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Effective today you can book one-way awards on United for half of the round-trip miles.

A huge advantage of one-way awards is that you can now mix and match Saver and Standard awards by booking them as one-way awards.  Previously United required you to purchase a Standard award if just one of the flights did not have Saver availability.

One-way awards can currently only be booked online, and are only good for travel on United.  You can’t book a one-way flight on Continental for example or any other partner airline.

Unfortunately you can’t take a stopover on a one-way award.  When AA introduced one-way awards last year they eliminated most stopovers on all mileage redemptions.  However they continued to allow a stopover at the North American gateway city (as well as all connections of under 24 hours).

With the new United one-way awards there are no stopovers allowed at all.  The good news (for the time-being at least) is that unlike with AA  stopovers are still permitted on round-trip award redemptions.


The other major news from United is the launch of Miles & Money Awards which can actually be half-decent.
Miles & Money Awards are unfortunately only valid in economy, so it’s hard to come up with come of the incredible values that you can get from Business or First class redemptions.

Here are some examples with cents per mile valuations compared with buying the ticket: (CPM valuations are generally a good way to determine whether to use miles or buy the ticket.  The higher the CPM, the more bang you’re getting for your miles.  When I was able to book a $400 NYC-Montreal ticket using 6,400 Starpoints+$40 I got a value of $360 for 6,400 points or 5.63 cents per Starpoint.)

1. JFK-LAX, 02/07 (flight 891)-02/10 (flight 84).

Paid ticket: $425.40 with tax

Miles: 25,000+$5 tax. Total CPM value: 1.7

Miles & Money: 15,000+ $140.73. Total CPM: 1.9

-Like buying 10,000 miles for $135.73, or 1.36 cents per mile.

2. Chicago(ORD)-NYC(LGA), 02/07 (flight 674)-02/10 (flight 669).

Paid ticket: $391.40 with tax

Miles: 25,000+$5 tax. Total CPM: 2.57

Miles & Money: 10,000+ $121.38. Total CPM: 2.7

-Like buying 15,000 miles for $116.38, or 0.78 cents per mile.

3. Chicago(ORD)-Paris(CDG), 02/03 (flight 942)-02/10 (flight 943).

Paid ticket: $1,366.10 with tax

Miles: 55,000+$82.40 tax. Total CPM: 2.48

Miles & Money: 30,000+ $399.10. Total CPM: 3.22

-Like buying 25,000 miles for $316.70, or 1.27 cents per mile.

4. Cleveland(CLE)-Denver(DEN), 02/04 (flight 6753)-02/09 (flight 6636).

Paid ticket: $715.40 with tax

Miles: 25,000+$5.00 tax. Total CPM: 2.86

Miles & Money: 10,000+ $131.05. Total CPM: 5.84

-Like buying 15,000 miles for $126.05, or 0.84 cents per mile.

United Reduced Mileage Awards Linky

Fly anywhere in the US48 and Canada for just 20,000 miles!

-Book by 10/19/09.

-Fly between 01/10/10-04/30/10.

-Valid only on United/United Express.

Offer Registration Linky

Same terms as AA’s offer, except it starts for travel from 09/03 and you get to choose between double elite miles and double elite segments! People that fly many short flights or flights with stops may have an easier time attaining elite status via flight segments that via miles.

And now we wait while Continental and Delta figure out what to do about balancing the need for incremental revenue versus bloating their elite ranks.

Effective 07/30 you will no longer pay any expedite fees on United when booking or changing an award ticket!

Expedite fees originated in an era when paper tickets were the norm, and booking an award ticket close to the date of departure had real fees (overnight delivery, etc.) for the airline.

However as the airlines migrated to e-tickets the award expedite fees have stayed and even grown to as high as $150 on Delta.

United charged as much as $100 to book an award ticket within 21 days of departure or to change an existing award ticket to a flight to within 21 days.

What’s really nice about this change is that many airlines now only open up mileage seats at the last minute when they see that the seats won’t be sold and when they will reap an expedite fee.

Hopefully the other major airlines will go ahead on match United in eliminating expedite fees.

Here is a chart that I previously made before this change on expedite fees, based on how many days before departure the mileage ticket is booked (No airline charges an expedite fee for tickets booked 21+ days before departure, USAirways offers a $25 online discount through 08/12 and is the only domestic airline to still charge a fuel surcharge to all US originating award flights) :

www.united.com
Use code: 552KR
It doesn’t work on all flights, but it seems to work on a lot of them!

