Elite Instant Upgrade Program Changes Eff. Jul. 10, 2009
Jul 10, 2009, 12:05 pm
#1
Company Representative, United Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chicago, Houston, or somewhere in between
Posts: 2,176
Elite Instant Upgrade Program Changes Eff. Jul. 10, 2009
Hi Everyone, starting today, Jul. 10, 2009, we will be making some important changes to our Instant Elite Upgrade benefit. Here they are:
Were pleased to continue offering our Instant Elite Upgrade benefit, and hope youll have the opportunity to take advantage of it. Any questions or comments, please post them here.
- 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.
Jul 10, 2009, 12:09 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,792
Great news; thanks Scott! Now we're one up on those Gold Elites.
Jul 10, 2009, 12:12 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 599
oh snap, now maybe i would have to MR to Platinum now!
Jul 10, 2009, 12:16 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Houston (IAH,HOU) / Kāʻanapali (JHM,OGG)
Programs: UA GS 2MM, AA P 2MM, DL PM, US P, VS G, SPG LT P, HH D, HYATT P, PC P, AVIS PC, HERTZ PLAT
Posts: 970
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)
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)
Jul 10, 2009, 12:20 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Programs: UA Platinum MM; DL Silver; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Hilton Gold; Marriott Gold
Posts: 24,248
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!
Jul 10, 2009, 12:22 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Near Houston
Programs: United GS, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 152
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!
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!
Jul 10, 2009, 12:55 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, DL Diamond, NK Gold, Mariott LT Plat/Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 925
Thanks! This is great news.
Jul 10, 2009, 1:10 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Grazie Gold Lounge
Programs: UA-2MM; GalacticXpress-Irridium
Posts: 10,332
Me plat, me likey 
Jul 10, 2009, 1:14 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Rewards - LTPP
Posts: 4,240
Jul 10, 2009, 1:24 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: A Capital City on The East Coast
Programs: CO-Dirt,SPG-Nothing,Marriott-Gold, Hilton-Blue, Hyatt-Plat, HI-Plat
Posts: 6,872
Jul 10, 2009, 1:31 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: LAX/BUR
Posts: 2,012
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! ^
Edit: Oh I realized it is EasyPass inventory, so this is good! ^
Last edited by Angeleno228; Jul 10, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Jul 10, 2009, 1:40 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NY
Programs: The local deli gives me 1 free sandwich after I buy 10
Posts: 4,026
Very nice!
Thanks for keeping us in the loop!
(Although for some reason I always end up buying L)
Thanks for keeping us in the loop!
(Although for some reason I always end up buying L)
Jul 10, 2009, 1:46 pm
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
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?
Jul 10, 2009, 1:46 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Los Angeles & Orange County, CA
Programs: Wouldn't you like to know?!
Posts: 23,822
[/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]...
Jul 10, 2009, 1:49 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: EWR and SAN
Programs: PWP Direktor of Homeland, CO Plat* 1MM,UA 1K,BD Gold,DL Gold,SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 7,551
[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!