The reality with AC upgrades will be that on overseas flights, you won't be getting them as a matter of course on your business trips at peak corpoate travel periods. However, they will be readily available in the summer to Europe and in off-season on other routes. If one wants to fly in the front on AC, you or your company will be paying C or J for the privilege. And AC will fill all their limited seats this way, while UA's business cabin will be filled with low-fare elite and point upgrades. It will only be HORRIFIC for those who expect to fly on business in business for discount coach fares. And AC's new coach seats will have decent pitch and full IFE, so once more the UA advantage will be minimal...and oh yes, free booze on AC, you pay on the US carriers across the oceans.

BTW has UA announced its new C seats yet? AA has already started installing its lie-flat ones...