MilesBuzz! - UA international upgrades

Does anyone know if it is possible to get upgraded at the airport if you have not purchased an upgradable fare? I have tried to get a confirmed upgrade on any non-stop SFO- any city in Europe without luck but I see that on the days I want to go there may be 25 available seats in business class. I don't want to pay the higher upgradable fare just hoping to get an upgrade. Does anyone know how they hand out the upgrades at the airport? I am a premier member.

deborah108...Welcome to FlyerTalk.

You might want to consider posting your question in the United Mileage Plus forum for answers to your United specific question.

In my experience UA will not bend the rule and allow you to upgrade at the gate if you have non-upgradable ticket even if they have empty seats at business class. I think UA has two different non-upgradable fare, one is not upgradable using miles (but can be upgrade using SWU) and another is not upgradable at all, which one do you have? If you have the first one, you may try coupon connection to see if you can get hold of a SWU coupon.

Deborah,

As the esteemed PremEx suggests, this will be better answered in the United forum. I'll copy it over to there. Please check out the thread later for responses.

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Craig6z
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