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!
Apr 30, 2013, 7:41 pm
#61
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Minneapolis, MN (MSP)
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K MM, Subway Club Member
Posts: 1,988
A few pages back, I was advising the OP that if their new fare is an -UP fare they should get the COS bonus.
What UA seems to do with some of the post-purchase upgrades is book you into P (or some other discount booking code) but keep your fare basis the same as what you purchased (with no ticket reissue). This is the situation the OP came back and described happened to him (his fare basis stayed the same and his reservation changed).
As I've said before, I think the core issue is that someone besides the crew that writes text for the websites has changed the backend system to offer upgrades that only change the reservation and leave the ticket alone. This results in an upgraded seat but no COS bonus.
With regards to GS...I think the new qualification is more of a inclusive spend approach rather than spending on specific fares.
I'd be willing to bet that there are UA staff, perhaps even the ones who write the text that we see on the website, that don't understand the differences. Heck, there are reservations agents that don't understand and this is the core of their job. I think this is just another example of the deep-rooted problems at United.
Last edited by kenn0223; Apr 30, 2013 at 7:46 pm
Apr 30, 2013, 8:03 pm
#63
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
We know what a fare class is and we know what a fare basis is. I have never heard of a booking class.
It's clear UA made no effort to be clear and is, in fact, very intentionally misleading.
Apr 30, 2013, 8:18 pm
#64
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Minneapolis, MN (MSP)
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K MM, Subway Club Member
Posts: 1,988
UA has bucked the norm and has been linking one booking code with one or more fare basises. P is a good example; I have never seen a fare with a P fare basis or a fare code starting with P but all sorts of fares book into P. By doing this the UA cronies who craft the schemes are confused, the bots that sell them are confused, the agents that have to untangle the mess are confused, and the customers... we're all confused. It seems that some of these combinations do count as "revenue" first (like the -UP fares) and some do not (like the OP's example).
I guess this is one of the "flexibility" bennies that SHARES brings.
Apr 30, 2013, 9:38 pm
#65
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
Booking Code and Fare Basis are typically used interchangeably with Booking Code more often used in the context of reservations and Fare Basis used more for ticketing. Historically, this has been a one letter code and is the first letter of the fare code (so a V fare basis could have a V2UA7N fare code)
UA has bucked the norm and has been linking one booking code with one or more fare basises. P is a good example; I have never seen a fare with a P fare basis or a fare code starting with P but all sorts of fares book into P. By doing this the UA cronies who craft the schemes are confused, the bots that sell them are confused, the agents that have to untangle the mess are confused, and the customers... we're all confused. It seems that some of these combinations do count as "revenue" first (like the -UP fares) and some do not (like the OP's example).
I guess this is one of the "flexibility" bennies that SHARES brings.
UA has bucked the norm and has been linking one booking code with one or more fare basises. P is a good example; I have never seen a fare with a P fare basis or a fare code starting with P but all sorts of fares book into P. By doing this the UA cronies who craft the schemes are confused, the bots that sell them are confused, the agents that have to untangle the mess are confused, and the customers... we're all confused. It seems that some of these combinations do count as "revenue" first (like the -UP fares) and some do not (like the OP's example).
I guess this is one of the "flexibility" bennies that SHARES brings.
So, booking code = booking class = fare basis.
And none of those three terms are the same as fare class.
How does one know that a given fare basis books into a given fare class?
Let's say you are using expert flyer to look for cheap business fares. If you search for P inventory, you see what's available in P. But, how can you search using expert flyer for discounted fares? Seems impossible.
Apr 30, 2013, 10:52 pm
#66
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
If you have to document everything, it seems that a simpler solution is to vote with your feet and to go to a carrier that doesn't play games and doesn't force its pax to get involved into this nonsense.
Are you kidding? This is outright fraud. UA upgrades are cheaper than buy-ups, and the whole point of buy-ups is extra PQMs & RDMs.
Are you kidding? This is outright fraud. UA upgrades are cheaper than buy-ups, and the whole point of buy-ups is extra PQMs & RDMs.
The rest of the mess is definitely sketchy but I would label it as incompetence rather than fraud (which my Wikipedia law degree says requires willful intent to swindle).
First, a mistake, not corrected becomes fraud. Second, there are two types of fraud statutory (consumer) fraud and common law fraud. Consumer fraud statutes bar unfair trade practices, which this clearly is.When dealing with consumer transactions, a breach of contract quickly becomes consumer fraud when it is part of a pattern and practice.
