United Airlines Will Switch To Dynamic Pricing For Partner Awards

Update: Dans Deals points out these to the F.A.Q aren’t new, they have been there since at least 5/21 just nobody has noticed. In addition the Excursionist Perk will remain.

In April United announced it would be eliminating award charts for travel on/after November 15th, 2019 and moving to dynamic pricing. This change did not affect partner award flights but United has now updated their website and is stating that:

The partner award chart will remain in effect for travel through November 14, 2019. For travel on or after November 15, 2019, there may be flights that require a higher number of miles than the amounts indicated on the award chart. When you search for awards while booking, you’ll see the applicable award level.

This is not a huge surprise, United was always going to move towards dynamic pricing for partner awards but it is strange that they didn’t just make this announcement at the same time they announced it for United metal.

Hat tip to Shadowfactor on myFICO via MtM

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Neil Degrasse
Neil Degrasse (@guest_834711)
November 3, 2019 21:32

Whoever is following this post. I have a question..

What is actually set to happen on November 15? I’m working on planning some trips, and my plans should be finalized by early December. However, I worry about this Nov. 15 date when United switches to “dynamic miles pricing.”

So please tell me.. Should I really book my flights before Nov. 15 if I don’t want to have to spend more miles? Like for example, a flight in S.E Asia I’m looking at is 8,500 miles. I’m concerned if I book after Nov. 15 that the number of required miles could go up? Can someone please explain this to me and clarify it. I’m relatively new to the United MileagePlus program, and purchased 100,000 miles last year (required spend) and 50,000 from a credit card, so I’m sitting on about 150,000 miles, which I planned to use for travel in December – 2020, but I’m unclear how the change to dynamic pricing after Nov. 15 might affect me and my budgeting of miles for my trip plans…

 William Charles

In other words, do I need to rush to finalize my travel plans, so I can book some flights BEFORE Nov. 15 or otherwise, the number of miles required for flights may go up by a lot after Nov. 15?

Ron
Ron (@guest_817929)
October 3, 2019 09:04

Mother….

blank check
blank check (@guest_817867)
October 3, 2019 01:12

I just bought $2,000 of United miles during a recent sale, and to check out spend I needed on a credit card. It’s really sad to hear that my shiny new miles are about to get devalued. I have trips coming up soon, but only short trips (8 – 10k miles).

qmc
qmc (@guest_817895)
October 3, 2019 03:33

Buying $2000 of miles is usually a bad idea. The price they sell at is hardly ever a good price. And especially if you’re doing it to meet spend, versus with an actual plan to use them in the near-term….

Charlie
Charlie (@guest_817757)
October 2, 2019 21:06

I’m burning through my United and American miles as fast as I can so I don’t get caught up in dynamic pricing.

Jay
Jay (@guest_817726)
October 2, 2019 20:28

If I book prior to the November deadline for flights next summer can I redeem based off the old chart or will it be the new dynamic formula?

nick
nick (@guest_817755)
October 2, 2019 21:03

same question????

HaveMiles
HaveMiles (@guest_817850)
October 3, 2019 00:21

No.

“For travel on or after November 15, 2019, there may be flights that require a higher number of miles than the amounts indicated on the award chart.”

The travel date is what determines the pricing, not the booking date.

anne
anne (@guest_817851)
October 3, 2019 00:32

I booked next June ticket a month ago under the current award chart.

anne
anne (@guest_817853)
October 3, 2019 00:34

I think next summer flights are still under the chart as I checked a few days ago.

Artem
Artem (@guest_817704)
October 2, 2019 19:55

Garbage miles now

John
John (@guest_817694)
October 2, 2019 19:32

United – When there’s no other choice

Gary Leff
Gary Leff (@guest_817693)
October 2, 2019 19:32

The passage in the FAQ is not new, and United confirms there’s no change to their previous guidance on partner awards.

De
De (@guest_817699)
October 2, 2019 19:41

Meaning what exactly? No changes overall to redemption? Please lead the thought towards more transparent language.

PoorChurner
PoorChurner (@guest_817672)
October 2, 2019 18:53

Glad Chase denied me for the United card I wouldn’t be able to burn the miles before the changes.

Eric
Eric (@guest_817671)
October 2, 2019 18:52

Not convinced that anything is imminently changing tbh. The fact that they use soft language such as “there may be” makes it seem like they include that sentence to give them the flexibility in the future to raise fixed award prices, just like any previous devaluation.

Plus, if you search right now for United flights past Nov. the prices are already increased. No reports of increased pricing on partners yet. What do you think  William Charles ?