Originally Posted by
lfinger
I'm 1K (and a Million Mile Flyer) but United tells me that if i book an international flight with miles, I can't be upgraded either complementary or with Plus Points. I also tried doing it on the website but was blocked there too. Apparently if it was domestic, I could be upgraded if i paid the taxes and fees with a Chase card. Not sure what's more ridiculous - that paying the tiny amount with a Chase card changes the result or that its only for domestic. Does anybody know a way around this?
UA does not offer complimentary upgrades (CPU) on the long-haul flights you're talking about. The fact that you're using an award ticket neither helps nor hurts you as far as that goes.
For CPU-eligible flights, I don't think you actually have to pay the taxes with a Chase card; I think it's enough just to be a cardholder. But you still have to have Premier status to get upgraded; the card merely lets you receive those CPUs, based on your status, on award tickets also.