Apr 8, 2015, 3:27 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
One of the more confusing aspects of cash upgrades is "does this upgrade get premium cabin mileage bonus and is the fee included in PQD?"
The best assumption is no bonus and fee is not included in PQD but there are some cases where there will be a premium cabin bonus and amount will count toward PQD.
There are multiple cash upgrade paths and different ones are offered at different times (and can be quite hard to separate).
The key is what is the new fare basis after the upgrade. Note R, RN, P, PN, ZN, ON, A and others have been reported.
The following are generally not eligible for PQD or bonus:
However the offer, in "My Reservations" via the cash method tab "Buy Up to First" under "View {Upgrade} Options" is likely to be eligible for PQDs & PQM bonus.
**** Due to UA changes in May 2018, this statement may not be relieable ****
**** This now appears to be an Upgrade Fee (no PQDs) and may book into Upgrade fare class (no extra PQMs) or into a mileage earning bonus fare class (PQMs earning). Unclear if that is a way to tell which will happen ****
Generally these will be reflected on the receipt as
Notice the words "generally" and "likely" -- those are weasel words to protect the wiki author because of the lack of transparency in this system 
For instance, some time of checkin paid upgrades that book into P, will earn PQM bonus but not earn PQDs.
Checking the actual fare basis during booking when you are given access (or using the Saudi site) is key in understanding the outcome.
UA Insider commented on this a while back, but there has been no improvement in the confusion / clarity in the meantime.
The best assumption is no bonus and fee is not included in PQD but there are some cases where there will be a premium cabin bonus and amount will count toward PQD.
There are multiple cash upgrade paths and different ones are offered at different times (and can be quite hard to separate).
The key is what is the new fare basis after the upgrade. Note R, RN, P, PN, ZN, ON, A and others have been reported.
- Many of the upgrade offers results in R/PN/ZN fare class (and post as Zx) -- so like a regular upgrade the mileage posting is based on the original fare class. The upgrade fee does not earn PQDs.
- Others bump the fare basis to a -UP fare which reports as a P/Z/A fare class, these are now earning PQMs at the up-fared fare class and the up-fare costs earns PQDs.
- And others book into a true P/Z/A fare basis and will earn the PQM bonus and the up-fare cost will earn PQDs.
The following are generally not eligible for PQD or bonus:
- Pop-up upgrade immediately following purchase on united.com
- Last minute upgrade at check-in
Additional Charges:
Date/CreditCard XXXX was charged xxx USD for the Merchandising / EDD
xxx USD for: Premium Cabin Upgrade
Date/CreditCard XXXX was charged xxx USD for the Merchandising / EDD
xxx USD for: Premium Cabin Upgrade
**** Due to UA changes in May 2018, this statement may not be relieable ****
**** This now appears to be an Upgrade Fee (no PQDs) and may book into Upgrade fare class (no extra PQMs) or into a mileage earning bonus fare class (PQMs earning). Unclear if that is a way to tell which will happen ****
Generally these will be reflected on the receipt as
Add Collect: An additional amount for the difference in fare was charged to {card} on {date}. $yyy USD per ticket for an additional total of $yyy USD was collected.
For instance, some time of checkin paid upgrades that book into P, will earn PQM bonus but not earn PQDs.
Checking the actual fare basis during booking when you are given access (or using the Saudi site) is key in understanding the outcome.
UA Insider commented on this a while back, but there has been no improvement in the confusion / clarity in the meantime.
Hi Everyone,
I’ve done a little bit of research on this, and I wanted to share some background on the scenario vandrei shared.
At a high level, and as a some of you have noticed more recently in the thread, the buy-up offer we sometimes present immediately upon booking an economy ticket is indeed distinct from the one presented when viewing a reservation in My Account at some point after the flight has been ticketed and confirmed. For example, the offer at booking enables customers to the flexibility to confirm an upgraded seat on a segment-by-segment basis, whereas the one in My Reservations is based on the line of flight.
Additionally, from a functional perspective, the offer immediately upon booking does not change the underlying fare basis for the original purchased fare (even though the visible fare class is reflective of the buy-up inventory), whereas the one in My Reservations results in a complete re-issue of the existing ticket. It is this aspect of the functionality which drives mileage accrual, which is based on the original purchased fare for the offer immediately after booking, but based on the new fare class for the offer in My Reservations. These policies are disclosed in each offer’s respective (and indeed, different) terms and conditions.