OP, send a complaint to DOT, you will get a quick response from UA.
Apr 30, 2013, 11:24 pm
#67
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 have been getting quick responses from UA - all of which say that I only earn PQM based on the original fare class purchased (emphasis on original). This, of course, implies that I purchased a ticket in P fare class, which, according to United's Web site, suggests I should get bonus PQM.
Maybe the responses will be different if a DOT complaint is involved.
Maybe the responses will be different if a DOT complaint is involved.
May 1, 2013, 12:14 am
#68
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: US CP ; LH FTL ; *G
Posts: 1,630
The first sentence is the reasonable response. To make the mistake in the first place is not fraud, to insist that you will not honor a documented offer is fraud. And a pattern of doing this, and hoping you will not get called on it, is consumer fraud.
Practicing law on Wikipedia is a dangerous thing... First, a mistake, not corrected becomes fraud. Second, there are two types of fraud statutory (consumer) fraud and common law fraud. Consumer fraud statutes bar unfair trade practices, which this clearly is.
See above, re practicing law based on Wiki. Courts routinely find that an offer (either written or in writing) trumps the "fine print" Here (if what has been posted is correct) there was a clear offer which was agreed to. The fine print is not a defense in a contract action, nor to a consumer fraud action if UA refuses to give what was offered so as to constitute an "unfair or deceptive trade practice."
When dealing with consumer transactions, a breach of contract quickly becomes consumer fraud when it is part of a pattern and practice.
OP, send a complaint to DOT, you will get a quick response from UA.
Practicing law on Wikipedia is a dangerous thing...
First, a mistake, not corrected becomes fraud. Second, there are two types of fraud statutory (consumer) fraud and common law fraud. Consumer fraud statutes bar unfair trade practices, which this clearly is.See above, re practicing law based on Wiki. Courts routinely find that an offer (either written or in writing) trumps the "fine print" Here (if what has been posted is correct) there was a clear offer which was agreed to. The fine print is not a defense in a contract action, nor to a consumer fraud action if UA refuses to give what was offered so as to constitute an "unfair or deceptive trade practice."
When dealing with consumer transactions, a breach of contract quickly becomes consumer fraud when it is part of a pattern and practice.
OP, send a complaint to DOT, you will get a quick response from UA.
I was under the impression that the OP didn't get PQMs for a ticket with an appropriate fare basis, but it seems from the subsequent discussion that the problem was that the OP didn't read the fare rules, which, although may seem arcane to an average flyer, are very much conspicuously placed.
So, the basis for whatever claim OP could make would be that the rules were not stated clearly. That may or may not be the case. But given with the fact that UA sometimes gives CoS bonus for V-UPs even though it's not supposed to, by the rules, I doubt very much that you'd make out any claim other than in contract, which means arbitration ( and abandonment by any claimant who values his time and money more than a chance to get moral satisfaction by winning arbitration proceedings ) .
At any rate, all this is speculation since by OP's own admission, he doesn't remember complete details of what happened.
Last edited by burlax; May 1, 2013 at 12:29 am
May 1, 2013, 6:13 am
#69
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 295
Maybe this is posted elsewhere in the thread ... what about flights where you've bought up, and that then post as ZW, or ZN for example, where the N and the W are the original coach fare class that you purchased? I have a slew of buy-ups, where the screen said it was a Z fare I was buying up to, but then posted later as above with no bonus. I didn't keep screen shots, and it almost seems too late to go back and try to fix it, but I do feel cheated now. I am far less likely to buy up with this in place.
I noticed also that where I used GPUs, the miles posted the same way (ZL, or ZQ). These used to post to the upgrade bucket (R class), if I recall correctly.
I noticed also that where I used GPUs, the miles posted the same way (ZL, or ZQ). These used to post to the upgrade bucket (R class), if I recall correctly.
May 1, 2013, 7:29 am
#70
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Minneapolis, MN (MSP)
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K MM, Subway Club Member
Posts: 1,988
Just to be clear. You are defining a booking code as a fare basis.
So, booking code = booking class = fare basis.
And none of those three terms are the same as fare class.
How does one know that a given fare basis books into a given fare class?
Let's say you are using expert flyer to look for cheap business fares. If you search for P inventory, you see what's available in P. But, how can you search using expert flyer for discounted fares? Seems impossible.
