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Home » United Airlines » United Raises Partner Award Costs: Here’s The Breakdown…
United Airlines

United Raises Partner Award Costs: Here’s The Breakdown…

Matthew Klint Posted onApril 29, 2020November 14, 2023 14 Comments

a group of people standing in front of an airplane

When the going gets tough, stick it to them where it hurts…United Airlines has raised the cost of awards on partner airlines by at least 10% across the board.

Earlier today I wrote about United Airlines’ decision to no longer publish partner award charts. United says this is done “to align information” and is “consistent with other major carriers”. I made a trio of predictions and figured it would only be a matter of time before prices went up.

Sadly, it took only hours for prices to go up. Yes, even though we are in an era of empty planes and depressed demand; even though we are in an era in which airlines will need to win back customers once travel resumes again, United decided to raise rates.

I have examined pricing and can make these observations:

  • Prices are up 10% across the board on partner awards
  • The new pricing takes effect for travel on or after July 01, 2020
  • Prior to July 01, 2020, “old” pricing applies, which includes a surcharge of 3,500 points over former “saver” levels for awards booked 30 days or less prior to departure
  • United appears to be experimenting with an additional surcharge for nonstop flights on some routes

Let’s look at some examples:

One-way flights between North America and Europe on Star Alliance partners will rise from 30K to 33K for economy, 70K to 77K for business, and 110K to 121K for first class.



a screenshot of a flight ticket

For Japan, prices will go from 35K to economy class to 38.5K, 80K to 88K for business class, and 110K to 121K for first class.

a screenshot of a flight ticket

For Southeast Asia, prices will will rise from 40K to 44K in economy class, 90K to 99K in business class, and 140K to 154K in first class:

a screenshot of a flight schedule

Central America will go from 17.5K to 19.5K in economy class and from 30K to 33K in business class. South America will jump from 30K to 33K in economy and 60K to 66K in business class.

a screenshot of a flight ticket

Finally, Africa will jump from 40K to 44K in economy class and from 80K to 88K in business class:

a screenshot of a flight ticket

Outside North America, United’s popular 8K one-way awards on flights 600 miles or under within a single region will now cost 9K.

a screenshot of a flight ticket

Interestingly, it appears that United is experimenting with higher costs for nonstop flights over connecting flights. For example, London to Bangkok nonstop on Thai is 49.5K miles while a connection in Germany is 45K.

a screenshot of a flight schedule

As for timing, note that award prices do not change for trips prior to July. For example, travel on Lufthansa next week is the same price as we’ve seen for several months:

a screenshot of a flight schedule

As late as June 30th the price stays the same. Note the 30K one-way pricing below.

a screenshot of a flight schedule

But look what happens on July 1st: the prices goes up 10% to 33K.

a screenshot of a flight schedule

This is the same with other partners and other regions. For example, ANA is 35K for economy and 80K for business on June 30th:

a screenshot of a screen

But on July 1st, the price goes up 10%.
a screenshot of a screen

Note we will now have to wait and see whether these new award rates fluctuate and are assessed another close-in surcharge as travel draws near. My bet is yes.

And do note that United award are currently pricing the same as usual, meaning former “saver” rates have been preserved. In the case of Europe, that is 30K for economy class 60K for business class. Do note this leads to some odd pricing if “saver” business class is available but not economy or premium economy:

a screenshot of a flight schedule

Yes, I’d take 60K for business over 120K for premium economy or 45K for economy any day…

CONCLUSION

The “beauty” of not having award charts is that there is no more devaluations, at least technically. If there are no published costs, there can be no cost increases. But shrewd consumers recognize this game and will respond accordingly. United feels like it is doing what is necessary to protect itself. But I see it as kicking consumers while they are down, which will have adverse long-term effects, especially with its biggest and best customer, Chase Bank. Time will tell if the usual short memory span leads to indifference or a more painful retribution.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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14 Comments

  1. Ryan Reply
    April 29, 2020 at 2:26 pm

    Why would anyone be loyal to a US airline anymore ?

  2. Jack Reply
    April 29, 2020 at 2:30 pm

    I dumped UA at ~0.75 million miles and went to AS and Partners which has been great. I do think they will devalue some to become more inline with OW members. Matthew, with your 1MM status secured you should focus on your new AA EXP status and dive into OW. That would be great 🙂

  3. Andy K Reply
    April 29, 2020 at 2:54 pm

    What is the purpose of this? To get more folks to fly UA over partner metal? Hasn’t the Star Alliance award chart always been more expensive than booking on United?

    • Eric Reply
      April 30, 2020 at 5:55 pm

      It’s a really good question. I think part of it is genuinely what you suggested: while future availability is so open, UA figures it’s a good time to fill their own planes with passengers regardless of how they paid, rather than encouraging folks to try partners. I know that in my case for example, the 10K mile savings on TATL redeye saver J awards typically wasn’t quite enough to get me to use UA metal … but a 17K difference would.

      And let’s not forget that they’ve at least done the “right thing” and opened saver availability broadly across most flights in their schedule, even into 2021. I personally just snagged flights to London and Kyiv for Christmas/New Year’s that have never once seen saver availability and would have been really pricey if I’d paid cash.

  4. Gene Reply
    April 29, 2020 at 2:59 pm

    @ Matthew — What exactly will it take for you to ditch United?

    • Pete Reply
      April 29, 2020 at 3:30 pm

      Yes because AA premium award unicorns plus their award winning flagship service is better…oh yes and skypesos.

      • Gene Reply
        April 29, 2020 at 5:01 pm

        …And United raising elite requirements to absurd levels, virtually eliminating saver awards and advance confirmable award space, adding a close-in booking surcharge, stealing passenger refunds, changing its partner PQP earn structure after just a few months, and on and on…

    • Christian Reply
      April 29, 2020 at 8:29 pm

      +1.

      @Matthew – Kirby has shown that when it comes to loyalty over the past week or so, he’s just out to lunch. There’s just no way to spin these changes as being in any way friendly to the loyal customer. You’ve been a fervent defender of United. If this latest barrage of loyalty-hating moves doesn’t move you to renounce United, what exactly will it take?

    • Kacee Reply
      May 1, 2020 at 2:40 am

      I do kind of wonder why anyone would stick with UA at this point. It’s the “Thank you sir, may I have another” of US carriers.

  5. Steve Reply
    April 29, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    What a bunch of scumbags, proof even while losing money these guys will try and f*ck their customers.

    More the reason to be a free agent!

  6. UA-NYC Reply
    April 29, 2020 at 5:28 pm

    F this stupid effing airline. SMH.

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