United is ditching award charts

[ozstamps]

But I still do not get it - if these all exist as I Class surely agent can input them to do the award?

SYD-CTU – Dec 21

CTU-KMG – Dec 22

KMG-BKK – Dec 22

BKK-DEL - Dec 22

All show “I” inventory for 2 pax, and all connect nicely. ​

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No.

When all the changes came in United changed the way you are allowed to book awards. No longer can you construct your own award.

If it doesn't show on line, you basically can't book it (that is, an agent won't construct it for you, like you are proposing).

This was all widely reported when the changes came in. (About the only 'benefit' was the 'excursionst perk'... which is actually kind of neat and I have used it a couple of times for a free add on leg.)

 

[ozstamps]

Hmmm. Very odd - have not booked an award this year so all new.

I was a 1K for 10-15 years and knew how to work within the award ticket shuffle, but this system seems to have no logical rules!

And I could never figure out that excursionist system!

Maybe I could get it to work on this - not sure.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hmmm. Very odd - have not booked an award this year so all new.

I was a 1K for 10-15 years and knew how to work within the award ticket shuffle, but this system seems to have no logical rules!

And I could never figure out that excursionist system!

Maybe I could get it to work on this - not sure.

I just checked - the new rules preventing the construction of itineraries were announced in August 2016! Travel More for Fewer Miles: The United Excursionist Perk

 

[ozstamps]

Well last Xmas we flew Sydney-Korea-Addis Ababa Ethiopia- Windhoek Namibia - and returned Victoria Falls-Addis-Beijing-Syd. All for about 160K each in Biz. Agent booked it on phone as per my giving her the legs I wanted.

Was booked during 2018.

 

[ozstamps]

Can you ONLY book the excursionist "free" leg online - or can an agent also do it?

I see availability in Biz on united.com for

SYD-KTM Dec 21 (arrives KTM Dec 22)

And

KTU-SYD Jan 5 is fine.

Those are no problems. Both flights are via CDU, so only 2 segments each way.

I can also see there is Biz I Class space for KTM-IXZ Dec 22 - both in same region, so seems to qualify as the free excursionist leg if I book a RT correct? Same fare class as all other legs so that qualifies.

That flight goes via Chennai - so does the Excursionist leg need to be a 1 flight option?

If I pay for my own flight from IXZ to KTM the award should price at 140K RT a person I guess?

Online ''advanced'' priced only the SYD-KTM flight, despite me keying in RT award choice and all dates above.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well last Xmas we flew Sydney-Korea-Addis Ababa Ethiopia- Windhoek Namibia - and returned Victoria Falls-Addis-Beijing-Syd. All for about 160K each in Biz. Agent booked it on phone as per my giving her the legs I wanted.

Was booked during 2018.

Can't explain that one. Although there are some pretty weird routings available via UA.com today for that route... SYD-TYO-FRA-JNB-Windheok (J/F/J/J) for 115K.

Anyway the new rules should now be well and truly in effect. So the agent wasn't pulling a fast one.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Can you ONLY book the excursionist "free" leg online - or can an agent also do it?

I see availability in Biz on united.com for

SYD-KTM Dec 21 (arrives KTM Dec 22)

And

KTU-SYD Jan 5 is fine.

Those are no problems. Both flights are via CDU, so only 2 segments each way.

I can also see there is Biz I Class space for KTM-IXZ Dec 22 - both in same region, so seems to qualify as the free excursionist leg if I book a RT correct? Same fare class as all other legs so that qualifies.

That flight goes via Chennai - so does the Excursionist leg need to be a 1 flight option?

If I pay for my own flight from IXZ to KTM the award should price at 140K RT a person I guess?

Online ''advanced'' priced only the SYD-KTM flight, despite me keying in RT award choice and all dates above.

For the excursionist perk I use the multi city tool.

Using your proposed flights (I'm assuming you mean KTM-SYD and not KTU-SYD?) it prices at 140K in business class for the return. SYD-KTM on Air China. The KTM-IXZ is only offered on Air India with a 12 hour connection in DEL (and mixed class on the 23rd with economy KTM-DEL and business class DEL-IXZ). This section of the itenerary (the two flights) is free under the 'perk' (0 miles and $13 in taxes). Then the return as you say on 5 Jan.

(So the excursionist can be multiple flights.)

 

[ozstamps]

Sorry my fat fingers- yes KTM-SYD.

Yes it should be 140K a person.

