COPA Upgrades for United members?
Apr 16, 2013, 10:43 pm
#61
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,752
I've read this thread but don't feel any smarter on how to book and get an upgrade on COPA 
I'd like to take advantage of the below promo and use RPUs for my upgrades
Do I call COPA for that? Am I missing something or is that all I need to do? Also, a mixed UA/CM itinerary might work best. I can't pull this up on either UA or CM [user error?]. Can COPA book this if I call including the W fare for GPUs on the UA segment? Lastly, 24H cancel policy for COPA too?
Cheers -
I'd like to take advantage of the below promo and use RPUs for my upgrades
Do I call COPA for that? Am I missing something or is that all I need to do? Also, a mixed UA/CM itinerary might work best. I can't pull this up on either UA or CM [user error?]. Can COPA book this if I call including the W fare for GPUs on the UA segment? Lastly, 24H cancel policy for COPA too?
Cheers -
Apr 17, 2013, 5:27 am
#62
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDE
Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP
Posts: 1,511
Do I call COPA for that? Am I missing something or is that all I need to do? Also, a mixed UA/CM itinerary might work best. I can't pull this up on either UA or CM [user error?]. Can COPA book this if I call including the W fare for GPUs on the UA segment? Lastly, 24H cancel policy for COPA too?
The UA website will not show you COPA routings if UA has an alternative. For example, when I book IAD-MDE, the UA site will not show COPA's IAD-PTY-MDE routing. The exception to that rule is if you look up award travel instead of paid tickets.
I would look on Hipmunk or Orbitz. Find a routing that includes both airlines and call COPA to see if they can book it for you if you want the 25% PQM bonus. However, the COPA agent cannot apply the GPU. You will have to call UA separately to do that. If you want to use GPU's, any UA metal must be W or better.
I've never done it myself, since I don't have the patience for all of that.
I don't think that COPA has a 24 hour policy like UA. At least, I have never seen anything in their published materials that says so.
Apr 28, 2013, 6:38 am
#64
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDE
Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP
Posts: 1,511
I don't know if COPA agents can book you into specific fares on UA. IME, they do not know much about the UA system.
Apr 29, 2013, 2:35 pm
#65
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: SCL
Programs: UA MileagePlus 1K, TK Miles & Smiles Elite, AAdvantage Member
Posts: 13
Just to share a personal experience, I am a UA 1K and flew W fare on SAN-IAH-PTY-SCL in February 2013 and received CPUs on the IAH-PTY (United) and PTY-SCL (Copa) segments. Copa business class was not bad. No lie flat seats but they were extended recline and an amenity pouch was given. Definitely better than UA domestic F in terms of seat comfort, food, and beverage selection. The trip was booked on United.com
Since Copa and UA share a MileageProgram, you should still get all your status perks on Copa (lounge access, upgrades, etc.)
Since Copa and UA share a MileageProgram, you should still get all your status perks on Copa (lounge access, upgrades, etc.)
Apr 29, 2013, 3:27 pm
#66
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Costa Rica
Programs: UA 1K, Priority Platinum, Marriot Gold, Delta Platinum
Posts: 308
CPU rate for me has been 8/8 this year flying COPA as a 1K
Apr 29, 2013, 4:13 pm
#67
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SFO/JFK/MGA
Programs: UA 1P MM, AA-PP, AS, DL, HH G, SPG Gold, TA nada
Posts: 2,043
To get the 25% PQM bonus, you do need to call COPA or use their website. The ticket would be on COPA stock. Unfortunately, on the website it is hard to find combined COPA/UA tickets. The site only allows you to select cities to which COPA flies, so if your itinerary does not include one of those cities, that won't work.
Apr 29, 2013, 4:44 pm
#68
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDE
Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP
Posts: 1,511
Unfortunately, my company is cracking down on the requirement to use the company travel agency, so I have only received the bonus on one flight this year.
Apr 30, 2013, 3:01 am
#69
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
I know you have a lot of experience in this area, but I will confirm that you are correct. I often book COPA flights through United, and while the United site says "not eligible for an upgrade," the standard COPA upgrade process always runs.
The other thing that I will mention in case others need the information is this:
The United site will not let you select a seat. However, you can select you seat on www.copaair.com. You will need the COPA PNR, which is different than the United PNR. You can find the COPA PNR on the United site by looking at your reservation. The link is called something like "other information."
