ticket upg.
Better award availability with United credit cards (as well as elites) {Archive}
Sep 19, 2013, 2:36 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CA
Posts: 188
Better award availability with United credit cards (as well as elites) {Archive}
I have been wondering this for a while now. I currently own a United Explorer Card but would be getting rid of it soon. Will this make the award availability harder for me while searching on United.com? Or to be more general, does it really affect the award availability if you own or not own a United credit card?
Sep 19, 2013, 6:02 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: MP,MR Silver,Avis
Posts: 848
Yes, you can book into XN with the Explorer card. Without it, unless you're an elite, you can only book into X.
Sep 19, 2013, 6:24 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: MCO, YEG
Posts: 1,182
XN is economy award class supposed to be for elite members only, but for some reason, it is also made available to credit card holders. Currently offers better economy availability for cardholders, however, this could disappear anytime as it is not an official benefit of the card
Sep 19, 2013, 6:28 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CA
Posts: 188
XN is economy award class supposed to be for elite members only, but for some reason, it is also made available to credit card holders. Currently offers better economy availability for cardholders, however, this could disappear anytime as it is not an official benefit of the card
I just wanted to ask one more thing. Where can I see if its 'x' or 'xn' fare class while booking an award travel? I am trying to check it out myself to be sure.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Sep 19, 2013 at 7:45 pm Reason: merge
Sep 19, 2013, 7:36 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: IAH / HOU
Programs: UA GS, DL-Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Somethingist, Marriott Titanium Lifetime
Posts: 2,853
Log in to united.com with expert mode enabled and you can look for availability of fare classes (including X and XN) by doing a regular revenue flight search and clicking on fare classes.
Sep 19, 2013, 7:50 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: United 1k
Posts: 434
I have been wondering this for a while now. I currently own a United Explorer Card but would be getting rid of it soon. Will this make the award availability harder for me while searching on United.com? Or to be more general, does it really affect the award availability if you own or not own a United credit card?
Sep 19, 2013, 8:24 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: MP,MR Silver,Avis
Posts: 848
Certain Members may receive preferential pricing.
even when compared to elites...
Sep 19, 2013, 8:48 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: NJ, USA
Posts: 2,838
Do you need to call to get this? Otherwise how can you do this online? How would the website know you have this card?
Sep 19, 2013, 8:55 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: United 1k
Posts: 434
I believe your credit card is always tied to your MileagePlus number somehow, so when you log in to redeem miles for hotel stays, determination can be made if you're a card number or not.
The same thing happens with AA and DL as well in my experience
The same thing happens with AA and DL as well in my experience
Sep 19, 2013, 9:18 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: MP,MR Silver,Avis
Posts: 848
You give Chase your MP# when you apply, so they know where to credit the miles and other benefits.
Oct 4, 2013, 2:16 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: Delta SM, IHG Plat, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Silver, Avis First
Posts: 48
This 'benefit' must not be well known within UA. I called to change a segment which was showing availability online for 2 pax, and the agent could only see 1 seat (Club card holder w/ no status, I didn't even think to check X vs. XN availability).
I was transferred to IT and got the same result. While waiting on hold, I check in expert mode, and sure enough, XN6, X1 - there was only 1 X seat, but lots of XN. I decided to bail on the call, hoping the IT gods didn't kill my XN benefit, but she came back and said she made the change but that 'there was only 1 seat available'...
I was transferred to IT and got the same result. While waiting on hold, I check in expert mode, and sure enough, XN6, X1 - there was only 1 X seat, but lots of XN. I decided to bail on the call, hoping the IT gods didn't kill my XN benefit, but she came back and said she made the change but that 'there was only 1 seat available'...
Oct 4, 2013, 2:37 pm
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dog House
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, AA EXP, WN A-List, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 1,245
And does the XN designation then mean that you qualify for a CPU? I see XN on my record...but it does not say "CPU requested" or anything like that?
Oct 4, 2013, 2:44 pm
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,562
No, award upgrade eligibility is internal coding we can't see. But the flights, once ticketed, should say "CPU Eligible" if it is in fact a CPU eligible flight. Did you pay the taxes/fees with your Explorer Card?
Oct 4, 2013, 2:51 pm
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dog House
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, AA EXP, WN A-List, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 1,245
Yes. Made it a point to pay for it with my UA Club card. Will call and find out why it does not say that. Thanks for the info!