HT: FT

Offer Linky

Valid only for economy saver awards on United flights.

Travel valid 08/18-11/18.

Book by 07/24.

Sale awards, from North America to:

North America (excluding Hawaii): 20,000 miles

Carribean/Central America: 25,000 miles

Hawaii: 30,000 miles

South America: 44,000 miles

Asia: 50,000 miles

Europe: 44,000 miles

Middle East: 60,000 miles

Australia: 64,000 miles

Offer Linky

Valid for travel to/from the US48 and Canada.

-Book by 07/21

-Travel by 09/02

-Blackout: 07/02-07/06.

Note for Starwood AMEX cardholders: You can transfer 20,000 Starpoints into 50,000 LAN kilometers, which is more than enough for an award ticket to Brazil…

Offer Linky

It’s amazing how overlooked Argentina and Brazil are as vacation spots. They are both beautiful places (well maybe not Sao Paulo…but don’t miss Iguacu Falls or Florionopolis in Brazil) and the dollar goes incredibly far in either place.

-Valid for travel to Buenos Aires (EZE), Sao Paulo (GRU) or Rio de Janeiro (GIG).

-Book by 05/24.

-Travel by 08/31.

Related:
AA/United 2X Elite Offer
Continental 2X Elite Offer

United has relented and will now allow you to register to receive double elite miles even on previously purchased flights. This leaves AA and Delta as the only airlines not allowing tickets bought before the double elite miles promo to earn double elite miles.

Instructions:
-Call 1-800-421-4655
-Say “Manage My Account”
-Enter Mileage Plus number
-Enter ZIP code
-Say “More Options”
-Say “Register for a promotion”
-Say “MPW999″ or something like “M as in Mary, P as Paul, W as in W, the number 9, the number 9, the number 9″
-It will say “Double EQM Ticketing Exception MPW029″
-Say “yes” to confirm
-It will confirm registration.”

Thanks to this FT posting for the info!

Now you can earn elite status twice as fast!

AA Offer Registration Linky

Earn double Elite Qualifying Miles on tickets bought and used between 03/18 and 06/15. Registration is required prior to travel.


UA Offer Registration Linky

Earn double Elite Qualifying Miles on tickets bought and used between 03/19 and 06/15. Registration is required prior to travel.

Offer Linky

Valid for travel between 02/11 and 05/14 to/from the US48 and:
-Amsterdam
-Brussels
-Frankfurt
-Geneva
-London
-Moscow
-Munich
-Paris
-Rome
-Zurich

If you’ve got a few thousand United miles from a flight-dont let them expire-get a free newspaper subscription!

For example a 1 year subscription to the LA Times in the LA metro area will set you back just 2,600 miles!

Offer Linky

Offer Linky

United kicked off round 3 this morning by adding a $50 charge for a 2nd checked bag each way.  (They were the first to implement a second bag fee and were deeply embarrassed by being upstaged by AA in adding a first bag fee.)

For those keeping score it will now cost a family of 4 an additional $520 round-trip to each bring 2 suitcases with them.

Did somebody forget to tell these guys that oil is under $100 now???

United and Star Alliance elite members and all of their travel companions continue to get 2 free checked bags.

(Pretty soon I’ll be able to rent myself out just so that families can check in 2 free bags each-it pays to be elite on every alliance!)

The fee applies to tickets bought starting tomorrow, 09/16, for travel on or after 11/10.

I’m sure it won’t be long before the other sheep follow and United will be able to up the ante on the first checked bag.

The real question is how long can Southwest continue to give 2 free bags and free flight changes and cancellations.  I’m sure that the drive out to Islip is no longer looking too shabby for many NY’ers…

It’s not often that we see an airline reversing a bad decision with it’s tail between it’s legs, but it’s refreshing that they did!  With this reversal hot kosher meals will continue to be available on international flights, although it won’t be available for domestic business class passengers.

Here’s the email I got from United earlier today:

Dear Mr. Daniel Eleff,

Thank you for your direct, candid feedback on the test we
had planned to launch in the fourth quarter for food choices
on some of our flights. We heard you and have decided not to
move forward with the test of offering customers
buy-on-board options in United Economy on certain
trans-Atlantic flights. We will continue to offer
complimentary hot meals on those flights.

The response from you and many of our corporate customers,
even before we launched the test, told us what we would
have undoubtedly learned had we proceeded – you value our
hot meal service in economy class for international flights.

In this environment, where higher costs driven by volatile
fuel prices are now the norm, we must continue to tailor
products and services so that we provide you with choices
and competitive fares. As such, we will continue to be
proactive in testing new ideas.

