Originally Posted by
GottaGoFlying
With UGs become harder and with you only flying domestic, I would say yes.
Not sure how to interpret the above.
The 1K priority for domestic com upgrades might be worth $1000; it depends how often upgrades clear next year with the new changes that SMI/J says we will like. If the MR can be domestically, over the weekend when a 1P's UDUs are sure to clear, then do it. If it has to be done on a TPAC in E+, then don't. This year my UDU rate is much worse than last, yet I just paid $850 today for a last minute trip, and of the three segments with an F cabin, the upgrade cleared immediately for a flight on Sunday. Kind of nice.
If OP redeems RDMs for long hauls on premium cabins, then the additional 25% RDM bonus makes the $1000 a wash if you value a C saver at $3K to $4K.
The lounge discount for a 1K is nice too, especially if you have a spouse.
I'd probably do it.
The danger of 1K, is once you get used to your upgrades clearing much more frequently, you detest flying a lot less. Once a 1K, always a 1K, and this is from someone who from 1996 to 2006 was 2P or 1P. It was because of the 2006 DEQM (a cash deal) that I finally made it, and I was hooked. This year I re-qualified in June (thanks to 4 long hauls in C, and 2 on discount Y fares, which of course upgraded at booking), and every other year after 2006, I've re-qualified without needing the DEQM.
Originally Posted by
twixwav
I have the same question, I'll be at 85k after my next trip and wondering if it is worth paying for a quick weekend in Asia to get over the 100K needed.
I'd do it if the business class tickets are guaranteed.
Does anyone know how difficult it is to use the SWUs?
SWUs are easy use. Usually they can be applied at united.com, though sometimes "the bomb" won't let you and you need to use the 1K desk.
The hard part is having them clear. My first year as a 1K, I was naive, and selected my flights without looking for upgrade space (always read this forum before you become a 1K). Out of two Y to C upgrades that I applied for at time of booking, only one cleared. Out of 3 that I applied for at the gate, all 3 cleared. So far, if I am going to Europe, I've always been able to find upgrade inventory at time of booking, but I'm not picky about which city I land in, even if my ultimate destination is several hundred miles away (the great thing about Europe is that is a tiny place by North American/Asian/Australia standards). I can suffer a short on LH.
Upgrade space to Asia is harder to find, but I've found it. I'm not picky about where I land in Asia either, but the "short hauls" are not so short. Australia: forget about it. CO to India looks pretty hard too.
These days, I can often get my employer to pay for C, and thus SWUs get used for upgrading to F. For anything booked weeks advance, I've never failed to have an SWU clear. A few weeks ago, a last minute trip was rebooked, and I failed to clear at the gate, but was top of the list.
SWUs from C to F on LH are a really nice treat. LH F is superior to UA F, despite the old F seats on some to most LH birds. Better service, food, and the cabins are usually pretty empty because LH does not comp F to its employees unlike UA (and if UA had LH's policy, my upgrade a few weeks ago would have cleared). Plus LH F on a 747 is great because it is on the upper deck, so no disturbances from people in the lesser cabins. You sleep soundly.