Mar 20, 2017, 5:47 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
"GG BUYUP" references to a policy (not publicly published) that UA will waive change fees, if on your presently booked flight you wish to buy-up / upfare to the next cabin. That is, pay the fare difference from your present economy fare to business / first.
If the agent is unfamiliar with the policy, ask them to reference "GG BUYUP" or ask a supervisor.
Note this is only on UA tickets and only applies to the same flight, flight changes are not permitted by policy (a rare agent might but generally no).
This does not waive change fees for buying-up to a "W" fare to apply a GPU but some agents may still waive the change fee and some may not.
If the agent is unfamiliar with the policy, ask them to reference "GG BUYUP" or ask a supervisor.
Note this is only on UA tickets and only applies to the same flight, flight changes are not permitted by policy (a rare agent might but generally no).
This does not waive change fees for buying-up to a "W" fare to apply a GPU but some agents may still waive the change fee and some may not.
Buy up to higher fare class w/o change fee? {GG BUYUP}
Apr 7, 2015, 10:00 am
#136
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It does, I've done it recently - the OP needs to HUCA until they get someone who knows what they are doing. Often it requires specific phrasing for the agent to fully understand with an emphasis on same flight, same date, same route and referencing the information on SHARES.
Apr 7, 2015, 10:38 am
#137
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Apr 7, 2015, 5:00 pm
#138
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I have done this several times recently over the phone and none of the agents even attempted to charge me change fee
It does, I've done it recently - the OP needs to HUCA until they get someone who knows what they are doing. Often it requires specific phrasing for the agent to fully understand with an emphasis on same flight, same date, same route and referencing the information on SHARES.
Apr 7, 2015, 6:49 pm
#140
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Wish I'd known about this when I paid twice to upfare TATL Ws to P. I had good pmUA agents, too.
Apr 8, 2015, 6:33 am
#142
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As I mentioned upthread, GG BUYUP is a pmCO feature. There are still many UA agents who don't know all the pmCO nuances (and I don't hold that against them, by the way), so it's important in cases like this to find out if you are in fact dealing with a pmUA agent; at that point, either HUCA or mention to the agent that it's a pmCO thing...the good ones will investigate further.
Apr 10, 2015, 10:49 am
#143
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I have a somewhat convoluted scenario that I'm hoping GG BUYUP might be able to help with. Would love feedback/ideas!
Flying MSY-EWR on an H fare. I would like to change to fly MSY-LAS-EWR (with an overnight at LAS). Online I'm quoted the $200 change fee, plus any fare differences. Is there any way to successfully invoke GG BUYUP here? Can I buy up into a higher, changeable fare class on MSY-EWR and then subsequently make the desired change sans fee? Or can I somehow argue that I'll be spending more on the ticket by adding the extra segments through LAS and get the change fee waived? Perhaps if I buy up on the extra/new segments?
Thanks in advance!
Flying MSY-EWR on an H fare. I would like to change to fly MSY-LAS-EWR (with an overnight at LAS). Online I'm quoted the $200 change fee, plus any fare differences. Is there any way to successfully invoke GG BUYUP here? Can I buy up into a higher, changeable fare class on MSY-EWR and then subsequently make the desired change sans fee? Or can I somehow argue that I'll be spending more on the ticket by adding the extra segments through LAS and get the change fee waived? Perhaps if I buy up on the extra/new segments?
Thanks in advance!
Apr 10, 2015, 2:05 pm
#144
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I have a somewhat convoluted scenario that I'm hoping GG BUYUP might be able to help with. Would love feedback/ideas!
Flying MSY-EWR on an H fare. I would like to change to fly MSY-LAS-EWR (with an overnight at LAS). Online I'm quoted the $200 change fee, plus any fare differences. Is there any way to successfully invoke GG BUYUP here? Can I buy up into a higher, changeable fare class on MSY-EWR and then subsequently make the desired change sans fee? Or can I somehow argue that I'll be spending more on the ticket by adding the extra segments through LAS and get the change fee waived? Perhaps if I buy up on the extra/new segments?