On October 1, we will proceed with the test of new,
complimentary options for United Business customers on
three-cabin aircraft used for domestic routes, which
represents 16 daily flights. Customers on these flights will
receive complimentary fresh sandwiches, salads, breakfast,
snack boxes or snacks, depending on the length of flight
and time of departure. They will also continue to enjoy
complimentary beverages, including beer, wine and cocktails.
We will evaluate the results and determine next steps by the
end of the year.

It’s also important to note that full meals will still be
served on our p.s. transcontinental flights.

Thank you again for your feedback. We will continue to
listen and make changes that enable us in this environment
to provide you with the choices you value.

Sincerely,

Graham Atkinson
Chief Customer Officer

Quite a few people have emailed me a link for a free 90 trial for mid-tier “1P” status on United.

I’m sure it’s targetted and therefore probably won’t work, but hey it only takes a second to register so why not!

Complimentary United Premier Executive Status Registration Linky

The T’s and C’s say that you must register by 06/30 and to allow 2 weeks for your online status to be updated.  You will not receive a 1P card, but you will receive all 1P benefits such as free Economy plus seating, free international lounge access, bonus flight miles, and free checked luggage for you and your companions.

Related:
United Airlines: We Really, Really Don’t Want Your Business. (Honest!)
Airline Ticket Change Fees Are On The Rise…
2nd Checked Bag Fee Roundup…
United Airlines Continues On Its Downward Spiral Into Oblivion…
AA: No More Free Domestic Checked Luggage For Non-Elites

United just announced that they will start charging for all checked luggage starting with tickets bought on 06/13 for travel on 08/13 or later.

This affects coach travel within Canada/US/Puerto Rico/USVI.

The first checked bag will be $15 each way, the 2nd checked bag is $25 each way.

Additionally, checking a 3rd bag or an overweight or oversized bag will now set you back $125!

United and Star Alliance elite members, along with anyone traveling on the same itinerary as an elite member, will continue to be able to check 2 bags for free.

In other news, United has won the title of Worst. Airline. Ever. Congrats UA!

Update: DEAD!

This deal was sent to all of our dansdeals.com facebook group members. Join the Dansdeals.com facebook group to receive similar alerts.

Try using the flexible search on Travelocity to find valid dates.
Valid for travel though 02/09.
Sample valid trips currently bookable on United.com:
Newark (EWR)-Kauai (LIH) from 09/02/08-09/09/08 for $272 including all taxes.
Houston (IAH)-Honolulu(HNL) from 01/20/09-01/27/09 for $287 including all taxes.

From Newark you should easily be able to get over 10K elite qualifying miles with this fare. You generally need to earn a minimum of 25K elite qualifying miles in a calender year to earn elite status.

If we’re lucky this will set off a response from Continental to set off a new, long-awaited round of hub-war fares to Hawaii! For you Chicago and DC folks-Stay tuned!

HT: Yossi.

Effective 07/01:

• Matching USeless Airways policy of the elimination of the 500 mile minimum mileage earned+minimum elite mileage earned for flights under 500 miles. Accrual will now be at actual rates.

Effective 05/15: United’s top tier 1K/GS members are exempt. No exemption for 1P/2P/3P elite members.

• Change in origin/destination city on an award ticket goes from $100 to $150.

• Change in connection points on an award ticket goes from $100 to $150.

• Cancellation of an award ticket (Mileage redeposit) goes from $100 to $150.

• Award handling fee goes from $15 to $25 over the phone and $30 at the counter. (The industry’s worst website, nicknamed “united.bomb,” is still free)

• Date change on an award ticket to fly within 7 days was $75, now $100.

• Date change on an award ticket to fly within 14 days was $50, now $75.

• Date change on an award ticket to fly within 21 days was free, now $75.

• Expedite fee on an award ticket to fly within 7 days was $75, now $100.

• Expedite fee on an award ticket to fly within 14 days was $50, now $75.

• Expedite fee on an award ticket to fly within 21 days was free, now $75

United will now charge a shocking $150 (plus fare difference) to change a non-refundable domestic ticket. In addition in order to get the cheapest fares they now require a Saturday night stay for all markets in which they don’t compete with a LCC (low-cost carrier).

Now we play the waiting game to see if the other majors match…
United sparked the industry to move from 2 to 1 free checked domestic bag back in February. Over the past few months US Airways, Delta, Northwest, and Continental (in that order) have all matched that policy.

