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Dec 7, 2023, 7:45 am
#1
Xyzzy
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Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,730
Changes to the United PerksPlus program
United is making changes to its PerksPlus program for small businesses, requiring use of their United.business portal or that a TA use a special tour code for every booking. Booking via the most convenient methods -- United.com or the United app -- is no l😢nger going to be possible with this program.
Clearly, the program is being enhanced...
Updates to United PerksPlus
Exciting Updates to United PerksPlus Program
As part of our commitment to providing the best products and services, we're making two important changes that will go into effect February 1, 2024, for our U.S.-based PerksPlus customers.
PerksPlus is transitioning to an agency-only booking channel:
Starting February 1, 2024, PerksPlus will be exclusively available to corporate customers booking through a travel agency.
How this impacts you:
- Customers who book on united.com or the United app:
You can smoothly transition to our enhanced features in the United for Business portal. Get started. PerksPlus accounts migrating to the U4B portal will retain access to their account until January 31, 2026, allowing the use of any remaining points. - Customers who book through a Travel Agency:
Rest assured that your PerksPlus benefits will continue. To maintain ongoing eligibility for earning benefits, please collaborate with your agency partner for accurate ticketing. View your ticketing instructions here.
Please visit our FAQ page or contact support for any questions or concerns you may have.
No change are applicable to Latin America accounts
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Dec 7, 2023, 10:23 am
#2
United747
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: FSPP, Marriott Stars/Luminous, Hyatt Prive, MO Fan Club, etc.
Posts: 4,300
IMO, the changes are actually good for my company. IÂ’ve signed us up through United for Business and there are upfront discounts available. ItÂ’s structured similar to PassPlus, but without the need to prepay.
IÂ’m curious to see how it evolves as we start to use it.
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Dec 7, 2023, 10:30 am
#3
The Man in Seat 9A
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K - 1 MM, Marriott LT-Plt, Hyatt Glb
Posts: 265
No more Perks Plus if we don't go through a travel agency "PerksPlus will be exclusively available to corporate customers booking through a travel agency" we will be allowed to use our remaining points for another two years, but no way to earn.
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Dec 7, 2023, 10:49 am
#4
Xyzzy
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,730
Originally Posted by The Man in Seat 9A
No more Perks Plus if we don't go through a travel agency "PerksPlus will be exclusively available to corporate customers booking through a travel agency" we will be allowed to use our remaining points for another two years, but no way to earn.
I'm n
t sure why UA wants to push all of our business through a TA. Wouldn't it cost them less to have us buy tickets directly, without any agency fee?
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Dec 7, 2023, 11:25 am
#5
arisaa
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: out my front door 60 min prior to IAH flight until they increased the check in time to 45 min
Programs: CO Platinum or UA 1K for so long, now almost 2MM
Posts: 322
I thought PerksPlus was great, like a real "perk". I guess that was reason enough for UA to do away with it.
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Dec 7, 2023, 5:50 pm
#6
regiobaden
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 39
The way I understand it, PerksPlus for direct-booking customers is being replaced by the new United for Business program.
PerksPlus requires a minimum spend and you needed to earn enough points to redeem for free flights/perks.
United for Business does not require a minimum spend and offers a percentage discount on all flights and/or ancillaries, so should have broader appeal to small businesses.
United for Business works for directly booked tickets via united.com and the mobile app.
For companies that book through travel agencies (so they cannot use United for Business), PerksPlus continues.
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Dec 8, 2023, 3:26 pm
#7
elCheapoDeluxe
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oregon
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, UA 1MM Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Plat, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,017
The discounts on this new business program are better than a poke in the eye. Just did a comparison booking and it dropped the ticket from $525 to $450. I'd take that over the measly earning from PerksPlus. The AA business program grants the traveler an extra loyalty point per dollar to incentivize use - would be nice if UA offered that kind of perk.
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Dec 11, 2023, 10:45 am
#8
Xyzzy
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,730
Originally Posted by elCheapoDeluxe
The discounts on this new business program are better than a poke in the eye. Just did a comparison booking and it dropped the ticket from $525 to $450. I'd take that over the measly earning from PerksPlus. The AA business program grants the traveler an extra loyalty point per dollar to incentivize use - would be nice if UA offered that kind of perk.
Sure - but it makes it a bit m
re difficult to book than just going to the UA app and doing a search. I'll have to give it a try. I booked some tix last night and am still within the 24hr cancellation period. I'm curious how much different the fare is.
Quick question ... our PerksPlus email about this directs us to sign up for Untied for Business. But that says input of our "Corporate UCS Number" is required. Where do I find this number? It clearly isn't 
ur PerksPlus account ID.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 11, 2023 at 12:27 pmReason: merged consecutive posts by same member
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Dec 11, 2023, 5:51 pm
#9
elCheapoDeluxe
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oregon
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, UA 1MM Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Plat, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,017
Added detail: I'm not sure why that initial comparison showed so much, but it looks like the benefit ranges from 4-8% discounts for us domestically depending on fare class, and 2-8% internationally depending on fare class. We selected "Plan a" which gives more discounts on fare but no discounts on add-ons since all of my guys are at least Gold anyway if not 1MM or 2MM. We are a very small business. I have no idea what is offered to firms of other sizes.
