United used to charge a $75 close in booking fee for award bookings made within 21 days of travel, when award charts were removed yesterday that fee was removed but replaced with a miles close in booking fee of 2,000-3,500 miles. To make matters worse this now applies to bookings made within 30 days of travel (previously 21). In addition elites now have to pay this fee as well (previously some elites were excluded). It seems that the fees are as follows:
- 3,500 miles for partner award flights
- 2,500 miles for bookings within seven days
- 2,000 miles for bookings between seven days and 26-27 days
- 1,500 miles for bookings between 26-27 and 30 days
United was previously claiming that they would be removing close in booking fees, this is just another reason I focus on what loyalty programs actually do rather than what they say they will do. This is actually an improvement for me as I’d prefer to pay the relatively small amount of miles over the $75 fee, but for elites and those that highly value United miles this is a devaluation. I think the biggest issue people will have with this change is how United has handled it.
Hat tip to OMaaT
