Originally Posted by
Boogie711
Aren't we missing something here?
Respectfully, if your primary concern is International upgrades, forget UA or US... go to OneWorld.
AA issues 8 upgrades at 100k, and they're eligible in any fare class. The OW Alliance includes Cathay Pacific and Qantas for your Asia travels.
I'm a UA guy, but if my primary issue was overseas upgrades, especially with travel to/from Australia and Asia, I'd jump out of * and into OW.
Can you use those SWUs alliance wide or on just AA metal?
Originally Posted by
suavemom
Oh, I so wish I could, Boogie711. But there are virtually no flights from PHL on AA, and so my domestic travel would be nearly impossible. I tried some sample flights on Kayak, and it was a non-starter. I think I'm stuck with US or UA. Am sort of leaning toward UA, based on what people are saying. I don't understand this thing about only being able to use upgrades on W, though - when I look at the site, it says:
Global Premier Upgrades are available on all United and Copa-operated flights system-wide.
They can be used on all paid, published fares except:
- Z and P fare classes, for upgrades from United Business® to United First® or United BusinessFirst® to United Global FirstSM on all flights
- S, T, K, L, G and N fare classes, for upgrades from United Economy® to the next higher cabin on most long-haul international flights
It means the lowest valid fare you can use an SWU on is W. S, T, L, K, G and N are all below W in UA's hierarchy. So to use an SWU, you have to book Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, or W fares. No upgrading el cheapos with a SWU.
Z and P are discounted business, so UA won't let you use an SWU to upgrade those fares into international F. However, you can upgrade all those fares with miles and money. The copay will vary depending on fare class.