UA Gold/Plat Int'l Upgrade Success Stories
Jan 9, 2015, 2:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Plat*G | SPG G | Mar GE
Posts: 31
UA Gold/Plat Int'l Upgrade Success Stories
I'm guessing these are few and far between with so many 1K's and GS's on int'l flights, but curious to hear from other UA Gold/Plats who've had upgrades clear.
As a Plat, I've only had them clear on flights to Mex. Any success stories when flying across either pond (either miles + cash or buy up)?
And GO!
PS - bonus points for stories about the ORD-HKG route, which I fly most frequently and are NEVER successful from what I understand.
As a Plat, I've only had them clear on flights to Mex. Any success stories when flying across either pond (either miles + cash or buy up)?
And GO!
PS - bonus points for stories about the ORD-HKG route, which I fly most frequently and are NEVER successful from what I understand.
Jan 9, 2015, 2:13 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Silver, Hertz
Posts: 435
I actually got upgraded on my most recent flight home from LHR to EWR at the end of 2014 as a Plat. Coach was oversold and I got the last BF seat.
I didn't even know I had been upgraded until I went to scan my boarding pass. The GA said Happy Friday Mrs. jtwiz, you've been upgraded. It was indeed a Happy Friday (after a horrific business trip that involved 4 countries, 4 hotels in 6 days..) Before this, my last upgrade on a trans-Atlantic flight had to be at least 10 years ago.
I didn't even know I had been upgraded until I went to scan my boarding pass. The GA said Happy Friday Mrs. jtwiz, you've been upgraded. It was indeed a Happy Friday (after a horrific business trip that involved 4 countries, 4 hotels in 6 days..) Before this, my last upgrade on a trans-Atlantic flight had to be at least 10 years ago.
Jan 9, 2015, 2:30 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YEG
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 755
For me, before 1K as a Plat in 2012, I was able to use miles/cash connecting out of ORD to Europe, but that time I smartly looked for "R" availability beforehand...
Jan 9, 2015, 3:12 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: COS and PIT
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 279
Last year, I used miles and money and successfully upgraded:
LAX-SYD
SYD-SFO
EWR-LHR (but not the return)
CDG-ORD (but not the way out)
The two previous years, also as a plat, I headed to SIN twice and successful upgraded through NRT several times.
For me, it's a combination of booking when there is R space available, traveling on off-days, and keeping an eye out for R opening up shortly before the flight.
LAX-SYD
SYD-SFO
EWR-LHR (but not the return)
CDG-ORD (but not the way out)
The two previous years, also as a plat, I headed to SIN twice and successful upgraded through NRT several times.
For me, it's a combination of booking when there is R space available, traveling on off-days, and keeping an eye out for R opening up shortly before the flight.
Jan 9, 2015, 3:21 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Plat*G | SPG G | Mar GE
Posts: 31
I try! But whenever I fly over to Shenzhen, it's for a specific period of time so I don't have much flexibility. Maybe I'll try to make flying during the week work to better my miles+ cash chances.
Jan 9, 2015, 3:47 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: BWI<MCI< PHL<DEN<SCL<EZE<CHO<PHL<ABE
Programs: UA Silver / FA
Posts: 939
Got upgraded on EZE-EWR x-mas 2012 as.. wait for it.. a SILVER. The guy next to me was also op-upped and he was a Gold.
Luckily EZE-IAH was cancelled the night before, and Y was WAY oversold.
BF was wide open, and I asked the gate agent for an upgrade, and she said no. 15 min later she called me up to the gate and gave me a BF seat.
Moral of the story: Always ask for it, you never know.
Luckily EZE-IAH was cancelled the night before, and Y was WAY oversold.
BF was wide open, and I asked the gate agent for an upgrade, and she said no. 15 min later she called me up to the gate and gave me a BF seat.
Moral of the story: Always ask for it, you never know.
Jan 9, 2015, 3:59 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
Jan 9, 2015, 4:09 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: SFO/IAD
Programs: UA Gold, US, AA, DL
Posts: 97
I am Gold and successfully upgraded SYD-LAX on a Wednesday in September using miles and cash. I knew I wanted to upgrade, so I chose an itinerary with R space available at the time of booking. I agree with those upthread who have mentioned various ways to maximize the likelihood of an upgrade.
Most of my international travel has been with friends who don't want to upgrade and I've wanted to stay with them, so I've only unsuccessfully attempted to upgrade once.
Most of my international travel has been with friends who don't want to upgrade and I've wanted to stay with them, so I've only unsuccessfully attempted to upgrade once.
Jan 9, 2015, 4:09 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
If R space disappears within 24 hours after you book but before you can get the upgrade, you can cancel without penalty and try again once you find R space on another flight.
Jan 11, 2015, 6:57 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Austin, tx, USA
Programs: UA 1K, Hertz 5-star, Marriott Gold
Posts: 261
I upgraded BOM-EWR twice last year with miles+copay, both times clearing about two days before the flight. On the second time my wife was with me and we were both able to upgrade. This is as a plat.
Jan 11, 2015, 7:29 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
IIRC mileage upgrades have priority over GPUs/RPUs so unless a GS or 1K is also using miles, lower tier elites will trump them.