Airline selection help needed
 

I've just found out that I need to fly to Bangkok next week from either Vancouver or Seattle. My employer wants me to find the least expensive economy ticket. Since I am AC Elite I know I can get E+ seating on United. Does anyone know if other star alliance airlines are better for legroom or comfort for a flight of this length. This will be my first international flight of any significance so any helpful suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks

My sympathies. Hope they don't expect you to show up refreshed and ready to work!

I don't have any substantive advice for you. Based on my limited experience, AC Y to HKG (you could then go to BKK with TG) isn't bad if you can snag an exit row. Do you have any SSWUs left you could try and use to snag an upgrade to HKG (although I understand that YVR-HKG is a tough route to upgrade on)?

Both UA [with E+] and AC with its 32-34 inch pitch offer the best legroom option versus TG and SQ, or even CX or other carriers via their respective gateways. No matter which choice you make, you'll have at least one connection to make. Flying AC will require a change in HKG or NRT to TG or NH/TG respectively. Also remember some cheaper fares on the Asian carriers do not garner Aeroplan miles, so watch out for that wrinkle. [Though if you are flying at the last minute, you should not encounter this problem.] You will likely find cheaper fares ex-SEA, even on AC via YVR and HKG, than if you started the trip at YVR. And given last-minute Ys may be more pricey when booked directly with the airline, you might consider looking at a consolidator ticket through a good TA, and could buy a J/C fare for an attractive price equivilent or less than a last-minute Y fare through the airlines.

If you do connect at HKG to TG, their lounge is very nice and offers fine dim sum.

I've heard good things about Eva's E+. Don't know how the fares compare between SEA & YVR. Eva departs SEA around 4a.m. and from YVR about 1a.m.
A co-worker recently flew YVR-BKK on Air China. The connection in PEK was about 8 hours in one direction, more reasonable the other way.
Transit visa not required for travel on Air China.

I don't believe this to be accurate as I recall that TG's seat pitch in Y is actually a generous 34", they are however apparently inferior in J and F.

What are the upgrade chances via NRT these days instead of HKG? This of course depends on having SSWU's available and a resaonable price.

After checking everything, I've booked with UA to get the E+. I'm traveling YVR-SEA-NRT-BKK. Interestingly this combo is less expensive then driving to Seattle and leaving from there. I'm on flight 875 sea-nrt. I gather that AC upgrade certificates are not valid on UA flights and my gold status would put me at the end of a long line of mp members with upgrade certs. Do I have the right information, or is there a method for achieving an upgrade on any segment?

You're right; unless the flight is oversold and they are giving out op UG or you have a friend that will gift you an UA Systemwide, you're out of luck. (UA does treat *G pretty good when it comes to op ug)

If you have miles with United you can use them to upgrade. If you got a last-minute fare, the chances are good that it's a fare on which you can use miles. Y or B fares are only 15K miles each way; M and H fares are 30K. As *G you have reasonably high priority on their upgrade list, so you'd have a good chance.

If you don't have any miles with United, perhaps you have a friend who does? If it only costs 30K r/t to upgrade, maybe you could work out a deal with your friend by gifting him or her a r/t ticket to the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, whatever. Things like this might also be done on CC forum though I don't know how that works exactly.

You could also try looking at e-bay to see if you can buy a SWU, but I think most of those upgrades disappeared when United made their certificates electronic.

If none of these options works, I recommend a sleeping pill. Good luck with the flight, and have fun in BKK!

Although I have a MP number, I don't have any miles in that account. How would it work if I convince my friend to give me some of his? Are they certificates? I currently have my AP number on the reservation.

I think your friend has to call United with your record locator or perhaps PNR and tell them he wants to upgrade you using his miles. He may have to have status to do this; I'm not sure. I have a family member who is 1k and has done this with me in the past. You can surely get more answers on the United Forum. But be sure to keep your AP number in there since it reflects your *G status and will push you up on the upgrade list.

No need to have status if using UA miles to upgrade. The only criteria is that it has to be booked on H or higher. The friend will have to go to the airport to sign an authorization form.

Just an update - I'm in Bangkok now. Flew E+ from Seattle to Tokyo. I was on a M fare. UA upgraded me for NRT-BKK. Much appreciated for those last 6.5 hours. Now if only I can get the same thing on Sunday - It is one flight from BKK to SFO.