UA Premier Exec Upgrade On AC?
 

Anyone know if it's possible to upgrade an elite level UA member form v to Business on Air Canada - North America - Using AC coupons, UA Miles, ETC.?

it is NOT possible using UA-miles/-vouchers to upgrade on any StarAlliance carrier except LH.

(the only exception: in late 1998, the time-limited StarAlliance upgrade-vouchers, at check-in only).

I would definitely like to see more reciprocal upgrading privileges on Star Alliance.

Ah, yes, but so would we all. Once upon a time, early in the Star Alliance, I received 2 coupons for 1 class upgrades on any other Star airline - not Air Canada. They were only good if there was room at airport checkin. I managed to use one to upgrade on LH to first class from J for a flight YYZ-FRA. Very nice. However, I have never seen any similar in the last 18 months or so. We can always hope...

[This message has been edited by MD (edited 03-06-2000).]

Is the reverse true? i.e. Can on AC*E get an upgrade on UA using UA coupons?

anyone (even without any status with any airline) can use upgrade-award gifts from a UA-ff-flyer - they are (still) freely transferable (be it awards 'bought' with miles, or one-way-confirmable N-American-vouchers, or the newest systemwide confirmable upgrade-vouchers - the 500 miles-vouchers can only be used on full fare eco by passengers without a UA-ff-status).

I have done so frequently--within the US.

Not only that, but if I buy the certs at upgrade, more often than not, they only charge me $125 for 4. The info in UA's system is explicity--even * Gold have to pay $200 unless they are Premier with UA, but I find a check-in they seem to 'forget.'

I have never had anything other than operational upgrades on UA int'l flights.

AC*SE, have you upgraded on UA from discounted fares?

Yes indeed. The first time I did it was on-the-spot.

At the last minute we brought a friend along on a trip. I couldn't get him a reward seat in Y, so I put him in F. (The AC SE desk were AMAZING on that one. The agent got me a reservation and confirmed it all the night before travel).

Anyway, when we got to the airport I batted my eyelashes and asked disingenuously if there was any possibility that we could all fly together.

The agent said that the flight was not oversold, but she could put us up for two certs each, for which she charged us the $125.

"Great," says I. On the return I called in 72 hours ahead and listed us, and sure enough, on the day the upgrades were in place, and again they charged us only $125.

It was only when I tried to buy some certs at a CTO here in NYC that I discovered the explicit policy that they cost $200.

Good to know, AC*SE.

I was recently on a full fare UA ticket JFK-SFO. They thought the upgrade chances were good, and they sold me 4 certs for $125. I ended up missing the upgrade by one person (I was next on the list).

I now have the 4 certs, so I hope to be able to use them on a discount fare next time I'm traveling. I don't think the system will allow an advance request, because it will probably reject a non-Premier UA member. I'm hoping they'll allow it at the airport.

I did it as recently as June 99, and there seemed to be no problem. As long as your AC Elite number is in, you will show up as * Gold.

I recall the agent asking me on the phone if I was PremEx or 1K, and I told her that I was * Gold. She seemed to take this as sufficient.

In my view, it never hurts to ask. "Them's don't ask, don't get."