United has also added their own double elite miles promotion.

There is perhaps no other airline with such an incredible lack of a coherent vision than United. They were once upon a time considered a premium carrier, with an impressive route network, strong loyalty program, and a powerful alliance.

Now they have fallen so far until we get this gem of a PR release,

“As part of its continuing effort to offer customers choice, flexibility, and low fares, United is announcing a new, simplified checked bag policy for customers who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets. United’s new checked bag policy is available at united.com/baggage.

Customers who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets and do not have status in Mileage Plus or Star Alliance may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 service fee.”

Well then, at least it’s simplified!

We’re living in an era where the low-cost carriers provide better snacks, and allow you to check more luggage than the “full-service” carriers do!


Warning: Rant ahead:

Maybe I’m spoiled because I primarily fly with Continental. They only have domestic call centers with empowered agents, they still offer free meals on flights, they consistently upgrade me even though I only maintain bottom-tier elite status, their have an excellent website, they have a very good labor relationship which results in agents and crew-members with a positive attitude, they have a new and clean fleet, etc, etc…

I recently had the dubious pleasure of flying United on a 10,000+ mile trip. Luckily I have Star Alliance elite status so I was able to travel in economy plus (one of the corners that has not been cut yet), because the economy minus passengers looked dreadful…

Calling United is a disaster, it is absolutely impossible to talk to someone who speaks English. (And that’s only if United’s phone-tree maze doesn’t hang up on you first!) Even if you do speak Hindi, it won’t help. The agents are completely unempowered, they must contact their supervisor to deal with even the slightest issue. If nothing else though, the phone agents are a courteous bunch.

Checking in was a double-disaster, the completely indifferent agent told me bluntly, “Your tickets were for yesterday and are canceled, please move so I can help the next person in line..”

Impossible! There’s no was I could’ve made such a mistake. So I got onto my Centro and pulled up my itinerary, which was of course for that day.

The agent’s response “You could have just typed that into your phone, that doesn’t actually prove anything.”

“Can I speak with a supervisor please?” “They aren’t here yet, can you please stop holding up the line.”

So I got out my laptop, tethered it to my Centro, logged into my Mileage Plus account on United.bomb (this is the nickname that the frequent flyer community use to refer to United’s industry-worst website) and settled the debate once and for all.

The agent did not even bat an eye, let alone apologize, all he could mutter was that his computer wasn’t showing that information, but he’ll honor my ticket on a courtesy basis.

Of course the agent had no idea how to interline baggage so that it would connect to another carrier, which meant I would have to claim and recheck my luggage.


United, don’t you train these people?


My brother was also flying on United, coming from another destination. United apparently changed his flight to leave 40 minutes earlier than he had ticketed. He never received any notification that there had been a change. The agent refused to let him check luggage for his flight even though there was 35 minutes left until flight time. The agent did request payment for a change fee until she realized that United had indeed changed his flight times…


Incredibly, on a flight that was over 10 hours long, there was only food available for purchase. To make matters worse, the plane was downright dirty and uncared for (Altough I did enjoy listening to channel 9 to hear that our mechanical delay would be about 2 hours and learn how long patches of turbulence were expected to last…)

United CEO Gregg Tilton can’t seem to decide if he’s running a premium carrier or one that offers less than Southwest.

United claims to be a premium carrier, yet nearly every move that have made since emerging from bankruptcy has been aimed at cutting costs and services.

United has the ability to be a great carrier, but as Mr. Tilton makes cuts at every corner there’s simply nothing left to work with. His employees are poorly trained, unempowered, and disenfranchised with his leadership. The utter lack of vision reflects itself throughout the entire operation.

At least Mr. Tilton has been clear about one point: United desperately wants a merger partner to put what’s left of his once glorious airline out of its misery. Delta, will you please do the honors already?

Update: DEAD! 

Valid for travel through the end of United’s schedule!
Taxes will add about $40 to the fare.

S. Louis-Los Angeles-$98+ RT On United

S. Louis-S. Francisco-$98+ RT On United

www.united.com 

Use promo code: 101603907806214333

Please post a comment if you use it!

Rules:
Book by 12/31.
Travel between 01/08/08 and 03/09/08
Blackout: 02/15 and 02/18.
Saturday night stay required.
Valid for up to 6 travelers on same itinerary.

We’ve all heard the excuse while traveling, “Sorry but the incoming flight is delayed due to bad weather, so we are not responsible for any compensation and we cannot reaccommodate you.”

Now you can prove them wrong-and demand compensation or a ticket on another airline!

