The big news Friday was United’s devaluation of its MileagePlus award chart starting 01 February 2014, particularly for premium cabins on Star Alliance partners, but United also announced a policy change eliminating complimentary upgrades on flights to/from Northern South American and within Asia:
The following restrictions apply to upgrades on flights to/from Northern South America and within Asia departing on or after February 1, 2014: (1) Complimentary Premier Upgrades and instant upgrades are not applicable; (2) Regional Premier Upgrades (for any fare class) and Global Premier Upgrades (for flights booked in fare class Z, P, S, T, L, K, G or N) can no longer be requested on or after November 1, 2013; (3) There is no co-pay exemption for MileagePlus Upgrade Awards requested on or after November 1, 2013.
So, miles (without a co-pay exemption for Premier members) or Global Premier Upgrades for fare classes W or higher and can still be used, but no more complimentary upgrades on flights within Asia or to the following points considered Northern South America:
It is safe to say that few will be burning systemwide upgrades on a 4-5 hour flight with a domestic first class product…that is why complimentary upgrades logically were given in that market in the first place. Perhaps this is the first step of a gradual rollback of United’s complimentary upgrade program…
United distinguishes Asia from Oceania, so complimentary upgrades will still be possible to/from its Guam hub to the many points served in Asia (and even Cairns in Australia). On a recent 777 (domestic config) flight from Guam to Tokyo, business class went out 1/4 full, so it is nice that elites will still be eligible for upgrades on these routes.
In my experience, upgrades to Northern South America are a cinch, so I expect United employees and other pass riders to be very pleased with what will become an easy region to secure front cabin space in.
Why the cutbacks in upgrades? Who knows. United probably figured everyone would be up and arms over the devalued award chart and just overlook this…
Good day not be a United frequent Flyer 🙂
@Rocky this coming from a disgruntled Delta elite? “Hi kettle. My name is Pot.”
The jig is up. The gittin’ was good while it was. The move by UA is
a calculated incremental move to slim down the FF program of participants. Some will see the new charts and opt out. That’s what they want. The move is where the awards are going to be available for revenue derived miles. As to why UA’s huge hike on partners (so much for the word ‘alliance’)I believe the partners are ticked about the flood of awards in their premium cabins on the cheap. And just this month USAir again offers 100% buy. Let’s wait to see the merged AA-USAir devaluation – 200K or 300K J class to europe, after years and years of cheap miles offloaded by USAir. Cheap travel days are going, going, gone. Glad I cleaned out my MP miles for 2 Js to Europe on LH. I’m not a fan of UA’s J product.
@Steve, that’s what I love about USDM – 100K for about 1800 in change and the 90K C to Asia (via Europe) award. Oddly enough, most of the award seats I end up picking up are on United.
@Thom: Did NAsia via Europe 9 segments this year. I priced out the routing a month beforehand at just over $20K! It cost in miles purchased less than 10% of that! Airlines also crunch numbers. So why move to charge more miles? Answer: 1. too many miles floating about, and 2. some airlines calculate it pays to leave a seat empty instead of making it too affordable for an award pax, luggage, amenity kit, food, drinks. The airline has nothing to lose in the calucation. Think weight and fuel burn. Nothing personal, it’s just business (pun intended). Personally, I think it may be more advantageous for airlines to shrink the FF programs to earning miles only on paid tickets for award redemption. That would leave more premium seats empty, but the airlines could sell them as upgrades at the counter. I don’t mind buying an economy ticket and then paying for an upgrade at a reasonable price – and earning miles to boot. Slims down the process, and brings some equilibrium. Oh, did I mention ‘glad I got mine’. Am planning on doing it again before USAir pulls the plug.