What would you do? Worth the miles/$$$ for upgrade.
Apr 20, 2012, 3:44 pm
#17
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
Apr 20, 2012, 3:45 pm
#18
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NJ
Programs: Avis Preferred, Hertz #1 Gold, National Exective, United Premier Silver
Posts: 1,363
Also, not sure what you paid for your ticket, but for 671.00 you can flat out buy a first class ticket any flight tomorrow.
20,000 miles will get you one-way to Hawaii.
People are regularly being offered upgrades for under 100.00 and no miles.
Use those as a guide if you think 20,000 miles plus 75.00 is worth it.
Apr 20, 2012, 5:21 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
Just keep in mind, that first class seat could have been yours for 25k miles and 2.50 for a reward ticket.
Also, not sure what you paid for your ticket, but for 671.00 you can flat out buy a first class ticket any flight tomorrow.
20,000 miles will get you one-way to Hawaii.
People are regularly being offered upgrades for under 100.00 and no miles.
Use those as a guide if you think 20,000 miles plus 75.00 is worth it.
Also, not sure what you paid for your ticket, but for 671.00 you can flat out buy a first class ticket any flight tomorrow.
20,000 miles will get you one-way to Hawaii.
People are regularly being offered upgrades for under 100.00 and no miles.
Use those as a guide if you think 20,000 miles plus 75.00 is worth it.
this offer is a rip off.
I would wait for $49 TOD offer.
Apr 20, 2012, 7:12 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,437
Jun 18, 2012, 7:35 pm
#27
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 245
First class upgrade questions
I am flying ORD to CUN (3.5 hours) and am currently in Economy Plus, since that was all that was available when I booked the flight. So, I had to pay about $39 (each seat) above the price on united.com to book the flight. That I don't mind.
I see that first class is pretty empty for this flight at the moment. To upgrade there, it would be $225 each. So, the difference to first class from what I am already paying 'extra' is $372.
For a flight of that length, is it worth it? Will I get the increased award mile earnings since I upgraded, or will it stick to the original booked class? The flight is currently booked as class E.
Sorry for the questions, all of this is new to me. I barely flew before this year, and now I seem to be going places.
I see that first class is pretty empty for this flight at the moment. To upgrade there, it would be $225 each. So, the difference to first class from what I am already paying 'extra' is $372.
For a flight of that length, is it worth it? Will I get the increased award mile earnings since I upgraded, or will it stick to the original booked class? The flight is currently booked as class E.
Sorry for the questions, all of this is new to me. I barely flew before this year, and now I seem to be going places.
Jun 18, 2012, 7:56 pm
#28
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
It took me a few minutes to figure out your math. Just to confirm, your calculation re: paying $372 extra is ...
$225 buy-up x 2 tickets - $78 already spent on E+?
If so, you should be aware that United officially considers E+ purchases to be non-refundable even in the case of an upgrade, so you may not be able to count on getting the $78 rebated. Unofficially, though, some people have had luck getting agents to refund E+ in the event of an upgrade.
Given that, based on your questions, you're non-elite, I think that the lowest fare bucket that will confirm you into first/business on that route is P, you should earn 150% RDM and EQM if you pay for an upgrade (but I'm not super-confident on that).
As for value, I think that this is something that you'll have to decide for yourself. If you're on a ticket in the E fare bucket, you've already paid quite a bit for your ticket, so it may be worth it to make the trip more special (especially if you're travelling with someone special) ... although, to be clear, first class on United isn't all that special anyway. Having said that, if you're on the fence and don't really mind sitting in E+, you may want to consider waiting until check-in to see if you get a buy-up offer. If you get an upgrade offer at check-in, I would expect it to be closer $100 per ticket ... just be sure to check in early so you're ahead of others who get similar offers.
$225 buy-up x 2 tickets - $78 already spent on E+?
If so, you should be aware that United officially considers E+ purchases to be non-refundable even in the case of an upgrade, so you may not be able to count on getting the $78 rebated. Unofficially, though, some people have had luck getting agents to refund E+ in the event of an upgrade.
Given that, based on your questions, you're non-elite, I think that the lowest fare bucket that will confirm you into first/business on that route is P, you should earn 150% RDM and EQM if you pay for an upgrade (but I'm not super-confident on that).
As for value, I think that this is something that you'll have to decide for yourself. If you're on a ticket in the E fare bucket, you've already paid quite a bit for your ticket, so it may be worth it to make the trip more special (especially if you're travelling with someone special) ... although, to be clear, first class on United isn't all that special anyway. Having said that, if you're on the fence and don't really mind sitting in E+, you may want to consider waiting until check-in to see if you get a buy-up offer. If you get an upgrade offer at check-in, I would expect it to be closer $100 per ticket ... just be sure to check in early so you're ahead of others who get similar offers.
Jun 18, 2012, 8:11 pm
#29
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 245
I was talking to someone at United on the phone (switched row on economy plus, for $5 more per seat, and the first upgrade was refunded), and she stated that if I choose to go to First, the economy plus upgrade would be refunded. But yes, that is where my math came from.
We just booked the flight yesterday and will travel in 2 weeks, so there a bit of a premium there. The price on the resort makes up for it.
It does appear that waiting/watching the price might be worth it. I've just never flown above economy plus, and this seemed kind of reasonable for the price. Worst case is, we still have decent legroom (we're both under 5'7" - the only plus of being short).
We just booked the flight yesterday and will travel in 2 weeks, so there a bit of a premium there. The price on the resort makes up for it.
It does appear that waiting/watching the price might be worth it. I've just never flown above economy plus, and this seemed kind of reasonable for the price. Worst case is, we still have decent legroom (we're both under 5'7" - the only plus of being short).
Dec 26, 2012, 4:29 pm
#30
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 123
Dakuda, yes, UA (site and by phone) told me the same thing: that I don't lose the E+ fee if I further upgrade to first. I'm not sure if the new upgrade fee would reflect a deduction for the E+ fee or if I would be charged the full upgrade fee to F and then have to process a refund request for the E+ fee.