I never really got to the bottom of this and now wanting to book some more upgradeable flights would value some help.

(I have outlined my questions at the bottom of this post for clarity)

The flights I were on and which were upgraded for 20,000 miles each way had Fare basis BCWPXGB1 on the tickets I received from United Vacations

I was looking at prices for an upcoming trip in Nov to SFO and found this fare on Travelocity (the fare basis of which was strikingly similar!) :

===========================================
Fare details for BLWPXGB2

INSTANT PURCHASE EXCURSION SPECIAL FARE FARE

BK CODE

B -



PENALTY

CANCELLATIONS -- BEFORE DEPARTURE -- CHARGE 50 PERCENT. CANCELLATIONS -- AFTER DEPARTURE -- TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE -- WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER. CHANGES -- ANY TIME -- PER TICKET CHARGE GBP 50 -- WAIVED FOR UPGRADE TO HIGHER FARE. NOTE -- RESERVATION CAN BE CHANGED ONCE AT A CHARGE OF GBP 50 --- MAY UPGRADE THE ENTIRE JOURNEY TO A HIGHER FARE WITHOUT PENALTY. NOTE -- IN CASE OF UPGRADE ORIGINAL CANCELLATION CHARGE WILL APPLY IF UPGRADED TICKET IS SUBSEQUENTLY CANCELLED.



RES/TKTG

TKT MUST BE PURCHASED WITHIN 2 DAYS AFTER RES IS MADE. SGMTS USING THIS RULE MUST BE CONFIRMED.



MIN STAY

RETURN TRVL IS VALID ON THE 1ST SUN AFTER 12:01 A.M.. MEASURED FROM DPTR FROM GATEWAY.



MAX STAY

RETURN TRVL MUST COMMENCE NO LATER THAN 12 MONTHS. MEASURED FROM DPTR FROM ORIGIN TO DPTR FROM LAST STOPOVER POINT.



DAY/TIME

APPLIES AT ANY TIME FRI-SUN ON INTL SECTOR. DAY/TIME IS BASED ON TRIP DATE OF INTL SECTOR.



SEASONS

1NOV-19DEC02. SEASON IS BASED ON DATE OF ORIGIN AND IS DETERMINED BY DATE OF DEPARTURE OF FIRST INTERNATIONAL SECTOR.



BLACKOUTS

NO BLACKOUT RESTRICTIONS APPLY.



EFF/EXP

1APR02 IS THE FIRST DATE THAT TRAVEL MAY COMMENCE.



FLT APPL

APPLIES TO ANY UA/BD FLIGHT ON THE DEPARTURE OF EACH TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.



STOPOVERS

UNLIMITED FREE STOPOVERS ARE PERMITTED AT GATEWAY. A STOPOVER OCCURS WHEN THE PASSENGER DOES NOT DEPART AN INTERMEDIATE POINT WITHIN 24 HOURS.



TICKET RESTRICTIONS

NOTE: EXTENSION OF TICKET VALIDITY FOR MEDICAL REASONS IS NOT PERMITTED UNDER GUIDELINES STATED IN RULE 65.



SURCHGS

SECURITY SURCHG OF GBP 6.00 APPLIES PER ADT/CHD/INF IN EACH DIRECTION. APPLIES TO INTL SECTOR.



DISCOUNTS

67 PCT OF THE ADT FARE IS CHARGED FOR A CHD PSGR 2 THRU 11 YRS OF AGE. CHD PSGR MUST BE ACCOMPANIED ON ALL SGMTS BY AN ADT PSGR TRAVELING IN THE SAME COMPARTMENT AT A FARE GOVERNED BY THE SAME RULE. - - - - 10 PCT OF THE ADT FARE IS CHARGED FOR AN INF PSGR UNDER 2 YRS OF AGE NOT OCCUPYING A SEAT. INF PSGR MUST BE ACCOMPANIED ON ALL SGMTS BY AN ADT PSGR TRAVELING IN THE SAME COMPARTMENT AT A FARE GOVERNED BY THE SAME RULE. *** UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN AGED 8 TO 11 WILL BE CHARGED AT CHILDS DISCOUNT. TOUR CONDUCTOR/ SALES AGENT DISCOUNT DOES NOT APPLY.



REROUTE

SEE PENALTY.



TRANSFERS

UNLIMITED TRANSFERS AS PERMITTED ON THE ROUTING/MPM.



COMBINATIONS

CARRIER / RULE / FARE CIRCLE OPEN ROUND BASIS TRIP JAW TRIP SAME / SAME / SAME C C C SAME / SAME / DIFF C C C SAME / DIFF / SAME C C C SAME / DIFF / DIFF C C C DIFF / SAME / SAME C C C DIFF / SAME / DIFF C C C DIFF / DIFF / SAME C C C DIFF / DIFF / DIFF C C C Y / PERMITTED N / NOT PERMITTED - / DOES NOT APPLY C / SEE TEXT FOR CONDITIONS CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO ROUND TRIP/CIRCLE TRIP/SINGLE OR DOUBLE OPEN JAW - -MAY BE COMBINED WITH ANY ONE WAY/ROUND TRIP ADVANCE PURCHASE EXCURSION TYPE/NONREFUNDABLE INSTANT PURCHASE TYPE/INSTANT PURCHASE EXCURSION TYPE FARES GOVERNED BY ANY RULE IN IPRA/IPRAI VIA UA/BD. -MOST RESTRICTIVE CONDITIONS APPLY. ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS APPLY ROUND TRIP - -PERMITTED. CIRCLE TRIP - -PERMITTED. -NO MORE THAN 2 INTERNATIONAL FARE COMPONENTS PERMITTED. OPEN JAW - -SINGLE OPEN JAW PERMITTED AT EITHER ORIGIN OR DESTINATION. DOUBLE OPEN JAW PERMITTED. END-ON-END - -PERMITTED. TRAVEL MUST BE VIA THE FARE COMBINATION POINT.



OPEN RTN

NOT ALLOWED.



REFUNDS

SEE PENALTY.



CO-TERMINALS

NOT APPLICABLE.



INTL CONST

MAY BE COMBINED WITH APPLICABLE ARBITRARIES.



MISC

NOTE -- THESE FARES ONLY APPLY WHEN PURCHASED PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF TRAVEL --- WAITLISTING WILL NOT BE PERMITTED BEYOND RESERVATIONS DEADLINE. TICKETS MUST SHOW BY THE USE OF AN INSERT OR STICKER THAT TRAVEL IS AT A SPECIAL FARE AND SUBJECT TO SPECIAL CONDITIONS.

========================================

My questions are:

1 - Am I correct in assuming that BLWPXGB2 (the one I cut and pasted) is eligable for 10,000 miles each way upgrade (instead of 20,000)

2 - Presuming the above is true, can I assume that BCWPXGB1 (for which I paid 20,000 each way) could have been done for 10,000

3 - Presuming '2' is true, can I apply for 10,000 mile refunds each-way? How?

4 - (I may post this query again with a more relevant title but if we can answer in this thread.....) - are consolidators or regular travel agents able to book upgraded (or upgradeable) tickets for me or must I use UAL reservations. If so can anyone recommend anyone reliable in the UK who knows the score and can do this (by e-mail to me if you don't want to post/advertise)

Thanks in advance.....

(edited to tidy and add html hopefully)

[This message has been edited by matthewuk (edited 03-17-2002).]