YCA (Government Fares) Upgrades?
Oct 7, 2017, 2:20 pm
#106
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
The upgrade priority is based on status and then fare class. With YCA fare, you can use miles and no copay to upgrade these long haul flights (15K miles for Europe and 20K miles for Asia, one way). So, status is important in order to clear the upgrades. If your upgrade is not clear, you can still have E+ seats with status.
any updates/recent experiences on this? Just got a new job (WAS-based) that will have lots of int'l travel. AA EXP currently, just requaled, but I will have to fly routes where UA/*A is the contract carrier. Is it worth it to try and status match? Primary concern is ability to upgrade to J on long haul from a YCA fare.
Oct 7, 2017, 2:42 pm
#107
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,617
any updates/recent experiences on this? Just got a new job (WAS-based) that will have lots of int'l travel. AA EXP currently, just requaled, but I will have to fly routes where UA/*A is the contract carrier. Is it worth it to try and status match? Primary concern is ability to upgrade to J on long haul from a YCA fare.
Thanks
Thanks
Oct 7, 2017, 2:54 pm
#108
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,273
If your YCA fare books into a W fare or higher, you will have a good chance of upgrading. If it books into a cheaper fare, you're pretty much screwed unless 1) you book early when R>0 or 2) you are 1K. I've been able to upgrade most of my TATL flights on UA even after losing 1K because I have the luxury of booking well in advance of travel.
Oct 7, 2017, 3:31 pm
#109
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,617
Oct 7, 2017, 4:14 pm
#110
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP & million miler
Posts: 3,992
Ive had YCA book into sub-Y fare. Have had success asking TA to book into Y with no change in cost. Not sure whats up w that. Also, sometimes the price dofferential between YCA and _CA is minimal and then I will pay out
of pocket.
of pocket.
Oct 7, 2017, 5:35 pm
#111
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
In an IG audit, booking someone into anything other than the lowest fare bucket which accomplishes the mission pretty much constitutes "waste, fraud, and abuse."
Nothing prohibits you from buying up to any fare, so long as you do not disturb key features such as flexibility.
Nothing prohibits you from buying up to any fare, so long as you do not disturb key features such as flexibility.
Oct 7, 2017, 5:49 pm
#112
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP & million miler
Posts: 3,992
In an IG audit, booking someone into anything other than the lowest fare bucket which accomplishes the mission pretty much constitutes "waste, fraud, and abuse."
Nothing prohibits you from buying up to any fare, so long as you do not disturb key features such as flexibility.
Nothing prohibits you from buying up to any fare, so long as you do not disturb key features such as flexibility.
Oct 8, 2017, 4:39 am
#113
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,617
In an IG audit, booking someone into anything other than the lowest fare bucket which accomplishes the mission pretty much constitutes "waste, fraud, and abuse."
Nothing prohibits you from buying up to any fare, so long as you do not disturb key features such as flexibility.
Nothing prohibits you from buying up to any fare, so long as you do not disturb key features such as flexibility.
Thats what i do. If it can be booked into Y at no cost to govt i do it. If there is any addl cost to govt i pay the difference out of pocket. All are govt fares, vouchers always submitted at lowest available cost. My travel is quite closely scrutinized and no one has an issue so far. Do you see an issue here?
Oct 8, 2017, 5:10 am
#114
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,273
It’s only waste fraud and abuse if I bill the government for the difference between the lowest available government fare and a higher fare. I have been buying up to the higher fare with my own money for the last two years, which is why my upgrade percentage is just as high as it was when I was a 1K.
No issue as long as you don’t claim the upfare amount.
No issue as long as you don’t claim the upfare amount.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 8, 2017 at 5:20 am Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Oct 8, 2017, 6:30 am
#115
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP & million miler
Posts: 3,992
I have had to have the ticket issued as-is, then call the TA to reissue. I then pay the fare difference and the add'l TA fee out of pocket (submit the original ticket receipt). I have not had success trying to reticket with United in this manner. On occassion Ive askee the TA to rebook into full Y when there is no price difference at all, and they have done it without the addl step of ticketing. Not sure why/how the YCA fare is being charged at a less-then-Y fare basis.
Oct 8, 2017, 6:34 am
#116
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,617
LOL, the CTO is the last place to do that. The UA government fare desk will do it most of the time - some of the agents will say they can't, but all you need to do is HUACA.
Oct 8, 2017, 6:37 am
#117
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP & million miler
Posts: 3,992
Exactly.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 8, 2017 at 6:41 am Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Oct 8, 2017, 6:45 am
#118
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,273
Good copy on the Government fare desk.
May 23, 2018, 7:18 pm
#120
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,470
edit: Might be worth adding that Silver status will allow you to use the instant upgrade (to F) if space becomes available.