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Consolidated "Can I Upgrade an Award Ticket?" Discussion Thread [Merged]

Consolidated "Can I Upgrade an Award Ticket?" Discussion Thread [Merged]

 
Old May 27, 2007, 2:58 pm
  #16  
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Thanks for all your comments. A lot of your answers make sense, but I'm still left confused when in certain situations, United prefers to leave the F cabin open rather than let someone upgrade off XY. For instance, a few months back I was on a short-haul flight BOS-ORD. The plane had 2 F seats filled and Y was fairly empty. Travelling on XY, I was not allowed to upgrade to F even though United had the seats, no one else wanted to upgrade, and they MAKE MONEY if I use my certs. That's the kind of situation,(i.e. where it seems like United would MAKE MONEY) and then refuses to upgrade that I don't understand.
uapremier is offline  
Old May 27, 2007, 3:21 pm
  #17  
 
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Originally Posted by uapremier
I know you can't upgrade off an XY ticket. As far as I know, its been a United rule for forever. WHY?
...pretty simple really: because XC/XF tickets exist if you want to travel in a higher cabin.

Originally Posted by uapremier
...Travelling on XY, I was not allowed to upgrade to F even though United had the seats, no one else wanted to upgrade, and they MAKE MONEY if I use my certs. That's the kind of situation,(i.e. where it seems like United would MAKE MONEY) and then refuses to upgrade that I don't understand.
...did you think of 'upgrading' your XY ticket to an XF ticket by using more miles? @:-)

UA is more likely to "make money" (to use your words) by having you use more miles (and reduce its liabilities) than by you using up some of your e-500s... and BTW, how do you figure that UA makes money when you use e-500s?

Originally Posted by jswong
NZ also allows upgrades on award tickets

Jeff
...is the 'currency' used for upgrades the same as for award tickets (airpoints)?

Originally Posted by gleff
XY is an upgrade... from UnitedCargo.
...inKrect... that would be NY, and only 1Ks can get it

Last edited by iluv2fly; May 27, 2007 at 3:47 pm Reason: merge
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Old May 29, 2007, 11:22 am
  #18  
 
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Apparently some GAs are still unfamiliar with the rule. I was called up to the counter and offered an op-up by a DEN GA yesterday, but he couldn't figure out how to get the computer to op-up an XY (you can't), so after getting my hopes up, he said sorry and moved to the next highest status pax. Annoying.

I figure there probably is a way he could have given me the upgrade if he'd really wanted to, but instead it was just a tease.
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Old Jul 10, 2007, 11:55 am
  #19  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Chicago USA
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CONFIRMED: UGS able to Upgrade on AWARD SEATS!

Received an e-mail about re-qualifying for UGS, and it had a little blurb at the end:

"as well as our new policy allowing you to upgrade from an award seat when calling Global Services."

I called UGS and asked them if this was the case and they said yes it was. I was able to upgrade from a Business Class award ticket to Hong Kong to First both ways using Systemwides. Did anyone know this?

UG
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Old Jul 10, 2007, 11:56 am
  #20  
 
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Any chance you could call back and get a profile code for that? Please?
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Old Jul 10, 2007, 12:00 pm
  #21  
 
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That's awesome! I wonder if they will expand this to other elites. I'm guessing on a DM list that XC and XY tickets will sort to the bottom of the list for each status level, although I'm assuming that Standard Award tickets would be at the top of the list since they book into C and Y...
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Old Jul 10, 2007, 12:32 pm
  #22  
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
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This (upgrading an award seat) sounds like a pretty fantastic new benefit. I've wanted exactly this functionality many times in the past -- sometimes just because of the upgrade versus award inventory distinction, but also at times when I want to fly a friend or family member in a premium cabin, but would prefer to spring for some combination of (miles + upgrade instrument) rather than miles alone.

Any clue from one of you UGSers about whether you can do this only for your *own* travel, or whether it applies to people using your miles (or upgrade instruments) as well?

I'd love to see them extend this to other MP tiers ...
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Old Jul 10, 2007, 12:34 pm
  #23  
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Originally Posted by John26
I wonder if they will expand this to other elites.
Even though I'm a 1K, I actually hope they don't. This seems like a great perk for GS folks, and we do need good differentiators among all the various levels.
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Old Jul 10, 2007, 12:55 pm
  #24  
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This is good thinking on UA's part. A new perk for UGS without devaluing other elite levels.
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Old Jul 10, 2007, 12:57 pm
  #25  
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Originally Posted by BenjaminNYC
This is good thinking on UA's part. A new perk for UGS without devaluing other elite levels.
Yes. ^ I like it.
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Old Jul 10, 2007, 12:59 pm
  #26  
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Big deal.

HKG Saver Award in C= 90K miles
HKG Saver Award in F= 120K miles

Why would anyone book award C then use 2 SWUs to upgrade to F?

2 SWU should be valued more than 30K miles, IMHO.
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Old Jul 10, 2007, 1:01 pm
  #27  
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Originally Posted by kb1992
Big deal.

HKG Saver Award in C= 90K miles
HKG Saver Award in F= 120K miles

Why would anyone book award C then use 2 SWUs to upgrade to F?

2 SWU should be valued more than 30K miles, IMHO.
What if you're flying on Feb 26 and have expiring SWUs?
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Old Jul 10, 2007, 1:04 pm
  #28  
 
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Originally Posted by kb1992
Big deal.

HKG Saver Award in C= 90K miles
HKG Saver Award in F= 120K miles

Why would anyone book award C then use 2 SWUs to upgrade to F?

2 SWU should be valued more than 30K miles, IMHO.
Couldn't you also upgrade domestic coach saver seats with CR-1s and e500s?
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Old Jul 10, 2007, 1:07 pm
  #29  
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Originally Posted by leech27
Couldn't you also upgrade domestic coach saver seats with CR-1s and e500s?
Yeah - that makes sense.
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Old Jul 10, 2007, 1:16 pm
  #30  
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Originally Posted by leech27
Couldn't you also upgrade domestic coach saver seats with CR-1s and e500s?
Also this could be a way to get a "split award" e.g. F one way, C the other. It wouldn't be a great deal but in some sectors might be an option if the member doesn't have enough miles to redeem a roundtrip F award. Especially in the case of standard awards. (Or C one way, Y the other etc.)
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