Overview

In this video, Lizi breaks down the steps and key things to watch for when booking UA award tickets with miles in three parts:

Part 1: Some history of UA award tickets;

Part 2: A screen-recorded walkthrough using a China–U.S. itinerary as an example, showing how to search for and choose award tickets.

PS1: A quick correction: passengers holding a valid U.S. visa or permanent residency, plus a nonstop ticket departing Korea within 30 days, can make a short stay in Korea and do the so-called “2B transfer” (between GMP and ICN).

Funny Tip: A quick explainer on what Lizi means by “regular transfer,” “artsy transfer,” and “2B transfer.”

Regular transfer — same airport, same terminal: get off at gate A, board at gate B. Couldn’t be simpler (though you may need to go through security again).

Artsy transfer — same airport, different terminals: you may need to take the airport train or a shuttle bus.

2B transfer — transferring between different airports in the same city (or region), such as “Shanghai Pudong PVG to Hongqiao SHA,” “Taipei Taoyuan TPE to Songshan TSA,” “Gimpo GMP to Seoul Incheon ICN,” “Narita NRT to Haneda HND,” “JFK / EWR / LGA airport transfers in New York,” or “Heathrow LHR to Gatwick LGW.”

PS2: Looking at things now, after the 11.15 switch to dynamic award pricing, only UA-operated flights are affected. You can still sometimes find one-way Business for 70K+Tax&Fee at the low end, but if there’s no Saver availability, prices can get outrageously high. Partner awards, on the other hand, are not affected for now, and Business is still 80K+Tax&Fee!

Part 3: Some important notes on booking UA award tickets.

PS1: At the moment, UA still charges a $75 Fee for tickets issued within 21 days of departure. Booking a ticket more than 21 days out and then changing it to within 21 days will probably not work. In short: if an agent waives the $75 for you, that’s a favor; if they don’t, that’s just policy.

PS2: After the switch to dynamic pricing in November, UA no longer charges the $75 Fee, but the value of award tickets dropped significantly (it seems the 70,000-mile UA-operated options became much less common)... so overall, more was lost than gained.

Video

https://youtu.be/nGOW1aUmR6E

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About Lizi

Hi everyone, I’m the biggest chestnut in the world, Lizi, and one of the writers at US Credit Card 101. Hope you’ll follow my articles and our website!

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