2012 "Upsell Offers to Business/F (UFC, PCU)" Questions/Discussion [Paid Upgrades]
Jan 20, 2012, 9:54 am
#61
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
On domestic flights, as a 1K you can upgrade (on a 3class new cabin or a 2 class cabin) using:
- complimentary upgrade
- SWUs
- regional upgrades
- miles
- cash - they are usually offered after you book the ticket - offered online and it depends on the flight and how full it is
On international flights, you can upgrade using:
- SWUs
- some routes allow regional upgrades
- miles (with or without copay depending on the fare)
- cash - offered online after booking, during check-in, at the gate
I've been offered cash upgrades on several flights (domestic and international) ranging from $75 to $999.
On domestic flights, I think the only way to get cash upgrades is to get the offer online - cannot be requested. On international flights, cash upgrades can be requested on the phone or at check-in/gate.
- complimentary upgrade
- SWUs
- regional upgrades
- miles
- cash - they are usually offered after you book the ticket - offered online and it depends on the flight and how full it is
On international flights, you can upgrade using:
- SWUs
- some routes allow regional upgrades
- miles (with or without copay depending on the fare)
- cash - offered online after booking, during check-in, at the gate
I've been offered cash upgrades on several flights (domestic and international) ranging from $75 to $999.
On domestic flights, I think the only way to get cash upgrades is to get the offer online - cannot be requested. On international flights, cash upgrades can be requested on the phone or at check-in/gate.
I think, though, that we should get ourselves accustomed to the new vocabulary and abbreviations...
CPU - Complimentary Premier Upgrade (old UDU)
RPU - Regional Premier Upgrade (old CR-1 / regional upgrade)
GPU - Global Premier Upgrade (old SWU)
http://mileageplusmergerupdates.com/...gradesOverview
Complimentary Premier Upgrades: These are space-available complimentary upgrades, offered on select United, Continental and Copa flights. (See upgrade regions chart.) You may know them currently as Unlimited Domestic Upgrades in MileagePlus or Elite upgrades in OnePass®. They are available to all Premier members, as well as to a companion traveling on the same reservation as a Premier member.
On select flights, a Premier member traveling on a full-fare economy Y- and B-class fares may be eligible for an instant upgrade as early as time of ticketing. Additionally, Premier 1K® members may be eligible for these upgrades when purchasing M-class fares.
Regional Premier Upgrades: These upgrades are confirmable as early as time of ticketing on select United, Continental and Copa flights. (See upgrade regions chart.) You may know them currently as Regional Upgrades. A Premier member will earn two Regional Premier Upgrades when they reach 75,000 Premier qualifying miles (PQM) or 90 Premier qualifying segments (PQS), plus two more for each 25,000 PQM or 30 PQS thereafter.
Global Premier Upgrades: These upgrades can be used on all multi-cabin United, Continental and Copa flights worldwide and are confirmable as early as time of booking. You may know them currently as Systemwide Upgrades. A Premier member will earn six Global Premier Upgrades when they reach 100,000 PQM or 120 PQS, plus two more for each 50,000 PQM or 60 PQS thereafter.
Mileage Upgrade Awards: All 2012 MileagePlus members can continue to use award miles to upgrade eligible United, Continental and Copa flights. Premier members will continue to have co-pay waivers when upgrading flights within U.S. 49/Canada and between the U.S. 49/Canada and Hawaii, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, and Northern South America (except for BusinessFirst® flights).
Jan 20, 2012, 10:10 am
#62
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MCO, DCA, IAD
Programs: UA GS 1MM, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,134
Very accurate and helpful information!
I think, though, that we should get ourselves accustomed to the new vocabulary and abbreviations...
CPU - Complimentary Premier Upgrade (old UDU)
RPU - Regional Premier Upgrade (old CR-1 / regional upgrade)
GPU - Global Premier Upgrade (old SWU)
http://mileageplusmergerupdates.com/...gradesOverview
Complimentary Premier Upgrades: These are space-available complimentary upgrades, offered on select United, Continental and Copa flights. (See upgrade regions chart.) You may know them currently as Unlimited Domestic Upgrades in MileagePlus or Elite upgrades in OnePass®. They are available to all Premier members, as well as to a companion traveling on the same reservation as a Premier member.
