Originally Posted by
avidflyer
I was a 1K on UA for 5 years and can tell you that unless you have a SWU (useless in my experience for the same reasons the DL PMU's are) or it was an OP-Up situation they most definitely do not "complimentary upgrade" to biz on International flights. I don't know of any airline does that any longer.
I know UA was upgrading 1K's on full-fare Y tickets from SFO to Asia when space was available in 2007.
I also know of a situation back in 2006 where an AA EP (OneWorld Emerald) was upgraded to business on a mid-week QANTAS flight from LAX-MEL. That was probably on a discounted coach ticket. In 2003 QANTAS gave OW Emeralds free access to the BA First Class lounge in LAX.
Also, AF runs the passenger check-in at CDG for DL and in 2007 would upgrade their premium flyers on DL metal. I know because after I saw the upgrades being handed out, I asked the AF GA for an upgrade and got it (I was PM at the time). On the same flight, an AF premium passenger was upgraded, and her non-premium boyfriend got a whiner upgrade from the DL FA after boarding. I know this because I swapped seats with him so he could sit next to his girlfriend.
NW was known to sell Int'l upgrades to coach passengers prior to boarding. I don't know if they gave complementary upgrades to premiums.
Times may have changed, but before they did, DL was the worst in the industry for Int'l upgrades for premiums. Even on a Y, B, or M fare and with a PMU or miles, upgrading was very difficult.