It’s hard to say with a straight face that we didn’t see a devaluation coming, but the changes in the new United award chart are absolutely eye-watering.
First, the not-so-bad news … the current award chart is good for redemptions made until January 31, 2014.
The bad news: a new award chart comes into play for redemptions made on or after February 1, 2014.
Here are the main changes from a Mainland US perspective:
ON UNITED METAL
*Note: all of these are one-way prices
to Mainland US/Alaska/Canada: no change, but itineraries between Alaska and the Mainland US or Alaska and Canada will be charged an additional 5,000 miles on saver awards or 10,000 miles on standard awards.
to Hawaii: Economy saver awards rise from 20,000 miles to 22,500 miles. Intra-Hawaii connections rise from 5,000 miles to 6,000 miles.
to Southern South America: Business saver awards go from 50,000 miles one-way to 55,000 miles. First saver awards go from 67,500 miles one-way to 70,000 miles.
to Europe: Business saver goes from 50,000 miles to 57,500 miles. First saver goes from 67,500 miles to 80,000 miles.
to Northern Africa: Business saver goes from 60,000 miles to 70,000 miles. First saver goes from 75,000 miles to 85,000 miles.
to Central/Southern Africa: Business saver goes from 60,000 miles to 70,000 miles. First saver goes from 75,000 miles to 85,000 miles.
to Middle East: Economy saver goes from 40,000 miles to 42,500 miles. Business saver from 60,000 miles to 70,000 miles. First saver from 75,000 to 90,000 miles.
to Central Asia: Economy saver goes from 40,000 miles to 42,500 miles. Business saver from 60,000 miles to 70,000 miles. First saver from 80,000 to 90,000 miles.
to South Asia: Economy saver goes from 32,500 miles to 40,000 miles. Business saver from 60,000 miles to 70,000 miles. First saver from 70,000 miles to 80,000 miles.
to North Asia: Economy saver goes from 32,500 miles to 35,000 miles. Business saver from 60,000 miles to 70,000 miles. First saver from 70,000 miles to 80,000 miles.
to Japan: Economy saver goes from 32,500 to 35,000 miles. Business saver from 60,000 miles to 65,000 miles. First saver from 67,500 to 80,000 miles.
to Oceania: Business saver goes from 60,000 miles to 65,000 miles. First saver from 75,000 to 80,000 miles.
to Australia/New Zealand: Business saver goes from 67,500 miles to 70,000 miles.
ON STAR ALLIANCE METAL (warning: this is bad)
*Note: all of these prices are one-way
to Mainland US/Alaska/Canada: no change, but itineraries between Alaska and the Mainland US or Alaska and Canada will be charged an additional 5,000 miles on saver awards or 10,000 miles on standard awards.
to Hawaii: Economy saver awards rise from 20,000 miles to 22,500 miles. Intra-Hawaii connections rise from 5,000 miles to 6,000 miles.
to Southern South America: Business saver awards go from 50,000 miles one-way to 55,000 miles. First saver awards go from 67,500 miles one-way to 70,000 miles.
to Europe: Business saver goes from 50,000 miles to 70,000 miles. First saver goes from 67,500 miles to 110,000 miles one-way.
to Northern Africa: Business saver goes from 60,000 miles to 80,000 miles. First saver goes from 75,000 miles to 130,000 miles one-way.
to Central/Southern Africa: Business saver goes from 60,000 miles to 80,000 miles. First saver goes from 75,000 miles to 130,000 miles one-way.
to Middle East: Economy saver goes from 40,000 miles to 42,500 miles. Business saver from 60,000 miles to 80,000 miles. First saver from 75,000 to 140,000 miles one-way.
to Central Asia: Economy saver goes from 40,000 miles to 42,500 miles. Business saver from 60,000 miles to 80,000 miles. First saver from 80,000 to 140,000 miles one-way.
to South Asia: Economy saver goes from 32,500 miles to 40,000 miles. Business saver from 60,000 miles to 80,000 miles. First saver from 70,000 miles to 130,000 miles.
to North Asia: Economy saver goes from 32,500 miles to 35,000 miles. Business saver from 60,000 miles to 80,000 miles. First saver from 70,000 miles to 120,000 miles one-way.
to Japan: Economy saver goes from 32,500 to 35,000 miles. Business saver from 60,000 miles to 75,000 miles. First saver from 67,500 to 110,000 miles one-way.
to Oceania: Business saver goes from 60,000 miles to 75,000 miles. First saver from 75,000 to 110,000 miles one-way.
to Australia/New Zealand: Business saver goes from 67,500 miles to 80,000 miles. First saver goes from 80,000 miles to 130,000 miles one-way.
This is incredibly flyer unfriendly of United. One of my family’s most frequented destinations is PNQ, a small airport in India that has only Lufthansa for Star Alliance service. The idea of Star Alliance is that partners are there to supplement United’s service. Now United flyers are being punished for using Star Alliance. Even Delta doesn’t have different pricing for their partners.
