Apr 3, 2019, 8:38 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the master thread is UA MP Saver Award/Upgrade Inventory (& partners) -when is it released?
United Saver Award/Upgrade Inventory (& partners) - when is it released? [Archive]
Dec 21, 2018, 10:20 am
#3496
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: MiliagePlus
Posts: 3
Hi jsloan,
Thanks for your quick reply. As I feared. In July I managed to find a business saver award form LHR to EWR no issues, but then SFO is that bit further on, and fewer direct flights I guess. If I did go for a partner award now and call up United to get waitlisted, what form of words would I use. Very new to this.
Cheers
Thanks for your quick reply. As I feared. In July I managed to find a business saver award form LHR to EWR no issues, but then SFO is that bit further on, and fewer direct flights I guess. If I did go for a partner award now and call up United to get waitlisted, what form of words would I use. Very new to this.
Cheers
Dec 21, 2018, 10:23 am
#3497
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,227
Indeed. Over in the BA Forum, this is known as an ex-EU and is used regularly to avoid the APD. If SAS is shown as available, then consider flying to CPH and starting from there. As reward tickets are one-ways, you can always return to LHR. So, if you do this, you merely have to spend say £90 on a one way to CPH, and several hours there (to ensure you make the unprotected connection and, in return, you save the APD which is probably about £270. You pays your money and takes your choice.
Dec 21, 2018, 10:26 am
#3498
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,423
APD is only £150, which makes it mildly dubious to pull this off, but definitely +EV if you also go visit your destination in Europe.
Dec 21, 2018, 10:28 am
#3499
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
Thanks for your quick reply. As I feared. In July I managed to find a business saver award form LHR to EWR no issues, but then SFO is that bit further on, and fewer direct flights I guess. If I did go for a partner award now and call up United to get waitlisted, what form of words would I use. Very new to this.
. I'm actually a little surprised you were able to find saver space on LHR-EWR, but, as you point out, there's a lot more capacity on that route."Waitlist" is the correct terminology -- just pick out the UA flight that you'd prefer, and when you call, say "I'm booked from London to San Francisco on confirmation number ABC123. I'd like to waitlist for the United nonstop, flight UA123." You may need to hang up and call again a couple of times before you get an agent who's familiar with the process.
Dec 21, 2018, 10:28 am
#3500
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
LHR-SFO nonstop business on UA is a difficult award. I would snag the SAS. (Keeping mind advice above about how to avoid UK APD.)
Dec 21, 2018, 10:46 am
#3501
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: MiliagePlus
Posts: 3
Thanks everyone. I'll booked SAS and the waitlist. Happy Holidays!
Dec 21, 2018, 12:53 pm
#3502
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
Also keep in mind UA has a joint venture with EI for award flights so it might be possible to do DUB -> SFO on EI bypassing the APD and putting you closer to LON. Also taking off from DUB means you pre-clear at DUB and don't have to deal with the jungle that is immigration at SFO.
-James
-James
Dec 21, 2018, 2:56 pm
#3503
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: oak/sfo
Programs: BA Silver, AF Silver
Posts: 225
Also look at the new TAP flights to/from LIS
Dec 21, 2018, 4:35 pm
#3504
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: WAS
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,757
Indeed. Over in the BA Forum, this is known as an ex-EU and is used regularly to avoid the APD. If SAS is shown as available, then consider flying to CPH and starting from there. As reward tickets are one-ways, you can always return to LHR. So, if you do this, you merely have to spend say £90 on a one way to CPH, and several hours there (to ensure you make the unprotected connection and, in return, you save the APD which is probably about £270. You pays your money and takes your choice.
Dec 21, 2018, 4:45 pm
#3506
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 451
I actually flew LHR-SFO earlier this week on an economy saver award. I wanted business too but it was not available at the time of booking. A business saver award did open up at least 24 hours before the flight. Maybe before but I only checked then. I ended up passing because I had Premium Plus. The plane went out with about 5 empty seats in Polaris. And eight non-revs up there.
Before I decided to stick with my seat I learned that the people at the airport had no idea how to do the upgrade. Perhaps I should have expected that...
Before I decided to stick with my seat I learned that the people at the airport had no idea how to do the upgrade. Perhaps I should have expected that...
Dec 21, 2018, 5:13 pm
#3507
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 695
I actually flew LHR-SFO earlier this week on an economy saver award. I wanted business too but it was not available at the time of booking. A business saver award did open up at least 24 hours before the flight. Maybe before but I only checked then. I ended up passing because I had Premium Plus. The plane went out with about 5 empty seats in Polaris. And eight non-revs up there.
Before I decided to stick with my seat I learned that the people at the airport had no idea how to do the upgrade. Perhaps I should have expected that...
Before I decided to stick with my seat I learned that the people at the airport had no idea how to do the upgrade. Perhaps I should have expected that...
Dec 21, 2018, 5:16 pm
#3508
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 451
I did not think of that at the time. I rarely use miles. Also, I am kind of glad I didn't because I got the Premium Plus for free. That will not happen in the future. Business would have cost another $150 in tax plus 30K miles. Not that that is such a big deal and I definitely would have done it if I had regular economy plus.
Dec 24, 2018, 9:25 am
#3509
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA--no longer 2P as of 3/2012 and don't even care. Never thought I'd say that.
Posts: 781
To close the loop on this, I did track the UA flight and it went out with several empty C seats. Had they opened up seats even a few hours earlier I would have been able to snag one.
As for Swiss, while the food, service and beverages were all superior to UA, I found the seat very tight and uncomfortable, as were the lavatories. I would choose UA C each and every time over Swiss, though ymmv.
Happy New Year to all!
Dec 30, 2018, 1:32 am
#3510
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 235
i am looking for J-class award travel from DC (ideally) to and from western europe (CDG, TXL, MUC, BRU, AMS all considered, multi-city routing) for late April/early May 2019. saver awards on UA and partners are largely gone -- am i too late or will these likely open later?