F Class Buy-Up at check-in for a Platinum
Feb 9, 2012, 6:42 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: Continetnal Silver
Posts: 234
If the $169 is a buy up then its I would have waited to be upgraded but if it was an upgrade offer then it I would.
Quick question: If you are a Plat why did the upgrade not clear 3 days before the flight.
Quick question: If you are a Plat why did the upgrade not clear 3 days before the flight.
Feb 9, 2012, 6:50 pm
#17
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Mishawaka, IN
Programs: Hilton Silver, Best West Gold, United Gold
Posts: 310
It just depends on how important the upgrade is or how much money you have to blow. I was next to a PrePlt. who was offered the same seat I was 469 dollars on as CO flight from EWR-ORD on a tuesday around 2pm. This was the upgrade fee. We both laughed in the exit row and swiped our credit card and enjoyed 2 hours of direct tv for 5 bucks and thought who the heck would pay that.
Feb 9, 2012, 7:27 pm
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: DFW or Somewhere Else
Programs: UA Plt /Delta DM/ Marriott Platinum Prem./Hilton Diamond / Hyatt Globalist /Hertz PS / National EE
Posts: 1,107
Feb 9, 2012, 8:52 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Ti, UA Silver
Posts: 5,035
UA can solicit for $169 TCON upgrades as much as they choose and probably realize some additional revenue for those particular flights. However, the more the FF community realizes that these offers undermine their FF upgrade benefits the less the FF program is worth to them.
There is a cost in terms of long term loyalty and future business in selling cheap upgrades to everyone before upgrading FF customers. To simply hope that a bit of extra cash now will somehow improve the flying experience for all of us is short sighted.
Feb 10, 2012, 10:13 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: LFT
Programs: AA Plat, lots of AA, AS, DL, UA miles, former top level CO Elite (sigh...)
Posts: 10,795
It's apparently all about cash these days at UACO, folks. Period.
I, for one, am not even going to try and renew my elite status from here on out.
I, for one, am not even going to try and renew my elite status from here on out.
Feb 10, 2012, 8:57 pm
#21
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SRQ-NYC-DCA
Programs: OnePass Infinite CO MM, PC Charter Lifer SkyMiles GM, MileagePlus
Posts: 1,826
Feb 11, 2012, 4:32 pm
#22
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: DAB
Programs: DL PM UA PSilver Marriott Lifetime Plat, AMEX Platinum, Avis PC, UA MPPPlus
Posts: 961
These "tens of dollars" upgrades are going to cause thousands of departures (ToDs)from the ranks of their FF's.
The lack of acknowledgement that this is an official process erodes loyalty.
The lack of acknowledgement that this is an official process erodes loyalty.
Feb 11, 2012, 5:06 pm
#23
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Mishawaka, IN
Programs: Hilton Silver, Best West Gold, United Gold
Posts: 310
Has anyone gotten an offer from NC to upgrade to F on a three class jet. I Have United 907 this week which is showing XF5/NC5 and F6 on the boards. I have never been in 1st on a Three class jet.
Feb 13, 2012, 7:17 pm
#24
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SEA and TPE
Programs: United 1K, SPG Platinum, Delta PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 241
Checked in for my MCO-EWR-SEA flight on 2/10/12 today and got offered a $169 buy up for my un-cleared EWR-SEA portion. It was the very last seat! Yesterday I watched as RN/R 9 went to zero and I did not get upgraded. Then I watched as 16/20 booked turned into 19/20 booked. I think $169 is a great deal but I still wonder how F booked 7/20 yesterday turns into a paid upgrade for a Platinum. It also mentioned that price is based on status. Competition is tough out there so I took it but boy do I miss where R9 and Platinum was a sure upgrade.
Feb 14, 2012, 5:56 am
#25
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Rewards - LTPP
Posts: 4,240
Traveling on a U tomorrow from EWR-MIA. Buy up in advance was hovering around $150. Offered (and declined) at checkin for $99. F2.
Feb 14, 2012, 6:25 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,166
Feb 14, 2012, 1:49 pm
#27
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,989
Checked in for my MCO-EWR-SEA flight on 2/10/12 today and got offered a $169 buy up for my un-cleared EWR-SEA portion. It was the very last seat! Yesterday I watched as RN/R 9 went to zero and I did not get upgraded. Then I watched as 16/20 booked turned into 19/20 booked. I think $169 is a great deal but I still wonder how F booked 7/20 yesterday turns into a paid upgrade for a Platinum. It also mentioned that price is based on status. Competition is tough out there so I took it but boy do I miss where R9 and Platinum was a sure upgrade.
Feb 14, 2012, 2:35 pm
#28
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: UA, AA, LH, Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, Hertz
Posts: 1,759
You did not misread but what they said should be happening is not what people are reporting here. The lack of transparency is what we are complaining about and the fact that UA is going against proclaimed policy is rubbing us the wrong way.
Feb 14, 2012, 3:10 pm
#29
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, DL Diamond, NK Gold, Mariott LT Plat/Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 925
Flying EWR-DEN tomorrow on CO. At check in I was offered a buy up for $149. 25 people are on the UG wait list. I bit and bought it as I knew that I had no chance as a Plat on a V fare. It's a 752 and I know I'll like th lie flat for the 4.5 hour flight.
Feb 14, 2012, 4:03 pm
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,166
still no correlation to actual published fare difference buy-up rules - current V fares are about ~$250 o/w, no B/M filed on that at the moment, cheapest upgradeable is an H-up for ~$985 one way.