Longer-term, the vision is indeed to align mileage accrual policies between the two types of offers. In the meantime, the tradeoff between the two offers continues to be one of additional miles vs. the flexibility to confirm on a segment-by-segment basis.
Aaron Goldberg
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
I’ve done a little bit of research on this, and I wanted to share some background on the scenario vandrei shared.
At a high level, and as a some of you have noticed more recently in the thread, the buy-up offer we sometimes present immediately upon booking an economy ticket is indeed distinct from the one presented when viewing a reservation in My Account at some point after the flight has been ticketed and confirmed. For example, the offer at booking enables customers to the flexibility to confirm an upgraded seat on a segment-by-segment basis, whereas the one in My Reservations is based on the line of flight.
Additionally, from a functional perspective, the offer immediately upon booking does not change the underlying fare basis for the original purchased fare (even though the visible fare class is reflective of the buy-up inventory), whereas the one in My Reservations results in a complete re-issue of the existing ticket. It is this aspect of the functionality which drives mileage accrual, which is based on the original purchased fare for the offer immediately after booking, but based on the new fare class for the offer in My Reservations. These policies are disclosed in each offer’s respective (and indeed, different) terms and conditions.
Longer-term, the vision is indeed to align mileage accrual policies between the two types of offers. In the meantime, the tradeoff between the two offers continues to be one of additional miles vs. the flexibility to confirm on a segment-by-segment basis.
Aaron Goldberg
Sr. Manager - Customer Experience Planning
United Airlines
Some Paid Upgrades Count Towards PQD & mileage bonus and some DON'T!
Aug 13, 2013, 11:52 am
#166
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K (MM), DL, AA, AS, HHonors, SPG, Kimpton, Hyatt, IC PC, Marriott Titanium (LT PLT), Hertz PC
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It's complicated, and there is more discussion here.
Aug 13, 2013, 12:00 pm
#167
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K (MM), DL, AA, AS, HHonors, SPG, Kimpton, Hyatt, IC PC, Marriott Titanium (LT PLT), Hertz PC
Posts: 7,224
You can see what your new fare class will be. See post #139. This *should* clarify for anyone considering a buy-up whether they will get bonus miles/segments or not.
Aug 13, 2013, 12:55 pm
#168
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Charlottesville
Programs: UA Gold, VX Gold, AA PLT, DL Gold, MR Gold, HH Diamond, Hertz 5* Gold
Posts: 469
I recently flew round trip SFO - ORD, and at time of ticketing was offered a buy-up to First (A) which I bought. The fights were recently completed, and even though the reciept indicates the leg was an "A" fare, it credited as a "W" and only 1x miles for PQM purposes.
Does anyone have experience in sorting this out? Or did I miss the fine print somewhere?
Thanks for your insight -
Does anyone have experience in sorting this out? Or did I miss the fine print somewhere?
Thanks for your insight -
Aug 13, 2013, 1:26 pm
#169
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 295
This started happening to me this year, so I stopped buying up completely. The policy partially de-incentivizes buy-ups, at least for elites or anyone trying to attain or maintain elite status. One more nail in the coffin. I'm about to start flying B6 (with their new lower priced transcon product), and just buy tickets on whatever international airline has the best price for product for my destination. I think this is what the airline is hinting that it wants me to do, so I should start obliging.
Aug 19, 2013, 2:11 pm
#170
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: UA PP, AA, DL, BA, CX, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 2,002
$15 TOD for B-fare ?
I've just booked a one-way B fare ticket, and after ticketing, it's offering me to buy-up for either $15 or 10,000 miles.
My question is (1) what fare code it usually buys up to (Z, P, J, F) and (2) would I get mileage credit based on the B fare or the buy-up ?
My question is (1) what fare code it usually buys up to (Z, P, J, F) and (2) would I get mileage credit based on the B fare or the buy-up ?
Aug 19, 2013, 2:14 pm
#171
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Is this a domestic flight? If it is you should be upgraded automatically based on being Platinum, though you may need to call in if it isn't giving you the option to process online (and if would book you up into PN which doesn't change your fare basis and you would earn mileage credit on the B fare).
If it's an international flight others would know better
If it's an international flight others would know better
Aug 19, 2013, 2:23 pm
#172
Suspended
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Programs: UA PP, AA, DL, BA, CX, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 2,002
Is this a domestic flight? If it is you should be upgraded automatically based on being Platinum, though you may need to call in if it isn't giving you the option to process online (and if would book you up into PN which doesn't change your fare basis and you would earn mileage credit on the B fare).
