Booking Award Flights on United

[Anonymous]

I’ve booked domestic flights on United with miles, but this is my first time booking an international flight. Below are the details on pricing. Does this seem normal?

-three days ago nonstop economy flight from IAD to Paris (CDG) was 40,000 points

-two days ago, same nonstop flights, IAD to CDG, are 70,000 points

-today there are no nonstop flights with miles for the same trip

Now I wish we had grabbed the seats for 40,000 points. Didn’t pull the trigger, because the trip isn’t until June and now seems like way too early to book the trip. Do you think the nonstop award flights will come back? I feel like United bots are tracking me and trying to price gouge me!

[Anonymous]

How are we supposed to know? They have dynamic pricing. Perhaps there’s an issue with cookies but also likely that people are rebooking award tickets for a later date due to all the chaos around travel now.

But since you don’t want to travel til June you have time to wait and see if the award ticket prices decline

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve booked domestic flights on United with miles, but this is my first time booking an international flight. Below are the details on pricing. Does this seem normal?

-three days ago nonstop economy flight from IAD to Paris (CDG) was 40,000 points

-two days ago, same nonstop flights, IAD to CDG, are 70,000 points

-today there are no nonstop flights with miles for the same trip

Now I wish we had grabbed the seats for 40,000 points. Didn’t pull the trigger, because the trip isn’t until June and now seems like way too early to book the trip. Do you think the nonstop award flights will come back? I feel like United bots are tracking me and trying to price gouge me!

Did you look at the seat map to see how full the flight is currently? That can give you an idea (though not guaranteed) of whether the lower mile awards will open up again. I would just wait. They’ll likely go back down - if you know your dates and you see 40,000 points, book it, because it won’t go lower than that. My husband is global services on United so I’m on that site a lot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are we supposed to know? They have dynamic pricing. Perhaps there’s an issue with cookies but also likely that people are rebooking award tickets for a later date due to all the chaos around travel now.

But since you don’t want to travel til June you have time to wait and see if the award ticket prices decline

This is OP. As I stated, first time booking international with miles. I was just surprised at the wild fluctuations and seat availability for a flight that’s 7 months away. I’m aware of dynamic pricing. I’ll keep an eye on the flight and jump on it if the nonstop becomes available. We have about 400k miles, so hoping that we can book four roundtrip flights with miles.

Other options were 40k miles out of BWI, connecting in SFO or LAX. I don’t think flying five hours west to connect is an option for me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve booked domestic flights on United with miles, but this is my first time booking an international flight. Below are the details on pricing. Does this seem normal?

-three days ago nonstop economy flight from IAD to Paris (CDG) was 40,000 points

-two days ago, same nonstop flights, IAD to CDG, are 70,000 points

-today there are no nonstop flights with miles for the same trip

Now I wish we had grabbed the seats for 40,000 points. Didn’t pull the trigger, because the trip isn’t until June and now seems like way too early to book the trip. Do you think the nonstop award flights will come back? I feel like United bots are tracking me and trying to price gouge me!

Did you look at the seat map to see how full the flight is currently? That can give you an idea (though not guaranteed) of whether the lower mile awards will open up again. I would just wait. They’ll likely go back down - if you know your dates and you see 40,000 points, book it, because it won’t go lower than that. My husband is global services on United so I’m on that site a lot!

OP here…again.

Thanks, I will check the flight. I think there are two United nonstops from Dulles. I can’t imagine them being that full already, but you never know.

[Anonymous]

If you already have the miles in your United account, always best to book if you see something at the saver level (40k in this case), because United awards are fully refundable. No risk in grabbing them now and figuring out later if you will actually use them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve booked domestic flights on United with miles, but this is my first time booking an international flight. Below are the details on pricing. Does this seem normal?

-three days ago nonstop economy flight from IAD to Paris (CDG) was 40,000 points

-two days ago, same nonstop flights, IAD to CDG, are 70,000 points

-today there are no nonstop flights with miles for the same trip

Now I wish we had grabbed the seats for 40,000 points. Didn’t pull the trigger, because the trip isn’t until June and now seems like way too early to book the trip. Do you think the nonstop award flights will come back? I feel like United bots are tracking me and trying to price gouge me!

There are always limited seats offered on points, especially at the lower levels. When you see what you what you have to pounce (on points, not money) especially if you need more than 1 or 2 seats. Award seats on that flight are likely gone for good.

[Anonymous]

^^^To add, IAD to CDG is a very popular route, as is the month of June. People were likely waiting to book those the moment they were released. Can you shift your dates a few weeks later? If you have to fly on points, you will just have to be flexible on dates.

[Anonymous]

It's very normal, you have to jump as soon as they are released to get the best deals. a summer flight to Paris for saver points is a difficult buy. Try variable dates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve booked domestic flights on United with miles, but this is my first time booking an international flight. Below are the details on pricing. Does this seem normal?

-three days ago nonstop economy flight from IAD to Paris (CDG) was 40,000 points

-two days ago, same nonstop flights, IAD to CDG, are 70,000 points

-today there are no nonstop flights with miles for the same trip

Now I wish we had grabbed the seats for 40,000 points. Didn’t pull the trigger, because the trip isn’t until June and now seems like way too early to book the trip. Do you think the nonstop award flights will come back? I feel like United bots are tracking me and trying to price gouge me!

