LarkSFO

But then there is the other side of this coin, which I think we are starting to see from all airlines:

What other options does the flying public have?

How much can airlines reduce elite benefits without seeing a significant drop in loyalty?

How do we make a consistent profit?

This is really off topic for this upsell thread though - there are a lot of other threads that contemplate these questions in much greater depth...

5khours

The advance cash upsells all seem to be for F so the only 1Ks losing out on their SWUS are potentially those who booked in C or J. I'd be really surprised to hear of an actual case where a 1K failed trying to use an SWU to get into F so as far as I am concerned this is a good deal all around. You can use SWU to UG into C or now you have the extra option (sometimes) of an UG into F for cash. Seems like everyone including UA are winners.

Also some more data. Yesterday booked a flight for my wife RT NRT-ORD (combinatination W and S). Got offered the cash UG to F on the NRT-ORD portion only which I took. Wife then decided she didn't like the return date. Called 1K in the US. They were very helpful. Knew all about the Y>F upgrades. Without asking immediately cancelled the NC request and returned the miles. Tried to change the reservation so I could keep the UG on the outbound. US fare desk wouldn't allow so she offered to contact web support, but there was a long request so I rang off. Called Japan reservations. They were not particularly helpful but did tell me that they had changed the fare rules on W so that no changes were allowed. No choice but to cancel (still within the 24 hour window) and start over. No offer for upgrades. Logged out, logged in, still offer for UGs. Logged out, logged in again, got offers both outbound and inbound. Took both. Happy ending.

As an aside the Japan phone agent told me that the rules for W changed on April 1 so no changes are allowed (before they were allowed). Done at the demand of the Japanese government who wouldn't approved the fares unless they were more restrictive. Makes sense, tsunami disaster so travelers needs some flexibility. Air travel is way down so the airlines need to attract passengers. So of course the Japanese government makes the fares more restrictive. No wonder the Japan economy has been going down the tubes for the last 20 years.

UA-NYC

I failed C->F on PVG-SFO last September, and will most likely fail C->F ORD-GRU this weekend.

I've seen postings of even GS' failing on SWU upgrades to F too, my cases aren't really that unique.

Darby

This plane has left the hangar. It's been clear for quite some time that the CO guys do not value high level elites. Everyone should plan accordingly. SWU's are going to get increasingly hard to use and 1k status will differ little from 2p.

5khours

Let us know what happens on ORD>GRU. Good luck.

Lost Cause

Been reading this thread with great interest:

I am a 1K that purchased two RT W fare tickets (HSV-BKK) on 04 June for travel on 6/19 July at $2250 per ticket. After purchase I requested SWU from W to NC on all legs using 4 SWU.

Outbound routing: HSV-IAD-NRT-BKK cleared the NRT/BKK leg to NC within 24 hours of my request. And at the same time I was offered to purchase a return leg upsell (NRT-ORD), W > A, at $999 each but I declined.

Segue to today and none of my other waitlisted legs have cleared; so I broke down and purchased the return leg upsell to A (it reflects A on my .bomb reservation). And as soon as I closed out of .bomb and logged back on I was offered the opportunity to purchase the upsell on my outbound leg from IAD-NRT at $999 each.

I don't know what to think about the glitch theory; seems more revenue driven to me. Now I am wondering what my chances really were for getting the SWU upgrade from NRT-ORD and whether or not I should hold out and hope for the best on my SWU request from IAD-NRT; or to break down again and pay for the upsell.

Any thoughts?

5khours

Definitely not a glitch. The 1K desk in the U.S. and Japan understand and process these things very routinely now. I've bought about a half dozen so far.

If I had a big SWU balance and got the SWU cleared at purchase, I might not buy the paid UG to F, but otherwise I would almost always go for the paid Y>F UG over the SWU. If it was just seat comfort, I probably wouldn't shell out the money, but together with the faster security, IFL access, less crammed feeling on the plane, somewhat better food, and the extra RDM/EQM, I think the paid UG to F is a reasonable deal.

The Japan flights are pretty open these days so you have a good chance clearing on the SWU especially if you are mid-week and 1k. The only other consideration is whether you are on an old 777 with the recliners in C, in which case the UG to F is an easier choice.

UA-NYC

Thanks - down to F2 (from F7 a month ago) on a 10 seat XP, but if it's a 77Q (as has shown past 4 days), that really means F0 so likely no UG. But a new config C seat will ease the pain a bit

NYCSINUA

interesting new data point. an Y->F upgrade from W posted today. Booked into A, but mileage posted was consistent with a C ticket i.e. 1.25 RDM & 1.5 EQM. Check-in agents were confused, asked questions, and I think even printed extra copies of my BP. Cause for concern?

JetAway

Some GAs don't appear to be "with the program" yet. You'll be fine.

SFO777

Unless your trip involves an IAD departure.

JetAway

Any more info as to how that "incident" was finally resolved?

jonman21

This is the best explanation I've seen of PCU vs UFC.

A year ago I was at the SFO check-in counter to check in to a flight to SYD with no NC space available - I asked for an opportunity to purchase a PCU and the agent said no cash upgrade option was available. I pushed a bit harder and said that there should be an option for me to purchase a Premium Cabin Upsell and she ended up calling a supervisor and the supervisor was able to get me into Business Class Pushing hard is great advice for getting a PCU.

bseller

Just an added datapoint:

Booked on ORD-SIN for late January. All legs with exception of NRT-SIN previously cleared to NC via SWU.

Details for NRT-SIN are XF0, NF3, XC0, NC0. Offered upsell on NRT-SIN from W to F (A fare) for $400+.

Since it's a short trip and the sleep on a 7 hour flight will make it better, I decide to go for it.
Once completed, I called 1K desk and asked them to remove the NC waitlist for that leg. Agent said no problem.

Log out of .bomb, log back in, everything is perfect.

Dave

hjmanasa

Wow this is a great use of $400 in my opinion. A 3 class F experience for 7 hours for that amount I would do it every time. I hope to run into this situation in the near future and instead of looking for NC space as having something other than zero, we now are looking for NC0 and NF1 correct?