Why is Award travel not "free"?
Sep 19, 2011, 7:55 pm
#1
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Why is Award travel not "free"?
I don't get it. I fly enough to book an award ticket and then United charges a fee for booking the ticket online.
So they certainly can't say they offer "free travel" to elite members.
Yes I know it's a measily fee but when I blow 50k miles to get my daughter from RDU-PWM during the holidays it irks me that I have to pull out my CC for the $10.
And even though I am using my miles as a 1K to get her home, if she were to check a bag she'd get dinged for the fee. The final insult was when I booked the flight for her, it asked if I wanted to pay $9 each way for her to use the Premier Line.
I think the status should go with the miles.
So they certainly can't say they offer "free travel" to elite members.
Yes I know it's a measily fee but when I blow 50k miles to get my daughter from RDU-PWM during the holidays it irks me that I have to pull out my CC for the $10.
And even though I am using my miles as a 1K to get her home, if she were to check a bag she'd get dinged for the fee. The final insult was when I booked the flight for her, it asked if I wanted to pay $9 each way for her to use the Premier Line.
I think the status should go with the miles.
Sep 19, 2011, 8:13 pm
#2
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Location: Houston, TX
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I don't get it. I fly enough to book an award ticket and then United charges a fee for booking the ticket online.
So they certainly can't say they offer "free travel" to elite members.
Yes I know it's a measily fee but when I blow 50k miles to get my daughter from RDU-PWM during the holidays it irks me that I have to pull out my CC for the $10.
And even though I am using my miles as a 1K to get her home, if she were to check a bag she'd get dinged for the fee. The final insult was when I booked the flight for her, it asked if I wanted to pay $9 each way for her to use the Premier Line.
I think the status should go with the miles.
So they certainly can't say they offer "free travel" to elite members.
Yes I know it's a measily fee but when I blow 50k miles to get my daughter from RDU-PWM during the holidays it irks me that I have to pull out my CC for the $10.
And even though I am using my miles as a 1K to get her home, if she were to check a bag she'd get dinged for the fee. The final insult was when I booked the flight for her, it asked if I wanted to pay $9 each way for her to use the Premier Line.
I think the status should go with the miles.
Sep 19, 2011, 8:20 pm
#4
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Iirc, it's not a fee charged by UA but one of the taxes involved just like if you booked a paid ticket and if I further remember, it's $2.50 per segment. Is the trip in question 2 segments each direction?
Sep 19, 2011, 8:22 pm
#5
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I suggest the OP book at trip to London to see what real "fees" are about. 
I do like the OP's suggestion though, that elites should be exempt from government taxes. Now thats a great idea ^
I am also willing to go out on a limb, and say, the OP spent 50,000 miles without checking for space on CO/US.
I do like the OP's suggestion though, that elites should be exempt from government taxes. Now thats a great idea ^
I am also willing to go out on a limb, and say, the OP spent 50,000 miles without checking for space on CO/US.
Sep 19, 2011, 8:22 pm
#6
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Sep 19, 2011, 8:24 pm
#7
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if $10 was all you were charged, it is airport fees....they vary a bit from place to place....
Sep 19, 2011, 8:24 pm
#8
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ah... the fuel surcharge, that thankfully hasnt come to United award tickets (yet, give it time)
Sep 19, 2011, 8:26 pm
#9
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You could always pay full price for the ticket instead of the $10
Sep 19, 2011, 8:47 pm
#10
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Sep 19, 2011, 9:14 pm
#11
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Like others have mentioned, the $10 charge is a tax, not a booking fee. Misleading thread title.
Sep 19, 2011, 11:12 pm
#12
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Sep 19, 2011, 11:14 pm
#13
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Sep 19, 2011, 11:22 pm
#14
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The particular airline taxes under discussion are based on airport / segments. The 7.5% federal exercise tax will be zero but not the other taxes.
this might help A guide to airline-ticket taxes and fees.
Sep 20, 2011, 6:41 am
#15
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This is not the airport/segment tax. It is the 9/11 Security Fee.
http://www.tsa.gov/research/fees/passenger_fee.shtm
$2.50 per segment, $5.00 max in each direction.
I have a recent award booking with three segments - fee was $7.50.
I do not expect UA or any carrier to pay government mandated fees/taxes on my behalf when I travel on an award ticket when the taxes/fees are not a function of the price of travel.
http://www.tsa.gov/research/fees/passenger_fee.shtm
$2.50 per segment, $5.00 max in each direction.
I have a recent award booking with three segments - fee was $7.50.
I do not expect UA or any carrier to pay government mandated fees/taxes on my behalf when I travel on an award ticket when the taxes/fees are not a function of the price of travel.