I think UA's Connoisseur Class debuted in late 1991. I flew it from SFO-HKG in 1992 or 1993 in the upper deck of a 747. Yes, there was caviar and champagne as oft advertised at the time, and I think the salad was served from a FA's tray table, if I recall correctly. I still have the menu.

I remember that I paid for Connoisseur Class mainly to earn more UA MP miles since if we reached certain thresholds (75k, 100k, and 125k flight miles) we would get "threshold" bonus redeemable miles. There was no 1k at the time; Premier Executive was the highest level. I think that was the year I got a Premier Executive card which said in small letters on the lower right front "PE1k." So, I was a 1k before there was official 1k status.

At the same time, I think UA was having a promotion where earning enough credits (segments?) could earn free business class tickets to Europe or S. America. I got enough credits for 2 free business class tickets to Buenos Aires (via ORD).

A few years earlier I flew TWA in coach SFO-CDG 2x via STL (I think) using Bank of America points during one of their promotions. The BofA program issued paid tickets on TWA, so while flying for free, I earned enough points for a 3rd trip to Europe on TWA.

The BofA award included 5 or 7 free nights at the Concorde Hotel in Paris (with a free breakfast). At the hotel check-in line there were a half dozen other Americans on the same package redemption. They were probably future Flyer-talkers.