American and United both have cargo websites that state the actual reason for the delay.

I tested it out-on a flight that AA.com merely said was “delayed,” AA’s cargo website said “delayed-mechanical issues.”

So keep these links handy-and the next time you’re stuck at the airport when flying with AA or UA you’ll be armed with the real story!

www.aacargo.com

www.unitedcargo.com

It all started when Virgin America announced that they would fly LAX-SFO for $44.

Last week I posted Southwest’s 8 free credits/double miles promo celebrating their new flights from S. Francisco starting at $39.

Not to be outdone, United started a double miles promo for intra-california flights.

And AA wasn’t too far behind with their own double miles promo.

It all comes full-circle now, as Southwest has announced a promo for a free systemwide ticket if you fly 3 intra-california flights!

Update-11:45AM: DEAD!

Update-11:45PM: HURRY! Now bookable on United.com
You can use the flexible search option there to help find dates that have availability.

United is defending its’ west coast hubs!
They have filed some incredible fares-all are exactly half of the fares that Virgin America announced earlier today!!!

Los Angeles To/From S. Francisco-$44+ RT On United

Los Angeles To/From Washington DC-$129+ RT On United
S. Francisco To/From Washington DC-$129+ RT On United

NYC To/From Los Angeles-$139+ RT On United
NYC To/From S. Francisco-$139+ RT On United

You must give these guys a credit card number to sign up so that they can track your purchases.
If you just want the signup bonus there’s no reason that you can’t give them a citi virtual card number or prepaid card number…
In my area it appears that the only current merchants they have are dry-cleaners.
500 Free United Miles Linky
500 Free Continental Miles Linky
500 Free Delta Miles Linky

United just published $94+ RT fares for travel in between any of Continental’s domestic hubs, Cleveland, Houston, and Newark.
The fare should be bookable at united.com no later than 1:00 pm est.
Too bad they didn’t price this out to Continental’s hub in Guam…
Stay tuned for Continental’s response!

Newark-Cleveland-$94+ RT On United
Newark-Houston-$94+ RTOn United
Cleveland-Houston-$94+ RT On United
Cleveland-Newark-$94+ RT On United
Houston-Newark-$94+ RT On United
Houston-Cleveland-$94+ RT On United

In the past I’ve written about shortcuts to elite status with AA and United, and about Airtran offering lifetime elite-status matches.(All accessible in the knowledgebase)

All of this stuff is unofficial-so YMMV-your mileage may vary, and you won’t find any of this information on the airline’s websites.

United is known to match up to 1P (mid-tier) status.
Send a copy of your current elite status card or statement to:
Mileage Plus Service Center
Attention: Premier Status Match
P.O. Box 28870
Tucson, AZ 85726

Or fax it to:
605-341-6140

It won’t hurt your case if you explain why you might switch your business to United.

Stay tuned for more airlines that offer status matching…

I have blogged in the past about AA’s secret challenge program that is a fast track to Gold or Platinum Elite status.

United now is offering a similar program, although it differs in many details.

You can get 2P(Premier) or 1P (Premier Executive) status through the program.

To enroll call 1-800-421-4655 and ask to sign up for promo MPP597
The cost is $100.
Fly 6,250 EQM’s within 90 days of registration and you get 2P status.
Fly 12,500 EQM’s within 90 days of registration and you get 1P status.
Status lasts from the time when you complete the challenge until 02/08.

(For those of you not familiar with EQM’s it means elite qualifying miles. On united all fares earn 100% eqm’s except full fare coach, business, and first which earn 150% eqm’s. Basically if your flight is 10,000 miles and you’re in a regular coach fare you will get 10,000 EQM’s, if you are flying in first you will get 15,000 EQM’s.)

If people request it, I can make another post hammering out the exact details between the AA and UA challenges…

Update: Dead.
United has filed a $106+ RT fare to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands(STT) or to San Juan, PR(SJU), from just about every other airline’s hub this side of the rockies…

Fare is valid from the following hubs:
AA-Dallas/Ft. Worth, S. Louis.
Continental-Cleveland, Houston, Newark.
Delta-Atlanta, Cincinnati, Salt Lake City(Hey, isn’t that west of the rockies?).
Northwest-Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/S. Paul.
USAir-Pittsburgh, Philadelphia.

Travel is valid from now through the end of February, although finding flights with seats at this fare is the tricky part..
Comes out to between $150-$160 RT after all taxes.
Sample of valid dates from CLE-STT on united.com is from 02/01-02/06.