Reader Sean emails to let me know that United’s website appears to be pricing out award tickets originating in China for 4 miles plus taxes.
I’ve checked this with tickets originating in Shanghai and in Beijing (though I haven’t checked other cities), and for business and economy awards, and the result is the same. Here’s for a Beijing-Hong Kong roundtrip in business:
I love that for $1035 I could save my 4 miles.
You’ll see that it shows the correct mileage price initially and then the mistaken cost in the ‘total’.
I haven’t tried to ticket this, though Sean reports that he was successful and had only 4 miles deducted. It remains to be seen whether this will be honored or not. My guess is that it will not be, but some may find this useful — even though pricing out this way appears to require starting the award off in China.
Update: Indeed it appears to show 4 miles for awards originating in the U.S. to China as well. And it appears to show 4 miles for standard awards as well as saver awards.
Update 1:56pm Eastern: Still seems to be working. Connect from the U.S. to anywhere you want via Hong Kong and it is pricing. Some reports of success first class to Vietnam and even to Australia.
If you have enough miles for ‘regular’ mileage price in your account, it will deduct the full miles but send you a receipt showing the lower 4 mile per person price.
If you do not have enough miles for the ‘regular’ redemption cost, it will send you a receipt showing the 4 mile per person price, and no miles will be deducted from your account at this time.
Update 2:23pm Eastern: It does not appear over, despite comments suggesting otherwise. Remember that the United website is glitchy. It hangs. It gives errors. The key is that you have to connect in Hong Kong or have Hong Kong as your destination at this point, regardless of where you’re originating.
And if you have problems with the United website, clear out and start over. My advice to minimize glitches is to be logged in when you start your search and to already have your credit card on file in your account. Ideally to even have the passengers loaded into your profile.
Update 2:34pm Eastern: Will these be honored?
Lucky thinks new DOT rules requiring airlines to honor tickets as they are sold will mean United has to honor these.
I disagree, at least it is not obvious to me that an airline saying that the number of miles required for a promotional ‘free’ ticket counts as raising the ‘price’ of that ticket at least as far as DOT regulations are concerned. But then I am not a transportation lawyer.
As of this moment, no one knows whether United will honor these tickets or not. Let’s just hold our collective breaths for the next 48 hours to see. If I had to bet money, I would bet against. But stranger things have happened.
If United doesn’t honor these then everyone will certainly get a full refund. You can normally cancel awards for a full refund with no fee for 24 hours. If United doesn’t honor them at 4 miles per person then I have to imagine that anyone that has a 4 mile per person e-ticket receipt but more miles than that deducted from their account will be able to get a full refund even after the 24 hour period.
Update 2:54pm Eastern: It appears that United has shut down the ability to see reward flights to/from Hong Kong, meaning that this is likely dead.
Thanks Cdegt for posting, and for confirming.
I had the miles in my account for what I booked, and it took the right amount. (After saying 16). Wonder if that makes a diff?
Booked 2 for EWR-HKG over Thanksgiving in First Class, 8 miles + $77.
it will be fun to see how this thing play out. My receipts still say 8 and 4 miles, though like some of you said, the miles haven’t been deducted yet, which is normal for UA to take a couple days to duct your miles. Is DOT ruling applicable for reward ticket too?
won’t let me add a second “new traveler”??!
I booked what I thought was 2 anytime awards but it deducted 320k miles. Anyplace on the ‘view reservation’ screen to confirm they are standard awards?
I had 324k miles in their at the time. Now only 4k. I just booked another RT LAX-HKG and it went through – we’ll see what is deducted.
Mine says 4 miles at the end but it is taking out 140K …the correct amount
MSP ORD HKG round trip x2 = 8 miles and $81
Ticketed 10 mins later
I should have added that I got a ticketed notice as well as having 320k miles deducted.
Can I cancel online and get the miles returned?
Let’s hope for the best!
Total Price 8 Miles and $144.80
Flight Details United Confirmation Number
Sep. 19, 2012 | Hong Kong (HKG) to Tokyo, Japan (NRT – Narita)
Depart:
10:15 a.m.