Thanks in advance!
Flying MSY-EWR on an H fare. I would like to change to fly MSY-LAS-EWR (with an overnight at LAS). Online I'm quoted the $200 change fee, plus any fare differences. Is there any way to successfully invoke GG BUYUP here? Can I buy up into a higher, changeable fare class on MSY-EWR and then subsequently make the desired change sans fee? Or can I somehow argue that I'll be spending more on the ticket by adding the extra segments through LAS and get the change fee waived? Perhaps if I buy up on the extra/new segments?
Thanks in advance!
If you wanted to make this type of change, it needs to be done within 24h of ticket purchase to avoid the change fee.
Apr 10, 2015, 2:26 pm
#145
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I actually just answered my own question, sort of. Called up and first agent I spoke to offered to waive the change fee if I buy up into F on the new MSY-LAS-EWR segments.
I did mention "GG BUYUP" by name, but the agent also said she was sUA when I asked and didn't directly acknowledge the GG spec or anything.
Not sure what this case falls under! Anyway, have to weigh up whether I want to go ahead with this, but good to know it might be possible. (What are the odds I get a similarly helpful agent should I call back...)
I did mention "GG BUYUP" by name, but the agent also said she was sUA when I asked and didn't directly acknowledge the GG spec or anything.
Not sure what this case falls under! Anyway, have to weigh up whether I want to go ahead with this, but good to know it might be possible. (What are the odds I get a similarly helpful agent should I call back...)
Apr 10, 2015, 4:23 pm
#146
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I actually just answered my own question, sort of. Called up and first agent I spoke to offered to waive the change fee if I buy up into F on the new MSY-LAS-EWR segments.
I did mention "GG BUYUP" by name, but the agent also said she was sUA when I asked and didn't directly acknowledge the GG spec or anything.
Not sure what this case falls under! Anyway, have to weigh up whether I want to go ahead with this, but good to know it might be possible. (What are the odds I get a similarly helpful agent should I call back...)
I did mention "GG BUYUP" by name, but the agent also said she was sUA when I asked and didn't directly acknowledge the GG spec or anything.
Not sure what this case falls under! Anyway, have to weigh up whether I want to go ahead with this, but good to know it might be possible. (What are the odds I get a similarly helpful agent should I call back...)
Apr 11, 2015, 9:06 am
#148
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An epilogue: I called up again today and requested the same thing; this time the agent passed me on to a supervisor who said that GG BUYUP would not apply here because I'm not buying up on the exact same flight. After a bit of polite back and forth and me saying things about not gaming the system and more revenue for them if I do this, regardless of rerouting, she said she'd waive the fee this time. So I went ahead and did it.
Hopefully this is helpful for others in similar situations! I think it's just a matter of making your case.
Hopefully this is helpful for others in similar situations! I think it's just a matter of making your case.
Jul 6, 2015, 11:24 pm
#149
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Change fee waived on LHR-SFO
A friend bought an S class coach ticket LHR-SFO a couple weeks ago. I had a GPU to give for an upgrade for him and so tonight I called and the agent, without asking, said the change fee would be waived and just charged the fare difference to go from a S fare to a W fare -- $34. I'm a 1k and my friend for whom I was sponsoring the GPU is a general member. Not sure if this was just a courtesy because I'm a 1k or this is the standard for upgrading an international coach fare, but just wanted to add this data point. Phone agent (US based I surmised from her accent) was really courteous and very personable!
Jul 7, 2015, 10:02 am
#150
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 553
Earlier this year, a friend gave me a GPU to use. I had to change my fare to W, and when I called (as gold), I explained I wanted to change the fare so that I could use the GPU. She knew about the policy and explained they don't charge a fee to do that, and she changed my fare and just charged me the difference. So it seems like they will do that for anyone, not just 1Ks.