Originally Posted by
lianluo
Thank you both for your responses. Very helpful. I know I’d have a better quality experience on ANA but it’s hard to give up the opportunity for upgrade to business which usually comes through about 50% of my trips to Japan! But less frequently now that UA has added another class between Gold and 1k
I haven't been in NH's new cabin yet, but I was just as happy in UA's Polaris 1-2-1 on the retrofitted planes as I was in NH's similar. I know I'll be in the minority here but I liked UA better too for food, booze, and especially entertainment system. I've lived in Japan for over a decade, don't like Japanese food and find even NH's western meals are too J. Also I'd rather have a Miller Lite than an Asahi, etc.
I think you're confusing the status gap with AA, they added Platinum Pro between Platinum (old 50k miles status) and EXP (old 100k miles status).
United has had Platinum (old 75k miles status) between Gold and 1K for as long as I remember, I think I started flying UA frequently enough to remember their status levels back around 2005 or 2006. I think what you may be thinking of is when Platinum started getting Plus Points vs Regional Upgrades. They used to only get Regional Upgrades for North America, Central America, a few points in South America, and intra-Asia (Guam to the Asian destinations that used to exist), now they get enough Plus Points for an international long haul upgrade if that's more beneficial (certainly it is for many).
Curious what instrument you're using to get 50% upgrades to Japan? Trading Marriott points for someone else's Plus Points perhaps? Post-merger UA carried over the old CO co-pay system so even mileage upgrades aren't cheap if you're on a cheap economy ticket. Not to come across rude, but as a MM Gold you're not earning a ton of miles from flying (or you wouldn't be Gold), unless you're getting them from credit card spend perhaps, so this 50% upgrade is a bit surprising to me even if paying the co-pay. I don't expect it's op-ups, I spent many years as a 1K and only got an op-up on UA twice in / out of Japan when I wasn't already flying business class. I got op-ups on ANA quite frequently however, so that was a much better roll of the dice on super busy days surrounding Japanese holidays.
On a side note, I find it very interesting that I can't find a co-pay chart ANYWHERE on UA's website anymore, nor ANY of the bloggers covering "How to optimize UA miles". I guess they've pulled any sponsorship cash to prevent them from publishing it. UA and DL trying to be opaque with their mileage programs these days after all. Used to be over $500 co-pay for lower end economy fares to Asia, I was frequently offered at least as good of a deal during check-in for a straight cash upgrade not requiring miles.