Jan 2, 2015, 1:31 pm
Last edit by: Michael D
Previous threads: 2014 Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU) Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
2013 "Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU)" Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
2012 "Upsell Offers to Business/F (UFC, PCU)" Questions/Discussion [Paid Upgrades]
PCU (Premium Cabin Upsell) Nets extra PQM's and can be done at purchase or anytime before checkin if prompted. This will book into a business/first bucket.
UFC (Upgrade For Cash) is done at checkin (online, counter, lounge, gate) and will not earn extra PQM's.
2013 "Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU)" Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
2012 "Upsell Offers to Business/F (UFC, PCU)" Questions/Discussion [Paid Upgrades]
PCU (Premium Cabin Upsell) Nets extra PQM's and can be done at purchase or anytime before checkin if prompted. This will book into a business/first bucket.
UFC (Upgrade For Cash) is done at checkin (online, counter, lounge, gate) and will not earn extra PQM's.
2015 Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU) Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
Oct 13, 2015, 1:07 pm
#376
Formerly known as CollegeFlyer
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: JRA
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA PLT, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 6,716
I tried talking to the 1K Desk and the united.com desk to ask how to tell, before buying, whether what was being sold was an upsell (counting for PQD) or a discounted upgrade (no extra PQD). The reps didn't answer the question and instead gave me a canned statement about "When you buy a discounted upgrade, you are purchasing the privilege of sitting in our first class. Your award miles are based on the original fare basis purchased..." After a few rounds of that, I was too tired to argue or re-clarify again that I was asking how to tell whether "you are buying a discounted upgrade" in the first place vs. being charged the fare difference.
One of the reps also helpfully (and incorrectly) informed me that, "FYI," if I had actually purchased a business-class fare from JFK to LAX the cost would have been $3000.
Oct 13, 2015, 1:57 pm
#377
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sacramento
Programs: UA 2MM/GS; SPG Lifetime Plat; MHC Lifetime; Tar Heel forever; and I "Dig the Pig" at Piggly Wiggly
Posts: 12,152
Oscar, are you listening???1. First of all, the jump from Z to GF is not worth $5,999.
In fact, I have a hard time thinking of UA's GF being worth that price on that route, even if that's the full fare.2. I recently was offered D to GF FRA-SFO 747 for $3,999. I graciously declined.
Then, I got the upgrade anyway using a GPU.3. How "dare they" send out a wide body with an empty seat in GF when there is a GS in back? How about some good will to your elites? That philosophy just torques me.
4. Didn't you have a GPU?
Very reasonable to get out of Y! ^
Oct 13, 2015, 2:12 pm
#378
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
I don't get it. Oscar, are you listening???
1. First of all, the jump from Z to GF is not worth $5,999. In fact, I have a hard time thinking of UA's GF being worth that price on that route, even if that's the full fare.
2. I recently was offered D to GF FRA-SFO 747 for $3,999. I graciously declined. Then, I got the upgrade anyway using a GPU.
3. How "dare they" send out a wide body with an empty seat in GF when there is a GS in back? How about some good will to your elites? That philosophy just torques me.
Oscar, are you listening???1. First of all, the jump from Z to GF is not worth $5,999.
In fact, I have a hard time thinking of UA's GF being worth that price on that route, even if that's the full fare.2. I recently was offered D to GF FRA-SFO 747 for $3,999. I graciously declined.
Then, I got the upgrade anyway using a GPU.3. How "dare they" send out a wide body with an empty seat in GF when there is a GS in back? How about some good will to your elites? That philosophy just torques me.
cog·ni·tive dis·so·nance
noun
Psychology
noun: cognitive dissonance
the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioral decisions and attitude change.
noun
Psychology
noun: cognitive dissonance
the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioral decisions and attitude change.
People complain about how poor the service is in F. What's wrong with having an F seat go empty if there's nobody willing to use miles or a CPU?
You're exhibiting symptoms of what is a huge problem with post-merger UA.
UA has driven, through its consistent "under market" cheap upsells, people to become accustomed to getting sweetheart deals to sit in premium cabins, while simultaneously fading nearly to black the ability of FF's to actually use the GPU's and miles that they have *earned* for their travel.
They've made the earned upgrades nearly valueless, IME, as an SFO based traveler.
Either go full hog and run a transparent dutch auction for each flight, and get rid of "free" upgrade opportunities completely, or let people actually use them. The expectation set that somebody only pays a little bit for premium travel is a huge problem long term for the airline.
I'm actually pleased to see happen what you describe, ***ASSUMING*** that people weren't being offered lower prices than you (which may be an unsafe assumption). This goes to my point about a transparent auction.
Greg
Oct 16, 2015, 8:01 pm
#379
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
I was ~9th on the list LAX-SFO this week (with 3 seats available), and paid $79.00 to upgrade to F.
