This year US comped me Gold Preferred based on my longtime status with UA (1K) and AA (Platinum, soon to be EP). I got a very nice welcome kit from US in February that included a Preferred manual, luggage tags, and some upgrade certificates.

I was thrilled to get the 2 Systemwides, and hope to use them soon. Unfortunately, I did not look very closely at the other 2 upgrade certs -- just assumed they were confirmed North American upgrades.

I have flown US a number of times this year, but never used the upgrade certs because I finally noticed that they are 800-milers. Well, 2 of those don't do you a lot of good from San Francisco. This is where the stupid part comes in.

Last week I flew SFO-PHL nonstop and back on a discounted economy ticket (but not an E-fare). Gold status helped out, as I was assigned nice exit row seats both ways. Unfortunately, US changed craft both ways -- but Gold helped out again, as I got aisle seats toward the front. (Last year I invariably got relegated to a middle seat in the last couple of rows.) I noticed that there were empty seats in First both ways on this last trip.

I assumed that my upgrade certs were useless for this flight, unless I wanted to burn up the systemwides. But when I got home, I read in the Preferred manual that I could have purchased a booklet with four more certs, giving me 2400 miles worth of coverage each way. The flights are 2,516 miles each. Is it true that US collects no more than 3 certs each way across the country? Could I then have upgraded both ways?

If I make another trip like this to Philly, it seems to me I can still do the above PLUS I will have earned more than 10,000 US flight miles. More certs accrue, right?

Sorry for seeming so naive about this, but US seems to operate differently in this regard from UA and AA. Can anyone tell me whether the SFO-PHL upgrade strategy laid out above would have been appropriate? I have been trying desperately for 3 years to get out of coach on US, but no luck yet. Did US actually hand me [80% of] the means to do it, and I missed it?



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~ Friends don't let friends fly coach ~

You have it right, 3 certs maximum, and you can buy 800-mile certs for $40 each, and if you buy 3, you get 4 free, so you could have spent $120, gotten 4 certs and used them with the two you have to upgrade both ways.

I've been a Gold on US since late last year, and so for on 30+ flights I have yet to fly in coach, but that will likely change tomorrow on my first E-Saver, but exit row on a flight well under an hour (CLT-CHS) is fine with me http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif It's a great program ...

Some duplication since Beckles beat me by 2 minutes. I don't type fast enough.

You are not dumb, just not used the ease of upgrading on US. You can buy the 800 mile certs for $40 each or buy 3 get 1 free - ie. 4 for $120 or $30 each. Both the paid and unpaid ones are good in North American which on US means the Carribean and Bermuda also. You can combine paid and unpaid certs as long as you have the right number. Yes, the max certs collected in NA is 3. The bottom line is that for $120 and your 2 comp certs, you could have been in FC roundtrip. E-savers can not be upgraded but discounted tickets definately can. As Gold, you can confirm 3 days in advance. As Gold I believe you get 8 more certs per 10,000 miles.
I hope you are getting 3x miles on these flights. See official bonus code thread. A little reading + few calls to register + a little follow up to make sure miles post = a much richer FF account. Long live the US marketing department.

[This message has been edited by mileshound (edited 07-13-2001).]

The other two posters are right. One other thing I'd mention -- you can book the F seat 3 days in advance on a discount fare and purchase the upgrades at the airport or in the Club on the day of departure if you're short of the number you need. Over the years, as a Gold myself since '95, I've found the availability of upgrades to be excellent out of the West Coast, so I think that you'll be pleased with your results in riding up front. Its really a great program.

As others have noted, you have a pretty good grasp of the mechanics using the 800 mile upgrades.


I just want to point out that once you reach 10,000 miles of flight, you will probably not need to purchase any more upgrades for yourself. After flying 10,000 miles, US will send you 8x800 mile upgrade certificates and 10 more when you reach 20,000 miles flown. This gives you 18 certificates for every 20,000 miles flown which is a good deal (18x800=17,600 miles of upgrades). Be aware that the 'clock' for issuing these certificates restarts each year on March 1st and plan your flights accordingly.


Couple this with the generally good service on US and you know why most of us here are happy with US.

[This message has been edited by BillMorrow (edited 07-14-2001).]

Thanks, everyone, for the clear advice. I will take the initiative now a bit more with US and look forward to my next transcon in First.