Pay w/ miles to upgrade or wait for automatic upgrade?
Feb 17, 2012, 12:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 2
Pay w/ miles to upgrade or wait for automatic upgrade?
I'm flying from DEL to EWR on CO83. I am a silver elite from last year (expires in March) and I'm almost there this year as well. I have an M fare ticket. As this is such a long flight, I really want to upgrade to business - I could upgrade with miles, but Continental will charge a co-pay of $350. Should I just pay up with miles to get upgraded or wait and see if they will automatically upgrade me? What do you think my chances are of scoring an upgrade? There are 8 empty business seats right now.
Thanks for all your help!
Thanks for all your help!
Feb 17, 2012, 1:37 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: TPE, SF, DC
Programs: UA Lifetime GS 4mm
Posts: 890
There is no auto upgrade for long-distance intl flights.
You should just do it with miles + copay, unless you have access to SWU from co-worker or friend.
You should just do it with miles + copay, unless you have access to SWU from co-worker or friend.
Feb 17, 2012, 8:16 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: UA lifetime gold; Hilton Gold; Marriott/SPG Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,954
Getting an upgrade to BF on Continental for free for anybody is extremely rare, much less for Silver.
UA has been known to provide once in a blue moon (or less) a complimentary upgrade to Business for their higher elites.
On a route like DEL-EWR I would most definitely not expect that.
You want to fly up front, you will have to somehow pay more
UA has been known to provide once in a blue moon (or less) a complimentary upgrade to Business for their higher elites.
On a route like DEL-EWR I would most definitely not expect that.
You want to fly up front, you will have to somehow pay more