There are always limited seats offered on points, especially at the lower levels. When you see what you what you have to pounce (on points, not money) especially if you need more than 1 or 2 seats. Award seats on that flight are likely gone for good.

Agreed on this except the bolded. Lots of fluctuations this far in advance. Just gotta keep checking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve booked domestic flights on United with miles, but this is my first time booking an international flight. Below are the details on pricing. Does this seem normal?

-three days ago nonstop economy flight from IAD to Paris (CDG) was 40,000 points

-two days ago, same nonstop flights, IAD to CDG, are 70,000 points

-today there are no nonstop flights with miles for the same trip

Now I wish we had grabbed the seats for 40,000 points. Didn’t pull the trigger, because the trip isn’t until June and now seems like way too early to book the trip. Do you think the nonstop award flights will come back? I feel like United bots are tracking me and trying to price gouge me!

There are always limited seats offered on points, especially at the lower levels. When you see what you what you have to pounce (on points, not money) especially if you need more than 1 or 2 seats. Award seats on that flight are likely gone for good.

Agreed on this except the bolded. Lots of fluctuations this far in advance. Just gotta keep checking

Best award availability (for more than 1 seat) is upon release or 1-2 months before the travel date (as people release what they have been holding or airlines reassess based on how many seats are unsold.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve booked domestic flights on United with miles, but this is my first time booking an international flight. Below are the details on pricing. Does this seem normal?

-three days ago nonstop economy flight from IAD to Paris (CDG) was 40,000 points

-two days ago, same nonstop flights, IAD to CDG, are 70,000 points

-today there are no nonstop flights with miles for the same trip

Now I wish we had grabbed the seats for 40,000 points. Didn’t pull the trigger, because the trip isn’t until June and now seems like way too early to book the trip. Do you think the nonstop award flights will come back? I feel like United bots are tracking me and trying to price gouge me!

Did you look at the seat map to see how full the flight is currently? That can give you an idea (though not guaranteed) of whether the lower mile awards will open up again. I would just wait. They’ll likely go back down - if you know your dates and you see 40,000 points, book it, because it won’t go lower than that. My husband is global services on United so I’m on that site a lot!

OP here…again.

Thanks, I will check the flight. I think there are two United nonstops from Dulles. I can’t imagine them being that full already, but you never know.

They aren’t full. United is only going to release X seats on points and right now they are already gone for that date. Someone has to cancel and/or United has to decide to release more award seats. You can’t book for points every seat that is available for cash. It’s a very limited amount.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve booked domestic flights on United with miles, but this is my first time booking an international flight. Below are the details on pricing. Does this seem normal?

-three days ago nonstop economy flight from IAD to Paris (CDG) was 40,000 points

-two days ago, same nonstop flights, IAD to CDG, are 70,000 points

-today there are no nonstop flights with miles for the same trip

Now I wish we had grabbed the seats for 40,000 points. Didn’t pull the trigger, because the trip isn’t until June and now seems like way too early to book the trip. Do you think the nonstop award flights will come back? I feel like United bots are tracking me and trying to price gouge me!

There are always limited seats offered on points, especially at the lower levels. When you see what you what you have to pounce (on points, not money) especially if you need more than 1 or 2 seats. Award seats on that flight are likely gone for good.

Agreed on this except the bolded. Lots of fluctuations this far in advance. Just gotta keep checking

Best award availability (for more than 1 seat) is upon release or 1-2 months before the travel date (as people release what they have been holding or airlines reassess based on how many seats are unsold.)

Generally true, but also there are still fluctuations in the intervening time, as OP discovered 4 months after schedule opened. I track some flights closely when looking to book, it changes periodically, that's a huge advantage of United's free award change/cancellation policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve booked domestic flights on United with miles, but this is my first time booking an international flight. Below are the details on pricing. Does this seem normal?

-three days ago nonstop economy flight from IAD to Paris (CDG) was 40,000 points

-two days ago, same nonstop flights, IAD to CDG, are 70,000 points

-today there are no nonstop flights with miles for the same trip

Now I wish we had grabbed the seats for 40,000 points. Didn’t pull the trigger, because the trip isn’t until June and now seems like way too early to book the trip. Do you think the nonstop award flights will come back? I feel like United bots are tracking me and trying to price gouge me!

There are always limited seats offered on points, especially at the lower levels. When you see what you what you have to pounce (on points, not money) especially if you need more than 1 or 2 seats. Award seats on that flight are likely gone for good.

Agreed on this except the bolded. Lots of fluctuations this far in advance. Just gotta keep checking

Best award availability (for more than 1 seat) is upon release or 1-2 months before the travel date (as people release what they have been holding or airlines reassess based on how many seats are unsold.)

Generally true, but also there are still fluctuations in the intervening time, as OP discovered 4 months after schedule opened. I track some flights closely when looking to book, it changes periodically, that's a huge advantage of United's free award change/cancellation policy.

I mean yes, but OP seems unaware that every free seat on the plane is not available to book on points. Was trying to give her the cliffs notes.

[Anonymous]

I have had significantly more success booking United with American Express if that is an option at all. They actually answer the phone and are helpful/will stay on the line with you until you're satisfied.

FWIW, I was pricing an international flight and the price changed when I was on the phone with the AmEx agent. So we continued the booking so it wouldn't change again.