2009 MP Changes - UA Restores 500 Mile Min for Elites and New Award Redemption Rules
Nov 3, 2008, 1:12 pm
#16
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
Co-pay will not be assessed on Lufthansa paper upgrades, Systemwide Upgrades, Confirmed Regional Upgrades or 500-Mile E-Upgrades.
http://www.united.com/page/article/0...prgterms#jump3
http://www.united.com/page/article/0...prgterms#jump3
Wow, I'm going to get an additional 4000 EQMs/8000 miles that I'd previously 'lost', now that we'll get retroactive credit. Makes me glad I tagged along with my wife when she segment-ran to get down to Virginia last month!
Nov 3, 2008, 1:14 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
Well the co-pay thing can either suck or be OK. I guess on the plus side you can now upgrade any econ fare to business but it looks like the co-pay is higher. the suck side is every upgrade type has one, even domestic so this will make CR1's all the more valuable as using 15K miles to confirm an upgrade for a transcon or HI flight will no cost $50 ea way.
Nov 3, 2008, 1:14 pm
#18
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1MM/1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,832
There are some very large increases in premuim award redepmtion levels.
From the US to
Europe: 55/105/135
South Asia: 65/125/145
OZ/NZ: 80/135/160
These are in many cases substantial increases.
From the US to
Europe: 55/105/135
South Asia: 65/125/145
OZ/NZ: 80/135/160
These are in many cases substantial increases.
Nov 3, 2008, 1:16 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, BA Gold, SQ TPP
Posts: 1,487
Co-pay will not be assessed on Lufthansa paper upgrades, Systemwide Upgrades, Confirmed Regional Upgrades or 500-Mile E-Upgrades.
http://www.united.com/page/article/0...prgterms#jump3
http://www.united.com/page/article/0...prgterms#jump3
Nov 3, 2008, 1:17 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP 2MM
Posts: 644
Suggested change for the title of this thread. UA Restores 500 Mile Min for Elites + Other Award Changes.
Nov 3, 2008, 1:19 pm
#21
Moderator, Hertz; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRK
Programs: UA 1MM, BA GGL, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond and others
Posts: 12,690
If I have to pay 20K miles AND up to $400 co-pay to upgrade a B fare, I will really reconsider switching. All UA did was give back 500 mile min but took from us a lot more miles for awards and now money for upgrades. :grr: and I have a hunch they will calculate them by the change fee related to the ticket.
Nov 3, 2008, 1:23 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
Well the co-pay thing can either suck or be OK. I guess on the plus side you can now upgrade any econ fare to business but it looks like the co-pay is higher. the suck side is every upgrade type has one, even domestic so this will make CR1's all the more valuable as using 15K miles to confirm an upgrade for a transcon or HI flight will no cost $50 ea way.
Just buy cheapest S/L/K (the fare difference should more than offset the co-pay, besides, you pay less miles).
Nov 3, 2008, 1:24 pm
#23
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1MM/1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,832
For the small number of elites who hit their status thresholds on the basis of the 500 EQM minimums, I suppose this is good news. It's certainly bad news for GMs who have no way to upgrade other than by RDMs, and it's definitely bad news for those who like to redem premium *A awards.
Nov 3, 2008, 1:26 pm
#24
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Gold-MM, AA Gold-MM, F9-Silver, Hyatt Something, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,393
If you read it carefully, they are applying the 500 mile minimum to elites retroactively so it's like it never went away!
"And, this policy change will be applied retroactively to United flights flown between July 1, 2008, and December 31, 2008. By the end of this year, we will update the flights flown as an elite member during that time. The update will apply the 500-mile minimum (for redeemable miles and Elite Qualifying Miles) and will adjust any class-of-service bonuses, elite bonuses and promotional bonuses."
"And, this policy change will be applied retroactively to United flights flown between July 1, 2008, and December 31, 2008. By the end of this year, we will update the flights flown as an elite member during that time. The update will apply the 500-mile minimum (for redeemable miles and Elite Qualifying Miles) and will adjust any class-of-service bonuses, elite bonuses and promotional bonuses."
Yes, I'm thrilled that 500-mins are coming back, but I have a hard time seeing the rationale behind the way they make their business decisions. Indeed, this should be in its own thread.
Nov 3, 2008, 1:27 pm
#25
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
Hmm. It appears that this is actually a good deal for some miles-based upgraders. If I read correctly, you can now do a miles upgrade with a co-pay from *any* fare basis. So no more having to buy an H-fare to upgrade with miles (as I currently do once a year for three of us since I only have enough SWUs for one trip a year!). In most cases, that H-fare is around $300 or more extra per person over the cheapest available fare, so for my personal travel patterns the net result will be a small mile saving on those upgrades.
If I can get the upgrades at all, a year from now, that is!
If I can get the upgrades at all, a year from now, that is!
Nov 3, 2008, 1:33 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,752
If this is indeed the case, it has to rank with some of the stupidest things United has ever done -- first getting rid of the min, and then restoring it retroactively! Why bother to make it retroactive? The decisions pax made are already a fait accompli! Nothing can be changed. Those who opted to fly WN intra-CA already did so! United is not going to get their money now -- it's too late! Sure, it definitely makes sense to reinstate the min, but it's hard to imagine what they gain (other than karma) by fixing the past.
Yes, I'm thrilled that 500-mins are coming back, but I have a hard time seeing the rationale behind the way they make their business decisions. Indeed, this should be in its own thread.
Yes, I'm thrilled that 500-mins are coming back, but I have a hard time seeing the rationale behind the way they make their business decisions. Indeed, this should be in its own thread.
Nov 3, 2008, 1:34 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
The upgrade war will intensify next year when any GM can upgrade by buying cheapest fare, spending some miles and presenting a credit card for co-pay.
Nov 3, 2008, 1:36 pm
#28
formerly known as 2lovelife
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: ORF : UA_Premier_Gold4Life, Bonvoy_titanium, Accor_Plat
Posts: 6,952
Now that they want 40% more miles for my Business class ticket to SE Asia, I HOPE THEY FINALLY RELEASE SOME SEATS!
Nov 3, 2008, 1:37 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,063
If this is indeed the case, it has to rank with some of the stupidest things United has ever done -- first getting rid of the min, and then restoring it retroactively! Why bother to make it retroactive? The decisions pax made are already a fait accompli! Nothing can be changed. Those who opted to fly WN intra-CA already did so! United is not going to get their money now -- it's too late! Sure, it definitely makes sense to reinstate the min, but it's hard to imagine what they gain (other than karma) by fixing the past.
Yes, I'm thrilled that 500-mins are coming back, but I have a hard time seeing the rationale behind the way they make their business decisions.
Yes, I'm thrilled that 500-mins are coming back, but I have a hard time seeing the rationale behind the way they make their business decisions.
Nov 3, 2008, 1:37 pm
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Standard awards are up too!!!
N.A. - EU: old 100/180/220 > new 110 / 210 / 270
N.A. - Asia: old 120/200/240 > new 130 / 250 / 290
N.A. - Asia: old 120/200/240 > new 130 / 250 / 290