2014 Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU) Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
Dec 21, 2014, 11:17 am
#796
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,598
Route: LAX-DEN
Offer: $169
where/when: T-21, OLCI after I already did mobile check-in and was trying to decide if I want different seats
Declined - I already have an E+ seat and it looks like I'm third on the upgrade list with 4 seats
Status: silver flying on a regular award ticket.
About 3 hours later I logged in to check the upgrade list and it still shows 4 seats in first available (though it says 24 seats, 23 booked, 9 checked in) and they offered me the upgrade for $139. I'm still 3rd on the list.)
Another edit:
Curiously, at T-10, I still get the $139 offer on the flight details page, but if I click on to the "change seats" page, it offers me a seat in first for $1099. I still declined the $139-- the difference between E+ and first is minor for a 2.5 hour flight.
Offer: $169
where/when: T-21, OLCI after I already did mobile check-in and was trying to decide if I want different seats
Declined - I already have an E+ seat and it looks like I'm third on the upgrade list with 4 seats
Status: silver flying on a regular award ticket.
About 3 hours later I logged in to check the upgrade list and it still shows 4 seats in first available (though it says 24 seats, 23 booked, 9 checked in) and they offered me the upgrade for $139. I'm still 3rd on the list.)
Another edit:
Curiously, at T-10, I still get the $139 offer on the flight details page, but if I click on to the "change seats" page, it offers me a seat in first for $1099. I still declined the $139-- the difference between E+ and first is minor for a 2.5 hour flight.
Last edited by chrisl137; Dec 21, 2014 at 9:21 pm
Dec 21, 2014, 12:11 pm
#797
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K and MM, Marriot, Hilton
Posts: 804
Route: PHX-SFO Dec 22,
Offer: $233 @ OLCI
Declined, traveling on saver award, 1K, 7 out of 8 seats booked, with SMI/J Upgraded,
Offer: $233 @ OLCI
Declined, traveling on saver award, 1K, 7 out of 8 seats booked, with SMI/J Upgraded,
Dec 21, 2014, 9:32 pm
#798
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Syd
Programs: UA 1k 1MM, VA G
Posts: 886
SYD->SFO for tomorrow 23rd December
$1100 for upgraded C (R) to F
F cabin is booked 0 out of 8 (C cabin booked 30 out of 40)
I will see if it hasn't dropped a bit (anything under $600 and I will bite) tomorrow morning when I head to the airport
$1100 for upgraded C (R) to F
F cabin is booked 0 out of 8 (C cabin booked 30 out of 40)
I will see if it hasn't dropped a bit (anything under $600 and I will bite) tomorrow morning when I head to the airport
Dec 23, 2014, 2:46 am
#799
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: AA(EXP)UA(1K/1MM) Marriott(PP,LifeTime Plat) Hertz(5*)
Posts: 449
HKG->SFO 12/24
1369 for R to F @OLCI
1369 for R to F @OLCI
Dec 23, 2014, 7:53 am
#800
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: BWI<MCI< PHL<DEN<SCL<EZE<CHO<PHL<ABE
Programs: UA Silver / FA
Posts: 939
DEN-IAD
$1,535 X to F. Check in at airport. Insane.
$1,535 X to F. Check in at airport. Insane.
Dec 23, 2014, 8:56 am
#801
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA 1K; Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 828
Mon 12/22
FRA-SFO
$859 from P fare to First
Declined (had row 15 on upper deck of 747 - my favorite seats!)
FRA-SFO
$859 from P fare to First
Declined (had row 15 on upper deck of 747 - my favorite seats!)
Dec 23, 2014, 6:50 pm
#802
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO/CDG
Posts: 320
EWR-SFO on 757-200
Monday December 22
Booking class: K
Upgrade for Cash at T-24 - $789
Offered via app - Did not accept
Lots of people got upgrades on this flight. Only 16 seats booked a few days before the flight out of 24 possible. T-24 with 2 open seats, offer was $789. I believe there were no takers, as people were upgraded at the gate and while we sat on the plane waiting for the door to close. Ended up #1 on the list at takeoff.
Monday December 22
Booking class: K
Upgrade for Cash at T-24 - $789
Offered via app - Did not accept
Lots of people got upgrades on this flight. Only 16 seats booked a few days before the flight out of 24 possible. T-24 with 2 open seats, offer was $789. I believe there were no takers, as people were upgraded at the gate and while we sat on the plane waiting for the door to close. Ended up #1 on the list at takeoff.
Dec 24, 2014, 12:15 pm
#803
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Avis First, Hertz PC
Posts: 575
What bucket/criteria are used for making paid upgrades available?
I have an upcoming holiday flight to Europe. I received an email offering an upgrade to BF "starting at $2200". When I logged into my itinerary, "Online upgrade is not available" for an upgrade with cash.
However, R=4, and there IS a confirmed option to upgrade for miles + copay.
Would UA really prefer 20,000 miles + $550 instead of $2200? Why isn't the "starting at $2200" buy-up available when R > 0?
Edit:
Can this be an elite-friendly gesture? Offering the seats to those with UA miles to spend or upgrade instruments to burn instead of offering the general public a discounted BF seat?
I have an upcoming holiday flight to Europe. I received an email offering an upgrade to BF "starting at $2200". When I logged into my itinerary, "Online upgrade is not available" for an upgrade with cash.
However, R=4, and there IS a confirmed option to upgrade for miles + copay.
Would UA really prefer 20,000 miles + $550 instead of $2200? Why isn't the "starting at $2200" buy-up available when R > 0?
Edit:
Can this be an elite-friendly gesture? Offering the seats to those with UA miles to spend or upgrade instruments to burn instead of offering the general public a discounted BF seat?
