UA 914, IAD-CDG
 

Traveling on a non upgradeable V fare, I asked every agent I could find to put me on the DM list. No go, however, and I landed up at the gate 20 minutes prior to departure thinking "Ugh...8 hrs in Economy". Willing to try just one more time, I stood in line at the GA desk when the agent announces "...767, please approach the podium". When I got there, she said "I have a better seat for you...and I had almost given up on calling you" Score! An operational to business for a 2P!
10D was just fine and the flight was very comfortable. I was asked quite early for my meal choice (Grilled Shrimp appetiyer and a Salmon main dish) and the menu was excellent (I will post it if anyone is interested). My new strategy for upgrading on a non-ug fare will be to try once at checkin and then next try at the gate, I believe the GA are much more willing to UG than the other agents.

Thanks UA!!!

767

Has anyone else had this sort of luck on UA....getting an upgrade simply by asking??? With no SWU's or miles involved...

I've gotten operational upgrades before... but those were soooooooo long ago.... =P Haven't had one in years... always had to use miles or SWU....

my last 2 operational upgrades on international (both were transatlantic) UA flights were in 1999 (I was 1K then too) one was from eco to bus at check-in time without me requesting anything/anytime at the gate (IAD-ZRH a routeing abandoned by UA since) and the other one was from bus to first (DUS-ORD) again without me requesting it, and it was done after check-in, by a public call for me to the Düsseldorf Senator lounge. The check-in agent beforehand asked me, without mentioning the upgrade possibility, if I was going to that lounge).

But then, there were no SWU upgrades given yet, and I wasn't as rich in miles on my account, and I took the risk to be stuck in coach - which now I don't take anymore for longhaule segments.