Business/First (J/C) 8% both
Business/First (D/Z) 4% domestic, 2% international
Premium Economy (O) 8% both
Premium Economy (A) 4% domestic, 2% international
Economy (Y/B/M/E/U/H) 8% both
Economy (Q/V/W) 4% domestic, 2% international
Originally Posted by Xyzzy
Sure - but it makes it a bit mre difficult to book than just going to the UA app and doing a search.
Is it? Other than the drop down to select personal or business travel it is pretty much the same.
I didn't put anything in for the UCS number.
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Dec 12, 2023, 7:17 am
#10
Xyzzy
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,730
Originally Posted by elCheapoDeluxe
Added detail: I'm not sure why that initial comparison showed so much, but it looks like the benefit ranges from 4-8% discounts for us domestically depending on fare class, and 2-8% internationally depending on fare class. We selected "Plan a" which gives more discounts on fare but no discounts on add-ons since all of my guys are at least Gold anyway if not 1MM or 2MM. We are a very small business. I have no idea what is offered to firms of other sizes.
Business/First (J/C) 8% both
Business/First (D/Z) 4% domestic, 2% international
Premium Economy (O) 8% both
Premium Economy (A) 4% domestic, 2% international
Economy (Y/B/M/E/U/H) 8% both
Economy (Q/V/W) 4% domestic, 2% international
Is it? Other than the drop down to select personal or business travel it is pretty much the same.
I didn't put anything in for the UCS number.
I guess we'll get another button on our accounts somehow then? Hmm....
The message we received from PerksPlus to sign up says, "When requesting access to your company's portals, make sure you have your company's corporate UCS number. If you don't have that number, contact your company's travel manager or United sales representative." I tried contacting United to get this number but I could only find email addresses and nobody has responded. The form won't let us proceed without a UCS number and it's looking for a specific format so our PerksPlus ID won't wrk...
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Dec 12, 2023, 10:48 am
#11
elCheapoDeluxe
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oregon
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, UA 1MM Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Plat, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,017
Originally Posted by Xyzzy
I guess we'll get another button on our accounts somehow then? Hmm....
The message we received from PerksPlus to sign up says, "When requesting access to your company's portals, make sure you have your company's corporate UCS number. If you don't have that number, contact your company's travel manager or United sales representative." I tried contacting United to get this number but I could only find email addresses and nobody has responded. The form won't let us proceed without a UCS number and it's looking for a specific format so our PerksPlus ID won't wrk...
I don't even remember anything about a UCS number. Maybe that is via a different signup link. We are too small to have any real corporate deals. I just signed up at https://business.united.com
It is pretty much identical to the way American does it. Just a drop down online. In the app it pops up and asks right when you click the "book" link. I did have to access a page that did a face id verification before it refreshed my account and started showing. Signing out/in on the phone probably would have done the same.
Last edited by elCheapoDeluxe; Dec 12, 2023 at 10:58 am
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Dec 12, 2023, 11:06 am
#12
Xyzzy
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,730
Originally Posted by elCheapoDeluxe
I don't even remember anything about a UCS number. Maybe that is via a different signup link. We are too small to have any real corporate deals. I just signed up at https://business.united.com
It is pretty much identical to the way American does it. Just a drop down online. In the app it pops up and asks right when you click the "book" link. I did have to access a page that did a face id verification before it refreshed my account and started showing. Signing out/in on the phone probably would have done the same.
Did you register as a "Corporate" or "Individuals"? Corporate seems to require the UCS number. Individual seems as if it's for PassPlus, but I guess this is the same as that without the prepayment. If we use the individual link does each persn need to register separately?
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Dec 12, 2023, 11:12 am
#13
The Man in Seat 9A
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K - 1 MM, Marriott LT-Plt, Hyatt Glb
Posts: 265
Originally Posted by elCheapoDeluxe
I don't even remember anything about a UCS number. Maybe that is via a different signup link. We are too small to have any real corporate deals. I just signed up at https://business.united.com
Originally Posted by Xyzzy
Did you register as a "Corporate" or "Individuals"? Corporate seems to require the UCS number. Individual seems as if it's for PassPlus, but I guess this is the same as that without the prepayment. If we use the individual link does each persn need to register separately?
My experience was the same as elCheapoDeluxe. I went to the website, registered as a corporation, put in my EIN, was not asked for a UCS.
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Dec 12, 2023, 11:25 am
#14
Xyzzy
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,730
Originally Posted by The Man in Seat 9A
My experience was the same as elCheapoDeluxe. I went to the website, registered as a corporation, put in my EIN, was not asked for a UCS.
That's interesting. In any event, I just called PerksPlus and was told that I was not the first person with this problem. Apparently, where they directed (at least some) people was not correct. I was told to email a separate address at United for Business with our PerksPlus info so I could get signed up. I've done that. I guess I'll wait to see what they c
me back with.
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Dec 13, 2023, 10:23 am
#15
Flywithred23
Join Date: Dec 2023
Posts: 2
where did you go on the website to enroll where it asked you for a UCS number?
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