United introduces restrictive Base fares in domestic first class

United Airlines began selling "Base" fares in domestic first class on 28 October 2026, according to One Mile at a Time and Live and Let's Fly. The cheapest first class tickets on many US routes are now non-refundable, cost $199 to change, exclude free seat selection and earn no redeemable miles.

How the new fares work

One Mile at a Time reports that travellers who tick the box labelled "Include Basic economy & restrictive fares" will see up to three first class options: Base, Standard and Flexible. Both outlets say the Base fare is non-refundable, charges $199 for changes and has no complimentary seat selection. It earns Premier Qualifying Points based on spend but no redeemable miles.

Live and Let's Fly adds that the checked baggage allowance on Base falls from two bags to one. It says the carry-on bag is still included.

Example: Los Angeles to Chicago

Live and Let's Fly compared the three fares on a Los Angeles–Chicago flight:

• Base, $724: non-refundable, $199 to change, seat selection for an extra fee, one checked bag, 0 award miles, 0 Premier qualifying flights and 659 Premier qualifying points.
• Standard, $804: non-refundable, no change fee, seat selection included, two checked bags, 2,202 award miles, 1 Premier qualifying flight and 734 points.
• Flexible, $984: refundable, no change fee, seat selection included, two checked bags, 2,703 award miles, 1 Premier qualifying flight and 901 points.

The site notes that "no change fees" does not remove the need to pay any fare difference when switching flights. It also says eligible MileagePlus cardmembers earn an extra three miles per dollar on the Base fare.

Pricing and context

Live and Let's Fly says that on the flight it tracks, Base appears about $20 cheaper than the previous cheapest fare, while Standard is about $60 more than the old $744 fare. One Mile at a Time similarly says Base is sometimes slightly cheaper than before, but Standard, which offers the perks of the old cheapest fare, is now dearer. It describes the change as effectively a price rise for those who want the usual flexibility.

The move follows a similar basic product for United Airlines Polaris business class, introduced this spring. One Mile at a Time quotes Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella on the Q3 2026 earnings call saying that "the buy up rates are incredibly high" and that United plans to do more with tiered products in the coming weeks.

What this means for travellers

• Check which fare column you are selecting before paying; the cheapest first class option now carries economy-style restrictions.
• Budget for the $199 change charge, or for a seat selection fee, if your plans may shift or you want to choose where to sit.
• Expect only one included checked bag on Base, according to Live and Let's Fly.
• Base earns no redeemable miles, though it earns Premier Qualifying Points. Live and Let's Fly says cash fares on United and United Express still count towards Lifetime Flight Miles.
• On the example route, stepping up to Standard cost $80 more, which restores seat selection, a second bag and fee-free changes.

The sources do not say how widely Base fares are available beyond "many markets", nor the size of the fare difference on other routes.

Sources: One Mile at a Time; Live and Let's Fly.