United is redesigning their website. Until now they’ve been using Continental’s circa-2006 site, which is functional if not a bit dated.
See a sneak peek of what’s coming after the jump:
A streamlined homepage. When you click on any of the “boxes” they expand to give more info on your account, upcoming trips, etc. Unfortunately the “my trips” section is very slow to populate, but hopefully that will be fixed before the site goes live to the public.
Flight status:
Recent searches are a nice touch as well:
Unfortunately a huge downgrade is the lack of a nonstop award search calendar. On the current United.com you can select nonstop flights only on the homepage. On the new United.com you can toggle the options to nonstop only after making a search, but that doesn’t update the award calendar to display nonstop saver award dates only. Even when performing an advanced search for nonstop flights only it doesn’t pull up a nonstop calendar. That’s a massive downgrade in functionality from the current site.
The new United.com allows you to limit results to specific connecting airports or arrival times:
You can also limit a search to flights with WiFi, DirecTV, red-eye options, etc:
On the downside, they have made it very hard to view the aircraft type. You have to view the seat map to view the aircraft type. I’m not sure why they didn’t make that one of the display options to search by aircraft type.
The good news is that clicking to view the seat map doesn’t force you away from the search page:
The best news for me is that they left expert mode intact. You can read more about expert mode in this post.
Prices for a round-trip paid flight search are now shown for each segment as opposed to the round-trip total on the current site:
United expects to move everyone over to the new site this summer.
This is the same airline that canceled hundred of confirmed tickets.
Dang, ten upcoming reservations 😀
Sneak peek vs. Sneak peak 😉
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/sneak_peek
Am I the only one that thinks this looks very similar to Delta’s site? I guess not only United borrowing all of Delta’s policies, they are also looking at Delta for inspiration for their site 😉
It looks Just like their mobile app
how can i switch to the new site
@Maven:
OK?
@Yb:
The best function of being elite aren’t the upgrades, it’s the ability to cancel awards for free.
@Hindy:
Lol, fixed that the second after I published.
@Ivan Y:
Sounds about right.
But it’s definitely much better than DL in functionality.
@Mobile App:
It’s that idea, just more functional.
@yanky:
It’s by invite only right now.
@Hindy:
+10000000000000000!!!
Will the new site also have the ability to book ultra cheap United First Class & Business Tickets for tickets originating in London by changing the currency to DKK? 🙂
Dan, where did you go peak? If we leave feedback stating that the old features are still wanted, they could probably update that.
@Dan’s the Man:
That was the first thing I checked 😉
@Achshell:
I’m part of a beta program for the new site, you can’t see it otherwise.
Are you able to check if they will include more partners in a search?
Hey Dan, question regarding my reservation from the Dutch Kroner debacle. My ticket was confirmed and pending issuance and it is still in that status. Not worried as J Class so no cancellation but, has been now 3 days and not cancelled. Any ideas Dan????
@moe:
Which partners?
@Dave:
If it was never issued they’re not going to cancel it.
But feel free to call and try to get it issued.
Me no like. keep me on old site.
Also, when can we expect good news w our united tix?
I am still not over the dead sea meridian cancel
The home page almost looks like the start menu on Windows 8 with all the icon boxes…..
Dan, any chance the PayPal option is still there on the new site for holding award reservations?
will the new website allow close-in workarounds…. if you know what i mean??? 😉
Your tweet about this said “United,com” with a comma. Was that an homage to United’s recent currency troubles. 😉
@YY: Why do you like horrible looking websites? Wonder what took so long!
Shalom Dan, please advise I am looking to book one way return for 5 from tel to lax after succot oct11,12, I have enough points with BA or united, ba offers only British with 187500 points w $1295 taxes, united is 230000 with $250 taxes, but cancelation policy of ba is $80 per person if I need to cancel, United is $200 which one should I book, should I book now? Thanks, shabbat shalom
About time.
Its time to update DDL
This NEW design, from a programming angle, is most likely what caused the mistake fares from London in Danish DDK. Of course, United will never admit it because they would have to honor the fares and may still have to via DoT final decision.
The new site shows Brussels availability?
Scratch that. That pic is of paid flights.
To me it looks like there using some of AA’s UI Designers, and CNTR+CP AA.com
what about expert mode?
@frumjew777:
Read the post.
@Evan Stall: mind sharing what you mean ?