Worthless miles
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 10
Worthless miles
Why do we bother? Tried to book a flight and upgrade on United flights two months out. There were no 1st class seats booked; also NONE available for upgrade. I called and all a rep could tell me was that they were in it to make a profit.
#3
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
#5
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
You didn't mention what flight. With the exception (AA only?) of when an upgrade class is the exact same booking code (A in AA's case) as a discount-first class (on domestic 2-class planes), finding upgrades that will clear at the moment of booking can be very tough on any airline. Most people have to either "trust" or "risk" that they'll get miles upgrades if they go an upgrade waitlist. Often an airline will open upgrade availability only "momentarily", to the point that if you weren't waitlisted for the upgrade, you're not likely to ever see it.
Unfortunately, IIRC, United charges the co-pay (or requires booking higher-cost fares) for a miles upgrade at the time of booking, whether or not you end up getting upgraded. AA, by contrast, doesn't charge the co-pay unless/until your upgrade actually goes through, and allows upgrades from most any fare. So putting yourself on a miles+co-pay upgrade waitlist at AA is not quite as (financially) "dangerous" as doing it at UA (unless UA has recently changed their miles upgrade requirements and processing).
Unfortunately, IIRC, United charges the co-pay (or requires booking higher-cost fares) for a miles upgrade at the time of booking, whether or not you end up getting upgraded. AA, by contrast, doesn't charge the co-pay unless/until your upgrade actually goes through, and allows upgrades from most any fare. So putting yourself on a miles+co-pay upgrade waitlist at AA is not quite as (financially) "dangerous" as doing it at UA (unless UA has recently changed their miles upgrade requirements and processing).
#7
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,074
Lol, no first class seats 2 months out. I'm shocked.
#9
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Upper Left Corner of the Map
Programs: AS MVPG & Board Room, Marriott Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 2,203
OP must be new to the redemption game. But yep, the UA rep was right, they're in it to make a profit, though probably best not to toss that out to an angry customer.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,005
Because many of us have been doing this long enough to know that availability on one airline on one flight for a product very unlikely to be available at this point isn't enough to condemn the entire FF business process.
If I called now to get a room in PHX for Super Bowl weekend, I wouldn't write off the entire concept of hotels as a sham.
If I called now to get a room in PHX for Super Bowl weekend, I wouldn't write off the entire concept of hotels as a sham.
#11
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Sacramento, CA, US
Posts: 2,229
Good FF Results for 2015
I have booked three roundtrips on United using miles for later in 2015. One trip was booked 337 days in advance of travel, while the others 9 to 10 months in advance.
While I didn't always receive my first choice of departures, the available choices were adequate for our needs.
Similarly, I also booked three roundtrips on Southwest, admittedly an easier task, and one on Alaska.
Fairly good results.
While I didn't always receive my first choice of departures, the available choices were adequate for our needs.
Similarly, I also booked three roundtrips on Southwest, admittedly an easier task, and one on Alaska.
Fairly good results.
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Good that you could find F availability on WN. I never can.
#14
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,284
UA has gotten really bad over the past 12-18 months with tightening up award availability. I seldom see saver awards on the routes I want except at undesirable times of the day, even months in advance. AA award availability has been significantly better every time. Hope US doesn't destroy that....