Hi everyone - I stumbled across this website on a search adventure for information. I hope someone can make me understand if I am doing the right thing, and what I can do to improve my travel. Over the next three years, I will have several deployments to Iraq. I have already been once (as a Marine) but I now work for the DON and have five/six month tours in the sandbox. I just returned on Thursday for a trial, and will be returning mid August.

Here's my question: I would like to try to find the best way to upgrade my seat for the return trip this month (non-stop Dulles/Kuwait on UA) and also for my return trip in December. I have a little over 20K miles now on my UA account. The trip I took over several weeks ago, I flew NW and have no idea how to get those miles. On the trip back from Kuwait, I did the Frankfurt/Chicago leg (9 hours) in the center seat/center row between two 300 pound sweaty and very sleepy guys who did not move the entire trip, but managed to take up most of my seat space as well. I know, that is the way of trans ocean flights, but I am looking to upgrade without selling my soul or taking a second mortgage out on the house.

Any help for the new guy here would be great. I know how to show up at the airport and get on the flight, but all the in and outs of upgrading escape me. Thanks!!

75 folks take a look and no one has an answer? Must be GS14 classified...

Go to United.com and read about mileage upgrades. It's not FT people's job to do the basic research for you.

Welcome to flyertalk, jfarmer, and I apologize for the snappish tone of the post directly above. This forum used to welcome newcomers. I don't know what's happened lately. I'm sorry.

I guess we need some more specifics -- will you be flying UA regularly, NW/KL through Amsterdam, or some other airline/route? If you are intent on international upgrades UA is a better choice. NW longhaul upgrades using miles are difficult -- impossible from the cheapest fares.

You are obviously best advised to concentrate your flying on one airline or alliance. If it is UA, next step is to visit the UA board here on FT and do a forum search for "upgrade."

Good luck in the sandbox.

re:nw....always join the ff program before the flight [or on board].....on the long hauls, i would join even if there was little chance of flying them again....

good luck...

jfarmer,

In addition to reading every post on the United board (go back as far as you can before brain freeze sets in), take a look at pgary's website.
http://www.freefrequentflyermiles.com/index.htm

I advise you to click on all of the links on the left. Loads of information to absorb. Some even useful.

If you can't earn 100,000 miles by days end...
Lots of 'free' miles/points available for signing up for co-branded credit cards. You can also find info on the United credit card in the UA forum. I think it's 21,000 mile sign up bonus. Add that, plus what you have in your UA account, and you're well on the way to an upgrade using your miles.

A word of caution ... after a few days on Flyertalk, you'll be hooked. Ask me. I know.

Welcome to Flyertalk jfarmer. I (we) appreciate your service.

Dan

Lemmee get this straight. Three posts or whatever on FT and we are to get you upgraded to a first class international seat, I overheard, are in very short supply for the BIS crowd dong 100k+ miles per year? Actually I like your forwardness so do you want to buy a bridge? Be certain you mention you meet the requirements for the USMC discount.

MisterNice

Thanks for the helpful and friendly replies. I have done some research on how to use the miles, I was looking for an insiders view on the best way to upgrade. "secret" info

Right after I found the FlyerTalk forum, I perused the UA section and it for sure did not take long for the acronyms to cause brain freeze to set in rapidly. Thanks for the helpful links to specific discussions/forums dhammer.

As for what airline I fly regularly, I will be on UA for 95% of the flights - generally going through Frankfurt, with a few direct flight from Dulles to Kuwait. The NW flight was a fluke since it was a short fuse travel itinerary. I will look into the miles gathering cards. Might be a good way to build it up quickly. Thanks again to the friendly folks and any other advice is very much appreciated!^

How does this post help the guy out? Is this really necessary?....I think this violates TOS.

"Welcome to flyertalk, jfarmer, and I apologize for the snappish tone of the post directly above. This forum used to welcome newcomers. I don't know what's happened lately. I'm sorry."

There was no snappish tone there and you should be apologizing for me for implying such. Remember, of the 75 people who read it, I was the one who bothered taking the time to reply and keep the posters thread alive. Keep that in mind next time before making holier than thou posts.

The OP (original poster) obviously has done no research of his own. Notice how he didn't say, on the United website it says this. We have search options on this board, google and the company websites. Each of which should be used, yes even by a new poster, before making a new post.

jfarmer,

UA.com will give you information on how you get upgraded. As noted, you can also read the United section. I do agree about the acronyms. Poeple take them way too far. That said, you should be reading up on things before posting. It's not our responsibility to do your basic research. Questions you make in the forums should be pointed towards specific issues that you can't find an answer to, not basic questions such as are there any flights between New York and Florida.

You should be able to get these miles posted somewhere if were a member of NW or any of their partner programs prior to your flights. Do you have FF accounts with NE, Delta, or Continental? The full list of NW partners should be easy to find on their website.

Since we're being snippy UA.com won't get him anywhere. ual.com may yield some results however.

I probably should have stated I have already contacted United prior to posting my question, even spoke to an very nice rep who explained what United could do for me. That being said, I was hoping to get some "experienced" information, and thanks to several of the members here, I now have more avenues open to try.

General, I apologize and bow before your benevolent intelligence. I hope I have not offended you in any way as you are obviously looking out for all of this forums best interest. After all, everyone who comes to this website (according to you) should have acquired enough knowledge as to not need the advice and experiences of more well seasoned frequent fliers. I will abstain from asking any questions in the future that may raise your ire. Back to researching I go...don't bother responding as your type of help is neither helpful nor wanted.

Thanks again to all of the website members who have given me some areas to look in.

jfarmer welcome to flyertalk.
This is,for the most part,an incredibly helpful and friendly group.There are some bad apples,two of which have replied to your honest and totally appropriate query.
As I have both of these members on ignore I have no idea what they wrote in response to your question-nor do I care.They are insignificant in my eyes and do not represent the flyertalk spirit in any way shape or form.
Please do not let this minute percentage represent the flyertalk community in your opinion.

jfarmer,

Welcome to Flyertalk. Sorry this inquiry did not yield the best possible responses.

I think this thread has pretty much played out as far as it can in MilesBuzz. As has been suggested, perusing the UA (and NW) forums for ideas might be the next place to visit.

Do not hesitate to send a private message to the moderators of the forums, if you need some further assistance.

Thanks,

Moderator2