Last edited by johnden; Dec 24, 2014 at 12:48 pm
Dec 24, 2014, 2:53 pm
#804
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
it depends, there appear to be multiple programs and its essentially impossible to tell in advance which program is being.
In some case you will be provide an opportunity to see the new fare rules but in cases where R is used you will not.
Hard to tell, but most indications is the offers appear to be independent of being waitlisted or having miles.
In some case you will be provide an opportunity to see the new fare rules but in cases where R is used you will not.
Hard to tell, but most indications is the offers appear to be independent of being waitlisted or having miles.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 30, 2014 at 10:28 pm Reason: repaired BBcode
Dec 24, 2014, 4:07 pm
#805
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,478
Can this be an elite-friendly gesture? Offering the seats to those with UA miles to spend or upgrade instruments to burn instead of offering the general public a discounted BF seat?
You are attempting to read into this extremely dysfunctional system logic and motivations which simply do not exist.
Dec 24, 2014, 4:15 pm
#806
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 16
Dec 7th.
L class fare JFK -> SFO p.s. Flight
Requested milage upgrade about 2 weeks out from the flight, at that time the buy-up was somewhere in the 2k range.
Offered At OLCI: $369
Top of U/G list of about 10, with 9 open seats at T-23. No one from the list cleared, including me upgrade.
Basically the same experience on the return flight, I don't remember the exact dollar figure but it was comparable.
If I can't use the miles on the only route I fly, why do stick with UA again?
L class fare JFK -> SFO p.s. Flight
Requested milage upgrade about 2 weeks out from the flight, at that time the buy-up was somewhere in the 2k range.
Offered At OLCI: $369
Top of U/G list of about 10, with 9 open seats at T-23. No one from the list cleared, including me upgrade.
Basically the same experience on the return flight, I don't remember the exact dollar figure but it was comparable.
If I can't use the miles on the only route I fly, why do stick with UA again?
Dec 24, 2014, 4:38 pm
#807
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
Dec 7th.
L class fare JFK -> SFO p.s. Flight
Requested milage upgrade about 2 weeks out from the flight, at that time the buy-up was somewhere in the 2k range.
Offered At OLCI: $369
Top of U/G list of about 10, with 9 open seats at T-23. No one from the list cleared, including me upgrade.
Basically the same experience on the return flight, I don't remember the exact dollar figure but it was comparable.
If I can't use the miles on the only route I fly, why do stick with UA again?
L class fare JFK -> SFO p.s. Flight
Requested milage upgrade about 2 weeks out from the flight, at that time the buy-up was somewhere in the 2k range.
Offered At OLCI: $369
Top of U/G list of about 10, with 9 open seats at T-23. No one from the list cleared, including me upgrade.
Basically the same experience on the return flight, I don't remember the exact dollar figure but it was comparable.
If I can't use the miles on the only route I fly, why do stick with UA again?
Do you have any UA status by the way?
Dec 24, 2014, 5:09 pm
#808
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Any of the Following PDX SFO IAH YUL HPN CDG SYD WLG AKL
Programs: AA GLD 1MM, DL DM, UA 1K Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador , Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 464
2014 Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU) Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
SFO-JFK December 24th $299 buy up from W to BusinessFirst.
Wife and I(both silver)were numbers 4&5 on upgrade list using miles. Both upgrades cleared at the gate.
Wife and I(both silver)were numbers 4&5 on upgrade list using miles. Both upgrades cleared at the gate.
Dec 24, 2014, 5:28 pm
#809
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: PHL
Programs: United 1K, American Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 430
DEN-LAS Dec. 25, after OLCI an offer of US$129 appeared on my phone. 10 of us were eligible. DECLINED.
Now it's about T-12 and the offer increased to US$249. Now only 8 of us are eligible. DECLINED AGAIN.
Are you kidding me? Though I'm #2 on the list, I don't care if I get this. I have a great exit row E+ seat.
Now it's about T-12 and the offer increased to US$249. Now only 8 of us are eligible. DECLINED AGAIN.
Are you kidding me? Though I'm #2 on the list, I don't care if I get this. I have a great exit row E+ seat.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 24, 2014 at 11:40 pm Reason: Using symbols, spaces or other methods to mask vulgarities is not allowed. http://www.flyertalk.com/help/rules.php#offensive
Dec 25, 2014, 12:29 pm
#810
Join Date: May 2006
Location: STL
Programs: UA Platinum, AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,429
SANIAH $169
24hr OLCI had an offer for $275 and Y+ was $69. Was curious to see what pricing would be on day of departure. 1.5hrs prior to departure, Y+ sold out and F was $169; since wife holds no status, and was flying with our 1 year old it seemed like a no-brainer. Had no clue whether there were a lot of elites waitlisted, but based on the lack of GS and people boarding in Zone 1 I would think it was light today. Although it would have been interesting to see what it would have priced out as if I was flying with Gold Premier in the PNR as I have noticed my offers are nowhere close to as cheap as the non-status wife.
Interesting to note that kiosk said "F as low as $169". Are they now pricing F upgrades based on which seats have more legroom?
24hr OLCI had an offer for $275 and Y+ was $69. Was curious to see what pricing would be on day of departure. 1.5hrs prior to departure, Y+ sold out and F was $169; since wife holds no status, and was flying with our 1 year old it seemed like a no-brainer. Had no clue whether there were a lot of elites waitlisted, but based on the lack of GS and people boarding in Zone 1 I would think it was light today. Although it would have been interesting to see what it would have priced out as if I was flying with Gold Premier in the PNR as I have noticed my offers are nowhere close to as cheap as the non-status wife.
Interesting to note that kiosk said "F as low as $169". Are they now pricing F upgrades based on which seats have more legroom?