upgrading with miles - will they split me up from my companion
Aug 7, 2014, 8:40 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 101
upgrading with miles - will they split me up from my companion
Hi there. Looking to use miles and $$$ to upgrade to Business for myself and my travel companion. I am lowly gold.
Fare availability looks like this:
J1, JN1, C1, D0, Z0, ZN0, P0, PN0, R0, RN0, IN0, I0, Y9, YN9, B9, M9, E9, U9, H2, HN2, Q0, V0, W0, S0, T0, L0, K0, G0, N0, XN0, X0
Grim, I know. Defo not a sure thing and there are not even two seats available as far as I can tell.
Questions:
Would they upgrade one of us but not the other?
IF two seats became available, would they put us together or would we be split up?
Thanks!
Fare availability looks like this:
J1, JN1, C1, D0, Z0, ZN0, P0, PN0, R0, RN0, IN0, I0, Y9, YN9, B9, M9, E9, U9, H2, HN2, Q0, V0, W0, S0, T0, L0, K0, G0, N0, XN0, X0
Grim, I know. Defo not a sure thing and there are not even two seats available as far as I can tell.
Questions:
Would they upgrade one of us but not the other?
IF two seats became available, would they put us together or would we be split up?
Thanks!
Aug 7, 2014, 8:47 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 101
Right, and I guess if that happens and we decide to sit together back in coach (I am not sure even flipping for it would make either of us feel good about it) United would refund the miles / $$$ for the business seat?
And IF we were both upgraded, would we sit together or just wherever there is room? Do they try to put people together - curious about this because I would assume all seats are assigned way ahead of time.
And IF we were both upgraded, would we sit together or just wherever there is room? Do they try to put people together - curious about this because I would assume all seats are assigned way ahead of time.
Aug 7, 2014, 8:50 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
Right, and I guess if that happens and we decide to sit together back in coach (I am not sure even flipping for it would make either of us feel good about it) United would refund the miles / $$$ for the business seat?
And IF we were both upgraded, would we sit together or just wherever there is room? Do they try to put people together - curious about this because I would assume all seats are assigned way ahead of time.
And IF we were both upgraded, would we sit together or just wherever there is room? Do they try to put people together - curious about this because I would assume all seats are assigned way ahead of time.
Aug 7, 2014, 9:10 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
No, UA would not refund the miles/$$ if you voluntary downgrade at the gate. Ahead of the flight, yes (remember the fees), if your original fare class is still available. As for sitting together, I have never had an issue moving to sit together (even if both of us had to move elsewhere) within the business class cabin.
Aug 7, 2014, 9:16 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 101
Oh, wow, interesting. Thank you.
So, if I got got upgraded and my friend did not, and I declined the upgrade, I would still be charged.
Hmmm....that puts a different spin on this decision. I don't think we are feeling generous enough to give the other person their upgrade (and not feel a tiny bit jealous....) and it does not look like there are that many seats available ---so both of us getting this upgrade looks very very unlikely (from what I can tell re what's left up front....)
I would be curious to know if everyone agrees with my conclusion that given the fare class availability, it's going to be extremely unlikely that we would both be upgraded.
So, if I got got upgraded and my friend did not, and I declined the upgrade, I would still be charged.
Hmmm....that puts a different spin on this decision. I don't think we are feeling generous enough to give the other person their upgrade (and not feel a tiny bit jealous....) and it does not look like there are that many seats available ---so both of us getting this upgrade looks very very unlikely (from what I can tell re what's left up front....)
I would be curious to know if everyone agrees with my conclusion that given the fare class availability, it's going to be extremely unlikely that we would both be upgraded.
Aug 7, 2014, 9:34 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Houston / Philadelphia
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 276
Oh, wow, interesting. Thank you.
So, if I got got upgraded and my friend did not, and I declined the upgrade, I would still be charged.
Hmmm....that puts a different spin on this decision. I don't think we are feeling generous enough to give the other person their upgrade (and not feel a tiny bit jealous....) and it does not look like there are that many seats available ---so both of us getting this upgrade looks very very unlikely (from what I can tell re what's left up front....)
