Upgrade advice 763 or 764?
Feb 14, 2012, 4:32 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: HNL
Programs: United Gold
Posts: 1,581
Upgrade advice 763 or 764?
I'm flying IAD-GVA on PMUA 767-300 and GVA-EWR on a PMCO 767-400ER, having just spent most of my miles on reward travel for my entire family this Christmas (hopefully the world doesn't end on 12/21), I only have enough miles left to upgrade (+copay) on either the outbound or the inbound, which one should I go for?
Feb 14, 2012, 5:00 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 124
I would upgrade the GVA-EWR flight since i can actually sleep in E+ on united and the GVA-EWR is a day flight and longer on the way back so time would go by faster in BF,also the food is better.
Feb 14, 2012, 5:34 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Programs: DL SM Plat, B6 TrueBlue, UA MP, AAdvantage
Posts: 10,008
Plus, the PMUA 763 seats are full lie-flat, while the 764 will most likely still have the old Barcalounger seats, as the conversion to lie-flat will not be complete till the end of 2012.
Feb 14, 2012, 7:04 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,686
Upgrade the 763: overnight flight and guaranteed lie flat. The 764s are mostly the ancient seats at this point.
Feb 15, 2012, 1:46 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Hoboken, NJ; Pembroke Pines, FL
Programs: CO Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,939
Note: the OP said they were flying in late December 2012.
Last edited by lensman; Feb 15, 2012 at 1:47 am Reason: added clarification about OPs flight dates
Feb 15, 2012, 2:25 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: HNL
Programs: United Gold
Posts: 1,581
Whoops sorry for not being clear, I'm flying to GVA this week. I only mentioned Christmas because I used almost all my miles to book first class flights for my entire family during that time, so I only have enough to upgrade either IAD-GVA or GVA-EWR.
Looks like I'll try to upgrade IAD-GVA, can I do this at the gate at IAD or should I do it at the United Club in HNL or DEN?
Looks like I'll try to upgrade IAD-GVA, can I do this at the gate at IAD or should I do it at the United Club in HNL or DEN?
Feb 15, 2012, 8:46 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
Whoops sorry for not being clear, I'm flying to GVA this week. I only mentioned Christmas because I used almost all my miles to book first class flights for my entire family during that time, so I only have enough to upgrade either IAD-GVA or GVA-EWR.
Looks like I'll try to upgrade IAD-GVA, can I do this at the gate at IAD or should I do it at the United Club in HNL or DEN?
Looks like I'll try to upgrade IAD-GVA, can I do this at the gate at IAD or should I do it at the United Club in HNL or DEN?
Feb 15, 2012, 12:03 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,686
Do you think completion will be delayed? In theory with a target completion of Dec 2012 for the 764 conversion, by Christmas the only 764s flying will be upgraded. The last 764 should be in HKG getting its conversion done, right?
Note: the OP said they were flying in late December 2012.
Note: the OP said they were flying in late December 2012.
Feb 21, 2012, 4:27 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: HNL
Programs: United Gold
Posts: 1,581
Update
So I visit the United Club at IAD and ask if they can upgrade me on the 763 IAD-GVA. The agent can't seem to find my reservation and it turns out that I'm no longer in the seat I selected... for some reason I was upgraded! She calls the gate and they say that it's because coach was way overbooked.
When I got on the plane I heard a lot of people (myself included) on their cell phones taking about their free upgrade. So I saved 20,000 miles and $550. Woohoo! BTW, it was my first time in a lie flat on United, and although I've heard that some people don't like this seat, I thought it was absolutely amazing.
The 764ER GVA-EWR was one of the upgraded ones (#56 I think). They did not let me upgrade at the gate with miles + co-pay, so they missed out on $550 and I think there were still 3 seats available at take-off. I wonder why they didn't take my money.
Oh well, the flight was 30-40% empty so I got a row to myself and got to lie down. Love the new AVOD, it's touchscreen and had over 100 movies! The resolution kinda sucked though. The FAs were Houston/Newark based and they were very friendly, especially after I gave them some Luxemburgerli
All in all, it was a great MR (except for EWR-SFO on a 737, I was very uncomfortable for 5.75 hours, blech).
When I got on the plane I heard a lot of people (myself included) on their cell phones taking about their free upgrade. So I saved 20,000 miles and $550. Woohoo! BTW, it was my first time in a lie flat on United, and although I've heard that some people don't like this seat, I thought it was absolutely amazing.
The 764ER GVA-EWR was one of the upgraded ones (#56 I think). They did not let me upgrade at the gate with miles + co-pay, so they missed out on $550 and I think there were still 3 seats available at take-off. I wonder why they didn't take my money.
Oh well, the flight was 30-40% empty so I got a row to myself and got to lie down. Love the new AVOD, it's touchscreen and had over 100 movies! The resolution kinda sucked though. The FAs were Houston/Newark based and they were very friendly, especially after I gave them some Luxemburgerli
All in all, it was a great MR (except for EWR-SFO on a 737, I was very uncomfortable for 5.75 hours, blech).