Are E+ Seats or First Class Upgrades Cheaper at the Gate
Jul 14, 2013 | 4:00 pm
#16
Join Date: May 2010
Location: LAS - HNL
Programs: UA Gold 2014 - Silver 2018
Posts: 63
Have a flight Lax-Hnl tomorrow booked with FF points and I have no United Status. Was offered to upgrade to first class for $299 when I checked in. Was wondering if the upgrade might be cheaper at the airport or closer to the flight and also does the pricing for the E+ seats ever go down.
Jul 14, 2013 | 5:19 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: New York
Programs: BA Ruby (and falling), &c.
Posts: 465
I can confirm that there is variable E+ pricing: prices went UP across the board for E+ seats by around $15 at T-72. Happened to me last week (7/9, UA 114, EWR-LHR). I was somewhat annoyed, because I hadn't heard this was the case and probably would have booked slightly sooner.
Row 20 windows (limited recline) went from $99 to $114; row 21 (exit row) windows (and aisles, maybe? I wanted a window), from $129 to $144. Middle seats had been $88 but were over $100 as well.
It was a fairly empty flight, there were empty seats throughout the flight, both in E+ and E-. I was offered a buy-up to BF at check-in (which I did T-20 or so) for $990. I declined.
Row 20 windows (limited recline) went from $99 to $114; row 21 (exit row) windows (and aisles, maybe? I wanted a window), from $129 to $144. Middle seats had been $88 but were over $100 as well.
It was a fairly empty flight, there were empty seats throughout the flight, both in E+ and E-. I was offered a buy-up to BF at check-in (which I did T-20 or so) for $990. I declined.