Well you are a genius for getting that to work!

Tried it several times.

So the PHONE agents can't add the free legs in it seems?

Done as 2 x One Ways maybe I can get the IXZ-DEL as a free leg?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sorry my fat fingers- yes KTM-SYD.

Yes it should be 140K a person.

Well you are a genius for getting that to work!

Tried it several times.

So the PHONE agents can't add the free legs in it seems?

Done as 2 x One Ways maybe I can get the IXZ-DEL as a free leg?

You need to use the multi city tool.

Go to 'advanced' then 'multi city'. Then you do the itinerary as planned (segment 1 = SYD-KTM, segment 2 = KTM=IXZ, then you 'add another flight' and segment 3 = KTM-SYD).

But - the only free option is Air India via DEL with the 12 hour transit. On some other days they offer a TG connection via BKK, but that prices as 35K extra).

 

[ozstamps]

Excellent advice. I was doing that but no way was it adding the free segment sadly.

I'll try again.

OK so the via BKK is not going to work as that transits a different region, I can understand that.

So doing two x one ways gives me 2 x free internal segments basically?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Excellent advice. I was doing that but no way was it adding the free segment sadly.

I'll try again.

OK so the via BKK is not going to work as that transits a different region, I can understand that.

So doing two x one ways gives me 2 x free internal segments basically?

You get a one way additional flight for free within a return booking. If you ticket two one ways you don't get it.

I can't remember the exact rule for the free flight, it's based on the highest class of service, but I'm not sure if that attaches to the inbound or outbound. I did BKK-MEL (stopover) then HKG-BKK (stopover) then BKK-MEL. The SYD-BKK was in TG F, I got the HKG-BKK in TG F for free, and the BKK-MEL was in TG J. Don't ask me how they work that out, but I was happy.

 

[ozstamps]

Got it on the freebie. MANY thanks for your help.

Just found I can book Dec 21 SYD-CDU-BKK-MAA (Chennai) which is pretty handy.

Then on the MAA-IXZ flight last segment UA kicks me out saying no partner does it! Durrrhh.

Or maybe freebie it can't be the final sector? My headache is worse than ever!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Got it on the freebie. MANY thanks for your help.

Just found I can book Dec 21 SYD-CDU-BKK-MAA (Chennai) which is pretty handy.

Then on the MAA-IXZ flight last segment UA kicks me out saying no partner does it! Durrrhh.

Or maybe freebie it can't be the final sector? My headache is worse than ever!

No. The example i did with your original flights listed the free flights and non-free flights. So if there is an available combination (free or otherwise) it should show it. If not, then not available.

 

[jch]

I guess the best value now lies through long haul direct.... Did a search and booked booked business SYD-IAH one way which was showing 80k United miles and also 80k Life Miles through Avianca. Ended up taking advantage of the life miles promotion and booked through buying the miles. Was lucky enough to get availability for Easter next year.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I guess the best value now lies through long haul direct.... Did a search and booked booked business SYD-IAH one way which was showing 80k United miles and also 80k Life Miles through Avianca. Ended up taking advantage of the life miles promotion and booked through buying the miles. Was lucky enough to get availability for Easter next year.

The advantage of UA over LM comes if you need to get somewhere else in the USA other than an international gateway. I'm flying to a smaller city later this year and you you need a minimum of two conections from LAX or IAH. UA easily copes with this, LM returns nothing.

 

[ozstamps]

I guess the best value now lies through long haul direct.... Did a search and booked booked business SYD-IAH one way which was showing 80k United miles and also 80k Life Miles through Avianca. Ended up taking advantage of the life miles promotion and booked through buying the miles. Was lucky enough to get availability for Easter next year.

Look further afield than IAH -- saw some Bix Class awards to BRAZIL and Argentina ... via Houston that were there today for the same 80K one away!

 

[CaptJCool]

Did anyone peruse the impact of this seeing Nov 15 has now passed?

 

[jch]

Best summary I've seen so far...

Six Observations About Latest United MileagePlus Program Changes - Live and Let's Fly

New updates to the United MileagePlus program introduce a surcharge for bookings made within 30 days of travel. Find out why United made this change.

liveandletsfly.boardingarea.com

I should hit OZ *G before my status matched Premier Platinum expires in Jan.

 

[CaptJCool]

It seems following the trend of switching cash fees to extra points.

I suspect this means overall spend needs/must be higher as points are earnt at more expensive prices than paying the up-front cash.