thaliajen

Hi- former CO person here. I'm a Plat member, and wondering if, on United Flights, there are any complimentary upgrades to First/BF. On CO the answer was no, so I'm not judging if that is the answer with United, too.

If the answer IS no, are we allowed to UG with miles/extra $? I'm looking at a long flight with an injury and just can't afford the BF prices. I'm not expecting anything, just wondering if it IS a possibility.

I've flown round-trip to London, Dublin, Edinburgh and Paris for approximately $2,500 for BF in past 4 years on CO. They often had a BF sale and I'm also open with my dates. One of the fares I just looked at was over $10,000.

Again- no bad vibes here- just wondering about possibility of upgrades, or any ideas about cutting fares in First/BF for European flights.

PS- I am aware that the Olympics are causing flights and hotels to go up in price. I'm talking about going soon, or in the Fall.

Thanks!

UAPremExecflyer

No complimentary elite upgrades on international flights.
You can upgrade from economy to BusinessFirst either with $$ or miles and $$ or a GPU (Global Premier Upgrade - which you receive as a 1K).
Suggest this thread might be helpful to you http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ilability.html

thaliajen

Thanks!

tehiota

Just to clarify, it is possible to get Complimentary upgrades (CPUs) on 'international' flights; it just depends on destination. Central and 'Northern' South America are eligible for CPUs per United's website. (http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...e/default.aspx)

[I realize the OP was talking about Europe, but wanted to clarify the response for future searches]

bsmnsr

Only if you pay for it with cash, SWU, miles or cash+miles.

roadkit

As an aside, the only airport I have received an Op-Up is NRT. The flight wasn't oversold, and I was flying on a non-upgradeable fare as a 1K.

It was a nice surprise. I recently went through NRT and the GA apologized for not being able to upgrade me, which I though was strange - but I wasn't
T sure if she didn't have seats available or if UA put the screws to the staff at NRT about Op-Ups.

bob_the_d

i've been CPU'd on ICN-NRT lots of times.

Mike Jacoubowsky

Of which cash at check-in or boarding is the only offer that assures you of a seat; miles+copay won't clear without "R" inventory being available, and SWUs require a relevant (more expensive) fare class at booking and "R" inventory availability. Until check-in/gate, at which time it's no longer "R" inventory but a waitlist.

Critic

Wasn't it also established in another thread that CPUs are running on intra-Asia routes?

tehiota

Not sure of the thread, but the link I cited does show Intra-Asia as being included.

exerda

Yes, though excluded (according to .bomb) are:

Tokyo (NRT) to Bangkok (BKK) or Singapore (SIN)
Honolulu (HNL) to Guam (GUM)

I had thought HNL to GUM was CPU-eligible, but .bomb does indicate otherwise.

sbm12

It is not, despite being on a domestic config 772.

Dolomite

As a Gold on a W class flying LAX-PVG, they were announcing $600 voucher, hotel and business class for flying the next day. I was considering it while I arrived at the gate during boarding. I was stopped at the gate and told that I was moved to business class. I was definitely surprised and I guess it may make up for the ~15% complementary upgrade success rate I had this year.

WineCountryUA

Sounds like economy was overbooked and you got a operational upgrade (op-up). It happens but can be rare.

aacharya

Agree - though the other option was better - upgrade and hotel and $600!