Upgrading from an M fare on intl flights
Aug 21, 2012, 10:14 pm
#16
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,814
Yes -- technically GPU/RPU/mileage upgrades drop from EUA @ 24 hours (or they are supposed to) and get added onto the battlefield when you check-in. Sometimes they don't get added to the battlefield and you have to call (or beg) to get it added to the list.
Aug 22, 2012, 9:56 am
#17
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,863
Aug 22, 2012, 10:24 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
I'm sitting with 2 M fare legs right now. ORD-LHR and then AMS-ORD. Both are offering the $300 copay plus 20K miles, but would be waitlisted.
Given my lack of luck with waitlisted things clearing of late, does anybody have an recent success stories of these clearing?
Both flights are showing availability in various upgrade buckets, but I'm not sure what upgraded M books into.
Wondering if folking out $600 in case they clear is worth it.
Given my lack of luck with waitlisted things clearing of late, does anybody have an recent success stories of these clearing?
Both flights are showing availability in various upgrade buckets, but I'm not sure what upgraded M books into.
Wondering if folking out $600 in case they clear is worth it.
Aug 22, 2012, 10:37 am
#19
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: near to SFO and LHR
Programs: BA Gold, B6 Mosiac, VS, AA, DL (and a legacy UA 2MM)
Posts: 2,274
To Eagle007:
yes, check B fares too. Usually a couple hundred $$ higher (per direction) than H for example for TATL flights. If you do manage to snatch an upgrade on a B fare, there will be no co-pay. That's the good news
But in priority, you will be behind all GS, 1K, and Platinums for upgrades. FRA->SFO is a tough upgrade, so I wouldn't spend too much to increase your position over other Prem Exec's.
Better to start watching the seat map very closely about 4 days out. Some of those people in prime seats will be upgraded, and if you're quick you might grab their E+ seat. Check early in the am each day.
yes, check B fares too. Usually a couple hundred $$ higher (per direction) than H for example for TATL flights. If you do manage to snatch an upgrade on a B fare, there will be no co-pay. That's the good news
But in priority, you will be behind all GS, 1K, and Platinums for upgrades. FRA->SFO is a tough upgrade, so I wouldn't spend too much to increase your position over other Prem Exec's.
Better to start watching the seat map very closely about 4 days out. Some of those people in prime seats will be upgraded, and if you're quick you might grab their E+ seat. Check early in the am each day.
Aug 22, 2012, 10:39 am
#20
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: near to SFO and LHR
Programs: BA Gold, B6 Mosiac, VS, AA, DL (and a legacy UA 2MM)
Posts: 2,274
I'm sitting with 2 M fare legs right now. ORD-LHR and then AMS-ORD. Both are offering the $300 copay plus 20K miles, but would be waitlisted.
Given my lack of luck with waitlisted things clearing of late, does anybody have an recent success stories of these clearing?
Both flights are showing availability in various upgrade buckets, but I'm not sure what upgraded M books into.
Wondering if folking out $600 in case they clear is worth it.
Given my lack of luck with waitlisted things clearing of late, does anybody have an recent success stories of these clearing?
Both flights are showing availability in various upgrade buckets, but I'm not sure what upgraded M books into.
Wondering if folking out $600 in case they clear is worth it.
Aug 22, 2012, 10:50 am
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
That's a whole different question. I don't generally think that cash + miles upgrade rates are very good; others insist that crossing an ocean in anything other than a flat-bed is cruel and inhumane.
Aug 22, 2012, 10:53 am
#22
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: near to SFO and LHR
Programs: BA Gold, B6 Mosiac, VS, AA, DL (and a legacy UA 2MM)
Posts: 2,274
Aug 22, 2012, 11:40 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
Another SHARES probelm I saw is that when I completed the transaction it allowed me to select seats in C, but then when I hit "complete" they went away. The system should disallow the initial selection.
Aug 24, 2012, 3:25 pm
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 227
ON the battlefield upgrades, I'm doing SFO-DXB. Obviously I can check into the DXB flight earlier because the SFO flight leaves 6 hours earlier than just the IAD-DXB flight, so do i get that "Extra" priority for being able to check-in earlier than everyone else?
Thanks
Thanks
Aug 24, 2012, 3:37 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
Trick for getting upgrade from DXB-IAD & VV
Ive heard the DXB flight is hard to upgrade. While I've never tried it, I have friends visiting me in Dubai in Oct & Nov (start of high season). The ones that want to fly UA already have confirmed upgraded space on UA w GPU's they got at time of booking. Instead of flying to Dubai on the non stop, they are taking the flight to Kuwait / Bahrain. The loads are not as full it seems in C and a tkt within the Gulf from BAH-DXB is very cheap (even in C on Gulf Air)
Aug 24, 2012, 3:48 pm
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 227
Ive heard the DXB flight is hard to upgrade. While I've never tried it, I have friends visiting me in Dubai in Oct & Nov (start of high season). The ones that want to fly UA already have confirmed upgraded space on UA w GPU's they got at time of booking. Instead of flying to Dubai on the non stop, they are taking the flight to Kuwait / Bahrain. The loads are not as full it seems in C and a tkt within the Gulf from BAH-DXB is very cheap (even in C on Gulf Air)
Available Cabins: F0, FN0, A0, ON0, O0, J6, JN1, C4, D1, Z0, ZN0, P0, PN0, R0, RN0, IN0, I0, Y9, YN9, B5, M0, E0, U0, H0, HN0, Q0, V0, W0, S0, T0, L0, K0, G0, N0, XN0, X0
And the Kuwait one is below, I guess I see 16 open business seats (j9 + c7), is that right? Not really sure how to read these completely yet.
Available Cabins: F0, FN0, A0, ON0, O0, J9, JN0, C7, D6, Z0, ZN0, P0, PN0, R0, RN0, IN0, I0, Y9, YN9, B9, M9, E0, U0, H0, HN0, Q0, V0, W0, S0, T0, L0, K0, G0, N0, XN0, X0
Aug 24, 2012, 3:58 pm
#27
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
No. R is where the upgrades come from.
Again, no. Each of the other buckets in the biz cabin is a subset of the top bucket. They are not additive going across.
Again, no. Each of the other buckets in the biz cabin is a subset of the top bucket. They are not additive going across.
Aug 24, 2012, 8:45 pm
#28
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
The next few weeks are end of summer brake in the Gulf (many Gulf nationals escape the heat in July & Aug. flights TO the gulf should be busy the next few weeks then calm down to normal levels
Aug 24, 2012, 8:46 pm
#29
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 568
Upgrading from an M fare on intl flights
Hold on! When did priority revert to status then bucket? Thought that was reversed 3/3. Looking at the MP website, status first.
Aug 24, 2012, 8:51 pm
#30
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,834
for CPU flights Y,B for elites and M for 1Ks have priority and then RPU/CPU/Miles and then CPU based on status, fare, time ... For Non-CPU flights, it is status, fare, time