Originally Posted by gregseattle
ummm... no. 'Nobody' and 'only if' are pretty extreme words.
OK fine, let me amend that to: standard operating procedure on United is that operational upgrades are not given to UGS/1K's for no reason. Is there
ever an exception? I'm sure there is. Never meant to imply otherwise. But the OP's information was that UGS/1K's were routinely and as a matter of policy given free op-ups when others were still on the waitlist and that is definitely not the case. Even in your story, I would assume that the agent who gave your family member the op-up did it because there was upgradeable space available with no one on the waitlist. Otherwise, her actions are highly questionable.
Never never never think you won't get op-upgraded. Good people want to help good people. Good people get op-up-ed.
Oh were it so simple.