UA/*A: Has Anyone Ever Successfully Upgraded Using Miles Without Status?
Jan 15, 2009 | 2:03 am
#16
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ether
Programs: Some, not all.
Posts: 1,603
I've done this is the past - as long as there is upgrade space showing as available there is no problem with using miles to get a confirmed upgrade. As others have noted, UA's holding back of the NC and NF inventory is the problem.
Jan 15, 2009 | 2:17 am
#17
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Tokyo/Madrid
Programs: DL DM 1MM, ANA*G, JL Diamond, UA 1P
Posts: 1,649
Upgraded on UA several times on Trans-Pacs. I became 3P in July and 2P in October 2008.
Jan 2007 - SFO-LAX-NRT and KIX-SFO: business class, open jaw
Sept 2007: SFO-NRT: business class, one way
March 2008: NRT-SFO-NRT: business class
August 2008: NRT-SFO: business class, one way
Not sure what the chances are now of getting those upgrades, but they weren't impossible.
Jan 2007 - SFO-LAX-NRT and KIX-SFO: business class, open jaw
Sept 2007: SFO-NRT: business class, one way
March 2008: NRT-SFO-NRT: business class
August 2008: NRT-SFO: business class, one way
Not sure what the chances are now of getting those upgrades, but they weren't impossible.
Jan 15, 2009 | 6:59 am
#18
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: IAD, DCA
Programs: UA-Plat, Marriott-Plat, AAI, AAII
Posts: 3,758
But zcat18 you do not seem to understand that upgrading with miles has little (for your purposes) to do with status. If NC or NF space is available, and you've puchased a ticket in a qualifying fare bucket, then upgrades are confirmed immediately regardless of status. Status only comes into play if you are waitlisted.
Re E- vs E+, E+ is not a higher class of service thus one cannot "upgrade" to it. While E+ seats are sold to GMs at a premium it is not by definition an upgrade.
Jan 24, 2009 | 10:20 am
#19
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Naples FL, Munich DE
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,816
Most of the answers seem UA-centric, so here's a view from another airline.
A little over a year ago, I wound up having to fly on American trans-Atlantic. I'm not an elite with AA (yet -- should make Million Miler soon, mostly from non-flight miles, and that will make me Lifetime Gold), but on the day of departure I asked at LHR whether I could upgrade using miles, and was told "sure". Needless to say, I did so.
_____________________
MM=> UA 100.7%, AA 99%
A little over a year ago, I wound up having to fly on American trans-Atlantic. I'm not an elite with AA (yet -- should make Million Miler soon, mostly from non-flight miles, and that will make me Lifetime Gold), but on the day of departure I asked at LHR whether I could upgrade using miles, and was told "sure". Needless to say, I did so.
_____________________
MM=> UA 100.7%, AA 99%
Jan 24, 2009 | 10:58 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: UA, Bonvoy, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,581
gre- Thanks for the explanation!
Counsellor- Sometimes I wonder if I should switch to AA as my airline of choice. All miles programs are equally frustrating, but sometimes I wonder if AA makes things just a bit easier than United does. I've just had consistently bad luck with AA from a service and on-time performance perspective, so I became a United guy by default (plus, *A is the best alliance in terms of global coverage, IMHO).
Counsellor- Sometimes I wonder if I should switch to AA as my airline of choice. All miles programs are equally frustrating, but sometimes I wonder if AA makes things just a bit easier than United does. I've just had consistently bad luck with AA from a service and on-time performance perspective, so I became a United guy by default (plus, *A is the best alliance in terms of global coverage, IMHO).
Jan 25, 2009 | 5:56 am
#21
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Naples FL, Munich DE
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,816
As always, YMMV.
Jan 25, 2009 | 9:00 am
#22
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: New York City
Programs: AA,BNV,HIL
Posts: 916
UA miles on LH TATL
If flying on a H/M fare I've used UA miles certs to upgrade from LH Y to C frequently, although rarely does it clear in advance, but I'm 5/5 over the past 1.5 years in both directions at the airport (remember it's only one segment that upgrades, any connections stay where you bought them, and you need to have the CERT in hand...)
Jan 26, 2009 | 10:18 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: NYC
Posts: 229
To quote A Tribe Called Quest, "before I had status and before I had pager..." I requested an upgrade from C to F on a LAX-SYD flight, and got it.
It helped that it was a refundable fare...in fact, it was that legendary mistake fare, the r/t LAX-New Zealand for $1300.
Funny, that trip got me status on UA...and I haven't gotten an upgrade since!
It helped that it was a refundable fare...in fact, it was that legendary mistake fare, the r/t LAX-New Zealand for $1300.
Funny, that trip got me status on UA...and I haven't gotten an upgrade since!
Jan 26, 2009 | 2:07 pm
#24
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Gold-MM, AA Gold-MM, F9-Silver, Hyatt Something, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,443
I sat next to a woman on UA's Friday evening IAD-SEA flight. She had no status with UA, but had managed to upgrade at the kiosk using miles. I was pretty surprised, as I assume this is a fairly tough upgrade.
The strange part is that while a non-status pax was able to upgrade to F using miles, I (as a 1K) did not get my meal choice! Apparently they only had been catered to 13 of the chicken entrees (for a 24 F 757). I questioned whether there were actually 13 other 1K's / GS's in the cabin, and she replied, 'everyone here has 3 stars tonight', which obviously wasn't true considering that I was sitting next to a GM!
The strange part is that while a non-status pax was able to upgrade to F using miles, I (as a 1K) did not get my meal choice! Apparently they only had been catered to 13 of the chicken entrees (for a 24 F 757). I questioned whether there were actually 13 other 1K's / GS's in the cabin, and she replied, 'everyone here has 3 stars tonight', which obviously wasn't true considering that I was sitting next to a GM!
Jan 26, 2009 | 2:14 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Seat 2A
Programs: AA EXP LT GLD 1MM, BA GLD, NH/UA*G, Hyatt GLB, Marr Tit LT PLT, IHG Dia, HH Dia, MGM NOIR, Hertz PC
Posts: 10,595
I sat next to a woman on UA's Friday evening IAD-SEA flight. She had no status with UA, but had managed to upgrade at the kiosk using miles. I was pretty surprised, as I assume this is a fairly tough upgrade.
The strange part is that while a non-status pax was able to upgrade to F using miles, I (as a 1K) did not get my meal choice! Apparently they only had been catered to 13 of the chicken entrees (for a 24 F 757). I questioned whether there were actually 13 other 1K's / GS's in the cabin, and she replied, 'everyone here has 3 stars tonight', which obviously wasn't true considering that I was sitting next to a GM!
The strange part is that while a non-status pax was able to upgrade to F using miles, I (as a 1K) did not get my meal choice! Apparently they only had been catered to 13 of the chicken entrees (for a 24 F 757). I questioned whether there were actually 13 other 1K's / GS's in the cabin, and she replied, 'everyone here has 3 stars tonight', which obviously wasn't true considering that I was sitting next to a GM!
Jan 26, 2009 | 3:02 pm
#26
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Gold-MM, AA Gold-MM, F9-Silver, Hyatt Something, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,443
Huh? Was I do a skykit?
This is the first time I've never received my meal choice, and while I did question the FA to see if procedures had been followed (since she was not very apologetic about it) I just ate the rubbery pasta and went on.
This is the first time I've never received my meal choice, and while I did question the FA to see if procedures had been followed (since she was not very apologetic about it) I just ate the rubbery pasta and went on.