On June 16, United announced that its transcon p.s. Premium Service, which has flatbed Business Class seats on every flight, will no longer use JFK. Starting Oct. 25, UA’s transcon will fly between Newark and Los Angele’s and San Francisco as United is ceasing operations at JFK altogether. Delta plans to acquire United’s JFK slots, and United plans to acquire slots from Delta in Newark.
This makes sense since United’s trans-Atlantic flights depart from Newark. With this change, LAX and SFO passengers flying United to Europe have more options.
Plentiful Award Space with Changed Route
Two months ago, FCF researched free award availability on United’s transcon for a special report and found very little availability.
For whatever reason, the route change has freed up space. We’re now seeing Business Class on LAX/SFO Newark for up to four passengers starting in November (see chart below). Cost is 50,000 miles round-trip, plus about $11 in taxes, for a ticket that otherwise starts at $1,196 and runs up to $4,507 with no Saturday-night stay.
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Booking through United Partners
With Lufthansa Miles: 35,000 miles (15,000 less than with United directly) plus $11 in taxes.
Starwood Points-to-Lufthansa Miles: 30,000.
With Singapore Miles: 40,000.
Starwood Points-to-Singapore Miles: 35,000
Good Partner Availability: United partner award space, meaning flying United by using Lufthansa or Singapore miles, has opened up since the route change, too.
Buy Miles to Fly in Style…
Don’t bother right now, as the route change doesn’t start until November. But keep the option in mind after that if you miss the advance-purchase window or can’t fulfill the Saturday-night-stay requirement. At 2.5¢ per mile from Amex Membership Rewards and transferred to Singapore, the net cost is $1,000, plus about $15 in taxes—a savings of up to $3,492 (78%) compared to a no-advance or Saturday-night-stay fare of $4,507.
New Route, Same Fare
United has not changed the transcon 30-day advance- purchase fare (at least for now): $1,196 round-trip. Twenty-one-day advance is $1,892; 14-day, $2,497; seven-day, $3,062; and walk-up with no-minimum stay is $4,507.