Any science to UA's paid upgrade offers?
Jan 24, 2013, 11:29 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LAX
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Any science to UA's paid upgrade offers?
Is there any science or logic to the paid upgrade offers when booking an economy fare on UA.com? I'm guessing not.
Have to book a coach leg from LAX to JFK in November (on a Weds. morning) and both the 6 AM and 8:30 AM are wide open in C.
I've gotten the offer to upgrade a few times on these same PS flights before (at booking) -- but as far as I can tell there's no rhyme or reason to their offering.
A bit of background: could book directly in C, but it's always a much better/cheaper option than booking directly in C. And don't mind if I have to fly that leg in coach as I'm connecting to an SQ flight in C from JFK onwards to SIN.
Have to book a coach leg from LAX to JFK in November (on a Weds. morning) and both the 6 AM and 8:30 AM are wide open in C.
I've gotten the offer to upgrade a few times on these same PS flights before (at booking) -- but as far as I can tell there's no rhyme or reason to their offering.
A bit of background: could book directly in C, but it's always a much better/cheaper option than booking directly in C. And don't mind if I have to fly that leg in coach as I'm connecting to an SQ flight in C from JFK onwards to SIN.
Jan 24, 2013, 11:40 pm
#2
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Is there any science or logic to the paid upgrade offers when booking an economy fare on UA.com? I'm guessing not.
Have to book a coach leg from LAX to JFK in November (on a Weds. morning) and both the 6 AM and 8:30 AM are wide open in C.
I've gotten the offer to upgrade a few times on these same PS flights before (at booking) -- but as far as I can tell there's no rhyme or reason to their offering.
A bit of background: could book directly in C, but it's always a much better/cheaper option than booking directly in C. And don't mind if I have to fly that leg in coach as I'm connecting to an SQ flight in C from JFK onwards to SIN.
Have to book a coach leg from LAX to JFK in November (on a Weds. morning) and both the 6 AM and 8:30 AM are wide open in C.
I've gotten the offer to upgrade a few times on these same PS flights before (at booking) -- but as far as I can tell there's no rhyme or reason to their offering.
A bit of background: could book directly in C, but it's always a much better/cheaper option than booking directly in C. And don't mind if I have to fly that leg in coach as I'm connecting to an SQ flight in C from JFK onwards to SIN.
To answer your original question: no.
Jan 24, 2013, 11:52 pm
#3
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Premier Platinum, AA Exec Platinum, TG ROP, WOH Platinum, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 265
Thanks.
Well that sort of defies logic. But, then again, with all of UA's changes that are directed less and less towards their most loyal customers, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
Well that sort of defies logic. But, then again, with all of UA's changes that are directed less and less towards their most loyal customers, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
Jan 25, 2013, 2:12 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2010
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Sounds like you don't want to spend too much for an upgrade, but if you've got the miles to burn, waitlisting 10 months out is probably a decent bet. When I was a premier exec in 2010 I cleared several p.s. upgrades with miles, and never failed to clear when I tried. (Of course a lot has changed between then and 10 months from now, both in the system and the p.s. plane configuration)
Jan 25, 2013, 4:15 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2005
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There is explicit language in the upgrade offer that says something like the price offered is determined by the highest status on the reservation. Logic would say this was meant as an assurance to status pax that the higher the status the better the price. If all systems were working correctly this might be the case. But they aren't working properly and United has not made upgrade transparency a priority. They are enjoying strong growth in paid upgrades along with lagging overall performance compared to competitors.
Jan 25, 2013, 5:11 am
#7
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Jan 25, 2013, 5:45 am
#9
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