Upgrade offer is higher than buying First outright
Jul 1, 2015, 1:35 pm
#31
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LA
Posts: 1,281
Had an incredible offer today....almost jumped right on it! Booked my fare EWR-SJU, total was around $700 for economy. At check-out, I received the tempting offer to buy Business (since it's SJU route) for only $9,218 more....the F fare was $878.
UA, you make no sense to me.
UA, you make no sense to me.
Jul 1, 2015, 1:59 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,171
For my upcoming regular LGA-ORD r/t, I could have bought F for an add'l $70-$90 or so per segment. 2 hour flight, row 7 or 21, expensing my meals already...not worth it.
Post-purchase, offered the same price.
Go into my reservation now, it's $400-$500 per segment.
Hilarious.
Post-purchase, offered the same price.
Go into my reservation now, it's $400-$500 per segment.
Hilarious.
Jul 1, 2015, 2:07 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1k, SPG Plat 100
Posts: 619
My understanding is that upfare changes (especially when a cabin change occurs; intra-cabin upfares are a bit of a gray area), do not incur a change fee, so you should still be allowed to just call in and pay the fare diff b/t the published fares, as long as all the routing rules are met.
Jul 3, 2015, 9:20 am
#34
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,261
I think their computer system just can't handle the complexities of fares.
I was just looking at one of my trips and the last leg was a refundable M fare ($689 one way EWR DEN). There were 5 first class seats available and there was no instant upgrade available. Then I did a search on purchasing first class and it was $668, $21 less then what I was paying for coach! I called United and the 1K agent gave me a lecture about how instant upgrades are not available on many flights... I finally told her to I wanted to purchase first class and she said she had to check the fare difference... Came back on the line and said I would get a $21 refund.
United is just depending on people like me that have their asst book trips and don't have time to check the fare options on every leg of a trip.
I was just looking at one of my trips and the last leg was a refundable M fare ($689 one way EWR DEN). There were 5 first class seats available and there was no instant upgrade available. Then I did a search on purchasing first class and it was $668, $21 less then what I was paying for coach! I called United and the 1K agent gave me a lecture about how instant upgrades are not available on many flights... I finally told her to I wanted to purchase first class and she said she had to check the fare difference... Came back on the line and said I would get a $21 refund.
United is just depending on people like me that have their asst book trips and don't have time to check the fare options on every leg of a trip.
Jul 3, 2015, 10:30 am
#35
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
I think their computer system just can't handle the complexities of fares.
I was just looking at one of my trips and the last leg was a refundable M fare ($689 one way EWR DEN). There were 5 first class seats available and there was no instant upgrade available. Then I did a search on purchasing first class and it was $668, $21 less then what I was paying for coach! I called United and the 1K agent gave me a lecture about how instant upgrades are not available on many flights... I finally told her to I wanted to purchase first class and she said she had to check the fare difference... Came back on the line and said I would get a $21 refund.
United is just depending on people like me that have their asst book trips and don't have time to check the fare options on every leg of a trip.
I was just looking at one of my trips and the last leg was a refundable M fare ($689 one way EWR DEN). There were 5 first class seats available and there was no instant upgrade available. Then I did a search on purchasing first class and it was $668, $21 less then what I was paying for coach! I called United and the 1K agent gave me a lecture about how instant upgrades are not available on many flights... I finally told her to I wanted to purchase first class and she said she had to check the fare difference... Came back on the line and said I would get a $21 refund.
United is just depending on people like me that have their asst book trips and don't have time to check the fare options on every leg of a trip.
Jul 3, 2015, 11:18 am
#36
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,027
Been several times lately that COS/DEN-SEA (or vice-versa) has been ~$100 more to book in First (P) than the cheapest coach fare. Earlier this summer, after buying the coach fare (K), United offered a buy-up for "only" $1800.
Jul 3, 2015, 3:57 pm
#38
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,318
To me UA's business model is simple - they assume they have a captive base of travelers that they can count on and therefor they do everything possible to convert non core customers to fly them - it's a classic strategy except they forget we aren't stupid and can see what they are doing - at least for thee folks here on FT.....
For the most part - it is pretty Savvy lol....
For the most part - it is pretty Savvy lol....
Jul 3, 2015, 4:08 pm
#39
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 304
Unfortunately, they don't invoice the upgrade separately - which makes it difficult for some of us to purchase them (even if we wanted to).
Jul 3, 2015, 4:13 pm
#40
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
If air is being direct-billed to a corporate card, most systems allow a second (personal) card. Whether that is implemented by a particular company is, of course, a different question.,
Jul 3, 2015, 4:38 pm
#41
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,318
Most businesses will allow their folks to expense the Y (or whatever bucket it is) fare, just as they would a hotel bill that includes non-reimburseable items.
If air is being direct-billed to a corporate card, most systems allow a second (personal) card. Whether that is implemented by a particular company is, of course, a different question.,
If air is being direct-billed to a corporate card, most systems allow a second (personal) card. Whether that is implemented by a particular company is, of course, a different question.,
Jul 3, 2015, 7:45 pm
#42
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,261
The fare rules might be more restrictive on an A fare - not sure. I don't really care about refundable vs. not - I just need to purchase the lowest fare. In this case first was cheaper then the lowest coach for some reason.
Jul 3, 2015, 10:24 pm
#43
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,161
Upgrade offer is higher than buying First outright
I completely agree with bmwe92fan. Don't forget that the Continental people are running this airline and all they knew was 2 captive hubs. Nothing will change until there's a regime change at UA, and I don't know how likely that is. I've had all those divergent pricing experiences reported in this string. They're all over the board but I'm netting out the target customer is the well healed infrequent traveler. You can tell that they're unsure how to conduct themselves in first class. Typically only 20% of the front cabin is upgraded vs 80% in the past on legacy United. Limited competition and capacity makes this a profitable strategy at least in the short term.
Jul 4, 2015, 3:59 pm
#45
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098