On the COPA site, click on "manage your booking." You enter your COPA PNR and last name. Eventually (it's slow) your reservation will appear, and you then choose "select flight preferences." Don't try this immediately after you book the flight on the UA site, as you cannot select seats on COPA until the flight is actually ticketed. I usually do it a day later.
The other thing that I will mention in case others need the information is this:
The United site will not let you select a seat. However, you can select you seat on www.copaair.com. You will need the COPA PNR, which is different than the United PNR. You can find the COPA PNR on the United site by looking at your reservation. The link is called something like "other information."
On the COPA site, click on "manage your booking." You enter your COPA PNR and last name. Eventually (it's slow) your reservation will appear, and you then choose "select flight preferences." Don't try this immediately after you book the flight on the UA site, as you cannot select seats on COPA until the flight is actually ticketed. I usually do it a day later.
I now just buy a Copa discount business ticket (D) and don't worry about upgrades. It's a true bargain. RT LAX-PTY for approx. $1200. With class of service and 25% EQ bonus, that's approx. 11,500 EQM.
It is a very well run airline and the hard product to PTY so much better than the truly awful equipment United flies out of Houston. (Though the PTY Copa Club has to be one of the worst lounges in the entire SA system.)
Apr 30, 2013, 4:39 am
#70
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDE
Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP
Posts: 1,511
BTW - right now they are working on the front desk area, so there is a temporary (?) entrance from the second level where the food court is located. Stairs or elevator are in front of gate 22.
Apr 30, 2013, 4:46 am
#71
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
I personally do not recommend booking a UA codeshare, but rather purchasing the ticket direct from Copa. I have encountered all sorts of trouble getting United to properly credit miles from their own codeshare, primarily because they book into fare buckets that do not exist in the Copa system. This can lead to arcane rules interpretations which basically translate into "you are going to spend many hours repeating your story up the CS chain before someone stops saying 'no' long enough to undertand what actually happened."
I now just buy a Copa discount business ticket (D) and don't worry about upgrades. It's a true bargain. RT LAX-PTY for approx. $1200. With class of service and 25% EQ bonus, that's approx. 11,500 EQM.
It is a very well run airline and the hard product to PTY so much better than the truly awful equipment United flies out of Houston. (Though the PTY Copa Club has to be one of the worst lounges in the entire SA system.)
I now just buy a Copa discount business ticket (D) and don't worry about upgrades. It's a true bargain. RT LAX-PTY for approx. $1200. With class of service and 25% EQ bonus, that's approx. 11,500 EQM.
It is a very well run airline and the hard product to PTY so much better than the truly awful equipment United flies out of Houston. (Though the PTY Copa Club has to be one of the worst lounges in the entire SA system.)
Apr 30, 2013, 4:55 am
#72
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA 1K MM | Marriott LTT | National Car EE
Posts: 694
http://www.copaair.com/sites/CC/en/M...s-premier.aspx
Apr 30, 2013, 6:08 am
#73
Formerly known as I_Hate_US_Airways
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Just South Of North
Programs: My Loyalty Programs? I now VOTE with my wallet!!!
Posts: 2,568
Go To The Other North America/South America Forums
Apr 30, 2013, 7:41 am
#74
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NorCal - 1K 2MM
Posts: 2,089
+1 By all means check the Copa D fares (requiring CM as the issuing carrier, not UA) before starting the upgrade process. You'll be amazed how nice it feels not to hassle with any kind of UA upgrade, have a confirmed seat, and get the bonuses!
Apr 30, 2013, 10:47 am
#75
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDE
Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP
Posts: 1,511
on the Copa site, it indicates that 1K do get 100% bonus RDM. i have to bend my thinking a bit, but i think the bonus is implicit because they have MP as their FF program.
http://www.copaair.com/sites/CC/en/M...s-premier.aspx
http://www.copaair.com/sites/CC/en/M...s-premier.aspx
- Same RDM bonus based on Premiere level.
- All standard fare classes minimum 100% RDM
- Bonus 50% RDM for Y, B, M and (I think) H
- Bonus for C and D
- Min 500 mile credit for Premiere FF members