On select flights, a Premier member traveling on a full-fare economy Y- and B-class fares may be eligible for an instant upgrade as early as time of ticketing. Additionally, Premier 1K® members may be eligible for these upgrades when purchasing M-class fares.
Regional Premier Upgrades: These upgrades are confirmable as early as time of ticketing on select United, Continental and Copa flights. (See upgrade regions chart.) You may know them currently as Regional Upgrades. A Premier member will earn two Regional Premier Upgrades when they reach 75,000 Premier qualifying miles (PQM) or 90 Premier qualifying segments (PQS), plus two more for each 25,000 PQM or 30 PQS thereafter.
Global Premier Upgrades: These upgrades can be used on all multi-cabin United, Continental and Copa flights worldwide and are confirmable as early as time of booking. You may know them currently as Systemwide Upgrades. A Premier member will earn six Global Premier Upgrades when they reach 100,000 PQM or 120 PQS, plus two more for each 50,000 PQM or 60 PQS thereafter.
Mileage Upgrade Awards: All 2012 MileagePlus members can continue to use award miles to upgrade eligible United, Continental and Copa flights. Premier members will continue to have co-pay waivers when upgrading flights within U.S. 49/Canada and between the U.S. 49/Canada and Hawaii, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, and Northern South America (except for BusinessFirst® flights).
I think, though, that we should get ourselves accustomed to the new vocabulary and abbreviations...
CPU - Complimentary Premier Upgrade (old UDU)
RPU - Regional Premier Upgrade (old CR-1 / regional upgrade)
GPU - Global Premier Upgrade (old SWU)
http://mileageplusmergerupdates.com/...gradesOverview
Complimentary Premier Upgrades: These are space-available complimentary upgrades, offered on select United, Continental and Copa flights. (See upgrade regions chart.) You may know them currently as Unlimited Domestic Upgrades in MileagePlus or Elite upgrades in OnePass®. They are available to all Premier members, as well as to a companion traveling on the same reservation as a Premier member.
On select flights, a Premier member traveling on a full-fare economy Y- and B-class fares may be eligible for an instant upgrade as early as time of ticketing. Additionally, Premier 1K® members may be eligible for these upgrades when purchasing M-class fares.
Regional Premier Upgrades: These upgrades are confirmable as early as time of ticketing on select United, Continental and Copa flights. (See upgrade regions chart.) You may know them currently as Regional Upgrades. A Premier member will earn two Regional Premier Upgrades when they reach 75,000 Premier qualifying miles (PQM) or 90 Premier qualifying segments (PQS), plus two more for each 25,000 PQM or 30 PQS thereafter.
Global Premier Upgrades: These upgrades can be used on all multi-cabin United, Continental and Copa flights worldwide and are confirmable as early as time of booking. You may know them currently as Systemwide Upgrades. A Premier member will earn six Global Premier Upgrades when they reach 100,000 PQM or 120 PQS, plus two more for each 50,000 PQM or 60 PQS thereafter.
Mileage Upgrade Awards: All 2012 MileagePlus members can continue to use award miles to upgrade eligible United, Continental and Copa flights. Premier members will continue to have co-pay waivers when upgrading flights within U.S. 49/Canada and between the U.S. 49/Canada and Hawaii, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, and Northern South America (except for BusinessFirst® flights).
One thing that can be added for Global Premier Upgrades, they can be used on Lufthansa flights:
From the United website:
"Eligible flights on Lufthansa
a) You can use a Systemwide Upgrade on Lufthansa (subject to availability):
• Upgrades require a paper certificate (you must request the certificate two weeks in advance through Mileage Plus customer service at 1-800-421-4655)
• The paper certificate must be presented at check-in
b) The following Lufthansa tickets are not eligible for a Systemwide Upgrade:
• Tickets in booking codes X, I, R, N, W, S, L, K, T, Z and E"
Jan 20, 2012, 1:13 pm
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
Since every status level and every UG type now has "Premier" in it, I think we should just refer to them as Silver/Gold/Plat/1K (already done) and CU/RU/GU 
Jan 22, 2012, 4:56 am
#64
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EWR, PHL
Programs: UA1k 3MM, AA Plt, peasant on everybody else, elite something or other at a bunch of hotels.
