United/Continental post-Mar 3 merger: upgrades and co-pays
Mar 6, 2012, 1:33 pm
#46
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: UA General Member, SPG Gold, Hyatt Platinum, Hilton Silver, Hertz 5-star Gold
Posts: 276
I wonder if someone has thought of this very possible scenario: I pay for the upgrade co-pay months in advance of my flight. It's charged to my Mileage Plus credit card. Because this is a United transaction, not only do I get miles for this, but bonus miles for a UA purchase. The upgrade fails. They will eventually refund to the form of payment, then take away the miles that have been in my account for months -- and maybe even spent or committed to getting another upgrade!
Who pays the co-pay for a sponsored upgrade? If the recipient pays, then what are the mechanics for making the payment (phone call, online)?
Last edited by iluv2fly; Mar 6, 2012 at 1:36 pm Reason: merge
Mar 6, 2012, 4:28 pm
#47
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ELP
Programs: AAdvantage, Amex MR
Posts: 2,314
Here is another very important question. How are upgrades handled when flying a domestic segment connecting to an international segment?
For example, flying ELP to ORD on a CR7, then ORD to say, LHR or MUC. If my upgrade clears flying the domestic segment, but doesn't clear for the international one would I only be charged for a domestic upgrade and have the appropriate number of miles, and copay refunded to me having paid for an international upgrade in advance?
A 550 dollar co-pay to upgrade on an RJ does not sound like a good deal.
For example, flying ELP to ORD on a CR7, then ORD to say, LHR or MUC. If my upgrade clears flying the domestic segment, but doesn't clear for the international one would I only be charged for a domestic upgrade and have the appropriate number of miles, and copay refunded to me having paid for an international upgrade in advance?
A 550 dollar co-pay to upgrade on an RJ does not sound like a good deal.
Mar 6, 2012, 7:04 pm
#48
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AA EXP, HH Diamond, MR Gold, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,252
Here is another very important question. How are upgrades handled when flying a domestic segment connecting to an international segment?
For example, flying ELP to ORD on a CR7, then ORD to say, LHR or MUC. If my upgrade clears flying the domestic segment, but doesn't clear for the international one would I only be charged for a domestic upgrade and have the appropriate number of miles, and copay refunded to me having paid for an international upgrade in advance?
A 550 dollar co-pay to upgrade on an RJ does not sound like a good deal.
For example, flying ELP to ORD on a CR7, then ORD to say, LHR or MUC. If my upgrade clears flying the domestic segment, but doesn't clear for the international one would I only be charged for a domestic upgrade and have the appropriate number of miles, and copay refunded to me having paid for an international upgrade in advance?
A 550 dollar co-pay to upgrade on an RJ does not sound like a good deal.
Mar 6, 2012, 9:00 pm
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,239
See here, under" MileagePlus Upgrade Award rules": http://pss.united.com/web/en-US/cont...grade/mua.aspx
For United Business, United BusinessFirst, United First and United Global First upgrade awards, all miles and upgrade co-pay fees will be refunded if the United Business or United First segment of the trip cannot be upgraded. For all other Upgrade Awards, miles and upgrade co-pay fees will be refunded only when no segments of the trip could be upgraded. When applicable, these refunds will occur automatically 7 to 10 days after the trip.
I think the wording is a bit screwy, probably when they migrated the PMCO policy to the combined entity. I'm not sure what "all other Upgrade Awards" even refers to...
Mar 6, 2012, 9:48 pm
#50
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Houston TX
Programs: UN 1K MM, Marriott-LT TitanElite, Hyatt Glob; HH-Gold
Posts: 74
You're not wrong...
See here, under" MileagePlus Upgrade Award rules": http://pss.united.com/web/en-US/cont...grade/mua.aspx
See here, under" MileagePlus Upgrade Award rules": http://pss.united.com/web/en-US/cont...grade/mua.aspx
For United Business, United BusinessFirst, United First and United Global First upgrade awards, all miles and upgrade co-pay fees will be refunded if the United Business or United First segment of the trip cannot be upgraded. For all other Upgrade Awards, miles and upgrade co-pay fees will be refunded only when no segments of the trip could be upgraded. When applicable, these refunds will occur automatically 7 to 10 days after the trip.
I think the wording is a bit screwy, probably when they migrated the PMCO policy to the combined entity. I'm not sure what "all other Upgrade Awards" even refers to...And as previous posters commented - it has always been Continental's policy to charge an additional $150 to change a non-refundable ticket. (However, if you are sick, pay the $25 copay to go to the WalGreens clinic and get them to write a note that you are sick. It's silly, but it's saving you $125 - but I also had to fax that to Continental twice as well to get it to work).
