United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Seeking help with upgradeable rev ticket LAX-EDI

So my parents booked an 8 day tour in Scotland and are looking for the optimal options to get there on *A. My father is a 1K and has 3 SWUs remaining for the year, so he'd like to book 2 Y revenue tickets that are upgradeable to business. Travel dates are Sept 1-9, with some flexibility of +/- 1 or 2 days (weekends in order to not take extra vacation days).

The best routing I've found so far is LAX-EWR-EDI in W outbound on Sept 1 but the return on Sept 9 is in L, which doesn't work for the SWUs. Trying to keep the cost below $1300 a ticket, but if paying a small premium will get them the upgrade, I'm sure they won't mind paying for it.

I'm still learning to use ITA, so if any experts have some free time, help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

...(weekends in order to not take extra vacation days). ... decreases the odds on the upgrade since most TATL bussiness travel starts/ends on a weekend

..The best routing I've found so far is LAX-EWR-EDI in W outbound on Sept 1 but the return on Sept 9 is in L, which doesn't work for the SWUs. Trying to keep the cost below $1300 a ticket, but if paying a small premium will get them the upgrade, I'm sure they won't mind paying for it. ... the price is going to be more driven by fare class than routing. What you will need to do is request W fares (as a min) in both directions. You can do this on the phone or online.


...I'm still learning to use ITA, so if any experts have some free time, help would be greatly appreciated. ....While ITA is great for routings but in this case you need to set the min fare option for W. You can do this also with united.com and on united.com you will have the option of seeing R space (upgrade space). It is best to avoid waitlisting and book with a comfirmable upgrade space (but many times not available).

Quick Check:

LAX-EWR-EDI for your dates prices @ $1454 (books in Q)on united.com. No R/RN inventory on 9/1 or 9/9. To only see upgradeable fares, used the 'Advanced Search' and check the radio button for 'Enter specific classes of service' - then enter whatever fare (or range, separated by commas) that you're looking for. e.g. -> "Q,V,W"

EF shows some R3 on 8/29 for the outbound and R2 on a 9/8 return. Otherwise 0's.

$1,331 per ticket will get you LAX-EWR-EDI and EDI-EWR-LAX on the dates you requsted in W class. Only the EWR-EDI outbound has any R class and it's only one seat.

Ok thanks guys. So I've gotta look for W or higher fares and check to see if there's any R space available on the desired flights to guarantee the SWU, otherwise it'll just be a waitlist for the upgrade. Gonna be tough to keep it under $1,300, but the premium doesn't seem to be terrible.

We have done the SFO-EDI trip a lot, and much prefer to fly SFO-LHR and then BMI up to EDI, That way you avoid the possibility of IRROPS in EWR, plus you dont have to get your rest broken up by changing planes in Newark.

The only way we will book international travel is to find R availabilty and book immediately to confirm upgrades. I can't stand wishing and hoping and thinking and praying.....to clear my WL.;)

Or, try to find a cheap Z fare....that will allow you to do a weekend to weekend itinerary.

We have done the SFO-EDI trip a lot, and much prefer to fly SFO-LHR and then BMI up to EDI, That way you avoid the possibility of IRROPS in EWR, plus you dont have to get your rest broken up by changing planes in Newark.

The only way we will book international travel is to find R availabilty and book immediately to confirm upgrades. I can't stand wishing and hoping and thinking and praying.....to clear my WL.;)

Or, try to find a cheap Z fare....that will allow you to do a weekend to weekend itinerary.

Don't forget BMI have gone away... It's basicallly BA to EDI from LHR nowdays. No *A options left sadly.

So my parents booked an 8 day tour in Scotland and are looking for the optimal options to get there on *A. My father is a 1K and has 3 SWUs remaining for the year, so he'd like to book 2 Y revenue tickets that are upgradeable to business. Travel dates are Sept 1-9, with some flexibility of +/- 1 or 2 days (weekends in order to not take extra vacation days).

The best routing I've found so far is LAX-EWR-EDI in W outbound on Sept 1 but the return on Sept 9 is in L, which doesn't work for the SWUs. Trying to keep the cost below $1300 a ticket, but if paying a small premium will get them the upgrade, I'm sure they won't mind paying for it.

I'm still learning to use ITA, so if any experts have some free time, help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

You could also look at flights into Glasgow - no R availability there either on the days you suggest. They don't seem to offer much R across the Atlantic to be honest until a few days before the flight at the earliest.