Posts: 4,637
$850 Y->F for R/T SNA-PHL/PIT
Offered at booking, declined. SWU's cleared immediately.
Jan 24, 2012, 8:52 am
#65
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Homosassa, FL & Ringwood, NJ -UA-G(Lifetime); SPG-Plat (Lifetime)
Posts: 6,120
Buy Up to F
Yesterdy I booked TPA-ORD-MLI-ORD-TPA as an L fare for 391 about a month out. As I was working through the pages to finalize the reservation, I was offered an confirmed F seat on the ORD-TPA return flight (a 752) for a total of 567.12. So the cost to upgrade was only ~175. This seems cheap. I am well aware of CO's actions trying to sell upgrades, but 175 seems pretty cheap. Is this pricing typical of UA?
Jan 24, 2012, 9:00 am
#66
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Moreland Hills (CLE)
Programs: Over-entitled UA 1.3MM Gold, AA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott L-T Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 5,521
IMHO,
I would not pay $175 for ORD-TPA upgrade.
I would not pay $175 for ORD-TPA upgrade.
Jan 24, 2012, 9:08 am
#67
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Homosassa, FL & Ringwood, NJ -UA-G(Lifetime); SPG-Plat (Lifetime)
Posts: 6,120
I did not as I expect it to clear as a new 1K. My comment was that it just seemed awafully cheap as my fare basis is L.
Jan 24, 2012, 10:24 am
#68
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,553
Jan 27, 2012, 8:33 am
#69
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1.5 Million Mile flyer, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz 5* and PC since 1985
Posts: 5,611
NRT-ORD
Award C
$999
Online reservations UA.con
Accept it? Yes I did ^
Award C
$999
Online reservations UA.con
Accept it? Yes I did ^
Feb 1, 2012, 11:20 am
#70
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,713
Feb 1, 2012, 12:42 pm
#71
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: AA PP, Hilton/MR Gold
Posts: 743
Some recent ones from My Reservations:
SEA-IAD $375
IAD-SLC $300
IAD-SFO $375
SJC-DEN $175.92
DEN-IAD $199
A friend recently purchased S->Z for $999 on NRT-IAD at booking.
Seems to keep to $375 for a transcon and scale proportionally. It closely correllates to NC/NF availability in my experience.
Do these still book into Z/A and earn class of service bonus? On a 3 class domestic, can you buy into Z and then UDU/CR1 into F?
SEA-IAD $375
IAD-SLC $300
IAD-SFO $375
SJC-DEN $175.92
DEN-IAD $199
A friend recently purchased S->Z for $999 on NRT-IAD at booking.
Seems to keep to $375 for a transcon and scale proportionally. It closely correllates to NC/NF availability in my experience.
Do these still book into Z/A and earn class of service bonus? On a 3 class domestic, can you buy into Z and then UDU/CR1 into F?
Feb 1, 2012, 2:01 pm
#72
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,553
Feb 1, 2012, 2:23 pm
#73
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ORD/SFO
Programs: UA 1K (pmua), Hhonors Gold
Posts: 51
I got the class of service bonus (for Z).
Feb 1, 2012, 3:43 pm
#74
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: AA PP, Hilton/MR Gold
Posts: 743
Despite 400k+ BIS, I've never been in international F; somewhat tempting to pay the $199 to grab Z for DEN-IAD then angle for a UDU.
Feb 4, 2012, 6:25 pm
#75
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC gold UA gold—MM Hilton Diamond Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 107
LHR/ORD $1054 Z to F march travel -- offered on line--refused
ORD/LHR $999 Z to F July travel ---offered on line --refused
ORD/LHR $999 Z to F October travel --offered on line---refused
ORD/LHR April travel--booked in Z --no offer
LHR/ORD June travel --booked in W--- no offer
LHR/SFO September travel---booked in W --no offer
ORD/LHR $999 Z to F July travel ---offered on line --refused
ORD/LHR $999 Z to F October travel --offered on line---refused
ORD/LHR April travel--booked in Z --no offer
LHR/ORD June travel --booked in W--- no offer
LHR/SFO September travel---booked in W --no offer