Wed., Sep. 19, 2012
Hong Kong (HKG) Arrive:
3:20 p.m.
Wed., Sep. 19, 2012
Tokyo, Japan (NRT – Narita) Travel Time:4 hr 5 mn Flight: UA78
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Fare Class: United Business (ZN)
Meal: Lunch
No Special Meal Offered.
Sun., Sep. 23, 2012 | Tokyo, Japan (NRT – Narita) to Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW)
Depart:
4:00 p.m.
Sun., Sep. 23, 2012
Tokyo, Japan (NRT – Narita) Arrive:
9:01 a.m.
Sun., Sep. 23, 2012
San Francisco, CA (SFO) Flight Time:9 hr 1 mn Flight: UA838
Aircraft: Boeing 747-400
Fare Class: United Global First (FN)
Meal: Dinner
No Special Meal Offered.
Change Planes. Connect time in San Francisco, CA (SFO) is 1 hour 39 minutes.
Depart:
10:40 a.m.
Sun., Sep. 23, 2012
San Francisco, CA (SFO) Arrive:
4:14 p.m.
Sun., Sep. 23, 2012
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) Flight Time:3 hr 34 mn
Travel Time:14 hr 14 mn Flight: UA1051
Aircraft: Boeing 737-700
Fare Class: United First (ZN)
Meal: Food for Purchase
No Special Meal Offered.
Sat., Dec. 22, 2012 | Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) to Singapore, Singapore (SIN)
Depart:
6:00 a.m.
Sat., Dec. 22, 2012
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) Arrive:
8:21 a.m.
Sat., Dec. 22, 2012
Chicago, IL (ORD – O’Hare) Flight Time:2 hr 21 mn Flight: UA638
Aircraft: Airbus A319
Fare Class: United First (ZN)
Meal: Food and Beverages for Purchase
No Special Meal Offered.
Change Planes. Connect time in Chicago, IL (ORD – O’Hare) is 5 hours 9 minutes.
Depart:
1:30 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 22, 2012
Chicago, IL (ORD – O’Hare) Arrive:
1:30 a.m. +2 Day
Mon., Dec. 24, 2012
Singapore, Singapore (SIN) Flight Time:22 hr 0 mn
Travel Time:32 hr 0 mn Flight: UA895
Aircraft: Boeing 747-400
Fare Class: United Global First (FN)
Meal: Lunch
No Special Meal Offered.
1 Stop. Time on the ground in Hong Kong (HKG) is 2 hours 30 minutes.
Note: You are departing Hong Kong (HKG) and arriving Singapore, Singapore (SIN).
I am not seeing the offer. Can someone give me an example of dates and airports to check?
Sept 21-29 ord to hkg FIRST 8 miles $71 eticketed!! Think it’ll stick?
I think that it deducts miles one ticket at a time, so it deducted one at 320k and stopped because there was no room on the other.
I got ticketed on the second one, no miles deducted (only 4k there).
What if someone books for today’s flight at 4 miles? I only had 6K in my account, and mine was ticketed (should have been 600K, was only 8 miles)
Wasn’t showing up for me from the US because I was searching one-way. Worked like a charm when I searched round trip.
I got 4x Business tix, SIN-HKG. I got the ticketing confirmation email (e-ticket nos & everything) and it says that 16 miles were deducted, although a quick check of my account shows nothing deducted so far. Well, if it gets through, it’s a nice vacation for the family at the end of the year. 🙂
Sounds like folks who have the proper number of miles are having that proper amount deducted from their accounts. But lots of reports here that folks without the regular mileage balance required are still seeing tickets issued which is interesting.
My bet is that these aren’t honored at 4 miles apiece.
However —
* United allows free cancel/redeposit within 24 hours
* If they quote 4 miles and deduct more, it seems to me that they’ll have to offer free cancel/redeposit beyond 24 hours (I’d grab a screen shot of the price quote as backup)
* Some have speculated the DOT rules will require them to honor these. I disagree. I believe the rules are that they would have to cover any costs incurred associated with an assumption that they would honor tickets that have been issued, not that they actually have to honor the tickets themselves (so if you’re out non-refundable hotel, they could be on the hook for reimbursing that). I have not paid attention whether this DOT position statement applies to award travel either.
