United’s New Pricing Means You May Pay More for the Same Seat
The airline is adding lower-priced premium fares that remove lounge access, seat selection and refund rights as it seeks more revenue from business travelers.
- On Friday, United Airlines announced a new tiered fare structure for United Polaris and United Premium Plus cabins, offering Base, Standard, and Flexible options on long-haul international, transcontinental, and select Hawaii flights.
- The Base tier offers the lowest price but excludes lounge access, seat selection, and refunds, while Standard and Flexible categories retain traditional perks for customers seeking added value.
- United Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella said the strategy provides "more choice," noting the pay-as-you-go structure makes it easier for customers to find fares matching their specific needs.
- While United is the first U.S. carrier to deploy such basic premium fares, it joins international competitors like Air France and Lufthansa that have utilized similar unbundled strategies for years.
- Rollout begins in select markets this month, with a broader expansion planned for additional long-haul international, transcontinental, and Hawaii routes later this year.
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15 Articles
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How would you feel if you paid $2,000 or more for a business-class ticket only to be charged an extra fee if you wanted a seat assignment in advance?Some travelers on United Airlines will soon find out after the carrier announced on Friday a "new tiered fare structure" for its swankiest seats.In other words, the basic economy concept has now come to the business-class cabin.It's part of United's move to layer three fare types — Base, Standard an…
United to Introduce Tiered Fare Categories, Giving Customers More Options Across Every Type of Ticket
Airline to offer base, standard and flexible fare options for United Polaris® and United Premium Plus® customers traveling on long-haul international,...
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