Elite Instant Upgrade Program Changes – Eff. Jul. 10, 2009

UA Insider · Jul 10, 09, 12:05 pm

Hi Everyone, starting today, Jul. 10, 2009, we will be making some important changes to our Instant Elite Upgrade benefit. Here they are:

Good news for Platinum Elite members. Platinum members will now be eligible for instant upgrades when booking M class fares in eligible markets. This will be in addition to our Y and B class instant upgrades, which are currently offered to Elite members on flights that are eligible for complimentary Elite upgrades. Enjoy!

Fare Class and Availability changes. B class instant upgrades and our new Platinum-only M class instant upgrades will be booked into AN class - the same fare class we use for our general EasyPass rewards. This will enable us to set some seats aside for our front cabin fare paying customers when demand is forecasted to be high. Instant Elite Upgrades for Y class will continue to be booked into CU class, which offers last-seat First Class availability.

We’re pleased to continue offering our Instant Elite Upgrade benefit, and hope you’ll have the opportunity to take advantage of it. Any questions or comments, please post them here.

ContinentalFan · Jul 10, 09, 12:09 pm

Great news; thanks Scott! Now we're one up on those Gold Elites.

quantumslip · Jul 10, 09, 12:12 pm

oh snap, now maybe i would have to MR to Platinum now!

bdraco · Jul 10, 09, 12:16 pm

I _think_ this is a good change. However I am usually on Bs so it might mean a few less upgraded segments.

Now if we could just get two more search options that only appear when logged in as GOLD/PLAT it would really save me quite a few calls when I am booking 4-5 segments.

Fare Type:
[ ] Lowest Available Fare - Most Restrictions
[*] Lowest Available Fare - W/Confirmed Instant Upgrade

[ ] Lowest Refundable Fare - Fewer Restrictions
[*] Lowest Refundable Fare - W/Confirmed Instant Upgrade

[ ] Full Fare - No Restrictions

[ ] Enter specific classes of service: (ex. Y, B, M)

SAT Lawyer · Jul 10, 09, 12:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by CO Insider

Hi Everyone, starting today, Jul. 10, 2009, we will be making some important changes to our Instant Elite Upgrade benefit. Here they are:

Good news for Platinum Elite members. Platinum members will now be eligible for instant upgrades when booking M class fares in eligible markets. This will be in addition to our Y and B class instant upgrades, which are currently offered to Elite members on flights that are eligible for complimentary Elite upgrades. Enjoy!

Having read this post, I went back and looked at a future reservation I had for IAH-SAT, which was booked in M, and I was able to upgrade myself on the spot.

buddlakecoflyer · Jul 10, 09, 12:22 pm

This is a positive change for us PEs.

Now, if you could get the boarding order for elite heavy flights where Plats can board first, instead of fighting the masses of GE and SE!

EWRFlyerAL · Jul 10, 09, 12:55 pm

Thanks! This is great news.

kingalien · Jul 10, 09, 1:10 pm

Me plat, me likey

njcommodore · Jul 10, 09, 1:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingalien

Me plat, me likey

+1

windwalker · Jul 10, 09, 1:24 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddlakecoflyer

This is a positive change for us PEs.

Now, if you could get the boarding order for elite heavy flights where Plats can board first, instead of fighting the masses of GE and SE!

yeeeeaaaaa whatever, buy a first ticket

Angeleno228 · Jul 10, 09, 1:31 pm

Although this is positive in general, the fact that B class now is instantly upgradeable based on availabilty rather than last seat available is kind of a step backward. Unless I misunderstood.

Edit: Oh I realized it is EasyPass inventory, so this is good!

Clincher · Jul 10, 09, 1:40 pm

Very nice!
Thanks for keeping us in the loop!

(Although for some reason I always end up buying L)

sbm12 · Jul 10, 09, 1:46 pm

Is there a list of the "eligible markets" and are they static or dynamic? I guess that we know from the above post that SAT-IAH is one that is included but it is certainly hard to know just how many really are. Assuming that the list isn't public (which I think is a reasonably safe assumption) can you provide any guidance as to relatively how many of the oodles of markets CO serves are included?

BlissWorld · Jul 10, 09, 1:46 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by CO Insider

[/b]B class instant upgrades and our new Platinum-only M class instant upgrades will be booked into AN class - the same fare class we use for our general EasyPass rewards. This will enable us to set some seats aside for our front cabin fare paying customers when demand is forecasted to be high. Instant Elite Upgrades for Y class will continue to be booked into CU class, which offers last-seat First Class availability.[/list][/indent]...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I though Easypass doesn't have any restriction either and if F is 1 its yours? Can someone explain?

fozz · Jul 10, 09, 1:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by CO Insider

[indent][list][*]Good news for Platinum Elite members. Platinum members will now be eligible for instant upgrades when booking M class fares in eligible markets. This will be in addition to our Y and B class instant upgrades, which are currently offered to Elite members on flights that are eligible for complimentary Elite upgrades. Enjoy!

This is awesome. Now, the question is, what are "eligible markets"?