Swiss Business Class Upgrade for United 1K
Jul 28, 2015, 3:27 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: United MileagePlus, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 21
Swiss Business Class Upgrade for United 1K
I'm not sure if this thread belongs here or at the United forum, but I had to make a pick...
Last week I flew IAD-FCO-ZRH-TLV (IAD-FCO on United and the rest on Swiss). I've used a United GPU to upgrade my IAD-FCO leg, flew Y on FCO-ZRH, and much to my surprise I was moved up to C on the ZRH-TLV leg.
I'm trying to understand the logic beyond my upgrade, and perhaps be able to reproduce it in future
. To the best of my knowledge, using a GPU on a United leg doesn't get you upgraded on the next leg if it's not on a United metal.
I actually asked the ZRH transfer desk why I was upgraded and they told me it was because Y was overbooked, but if that was the case, why didn't they upgrade one of their own? I'm quite sure they had at least one M&M Frequent Flyer or above seating in coach. I know United would upgrade a MillagePlus Silver domestically over any M&M Senator. Any ideas?
If it makes a difference, it was a United issued ticket with LX flight numbers for the LX legs (no codeshare).
Thanks,
Lior
Last week I flew IAD-FCO-ZRH-TLV (IAD-FCO on United and the rest on Swiss). I've used a United GPU to upgrade my IAD-FCO leg, flew Y on FCO-ZRH, and much to my surprise I was moved up to C on the ZRH-TLV leg.
I'm trying to understand the logic beyond my upgrade, and perhaps be able to reproduce it in future
. To the best of my knowledge, using a GPU on a United leg doesn't get you upgraded on the next leg if it's not on a United metal.I actually asked the ZRH transfer desk why I was upgraded and they told me it was because Y was overbooked, but if that was the case, why didn't they upgrade one of their own? I'm quite sure they had at least one M&M Frequent Flyer or above seating in coach. I know United would upgrade a MillagePlus Silver domestically over any M&M Senator. Any ideas?
If it makes a difference, it was a United issued ticket with LX flight numbers for the LX legs (no codeshare).
Thanks,
Lior
Jul 28, 2015, 8:40 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
The GPU has nothing to do with it. You got lucky.
LX uses a priority list for operational upgrades, when required:
M&M HON > M&M SEN > Star Gold (like your UA 1k) > M&M FTL > Star Silver
And if they only need to upgrade 1 pax and you are travelling alone whereas, say, a SEN is in a party of 2, you go first.
LX uses a priority list for operational upgrades, when required:
M&M HON > M&M SEN > Star Gold (like your UA 1k) > M&M FTL > Star Silver
And if they only need to upgrade 1 pax and you are travelling alone whereas, say, a SEN is in a party of 2, you go first.
Jul 29, 2015, 12:38 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: United MileagePlus, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 21
The GPU has nothing to do with it. You got lucky.
LX uses a priority list for operational upgrades, when required:
M&M HON > M&M SEN > Star Gold (like your UA 1k) > M&M FTL > Star Silver
And if they only need to upgrade 1 pax and you are travelling alone whereas, say, a SEN is in a party of 2, you go first.
LX uses a priority list for operational upgrades, when required:
M&M HON > M&M SEN > Star Gold (like your UA 1k) > M&M FTL > Star Silver
And if they only need to upgrade 1 pax and you are travelling alone whereas, say, a SEN is in a party of 2, you go first.
Jul 29, 2015, 1:17 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,976
One time they did it to accommodate a family with small children and needed my seat. I gave it up with a smile and told the GA I take whatever seat is there but if possible not a middle seat. Was moved to 2A.
Some other times I guess there were a couple of no-shows (perhaps inbound plane got delayed even further than predicted) but they already sorted out
the upgrades
Also upgrading purely on status is a LX thing, OS and LH upgrade based on the booking class...
Jul 29, 2015, 5:19 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
Yes. Welcome to Europe. Unlike US carriers, all European carriers fill their planes "back to front", i.e. there are no complimentary upgrades for anyone unless operational reasons require it. If you want to sit in a premium cabin, there are numerous ways to pay for it with $ or miles, but unlike in the US, there is no free upgrading of FFP status members.
Aug 1, 2015, 3:59 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: ZRH & SYD
Programs: M&M FTL, SPG Platinum
Posts: 4
I actually asked the ZRH transfer desk why I was upgraded and they told me it was because Y was overbooked, but if that was the case, why didn't they upgrade one of their own? I'm quite sure they had at least one M&M Frequent Flyer or above seating in coach. I know United would upgrade a MillagePlus Silver domestically over any M&M Senator. Any ideas?
To shed some light on this LX has a very specific Upgrade-Priority:
> own Gold
> *Gold (UA 1K in your case)
> own Silver
> *Silver
On some routes we just can't find any HONs or SENs, so like in your case you got lucky to get the upgrade as *Gold. There are quite a few routes that aren't frequented very often by a lot of high status members, so the chances get higher if you fly on those routes. Sometimes TLV is one of them, but usually routes to PEK, PVG, NRT, YUL, BOS or JNB are some of those long haul routes with a low density of HONs and SENs, especially regarding upgrades from Y to C!
Source: I work at ZRH at the gates myself and shell out the upgrades
Hope I could help you a bit.
Cheers
Last edited by flySWISSdude; Aug 4, 2015 at 11:00 am
Aug 2, 2015, 1:02 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: LX SEN
Posts: 313
Hey lishorsh,
To shed some light on this LX has a very specific Upgrade-Priority:
> HONs&VIPs
> SENs&CIPs
> *Gold (UA 1K in your case)
> M&M FTL
> *Silver
> Staff on ID travel
Source: I work at ZRH at the gates myself and shell out the upgrades
Hope I could help you a bit.
