My United Upgrade Instruments (SWU/CR-1) Are Going to Expire - What Are my Options?
Oct 26, 2010, 9:21 am
#46
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I have used none of the 14 SWUs I earned last year. I have offered them for free to family, friends, coworkers and have given away 4 for free on CC so far this year rather than see them expire; one as recent as this morning. I have had absolutely no paid international travel this year.
There's a certain amount of joy I get from giving them away.
There's a certain amount of joy I get from giving them away.
Oct 26, 2010, 12:55 pm
#47
In Memoriam
Join Date: Sep 2002
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swu
That was very kind of you goalie. Nicely done.
Oct 26, 2010, 1:27 pm
#48
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: GEG
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I just sponsored a colleague here in the office, I ended the year with two extra.
What is frustrating is the online system only works occassionally, it seems to me. When it works online, its all well and good, clean and efficent and your done with it. But when I had to call it in to the 1K desk because .bomb would not accept the SWU, the 1K desk processed it fine then told me I had to go to the airport and sign a release before my buddy could fly.
That's not a big deal since I travel a lot and can do that before he departs.
However, it's a really asymetric process; if it works online, painless, if not, drive to the airport and sign a form? Huh?
Does anyone know why they do this? It seems really silly...
What is frustrating is the online system only works occassionally, it seems to me. When it works online, its all well and good, clean and efficent and your done with it. But when I had to call it in to the 1K desk because .bomb would not accept the SWU, the 1K desk processed it fine then told me I had to go to the airport and sign a release before my buddy could fly.
That's not a big deal since I travel a lot and can do that before he departs.
However, it's a really asymetric process; if it works online, painless, if not, drive to the airport and sign a form? Huh?
Does anyone know why they do this? It seems really silly...
Oct 26, 2010, 1:31 pm
#49
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Either way, I'd take it because I'm more likely to want to use 2 CR1s for a r/t to HNL than 1 SWU before the end of Dec.
Last edited by DullesJason; Oct 26, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Oct 26, 2010, 1:35 pm
#50
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The go to the airport, sign a form, show ID routine is simply a carryover from the days when UA was protecting OUR interests against someone getting nothing more than our MP number/name and calling in to use OUR certificates to sponsor THEIR flight upgrades. Why they haven't fixed it yet is a question for a different person!
Dave
Oct 26, 2010, 1:41 pm
#51
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Oct 26, 2010, 1:54 pm
#52
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Don't let all the "be careful" talk about gifting or trading them concern you too much. There are a few anecdotes floating around about people being questioned about the source of their SWUs, but the group that I work in have traded/gifted many dozens of upgrades and it has never been an issue of any kind. ....
But the use of e-bay/craig's list / ... and dealing with novices can be very disastrous. All you need is a traveller complaint to an agent " I paid $XXX and expected an upgrade!!" or other clueless statements. Numerous threads have reported the consequences.
So being careful & informed on how you do this is important. But that does not mean it can not be done right (or wrong).
Oct 26, 2010, 9:55 pm
#53
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Oct 26, 2010, 11:51 pm
#54
Join Date: Dec 2009
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I have sponsored 4 SWUs through .bomb. - absolutely painless to do.
One of them cleared immediately - the rest waitlisted. I also had 2 certs printed for use for a friend on Star Alliance partners - will find out how that went next week (this unfortunately means he will not know until he's at the gate). It is the joy in having someone who was prepared to bear 10-12 hours in coach get to biz class and tell me how they liked it that makes it worth it to give them away.... However, should my friends also come to my house with a premium bottle of tequila I would not turn it down.
One of them cleared immediately - the rest waitlisted. I also had 2 certs printed for use for a friend on Star Alliance partners - will find out how that went next week (this unfortunately means he will not know until he's at the gate). It is the joy in having someone who was prepared to bear 10-12 hours in coach get to biz class and tell me how they liked it that makes it worth it to give them away.... However, should my friends also come to my house with a premium bottle of tequila I would not turn it down.
Oct 27, 2010, 10:34 am
#55
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For Jan/Feb '11 expiring SWUs - if you have them converted to paper ones to use on LH flights, does that extend their expiration date?
Oct 27, 2010, 10:45 am
#56
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Thank you and I am a firm believer in karma and "what goes around, comes around" so why not make someone happy and besides, having something of value simply expire and go poof when you had the chance to use it either for yourself or giving it so someone else so they can enjoy it, would be imho, a shanda*
*That's "a sin" for those of you who don't speak tribe
.
and I am a firm believer in karma and "what goes around, comes around" so why not make someone happy and besides, having something of value simply expire and go poof when you had the chance to use it either for yourself or giving it so someone else so they can enjoy it, would be imho, a shanda**That's "a sin" for those of you who don't speak tribe
.
Oct 27, 2010, 11:06 am
#57
In memoriam
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what goes around, comes around
Oct 27, 2010, 11:22 am
#58
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Oct 27, 2010, 11:34 am
#59
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Oct 27, 2010, 12:15 pm
#60
Join Date: Dec 2009
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What is "CC"??
What does "CC" mean? In reference to above lines like, "I used CC to gift my SWUs"