UA-NYC

No, available to both miles and GPUs, along with RPUs (domestic/non-PS-BF flights for the latter)

kulflyer

Most recently I got put into a Best Western while a no-status girl in front of us got the Westin in SFO. She was flying coach and we were on miles upgraded Business First. To add salt to it, the Best Western shuttle already had their last pickup and if I didn't call them after waiting 10 minutes, we would still be waiting for the shuttle at the airport! And that's after the rebooking agent called the hotel confirming shuttle is still running.

UA-NYC

I remember seeing this post and forgot to follow up on it...did you ask why you couldn't get the Westin too? Was it sold out after her?

CO_Nonrev_elite

With Delta seemingly removing one of the last major obstacles (Poor Award Avail and now allowing One-Way Awards), was this a last straw for some holdouts ?. As a NYC flyer, Delta is a lot better out of NYC than AA, and their impossible and expensive redemptions were a huge problem for me.

jpsj

I will get them when I re qualify in February

Artpen100

Right - and the significant thing is that if R class is available (R>0), the upgrade should clear immediately (at least for one being made then - an existing waitlist entry might take some time to clear, allowing someone to claim it in the meantime unless you are very proactive, which is the subject of another, lengthy thread). Upgrade at booking is the important thing to me. I will often pay for one or more legs in business class to avoid taking a chance with the waitlist, because you cannot depend that R will ever come up, let alone that it will go to you.

However, I have until recently been finding that fully refundable economy AF TATL with O class (their R class) available for instant upgrade is less than paying for business oubound to Europe on UA, then using miles for an upgrade on the return (which being a daytime flight is easier to find). Next year, it is looking like the reverse, even before getting lucky and finding R class on the outbound. Still with UA's 550USD each way fuel charge, I am still paying 2700USD in cash with 40K miles, so I don't feel like UA is exactly losing money. On quiet days, I have seen them charge as little as 2900USD for business class outright on these routes.

goalie

Time to put the 2014 thread to bed and continue the discussion in the 2015 thread here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...5-edition.html

goalie
UA Forum Co-Moderator