So, booking code = booking class = fare basis.
And none of those three terms are the same as fare class.
How does one know that a given fare basis books into a given fare class?
Let's say you are using expert flyer to look for cheap business fares. If you search for P inventory, you see what's available in P. But, how can you search using expert flyer for discounted fares? Seems impossible.
So, it appears that you CANNOT use EF to find the fares that map to the P booking code.
Maybe this is posted elsewhere in the thread ... what about flights where you've bought up, and that then post as ZW, or ZN for example, where the N and the W are the original coach fare class that you purchased? I have a slew of buy-ups, where the screen said it was a Z fare I was buying up to, but then posted later as above with no bonus. I didn't keep screen shots, and it almost seems too late to go back and try to fix it, but I do feel cheated now. I am far less likely to buy up with this in place.
I noticed also that where I used GPUs, the miles posted the same way (ZL, or ZQ). These used to post to the upgrade bucket (R class), if I recall correctly.
I noticed also that where I used GPUs, the miles posted the same way (ZL, or ZQ). These used to post to the upgrade bucket (R class), if I recall correctly.
This type of complexity is one of the benefits etickets brought to the industry. Before when there was a need for manual matching of the paper ticket to the reservation (which is when "checking-in" actually served a purpose) things needed to be simple. Now, that is all done by a computer in real time, things are ticketed at the time of purchase, customers don't view the reservation and ticket as separate things, and the airlines can be a lot more creative.
Last edited by kenn0223; May 1, 2013 at 7:35 am
May 1, 2013, 7:45 am
#71
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 295
Yes ... the type of "creativity" that involves duping the customer into thinking they are buying up to a higher PQM-earning fare in order to get them to make the purchase. Let's all applaud this "enhancement" for the industry. Pffft.
May 1, 2013, 7:48 am
#72
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
Yes, Booking Codes are the same Booking Classes (both are terms used in the context of a reservation). Historically they have mapped directly to the Fare Basis (which is a term used in the context of a ticket) and ultimately as part of the fare code. HOWEVER, I think UA is bucking this trend and using booking codes that do not map directly to a fare basis. P is a good example, I cannot find any filed fares with a P basis however a bunch of the -UP fares translate into P.
So, it appears that you CANNOT use EF to find the fares that map to the P booking code.
So, it appears that you CANNOT use EF to find the fares that map to the P booking code.
1. What you describe makes it impossible for someone to use EF to search for cheap fares. It implies that the only way to search for cheap fares is to go to each airline site individually and search day by day. What I usually do is go to EF and look for P or Z, on a range of days, across a range of airlines, to see where there is some cheap J inventory. If what you say is true, this strategy is incomplete, and the only alternative is one that requires 1000x more time and effort. Because, it seems, nobody except the airline knows these rules.
2. What you have described, assuming it's accurate, seems virtually impossible to understand. We can see fare class on web site. With a lot of work, we can find fare basis. But, we can't find booking code or booking class and in the case you describe where booking codes, which are invisible to the pax to begin with, don't even map to a fare basis, what the heck is a person supposed to do?
3. None of this ties to UA's language that says the "fare" determines the PQM rate. "Fare" is still undefined.
Look. They can do whatever they want to do in their revenue maximization efforts. But, refusing to honor promised PQM earning rates is fraud. And totally unacceptable.
If the ticket looks like it's P then it should earn an P rates. If not, they should make it clear.
May 1, 2013, 8:16 am
#73
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 92
I have always had pqm earned on the upgraded fare as long as it is purchased ahead of time. Day of departure upgrades do not qualify. They do occasionally post wrong. I had a buy up fare that showed P and posted W. It took 4 emails to Mileage Plus but they eventually fixed it. That have a lot of confusion on this issue.
May 1, 2013, 8:25 am
#74
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,597
I have always had pqm earned on the upgraded fare as long as it is purchased ahead of time. Day of departure upgrades do not qualify. They do occasionally post wrong. I had a buy up fare that showed P and posted W. It took 4 emails to Mileage Plus but they eventually fixed it. That have a lot of confusion on this issue.
May 1, 2013, 8:28 am
#75
Formerly known as CollegeFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: JRA
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That's why customers are constantly getting $5 off coupons and other silly stuff from class-action suits, because the plaintiffs' lawyers don't care to go to a full trial once they get their attorney's fees. But the courts are not "consistently upholding the fine print," or else the customers would not even be getting the $5 coupon.