If it's an international flight others would know better
If it's an international flight others would know better
Aug 19, 2013, 2:28 pm
#173
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
If you're on a B fare you'll get 50% bonus PQM's anyway so there's no advantage on that. I don't know if you'd get the 50% bonus RDM's if you pay the $15. It might be worth it just to try it out and see.. that's only the cost of 1 martini.
Aug 19, 2013, 2:29 pm
#174
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,263
I guess you would earn extra RDMs. But I don't think its worth it unless your flight is over 1500mi or so
Aug 19, 2013, 3:04 pm
#175
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,686
Be careful taking the TOD, it may impact the refund-ability/fees of your fare.
Aug 19, 2013, 4:38 pm
#176
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,512
2) Based on the new fare if the ticket is reissued.
You may want to be careful as the $15 buy-up to to the next fare could take a refundable B fare and turn it into a non-refundable Z/P fare. So you must click on "Fare Rules" before paying for the $15 upgrade. That will also tell you the new fare basis which you can map back to booking class. If it shows a non-UP Y fare, you know you will book into JN. If it shows a **UP** fare, you know you will book into P or above and will get a COS bonus.
Last edited by Ari; Aug 19, 2013 at 4:44 pm
Aug 20, 2013, 3:04 pm
#177
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: RIC
Programs: Hertz Presidents Circle, Avis Presidents Club,National EE, Hilton honors Gold,hyatt Plat,MP Silver
Posts: 141
I am BEYOND pissed off, I just flown from IAD-FRA and for the first time i opted to take the kiosk offer into BF (thinking ..., I'm trying to make Gold status by years end)
After trolling the forum i happen upon this thread, I check my MP account and the segment is credited as Z but no bonus miles...I'm almost positive the offer on the kiosk mentions receiving additional miles
way beyond pissed, to me this is deceptive marketing..They spell out to you in the offer to buy miles that the miles aren't PQM..
As a new Club Card holder i'm reconsidering everything united now
After trolling the forum i happen upon this thread, I check my MP account and the segment is credited as Z but no bonus miles...I'm almost positive the offer on the kiosk mentions receiving additional miles
way beyond pissed, to me this is deceptive marketing..They spell out to you in the offer to buy miles that the miles aren't PQM..
As a new Club Card holder i'm reconsidering everything united now
Aug 23, 2013, 4:09 pm
#178
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,512
I am BEYOND pissed off, I just flown from IAD-FRA and for the first time i opted to take the kiosk offer into BF (thinking ..., I'm trying to make Gold status by years end)
After trolling the forum i happen upon this thread, I check my MP account and the segment is credited as Z but no bonus miles...I'm almost positive the offer on the kiosk mentions receiving additional miles
way beyond pissed, to me this is deceptive marketing..They spell out to you in the offer to buy miles that the miles aren't PQM..
As a new Club Card holder i'm reconsidering everything united now
After trolling the forum i happen upon this thread, I check my MP account and the segment is credited as Z but no bonus miles...I'm almost positive the offer on the kiosk mentions receiving additional miles
way beyond pissed, to me this is deceptive marketing..They spell out to you in the offer to buy miles that the miles aren't PQM..
As a new Club Card holder i'm reconsidering everything united now
Aug 25, 2013, 10:10 am
#179
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: RIC
Programs: Hertz Presidents Circle, Avis Presidents Club,National EE, Hilton honors Gold,hyatt Plat,MP Silver
Posts: 141
If the offer was on a KIOSK at check-in, the offer was not supposed to include bonus RDM/PQM. I can't testify as to what you read on the screen, but the only buy-up offers that give bonus PQM/RDM are the ones in "My Reservations" in united.com that re-issue the ticket-- and only when the ticket is re-issued into a premium booking class. The terms and conditions of each offer have to be read each time.
i remember seeing an upgrade offer for about 1400 which i realize was the one i needed, problem is that offer and the "buy-up look exactly the same
either way i'll live with it, i have 2-3 more DXB-IAD flights in the next yr, if i'm going to pay for BF it will be with LF
Aug 25, 2013, 12:31 pm
#180
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,984
You might be confusing the upgrade purchase screen with another screen where you given the opportunity to purchase extra miles - a completely separate offer.