Above my usual threshold, but I was glad I did it.
Buffalo Trace on the rocks is growing on me...
Above my usual threshold, but I was glad I did it.
Buffalo Trace on the rocks is growing on me...
Oct 17, 2015, 12:51 am
#380
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,139
Can you kindly explain the timing and process of paying for this upgrade? If you were already on the CPU list, you had already checked in, so when did you then get the pay offer and respond? Thanks.
Oct 17, 2015, 12:56 am
#381
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
There are many places where you can get an upgrade offer. This is what I've noticed as a kettle:
1. At booking, sometimes it's the fare difference, sometimes it's less.
2. At the page where you can see your itinerary. After booking, it's usually the fare difference. After OLCI, it's often a lower offer than the fare difference. It usually is the same offer as the one given at OLCI.
3. At OLCI.
4. At any kiosk after T-24. Same offer as at OLCI.
1. At booking, sometimes it's the fare difference, sometimes it's less.
2. At the page where you can see your itinerary. After booking, it's usually the fare difference. After OLCI, it's often a lower offer than the fare difference. It usually is the same offer as the one given at OLCI.
3. At OLCI.
4. At any kiosk after T-24. Same offer as at OLCI.
Oct 17, 2015, 1:12 am
#382
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,139
Oct 17, 2015, 6:14 am
#383
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS/ BOM
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,567
Got lucky I guess
Originally booked in a T fare (LAX-IAD) that was $180. While on board my IAD-LAX flight, checked the mobile site and voila, PCU offer for $249 with 1 seat available. I was 5th on the UG list. Didn't wanna take any chances and jumped on it. The original R/T fare was $367. This has booked in P. Hoping I get the additional PQM'S as well. 
Oct 17, 2015, 6:48 am
#384
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The City/Honolulu
Programs: UA 3MM; Hyatt Glob*****; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,473
YVR-SFO
$449 offer on app to upgrade. 2 unsold tickets in F and I'm #1 on the upgrade list.
I'll take my chances. It seems to me that price is pretty high for a short flight.
ETA: I cleared 1 hour before the flight.
$449 offer on app to upgrade. 2 unsold tickets in F and I'm #1 on the upgrade list.
I'll take my chances. It seems to me that price is pretty high for a short flight.
ETA: I cleared 1 hour before the flight.
Last edited by Pat89339; Oct 17, 2015 at 8:11 pm
Oct 17, 2015, 7:32 am
#385
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: CLE
Programs: United, Hilton, Marriott, Hertz, National
Posts: 189
CLE to IAH, $169 offer at OLCI. No, thanks.
I'm on the upgrade list (started at #4), but I know there's no absolutely no chance of being upgraded.
I'm on the upgrade list (started at #4), but I know there's no absolutely no chance of being upgraded.
Oct 17, 2015, 11:16 am
#386
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
You'd have to navigate the menus to get to the part where you can view/manage your itinerary, but yes. Easiest way to access the kiosk would be to scan your boarding pass.
Oct 17, 2015, 4:44 pm
#387
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,139
You'd have to navigate the menus to get to the part where you can view/manage your itinerary, but yes. Easiest way to access the kiosk would be to scan your boarding pass.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 17, 2015 at 5:51 pm Reason: repaired quote -- please use quote tool
Oct 18, 2015, 2:35 pm
#388
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
There are many places where you can get an upgrade offer. This is what I've noticed as a kettle:
1. At booking, sometimes it's the fare difference, sometimes it's less.
2. At the page where you can see your itinerary. After booking, it's usually the fare difference. After OLCI, it's often a lower offer than the fare difference. It usually is the same offer as the one given at OLCI.
3. At OLCI.
4. At any kiosk after T-24. Same offer as at OLCI.
1. At booking, sometimes it's the fare difference, sometimes it's less.
2. At the page where you can see your itinerary. After booking, it's usually the fare difference. After OLCI, it's often a lower offer than the fare difference. It usually is the same offer as the one given at OLCI.
3. At OLCI.
4. At any kiosk after T-24. Same offer as at OLCI.
Oct 18, 2015, 8:17 pm
#389
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
I don't recall exact timing... a few hours before the flight.
Oct 18, 2015, 10:22 pm
#390
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: DCA, IAD (not BWI if I can help it)
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist, status-free on AA, AS, B6, DL, WN, Amtrak, etc.
Posts: 1,481
Offered $496, IIRC, to upgrade to F on tonight's IAD-SFO 777. I was sorely tempted, since I'm not likely to fly in a Global First seat any time soon. But it's an expensive time of year, and I couldn't quite justify that extra cost to myself. And sure, I was a little irked at my mileage upgrade not clearing.
(I had an early dinner at Lufthansa's lounge instead.)
(I had an early dinner at Lufthansa's lounge instead.)