I'm wondering about booking an economy (refundable) fare from United as a backup - and cancelling it if not required a day or so prior. I would check the t&c carefully to be sure but that's what I have always understood to be the case. But if Premium Plus is available, its worth checking to see if you can score a good deal for long flights. Flexible will probably mean refundable, but may mean 'flexible with change/cancellation penalty.' Learn more: The NerdWallet guide to United's loyalty program, MileagePlus. United Basic Economy ticket has fewer perks compared to the standard economy fare.Can I bring a carry-on with United Basic Economy?For Basic Economy tickets for trans-Atlantic flights, the limit is one personal item, no carry-on bag. If youve booked a basic economy ticket, you can purchase an Economy Plus seat at check-in only. I must confess that I have not read your entire comment. It is not an airline credit you get credited back to your credit card. Currently I am seeing fares for travel from our tiny local airport to Newark, and then Newark nonstop to Rome (and the reverse coming home) priced slightly less than for travel originating from Newark. Lets take a look at the varying features of United economy brands, including seats, fare restrictions and checked baggage limits. Premier Access. Youll also get premium noise-reducing headphones and a Saks Fifth Avenue blanket and pillow on select long-haul international flights. Keep in mind that upgrading to Economy Plus will only net you more legroom, guaranteed in-seat power access and a seat closer to the front of the plane; it will not get you an additional baggage allowance. When you purchase a basic ticket from united airlines, you are unable to check in online or via the app. Basic Economy you need to know before you book a flight with United. I'm also really hesitating about booking flights so far in advance. How to add United economy benefits to a basic economy ticket, Along with other major U.S. airlines, United has permanently. Premium Plus seats are up to 19 inches wide and feature a 38-inch seat pitch, providing up to seven more inches of legroom than most standard economy and Economy Plus seats. Depending on the fare conditions and any segments of the ticket used, the refund value of the fare, taxes and fees will be calculated and refunded to the original method of payment.You can find out whether your ticket is refundable, and under which conditions, in . But, you may be able to purchase advance seat assignments during booking and up until check-in opens. The mysterious G code on American is a federal government ticket. Those who hold United Premier elite status, regardless of level, become automatically eligible for upgrades to Economy Plus (or the next highest cabin if the plane doesn't have Economy Plus seats) when they book in economy class or higher. Start on United.com and enter your travel dates and destinations. Premium economy fits between coach and business class, both price-wise and in terms of placement on the aircraft. You can choose your seats for free, located in the front section of economy. Yes, the fully refundable tickets can be canceled for any reason. But United's "Polaris" business class is quite good (on most planes -- you need to check the seat layout carefully). Basic economy tickets, meanwhile, remain both nonrefundable and non-changeable. al: Re: United's 787-9s (789s): United has now upgraded all but 10 of their 38 789s to Polaris. Instead, mileage requirements for award flights are based on a variety of factors, including demand. To buy fully refundable flight tickets, search for flights using the search form at the top of the page. Basic Economy is the cheapest fare class offered by United. Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now. all the way up to first class. However, luggage must fit under the seat, About 70 liters maximum hand luggage (2 bags), Ability to upgrade to Economy Plus seats with extra legroom. Even though the last three of these classes are similar in name, there are plenty of differences between. So booking during off-peak times and seasons may provide you with a better deal. Uniteds premium economy product is titled Premium Plus, but it is also entirely separate from the airline's Economy Plus offering. Refunds and changes are not allowed Basic Economy tickets cant be changed, and refunds arent allowed except as stated in the United 24-hour flexible booking policy. Basic economy ticket holders will be restricted to a single personal item (like a purse or small backpack) that fits under the seat in front of them. