I'm wondering if there is some secret to getting business class on a saver award. I'm looking to go to Europe in September and no matter what destination I pick from LAX I can't seem to find business saver available. I don't have enough for the standard which is 155K miles instead of 60K each way.
Is there some trick to finding business saver travel? Or do you have to do it a year in advance?
Do you have the United Explorer credit card? If you do, those users have more saver options available to them than the public.
Getting the Saver Award is tough, as it is pretty limited for Europe. It sometimes opens up with only a couple weeks until the flight date, so be flexible on days/time.
Also use expert mode on united.com, https://thepointsguy.com/2016/01/using-united-expert-mode/
they have also made updates on the app, so you may try checking that as well from time to time.
I'm sure it's harder from the West Coast than the East Coast. When you do a search, do you find some options that have an extra flight segment, or that are on Partner airlines? Usually there are some slightly less desirable routings that show up as Saver awards. (I have a United credit card ... ) You need to try days on either side of your desired day, too. If you want to fly at a busy time, naturally there will not be Saver awards.
You might also try another country as your destination. I mean, that you also want to visit someday.
Sadly, there are no tricks. Booking at the two extremes (very early, or very late) can help. Be flexible on your dates, traveling on Tuesdays and Wednesdays can sometimes be easier to find saver availability. Don't know if you've already done this, but look at other Star Alliance airlines (such as Luftansa) as well. They cost a bit more for saver (70K each way, I believe), but are sometimes more available. Don't know where in Europe you've been checking--maybe everywhere--but some destinations can be better than others, you just have to play around with it. Also, if you're willing to pay for a locating flight before/after your award flight, you can look at other departure airports as well. You could also post over on FlyerTalk--they'll want to know the dates/destinations you're interested in--as some of those folks love the challenge of finding good deals. But, the reality is none of the airlines really want you to redeem your miles at the best rate, and it seems to get worse every year.
Yes, the trick is to be a high level frequent flyer in their frequent flyer program. Simply accruing miles means nothing if you don't actually fly enough with them to at least reach their Platinum level (75,000 miles a year). At that level a whole slew of additional reward seats opens up. Sad but true.
Of course booking early always helps with mileage rewards.
You can still get lucky. The availability of saver awards on various destinations can vary daily. You also need to be flexible on your dates you want to travel. Also, sometimes it is easier to get a flight close to where you want go in Europe and then take the train to your actual destination after you land. Example: I needed to get Rome a couple years ago but no affordable reward tickets anywhere near the dateI needed. But Milan had many. I flew to Milan and then had an enjoyable train ride to Rome. Got me in Business/First, saved me enough miles for another trip, and I got to see a bit of Italy that I otherwise would have missed out on.
I’m not familiar with United as I am a Delta loyalist, but does it not have a flexible dates search option? For example, on an upcoming trip to Europe some days I can get there for 25,000 points per person and on other days that same flight takes 130,000 points. But you don’t really know which are the cheaper days if you are just plugging in one day.
My husband is Delta platinum(would be diamond but avoids that so he can carry over his extra miles to get platinum the next year) and we have much better luck getting business class tickets out of NY than out of Atlanta. There's a lot more competition in NY.
Yes, fredandkell, you can get United to show you a calendar with various award-travel color-coded in each date box. Then you have to check the actual flight/flights that the offer applies to. It's not a majority of the routings that would be displayed for a cash fare on the same day.
Here’s what we have done. (With United)
You can’t do this online, but have to call customer service. When you find saver economy fares, call and say you want to pay for saver business fare but with a confirmed seat in economy, and ask to be waitlisted if and when business saver fares become available. You are not asking to be put on an upgrade list.
When you receive your confirmation, be sure the business miles have been deducted. If you aren’t confirmed in business before checking you are added to the upgrade list and since you paid for your business seats (with mikes) you are prioritized over people on the upgrade list.
I also continue your look for business saver fares, and if I find something, I call to change flights. If you don’t end up in business class, your excess mikes are refunded.
I have a link to a web site describing the process for United will add post when I’m on my computer.
No trick. If you don't have Premier 1K status (or are a member of the elusive United Global Services), you're not getting up front to business class unless you buy a ticket. Even those two levels can only be moved up front if there are seats available.
Business fares can go on sale so it's not a lost cause.
As Continental said, if you're willing to pay somewhat more for business class, you should look for sales-my husband bought me a Delta business class ticket from NY to London and Premium Economy on the way back from London for $2700. Please be sure to post again when you've bought your ticket and let us know if you were able to get the one you wanted.
Thanks to everyone who posted possible work-arounds. I randomly looked at FRA-SFO one-way (yes, I have Explorer card) and found there were indeed Saver business class fares available in February through May. Nothing for 330 days out. Maybe the key is waiting until a few months before the date ... if you can feel comfortable doing that. Using miles you can buy one-way legs separately.
I looked at the awards calendar for "all classes" which shows days with premium saver awards marked in green -- then scrolled down to find the green saver itineraries.
We, however, are mega-cheap and prefer two trips in economy saver (120,000 miles RT for two) to one trip in business saver (120,000 miles). Especially when it's non stop economy versus multi-connection business.
May change our minds after trying Basic Economy this spring, though. ;-)
Ticket sales open up 330 days in advance. This means you’ll have the best chance of getting R/T business class tickets 330 days from your return trip date. This becomes difficult if you are staying awhile, as people staying shorter times will get the limited number of saver tickets available. I’ve found that winter super saver travel is easier, as it requires fewer miles and the demand is lower. Of course, winter travel isn’t what most people choose, but it’s great if you want to visit Christmas markets, for example. Good Luck!
But you don't need to wait until 330 days before the return trip (note: my experience is with economy) since you can buy a one-way outbound with miles at 330 days before that flight and then add a one-way return when those flights open up. Round-trip for miles allows you to add a third flight for free -- but if that's not a deal breaker, the flexibility of two one-ways is a big plus.
I got our early-December outbound flights, will buy the January returns in February.
