I finally decided to reach out to UA’s 1K desk about this route. I know it’s united’s prerogative to do whatever they want with their rewards program, but it’s awfully self-serving on this route. I’m flying it in two weeks and I find it absurd you need a GPU and W fare class to upgrade this. The difference between my K and the W just on the one way back to the US from Manila was more than $600.

My argument to them was its it’s either an international flight and baggage and meals should be included (they still make you buy on board food for a 7 hour flight) or it’s a domestic flight and you should be able to RPU without fare class requirement. It’s the same equipment that runs from Chicago, Denver, and Houston to Honolulu - all equal or longer flights.

I doubt they’ll do anything, but it’s gonna be jammed pack in economy and a miserable flight with 10 across in high density economy. Every seat gets filled with Non-Revs. If the timing didn’t work out so well to be able to take a red eye from Manila and wake up two mornings later in San Francisco and just be six hours later than you left - I’d have gone through Taipei or Narita.

Will share the response I get.

Happy travels.

I am sure that you will get a canned response. United wants to make its own employees (NonRevs) happy. No change will happen, sadly.