Originally Posted by Mountain Trader
I'm planning a trip to Europe next spring and I want to buy two coach tickets and upgrade to Business with miles. UA has only 1 upgrade available on each flight, even flights where there are no business seats sold or taken at all. The International desk said it was "very likely" the upgrades would clear but I'm not buying an $1,800 coach ticket without a firm upgrade.
I called Delta and they can book me right now with confirmed upgrades. I set up a reservation on UA that will expire in 3 days, and if UA can't confirm the upgrades by then, I'll go over and book on Delta (and get the better Delta BusinessFirst service).
I guess UA would say they have a chance to sell those C seats, even though they're cutting out the SFO-CDG non-stop soon. It's sort of like the Colorado Rockies saying they can't pay higher player salaries since fewer fans go to the games because they lose so much.
Fortunately, a few years ago I began spreading my mile earning around and I am in a position to shop around. I already use a Delta Amex for most purchases, and we got rid of one of two United credit cards. I think it's about time to go with Starwood and a Visa/MC that lets you aim miles at the time of use, not when you earn them.
I agree that if you are not happy with United's mileage upgrade availbility, you should take your business elsewhere.
However, I do not that most airlines hold back a substantial number of upgrades seats till closer to closer to the departure date. I mostly fly AMerican and American is famous for not releasing any upgrade seates until a week before. I have found it easier to upgrade on United than any other airline. In fact, Delta has been one of the hardest airlines to upgrade on.
I too use a Starwood AMEX and Diner's Club MC so that I can shop around and transfer points into my accounts as necessary. Other than flight miles, very few miles are held in my airline accounts.