Yesterday over Thanksgiving dinner, I met with a friend who is a prominent Harvard business school professor.
During the conversation, I found out that he is also 1K. Apparently, he travels on paid C fares to Asia and Europe. In a summer trip to PEK, he and his family were in economy, and he complained about how crappy UA's economy seats are.
So I asked: do you know that you can upgrade them using SWUs?
He said, "SWUs"?
"What SWUs"?
I was speechless. So I asked him to email me his MP number.
Today, I set up his password at united.com, registered etc. Then I clicked E-Upgrade Summary.
I fainted.
It shows:
5 SWUs expired on 2/1/2007
Total of 8 CR1s expired in 2007
In addition, he has 8 SWUs, about to expire in 12/31/2007 and 1/31/2008. 
So I took over his MP account, become his manager, and booked a Christmas trip to Europe for his family of 4, and upgraded all.
Meanwhile, I looked at his itinerary:
he booked standard coach awards BOS-ORD-MCO (Ted), at 50,000 miles each. Total 200,000 miles. 
geez
I strongly objected this based on the value of 200,000 miles. Apparently this business school professor was convinced, and I canceled this crazy mileage award reservation for him. A nonstop ticket on JetBlue costs $300 or less. He saved 200,000 miles, enough to book 2 tickets in business class to PEK for summer 2008 Olympics.
I shall have some SWUs CR1s as commission next year based on my hard work, he agreed.
