Asked to pay $449 to upgrade AFTER shelled out a $600 co-pay AND 20,000 miles
Sep 28, 2013, 1:40 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: The Internets
Posts: 8,266
Asked to pay $449 to upgrade AFTER shelled out a $600 co-pay AND 20,000 miles
Really, United?
BKK-NRT-LAX, NRT-LAX cleared weeks ago. BKK-NRT didn't.
At check-in I am asked to pay $449 to upgrade. Thing is, if I do not pay up, I will get no refund on the $600 co-pay or the 20,000 miles.
So wait, Dear United. I paid for the upgrade per MP rules. You have seats available. You will not upgrade me unless I pay you ANOTHER $449? Or worse, you will upgrade me AFTER someone takes that offer, if I can be upgraded at all?
Selling upgrades at the gate, in front of passengers on a wait list with EARNED upgrade instruments is an offensive reward for loyalty.
BKK-NRT-LAX, NRT-LAX cleared weeks ago. BKK-NRT didn't.
At check-in I am asked to pay $449 to upgrade. Thing is, if I do not pay up, I will get no refund on the $600 co-pay or the 20,000 miles.
So wait, Dear United. I paid for the upgrade per MP rules. You have seats available. You will not upgrade me unless I pay you ANOTHER $449? Or worse, you will upgrade me AFTER someone takes that offer, if I can be upgraded at all?
Selling upgrades at the gate, in front of passengers on a wait list with EARNED upgrade instruments is an offensive reward for loyalty.
Sep 28, 2013, 3:28 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton GLD, Marriott Plat, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 2,872
Yes, it's unfortunate that UA is selling cash upgrades while people are on the waitlist. This is well known, but I do not see why this requires you wind up paying (effectively) $1049 and 20k miles for a one-cabin upgrade.
Sep 28, 2013, 3:35 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SFO, IAH
Programs: UA MM, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 434
Asked to pay $449 to upgrade AFTER shelled out a $600 co-pay AND 20,000 miles
I think the OP paid $600 + 20K miles to upgrade the entire trip BKK-NRT-LAX. Since NRT-LAX cleared, he doesn't get a refund regardless of wherever BKK-NRT clears. Bummer.
Sep 28, 2013, 4:54 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,490
OP paid $600 + 20K to upgrade NRT-LAX, BKK-NRT didn't clear. UA upgrade pricing is the same if you clear any international portion. Then, UA sells cash upgrade to all for BKK-NRT at $449. Hyperbole aside, the question is should UA upgrade waitlisted elite first or sell cash upgrade first?
Not making judgement, just trying to clarify the situation.
Last edited by TerryK; Sep 28, 2013 at 6:30 am
Sep 28, 2013, 5:58 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,490
, but I won't except UA to change upgrade policy based on a tweet or PM.
Miles and co-pay collection and refunds policy
Your miles and co-pay are due at the time when you request an upgrade, even if you are waitlisted. We will automatically refund any miles, co-pay and taxes you paid if none of your flights are upgraded. In most instances, the MileagePlus Upgrade Award will be considered used if any segment of your travel is upgraded. However, if your travel includes requested upgrades to United BusinessFirst and/or United Global First, and none of the United BusinessFirst or United Global First segments are upgraded, then your MileagePlus Upgrade Award will not be considered used, even if you are upgraded to United First or United Business on another segment. In these instances, we will fully redeposit your miles and co-pay. When applicable, these refunds will occur automatically seven to 10 days after travel.
Your miles and co-pay are due at the time when you request an upgrade, even if you are waitlisted. We will automatically refund any miles, co-pay and taxes you paid if none of your flights are upgraded. In most instances, the MileagePlus Upgrade Award will be considered used if any segment of your travel is upgraded. However, if your travel includes requested upgrades to United BusinessFirst and/or United Global First, and none of the United BusinessFirst or United Global First segments are upgraded, then your MileagePlus Upgrade Award will not be considered used, even if you are upgraded to United First or United Business on another segment. In these instances, we will fully redeposit your miles and co-pay. When applicable, these refunds will occur automatically seven to 10 days after travel.