Mar 14, 2012, 1:56 am
#51
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MSE
Programs: BA Silver, TK Elite, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 466
I'm currently in possibly the worst situation - I paid miles + money for a BusinessFirst Upgrade before the merger, and that upgrade didn't clear. Now the system has migrated over, and no one can figure out how to get me either my miles or my money back.
Over the last month I've called the MileagePlus service center twice, e-mailed once (no one got back to me on the e-mail), but I'm still out $550 and 20,000 miles.
Over the last month I've called the MileagePlus service center twice, e-mailed once (no one got back to me on the e-mail), but I'm still out $550 and 20,000 miles.
Mar 14, 2012, 3:07 am
#52
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: somewhere
Programs: their are many of them
Posts: 1,614
I'm currently in possibly the worst situation - I paid miles + money for a BusinessFirst Upgrade before the merger, and that upgrade didn't clear. Now the system has migrated over, and no one can figure out how to get me either my miles or my money back.
Over the last month I've called the MileagePlus service center twice, e-mailed once (no one got back to me on the e-mail), but I'm still out $550 and 20,000 miles.
Over the last month I've called the MileagePlus service center twice, e-mailed once (no one got back to me on the e-mail), but I'm still out $550 and 20,000 miles.
Mar 14, 2012, 6:14 am
#53
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
I'm currently in possibly the worst situation - I paid miles + money for a BusinessFirst Upgrade before the merger, and that upgrade didn't clear. Now the system has migrated over, and no one can figure out how to get me either my miles or my money back.
Over the last month I've called the MileagePlus service center twice, e-mailed once (no one got back to me on the e-mail), but I'm still out $550 and 20,000 miles.
Over the last month I've called the MileagePlus service center twice, e-mailed once (no one got back to me on the e-mail), but I'm still out $550 and 20,000 miles.
Mar 14, 2012, 11:24 am
#54
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MSE
Programs: BA Silver, TK Elite, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 466
I'm currently waitlisted for another BF upgrade next week, for which UA is currently holding another $550 of my dollars. I'm waiting to see how that waitlist goes, first, before I call my CC company next week to dispute either $550, or $1100 worth of charges.
Mar 16, 2012, 9:44 am
#56
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: SPG Plat
Posts: 1,017
You mean sponsor with miles&$ or at SWU? If miles&$ then it appears sponsor needs to come up with both at booking it. If SWU, then no change I know of (subject to change on a hourly basis).
Apr 21, 2012, 3:38 am
#57
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: London, UK
Programs: *Gold, 1K
Posts: 46
Miles + $$ upgrade did not clear - how quickly do I get refunded?
Several weeks ago, I opted to try to upgrade on a LHR-SFO flight today for 20,000 miles + $425. I found it strange that United IMMEDIATELY charged my credit card and deducted miles even though I was waitlisted. My upgrade did not clear, so now I want to know when I will get my money refunded. Miles I can wait onN but it is unacceptable if thewre are delays in refunding my card. Does anybody have any experience with this?
Interestingly, I used a GPU for the outbound SFO-LHR flight on Monday and cleared a couple of days before.
Thanks
Interestingly, I used a GPU for the outbound SFO-LHR flight on Monday and cleared a couple of days before.
Thanks
Apr 21, 2012, 7:20 am
#58
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
A lot of people have been charging back w/CC processor since it's not going back automatically.
As soon as your miles post showing a coach segment non-upgraded, I'd call it in. Nothing is an automatic process these days.
As soon as your miles post showing a coach segment non-upgraded, I'd call it in. Nothing is an automatic process these days.
Apr 21, 2012, 8:05 am
#59
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
Several weeks ago, I opted to try to upgrade on a LHR-SFO flight today for 20,000 miles + $425. I found it strange that United IMMEDIATELY charged my credit card and deducted miles even though I was waitlisted. My upgrade did not clear, so now I want to know when I will get my money refunded. Miles I can wait onN but it is unacceptable if thewre are delays in refunding my card. Does anybody have any experience with this?
Interestingly, I used a GPU for the outbound SFO-LHR flight on Monday and cleared a couple of days before.
Thanks
Interestingly, I used a GPU for the outbound SFO-LHR flight on Monday and cleared a couple of days before.
Thanks