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. Is a united Basic Economy the same as the Basic Economy?No. What is premium economy on United and what does it offer? Sun Destinations One-way fares with no minimum stay to all of our popular sun destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. -- this will be handy when cross-checking against other sources. So booking during off-peak times and seasons may provide you with a better deal. United claims they will have all 789s upgraded by summer, so presumably three of those seven will head to China when the three currently being upgraded come out. Basic Economy: Economy Plus, Alexapure Pro Water Filtration System Review, How to Measure Luggage Dimensions for Airlines. Copyright 2023United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved. Premium Plus passengers also get Premier Access, which offers dedicated airport check-in lines, exclusive security lanes at select airports and priority boarding. Economy Plus features standard economy seats with extra legroom. So how do we make money? However, this does not influence our evaluations. Stupid idea? I haven't seen this since 2011 -- on our most recent trips it's been significantly less expensive to drive a few hours and then take a nonstop flight to Europe. Airlines typically charge 4x the price for a Refundable Ticket versus a Non-Refundable. 1 AAdvantage status members can check additional bags for free (depending on status). In contrast, the United Economy is the most affordable class. United Airlines made it very clear: Business class upgrades are not refundable. AWildDragon 6 mo. Check the flight on seatguru.com. Economy Plus features standard. In contrast, the United Economy is the most affordable class. On the other side, the Economy class has an adequate baggage allowance, and you can comfortably travel with all your luggage and personal items. Careful, though, you may become spoiled: me, I've crossed my last ocean sitting in the back. There are also upgraded dining options on select long-haul international flights and complimentary hot entre, fruit and dessert on the airlines premium transcontinental routes. Refunds for Economy Plus purchases are processed automatically after scheduled departure in the event of flight cancellation or change to a different flight, when travel is completed in a standard United Economy seat, or when travel is completed in a seat of equal or greater value through the purchase of a premium cabin seating offer. Delta's signature service. Her writing has since been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, Business Insider, and The Balance. Personally, I actually love to book flights 11 months out, and welcome schedule changes -- seeing them as an opportunity to improve my original routing at no additional cost. This will display flights that are either fully refundable free of charge or require you to pay a small fee to the airline in order to get a refund on your flight . United is one of the best in the world when it comes to offering Premium Economy. (transcontinental domestic, Latin America and the Caribbean). Check the specific aircraft type (eg 787-800) on the excellent aeroLOPA.com. Uniteds economy cabin has three ticket types: basic economy (the most restrictive), standard economy and premium economy (Premium Plus). Location on plane. Learn more: Which United credit card should you get? This can be incredibly frustrating for passengers like Michelle that don't realize it at the time of making their reservation: International Great low fares tailored to your needs for international flights. Dark blue. Thanks for your input on this! Premier Gold and Premier Silver members (the lower-level tiers) can select these seats for free for themselves and one companion; Gold members can make their selection during booking, while Silver members have to wait until check-in. It's possible the airline could extend that policy again, depending on how the pandemic is impacting travel at that time. The -CA is the capacity controlled government fare (limited number of tickets per flight), which is much cheaper than the YCA and still allows for full refund. Back of the plane (Basic Economy/Economy), middle of the plane (preferred seating) Front of Economy cabin. Food and beverages. Though I was planning to but they had told me to wait until 72 hours before the flight to make any changes. Points and miles nerds would be wise to use these tips on their next United economy class flight. Sure, it's not like the lovely airlines of Asia, but it sure beats sitting in a cramped, basic economy seat on any airline. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, Business Insider, and The Points Guy. What to expect flying premium economy with United, How to book a Premium Plus ticket with United, Heres what to expect with United Premium Plus and how to book with. But whats the difference between United Airlines basic economy versus economy versus Economy Plus? What does United economy fully refundable mean? Disclaimer: NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. Basic Economy tickets are the most restrictive ticket option Delta has there are no changes allowed on these trips under any circumstance. I think United does a poor job in explaining the fare rules for all fares. Basic Economy: Liquid Range, United Economy vs. Most fully refundable tickets, even in economy, are rarely considered reasonable by most people. There is only a slight price difference between the two economic fares, with Basic Economy tickets being cheaper by $20 $30 each way. The United Basic Economy ticket seat selection allows you to choose your preferred seat at no extra cost. Learn more: United Premium Plus vs. Economy Plus: Does it make a difference? ++++ COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION ++++, Covid-19 Coronavirus Information for Air Travel, ++++ ESTA (USA) and eTA (Canada) requirements for visa-exempt foreign nationals ++++, ++++ TIPS - PLANNING YOUR FLIGHTS +++++++. No upgrades. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for: Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, No annual fee: Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card, Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve, Luxury perks: The Platinum Card from American Express, Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, About the author: Alisha McDarris is a freelance travel writer and photographer. , which restricts how many credit cards you can open in any 24-month period. And although you can hold multiple United cards at once, most of these benefits wont stack. The fully refundable are just that but make sure thats what you have. Non-Refundable Ticket United does not charge any fees for flight changes, you will just be responsible for any difference in fare. However, in general, you must read the detailed fare rules and save a copy of them for future reference. Option 4 seems horrifyingly expensive. Learn more: Delta vs. United: Which Is Better? Complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages like Starbucks coffee, tea, juice, sodas or water. Those negotiations would take months. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. Refundable with Fee for Totally Unused Tickets; Non-Refundable for Partially Used Tickets; Important Note: Combination fare between economy super saver and other classes will not be permitted for cancellation or refund. Each economy fare level offers different perks along with standard economy seating. As noted above, refundable flights are normally more expensive than regular, non-refundable ones. UPDATE: Here's a new and longer video about the full service experience (from Washington to London): https://youtu.be/uVzIJfoKpowUPDATE 2: Here's another new. So how do we make money? On the one hand this is super tempting, as it would save the cost of driving 4 hours to/fr Newark, long term parking, and one night in a Newark hotel to allow us to drive home without being exhausted from flying. Best way is to cross reference multiple sites. If no seat assignments are available, you can check back closer to departure to see whether seats have become available. Buy now or later? It's true that according to one part of United's website, they reference a no-fee refund policy being in effect for tickets purchased through 01/31/22, but there are other United web pages that contradict that (that is, there's no mention of the policy changing on 02/01/22). Premier Platinum members and above will also receive an annual allowance of, , which can be used to upgrade domestic or international flights. ago Thanks. I suggest you fly a more reliable one such as Swiss. There is a difference between a united Basic Economy and Basic Economy. That only applies to tickets bought direct from United - presumably, if you use a 3rd Party agent to book you get nothing. Some of my thoughts, can someone check my logic on this? Premium Economy fares are capacity managed separately from other classes of service, so the difference between Economy and Premium Economy can vary from significant to virtually the same. This is true even if youre booked in basic economy. We are due to fly Alaskan Airways HNL-SFO in July. Not asking if Basic Economy is refundable. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. Restrictions apply with regard to the refundability of the fare purchased. I'd pay more for more flexibility, but am not seeing an option to do so. Similar to the example above, your main purpose to go to the restaurant was to eat food. After choosing your flight, youll be able to select your seat choice as you complete the booking process. Premium Plus seats are closer to the front of the plane so you can get to your seat and off the plane faster, and each has an adjustable leg rest, footrest, power outlet and USB outlet. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. I'm definitely worried about flights/routes being cancelled if I book far in advance. You go in, order something from the menu which looks reasonably priced and wait in anticipation. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. Then another step I don't recall. The only thing that is poor about this product is that the seat recline is not as good as other Premium Economy offerings. Our partners compensate us. There is economy, and there is economy fully refundable. twice or more per year. Only Y and B are fully flexible (change and/or refund for no fee) and they're massively expensive. In addition, most cardholders can expect free upgraded boarding and, depending on the card, access to the United Club lounge twice or more per year. First, Y is all the customer will pay for. Llssie- the two sides probably won't even have begun the mandated mediation by June 20th, let alone those negotiations broken down by then. OK92033) Property & Casualty Licenses, NerdWallet | 55 Hawthorne St. - 11th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105, United Airlines: Basic Economy vs. Economy vs. Economy Plus. . With larger seats, complimentary alcohol and two free checked bags, its available on select long-haul international flights and some transcontinental domestic routes. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. My spouse calls me a business class snob, but I'm perfectly happy flying on United's updated business class to/from Europe. That is exactly how it is worded on the UA site. If you have a Basic Economy ticket, youre able to purchase a seat assignment during booking and up until check-in opens.Does United charge for carry-on bags?United Airlines (UA) allows 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item ( purse, briefcase, laptop bag) per passenger fee-free. Refunds are usually made to the original method of payment. Saver fares cost a bit more than Saver fares but have fewer restrictions. What is an acceptable level of inflation? Yes, the fully refundable tickets can be canceled for any reason. passes when booking select long-haul international flights, so you can kick back and relax in style before, after or during a layover on long travel days. She worked as a reporter for The Points Guy prior to becoming a freelance writer. If youre unable to choose a seat, well assign you one at check-in or at the departure gate. This issue becomes far clearer when you search for a specific flight. Our opinions are our own. Learn more: How to add United economy benefits to a basic economy ticket. This only applies if you book your trip more than one week ahead of your departure date. When your food is served, the waiter informs you that the silverware wasnt included in the initial price of your meal, and it will cost you an extra $5 if you want a knife and fork and another $5 table-side processing fee for ordering your knife and fork at the last minute. He is asking if you actually get your money back or if they issue a travel credit. Complimentary snacks and beverages, with meal service on select international flights. The good news is that, at least on their 787s, I believe United has finally ditched the old previous (8-across?) created for our customers who may be more price-sensitive, the lower-priced basic economy fares provide most of the same inflight services and amenities that are available with standard economy such as food and . If you log onto UA website or app, search a dummy flight with all fares, you will see what George is referring to: Economy vs "Ecomony (fully refundable)" That is exactly how it is worded on the UA site. United premium economy service, which is called Premium Plus, may be the experience for you. The costs can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars, depending on the kind of flight. Learn more about Basic Economy restrictions. Less legroom than both Economy Plus and Premium Plus. Specifically I'm trying to figure out 1) what happens if we need to cancel due to another round of Covid restrictions as well as 2) what happens if we decide/need to change our dates or our route. Most buy non-refundable and the insurance offered with the plane ticket. Instead, they will be brought to you just outside the aircraft. I don't know if the other US carriers are better or as bad. ETA - the Alaskan flight is our preferred as its 1st class (on Qantas points) - the United has the horrible 3/43 configuration - and the prices I'm looking at US$400 pp would be economy. United business is a premium travel class from United Airlines that is available for flights between the U.S. and Latin America or the Caribbean, in addition to some transcontinental flights.. United Airlines offers personal and small business credit card options. Are United Economy Flexible Tickets refundable? and economy, as well as between Uniteds economy and Economy Plus. Carry-on should not exceed the following size and weight restrictions: 45 linear inches (22 14 9) or 115 centimeters 56 36 23) including handles and wheels.How much is a united carry-on bag?If you arrive for your flight with a standard carry-on bag and a Basic Economy ticket, the airline will make you check your suitcase, resulting in a $50 added expense ( $25 checked for bag cost, plus a $25 handling charge. FWIW, what I'm looking at is the regional jet to Newark, then Business Polaris class Newark to Rome, then Economy Rome to Newark and regional jet Newark to home for under $3000 OR the same but premium economy for the trip home for under $3500. The overhead compartments have less space; roller bags and larger carry-on bags wont fit. Especially if your flight includes multiple stops, the option to purchase a discounted lounge pass may come in handy to assuage the pain of long-haul international flights and extended layovers. 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