During integration, did my upgrade request change to an offer to upgrade for cash?
Mar 2, 2012, 7:08 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K/MM, MC Life Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 722
Or better yet, let you waitlist an SWU for a K fare and charge the buy-up to W only if it clears. (All right, you can charge me up front and refund the fee if the upgrade does not clear!) I wouldn't even mind too much paying a modest premium for the upgrade if it clears, say another $50, rather than a $250 change fee.
Mar 3, 2012, 12:47 am
#17
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This new thread, which is made up of posts moved from this thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...hread-pss.html has now been rebuilt and is again open for discussion. Thanks for your patience. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator.
Mar 3, 2012, 9:12 am
#18
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 6,912
yes
yeah, this has been happening quite consistently domestically for well over a year, more like two actually.
I've been offerred upgrades for money at ticketing, and OCLI and at the airport.
I've had offers to upgrade for say my nephew (GM) when I'm a 1k upgrading with a CR1, then at t-100 or even t-24 and yet the boy gets a 200$+ upgrade offer at OCLI.
I've been on mileage awards both domestically and int'l and had colleagues or spouse on the SWU (or CR1 or miles) upgrade lists as 1K, 1P and yet myself on a mileage award get offered a UFC both int'l and domestic.
money talks, status walks.
Mar 3, 2012, 2:20 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K/MM, MC Life Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 722
No problem with that myself, but do have a bit of a problem with waiving the change fee. If I knowingly buy a discounted ticket, I'm forced to pay $150 or more whenever I want to change my plans, even if the new ticket is much more expensive than the old one. Therefore it's particularly annoying to see that the only time they seem willing to waive the fee is when some lower status person wants to bump me out of my upgrade because he's having second thoughts about buying that cheap fare that won't get him upgraded. Obviously not as bad as TODs, but I still feel that people should either buy that A fare in the first place, or live by the same reticketing rules that apply elsewhere.
Mar 3, 2012, 4:06 pm
#21
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This is something that both United and Continental have done for some time. Complimentary upgrades are cleared based on inventory being made available and are separate from Upgrades for Cash (UFC). The $359 is likely the upfare from the current booked fare to the lowest fare that books into F.
This is not related to the PSS switchover or the merger.
This is not related to the PSS switchover or the merger.
How would you like to upgrade?
Buy Up to United Business
New York, NY (JFK) to San Francisco, CA (SFO)
$596 per person
JFK to SFO | 6 hr 28 mn| Boeing 757-200| United Economy/Meals for Purchase| 9 Seats Available
Buy Up to United Business
New York, NY (JFK) to San Francisco, CA (SFO)
$596 per person
JFK to SFO | 6 hr 28 mn| Boeing 757-200| United Economy/Meals for Purchase| 9 Seats Available
Mar 3, 2012, 5:12 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: UA 1K 3 Million/ex-many year GS, AA PLT/2 Mil, AS MVPG, HH Dia, Starwood Life Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,401
$596 per person 1-way looks to me like it is probably the fare class difference between what you paid for your economy seat and the cheapest business class fare (Z?). If so then there is nothing wrong with the offer. They are simply giving you another chance to actually buy a biz class seat. The buy-ups that UA Insider said should not happen would be cheaper "fill the cabin" buy ups - those should not occur until upgrades clear if I understood her correctly. But there is never anything wrong with someone actually paying UA the real price of a biz class seat - that does and should take precedence over any instrument upgrade.
Mar 3, 2012, 6:52 pm
#23
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Near SEA
Programs: UA MM, AS MVPG75K, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,969
$596 per person 1-way looks to me like it is probably the fare class difference between what you paid for your economy seat and the cheapest business class fare (Z?). If so then there is nothing wrong with the offer. They are simply giving you another chance to actually buy a biz class seat. The buy-ups that UA Insider said should not happen would be cheaper "fill the cabin" buy ups - those should not occur until upgrades clear if I understood her correctly. But there is never anything wrong with someone actually paying UA the real price of a biz class seat - that does and should take precedence over any instrument upgrade.
Mar 3, 2012, 8:01 pm
#24
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$596 per person 1-way looks to me like it is probably the fare class difference between what you paid for your economy seat and the cheapest business class fare (Z?). If so then there is nothing wrong with the offer. They are simply giving you another chance to actually buy a biz class seat. The buy-ups that UA Insider said should not happen would be cheaper "fill the cabin" buy ups - those should not occur until upgrades clear if I understood her correctly. But there is never anything wrong with someone actually paying UA the real price of a biz class seat - that does and should take precedence over any instrument upgrade.
The flight is 5/5 and my fare all in was $219.60* ($198.00 base & $21.60 for taxes & fees) so that would make the one way business class ticket $815.60 so now to go and see what it prices out for a one way Z fare
*tho that's not what I paid of course
Mar 3, 2012, 8:28 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: UA 1K 3 Million/ex-many year GS, AA PLT/2 Mil, AS MVPG, HH Dia, Starwood Life Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,401
As a 1K there might have been instant upgrade availability for an M fare perhaps? Not sure what the capacity control on those are and if they are different than normal upgrades? Just guessing since you are right that $500ish doesn't sound like it would get you biz from that low an economy fare. Perhaps you shoud PM Shannon and ask her what the deal was/is.
Mar 3, 2012, 8:36 pm
#26
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As a 1K there might have been instant upgrade availability for an M fare perhaps? Not sure what the capacity control on those are and if they are different than normal upgrades? Just guessing since you are right that $500ish doesn't sound like it would get you biz from that low an economy fare. Perhaps you shoud PM Shannon and ask her what the deal was/is.
I just tried to book a one way Z fare and it prices out at $1,692 (as does a regular [Non-Z] Business Class ticket) and a full fare Y ticket prices out at $1,594. I also tried to book a mileage upgrade and it shows a co-pay (but I should be exempt from domestic co-pays as a 1k, right?) plus every single flight JFK-SFO on 5/5 shows in big red letters next to each flight that there are no upgrades available
Mar 3, 2012, 11:05 pm
#28
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