My account only had 29k miles and my eticket says 12 miles debited for 3 business tickets (900000 miles normally). Will my account me negative 870k tomorrow??
in for fun. booked four of us to hong kong for thanksgiving. 16 miles and $162. i only had 900 miles left in my account after draining with last weekend’s sq screw up. i will laugh my head off if this sticks. not ticketed yet, let’s see how this plays out!
No loger working?
got it for new year’s!
I assume this “deal” is now gone? I priced a few China award itineraries on united.com, and no special price.
Lucky says that the DOT rules require them to honor, even in the event of mistake, and contract of carriage statements to the contrary don’t apply.
I’m not so sure. It’s not clear to me that award travel counts as purchased travel under the DOT rules. I could be wrong, and would love to be. We’ll find out soon enough!
Got LAX to HKG in November. Tried to book a second trip, open jaw ending in OGG, but no luck…but the first trip is TICKETED! Do you think they’ll honor it?
I got ticketed with no miles in my account ?
I only have 24 miles, and just booked 2 tickets, and they’ve both ticketed… though nothing yet on my mileageplus account. Though in the eTicket receipt, it does say the charge is 4 miles.
It says complete this purchas now and I click it and it says it’s already purchased I got a confirmation number as well.
Me too. Tried HKG, no luck.
DOT made KE honor the last round of RGN tickets, I’d say miles or cash doesn’t matter as long as you have your eticket issued.
Talking about DOT if it does apply to this someone could book some non refundable hotel stays and get reimbursed by united for them? This could help get closer to my platinum status at Spg. I could book rooms at four hotels for four different nights. How can we check to see if DOT rules would cover this
now it is ticketed, but no miles deducted
Could someone give me 50 miles or anyone know how to get 50 miles
I booked 4 or 5 YYZ – HKGs for my parents just in case it a) sticks and they b) want to go so they can choose dates. 3 of these have ticketed so far…
Got 2 tickets ORD to HKG 9/14-18. 8 miles, 109 in taxes. Not too shabby.
Ah, I got it to “work.”
Anyone want to place odds? I’m going at about a million to one, but I had to join the fun.
Its hanging now when I try to enter traveler info. Anyone else?
I have serious doubts it will stick, but once it’s ticketed and your CC is charged, I thought DOT makes them make them keep it?
Or can they argue that it was clearly an error because it even says 160K miles.
Shane can you transfer from ultimate rewards? Posted in less than 30 minutes for me
I just booked a set to HKG. The united website was being glitchy earlier, but just worked again..
I was succesfull with HKG but not Shanghai. Anyone with luck on Shanghai?
@Phil We will meet you for a drink as I did the same Thanksgiving trip!!!!
This has as much chance of sticking as the Cartera ~80K AAdvantage miles! But fun to roll the dice I guess!
I’m not sure but it says this
1 award 4 miles
Additional taxes/fees $40.50
Total Price 4 Miles and $40.50
but it takes out 140,000… what am I doing wrong?
Just tried a ORD-HKG RT and while the mistake fare of 4 Miles and $49.60 shows, it won’t actually let me book. It gives me an error. Looks like they’ve become aware of the issue!
Lots of united.com errors all the time, just start over and try again, I just got one to go through — first class standard awards to HKG 😉
@Tom it seems they are deducting the ‘correct’ number of miles from accounts that have enough miles, even though the receipt shows a lower price. Accounts without the usual number of miles are getting ticketed and no miles are being pulled.
Just got ticketed for SFO-HKG over Thanksgiving on United Global First and Asiana Business Class. It took about 5 minutes after purchase to receive the ticket number. $52.90 and 4 miles, and I haven’t got more than 18k miles right now in my account, should they choose to try to take more later. Guess we’ll see whether I’m still ticketed in a few days’ time 🙂
Thanks heaps for the tip!
Just booked Nove 13th Asiana F. 4miles
Also Nov 27th….Asiana F