I would be curious to know if everyone agrees with my conclusion that given the fare class availability, it's going to be extremely unlikely that we would both be upgraded.
So, if I got got upgraded and my friend did not, and I declined the upgrade, I would still be charged.
Hmmm....that puts a different spin on this decision. I don't think we are feeling generous enough to give the other person their upgrade (and not feel a tiny bit jealous....) and it does not look like there are that many seats available ---so both of us getting this upgrade looks very very unlikely (from what I can tell re what's left up front....)
I would be curious to know if everyone agrees with my conclusion that given the fare class availability, it's going to be extremely unlikely that we would both be upgraded.
Aug 7, 2014, 9:38 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
Oh, wow, interesting. Thank you.
So, if I got got upgraded and my friend did not, and I declined the upgrade, I would still be charged.
Hmmm....that puts a different spin on this decision. I don't think we are feeling generous enough to give the other person their upgrade (and not feel a tiny bit jealous....) and it does not look like there are that many seats available ---so both of us getting this upgrade looks very very unlikely (from what I can tell re what's left up front....)
I would be curious to know if everyone agrees with my conclusion that given the fare class availability, it's going to be extremely unlikely that we would both be upgraded.
So, if I got got upgraded and my friend did not, and I declined the upgrade, I would still be charged.
Hmmm....that puts a different spin on this decision. I don't think we are feeling generous enough to give the other person their upgrade (and not feel a tiny bit jealous....) and it does not look like there are that many seats available ---so both of us getting this upgrade looks very very unlikely (from what I can tell re what's left up front....)
I would be curious to know if everyone agrees with my conclusion that given the fare class availability, it's going to be extremely unlikely that we would both be upgraded.
When I'm in this situation, especially on a long international flight, its much more important to me to be seated next to my companion than to fight over upgrades. Only you can decide for your situation of course.
Aug 12, 2014, 1:56 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1MM/1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,831
We are waitlisted using RPUs. Does this mean if one seat opens -- and assuming we're 1 and 2 on the list -- our PNR will automatically split giving one of us the seat? Or do I need to request that the PNR be split?
Aug 12, 2014, 2:17 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,886
Hi there. Looking to use miles and $$$ to upgrade to Business for myself and my travel companion. I am lowly gold.
Fare availability looks like this:
J1, JN1, C1, D0, Z0, ZN0, P0, PN0, R0, RN0, IN0, I0, Y9, YN9, B9, M9, E9, U9, H2, HN2, Q0, V0, W0, S0, T0, L0, K0, G0, N0, XN0, X0
Grim, I know. Defo not a sure thing and there are not even two seats available as far as I can tell.
Questions:
Would they upgrade one of us but not the other?
IF two seats became available, would they put us together or would we be split up?
Thanks!
Fare availability looks like this:
J1, JN1, C1, D0, Z0, ZN0, P0, PN0, R0, RN0, IN0, I0, Y9, YN9, B9, M9, E9, U9, H2, HN2, Q0, V0, W0, S0, T0, L0, K0, G0, N0, XN0, X0
Grim, I know. Defo not a sure thing and there are not even two seats available as far as I can tell.
Questions:
Would they upgrade one of us but not the other?
IF two seats became available, would they put us together or would we be split up?
Thanks!
Aug 13, 2014, 7:43 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1MM/1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,831
EDITED TO ADD: Ok, I found the auto-splitting thread. It seems to confirm what Tchiowa is saying. Can anyone else confirm that this is indeed what is happening, that two people waitlisted on the same PNR will be bypassed if one upgrade seat comes their way?
Last edited by as219; Aug 13, 2014 at 7:54 am Reason: Found the thread
Aug 13, 2014, 7:56 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
Yes you will be skipped in that manner up until you check-in, where you need to make a decision. But my wife doesn't mind upgrading without me. So we split.
Aug 13, 2014, 8:03 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1MM/1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,831
Thanks.