Similar situation except that his transpacific segment didn't clear and was offered cash upgrade at airport. He bought cash upgrade and got his copay+miles back per UA policy.@:-)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...und-copay.html
Again, the real question is: should UA upgrade waitlisted elite first or sell cash upgrade first?
There is no official policy but practice seems to be selling cash upgrade first.
Last edited by TerryK; Sep 28, 2013 at 6:32 am
Sep 28, 2013, 7:08 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: The Internets
Posts: 8,266
That's following current UA policy. Not saying policy cannot be changed , but I won't except UA to change upgrade policy based on a tweet or PM.
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...e-pricing.aspx
Similar situation except that his transpacific segment didn't clear and was offered cash upgrade at airport. He bought cash upgrade and got his copay+miles back per UA policy.@:-)
(
, but I won't except UA to change upgrade policy based on a tweet or PM.http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...e-pricing.aspx
Similar situation except that his transpacific segment didn't clear and was offered cash upgrade at airport. He bought cash upgrade and got his copay+miles back per UA policy.@:-)
(
I am thinking that in my situation the transpacific portion DID clear so I would have been SOL on the NRT-BKK.
I am peeved that they are selling upgrades when they already got my muniez and have the balls to NOT CLEAR me on the list. What gives here?
Selling gate upgrades in front of customers on a waitlist with earned upgrade instruments is an offensive reward for loyalty.#Mileageplus#UA
#UnitedAirlines Ask me to pay for a gate upgrade when I have already paid for it with an upgrade instrument? #NOR1 @jeffsmisek
Last edited by iluv2fly; Sep 28, 2013 at 7:57 am Reason: merge
Sep 28, 2013, 7:27 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Taunton, UK
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott Silver
Posts: 1,158
Following Tweets sent:
Selling gate upgrades in front of customers on a waitlist with earned upgrade instruments is an offensive reward for loyalty.#Mileageplus#UA
#UnitedAirlines Ask me to pay for a gate upgrade when I have already paid for it with an upgrade instrument? #NOR1 @jeffsmisek
Selling gate upgrades in front of customers on a waitlist with earned upgrade instruments is an offensive reward for loyalty.#Mileageplus#UA
#UnitedAirlines Ask me to pay for a gate upgrade when I have already paid for it with an upgrade instrument? #NOR1 @jeffsmisek
Sep 28, 2013, 7:44 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,894
https://twitter.com/FakeUnitedJeff/s...26626762416128
Sep 28, 2013, 8:00 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
There was probably R space available which triggers the UFC offers. A call in may have snagged the space.
https://twitter.com/FakeUnitedJeff/s...26626762416128
https://twitter.com/FakeUnitedJeff/s...26626762416128
Sep 28, 2013, 8:13 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
I would have called UA on the spot.
Sep 28, 2013, 8:23 am
#13
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
Funny... I have a similar situation tomorrow. I cleared TPA-DEN and DEN-NRT (Dreamliner!) a few days ago (ticket was booked last weekend). But NRT-BKK shows FULL on check in today. This will be the first GPU segment I've ever missed (its technically not a miss since the more important DEN-NRT segment cleared, but still). I might luck out and get a no show (and have once before) but I would say that NRT-BKK is always borderline.
Sep 28, 2013, 8:23 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: The Internets
Posts: 8,266
Thank you.
This policy must change. This is a 6 hour flight, a third of the total mileage of my upgrade.
It is not a minor portion of what I paid for, and United is treating it as if I never paid for anything.
This policy must change. This is a 6 hour flight, a third of the total mileage of my upgrade.
It is not a minor portion of what I paid for, and United is treating it as if I never paid for anything.
Sep 28, 2013, 8:24 am
#15
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
Eh... you would have paid the same without the BKK portion. I agree that this sucks, but you actually aren't out anything.