Cheers
To shed some light on this LX has a very specific Upgrade-Priority:
> HONs&VIPs
> SENs&CIPs
> *Gold (UA 1K in your case)
> M&M FTL
> *Silver
> Staff on ID travel
Source: I work at ZRH at the gates myself and shell out the upgrades
Hope I could help you a bit.
Cheers
Aug 2, 2015, 6:36 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: my heart is on the shores of the north Italian lakes
Programs: LX Senator Lifetime, Relais&Chateaux Club5C, ex ! "Amanjunkie", ex LHW LC, hate chain hotels
Posts: 2,515
Aug 2, 2015, 8:39 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
Aug 2, 2015, 10:12 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
Aug 3, 2015, 3:27 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: ZRH & SYD
Programs: M&M FTL, SPG Platinum
Posts: 4
But in case of an upgrade we check a lot more than just Status to find out if you're qualified for an upgrade.
Last edited by flySWISSdude; Aug 4, 2015 at 11:01 am
Aug 3, 2015, 3:36 am
#12
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Slightly to the left of center
Posts: 3,475
Hey lishorsh,
To shed some light on this LX has a very specific Upgrade-Priority:
> HONs&VIPs
> SENs&CIPs
> *Gold (UA 1K in your case)
> M&M FTL
> *Silver
> Staff on ID travel
On some routes we just can't find any HONs or SENs, so like in your case you got lucky to get the upgrade as *Gold. There are quite a few routes that aren't frequented very often by a lot of high status members, so the chances get higher if you fly on those routes. Sometimes TLV is one of them, but usually routes to PEK, PVG, NRT, YUL, BOS or JNB are some of those long haul routes with a low density of HONs and SENs, especially regarding upgrades from Y to C!
Source: I work at ZRH at the gates myself and shell out the upgrades
Hope I could help you a bit.
Cheers
To shed some light on this LX has a very specific Upgrade-Priority:
> HONs&VIPs
> SENs&CIPs
> *Gold (UA 1K in your case)
> M&M FTL
> *Silver
> Staff on ID travel
On some routes we just can't find any HONs or SENs, so like in your case you got lucky to get the upgrade as *Gold. There are quite a few routes that aren't frequented very often by a lot of high status members, so the chances get higher if you fly on those routes. Sometimes TLV is one of them, but usually routes to PEK, PVG, NRT, YUL, BOS or JNB are some of those long haul routes with a low density of HONs and SENs, especially regarding upgrades from Y to C!
Source: I work at ZRH at the gates myself and shell out the upgrades
Hope I could help you a bit.
Cheers
Aug 3, 2015, 4:24 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: LX SEN
Posts: 313
As above stated you are not allowed to put your FFP into your booking when travelling on ID tickets. No status benefits granted at all.
Of course you might be lucky to get access to the lounge, but it's against the rules and up to the lounge staff's discretion.
But in case of an upgrade we check: Status, booking class (no upgrades for mileage tickets, ID tickets, those who paid more for the ticket get preferred for upgrades, sometimes we even just upgrade 724 tickets ahead of 220 or OAL). We also check for special meal orders and won't upgrade anyone with a special meal order, at least not from C -> F.
And if you're flying in a party with someone without status or lower status, chances are high we skip you.
Of course you might be lucky to get access to the lounge, but it's against the rules and up to the lounge staff's discretion.
But in case of an upgrade we check: Status, booking class (no upgrades for mileage tickets, ID tickets, those who paid more for the ticket get preferred for upgrades, sometimes we even just upgrade 724 tickets ahead of 220 or OAL). We also check for special meal orders and won't upgrade anyone with a special meal order, at least not from C -> F.
And if you're flying in a party with someone without status or lower status, chances are high we skip you.
Aug 8, 2015, 2:13 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: United MileagePlus, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 21
Hey lishorsh,
To shed some light on this LX has a very specific Upgrade-Priority:
> own Gold
> *Gold (UA 1K in your case)
> own Silver
> *Silver
On some routes we just can't find any HONs or SENs, so like in your case you got lucky to get the upgrade as *Gold. There are quite a few routes that aren't frequented very often by a lot of high status members, so the chances get higher if you fly on those routes. Sometimes TLV is one of them, but usually routes to PEK, PVG, NRT, YUL, BOS or JNB are some of those long haul routes with a low density of HONs and SENs, especially regarding upgrades from Y to C!
Source: I work at ZRH at the gates myself and shell out the upgrades
Hope I could help you a bit.
Cheers
To shed some light on this LX has a very specific Upgrade-Priority:
> own Gold
> *Gold (UA 1K in your case)
> own Silver
> *Silver
On some routes we just can't find any HONs or SENs, so like in your case you got lucky to get the upgrade as *Gold. There are quite a few routes that aren't frequented very often by a lot of high status members, so the chances get higher if you fly on those routes. Sometimes TLV is one of them, but usually routes to PEK, PVG, NRT, YUL, BOS or JNB are some of those long haul routes with a low density of HONs and SENs, especially regarding upgrades from Y to C!
Source: I work at ZRH at the gates myself and shell out the upgrades
Hope I could help you a bit.
Cheers
It will definitely be a consideration for planning my next BOS trip. Honestly I'm very pleased when flying Swiss, partly because it's the only airline (I know of) using wide body aircraft from TLV to Europe. The main downside I see when flying Swiss is that it charges for advanced seat assignments even for rather expensive economy fare classes, even unlike it's sister Lufthansa.