Upgrade offer is higher than buying First outright
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,644
#47
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Hoboken, NJ; Pembroke Pines, FL
Programs: CO Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,939
Opposite of ToD first upfares - ThoD (Thousands of Dollars)
Today I ticketed a coach fare with the intention of upfaring to F via the "Upgrade to First" option on my reservation. My original fare was $458 - S on the outbound and L on the return. I found a round trip first class fare at $710 booking into C and A fare classes. This is inclusive of taxes and combines a WAA07AZN fare basis with an LAA14AXS fare.
However, in trying to "upgrade" my original fare, I'm only offered an upgrade for a bit over $1000 each way or $2146 for a round trip upgrade.
I would gladly pay the $250 for the upgrade to the $710 that I could have booked. In fact, I imagine that I could change my ticket and pay the change fee and still make out better than the $2146 that the website is offering for the upgrade.
Does anyone know what is up or if my best option is to call in a flight change and reticket?
However, in trying to "upgrade" my original fare, I'm only offered an upgrade for a bit over $1000 each way or $2146 for a round trip upgrade.
I would gladly pay the $250 for the upgrade to the $710 that I could have booked. In fact, I imagine that I could change my ticket and pay the change fee and still make out better than the $2146 that the website is offering for the upgrade.
Does anyone know what is up or if my best option is to call in a flight change and reticket?
#49
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Hoboken, NJ; Pembroke Pines, FL
Programs: CO Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,939
I'm one of the folks being talked about upthread. I'm only allowed coach fares for domestic travel and I have to book via the corporate Concur employee travel platform.
As also recommended upthread, I called in and changed to F. At first the agent was going to charge me the change fee but waived it after I quoted the "United waives the change fee when changing to a higher cabin" rule.
As also recommended upthread, I called in and changed to F. At first the agent was going to charge me the change fee but waived it after I quoted the "United waives the change fee when changing to a higher cabin" rule.
#50
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cape Cod MA
Programs: GS, 3 MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 752
I routinely up fare after confirmation
I also need to book economy fares with my corporate credit card but after booking I use the web to change flights immediately after the confirmation arrives. I always do my homework regarding the fare basis of front cabin seating before making the original booking. On rare occasions when I have not been abler to rebook/up-fare at the anticipated price, I call in with the information and the agent will find the proper fare. I always use my personal credit card to pay the differential.
#51
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Lifetime UA 1K, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,261
Today I ticketed a coach fare with the intention of upfaring to F via the "Upgrade to First" option on my reservation. My original fare was $458 - S on the outbound and L on the return. I found a round trip first class fare at $710 booking into C and A fare classes. This is inclusive of taxes and combines a WAA07AZN fare basis with an LAA14AXS fare.
However, in trying to "upgrade" my original fare, I'm only offered an upgrade for a bit over $1000 each way or $2146 for a round trip upgrade.
I would gladly pay the $250 for the upgrade to the $710 that I could have booked. In fact, I imagine that I could change my ticket and pay the change fee and still make out better than the $2146 that the website is offering for the upgrade.
Does anyone know what is up or if my best option is to call in a flight change and reticket?
However, in trying to "upgrade" my original fare, I'm only offered an upgrade for a bit over $1000 each way or $2146 for a round trip upgrade.
I would gladly pay the $250 for the upgrade to the $710 that I could have booked. In fact, I imagine that I could change my ticket and pay the change fee and still make out better than the $2146 that the website is offering for the upgrade.
Does anyone know what is up or if my best option is to call in a flight change and reticket?
The sad thing is that there are so many fliers in coach with tickets more expensive then most of the first cabin. I've been in coach with a $1400 one way fare and GS people are in first on $300 fares.
#52
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Hoboken, NJ; Pembroke Pines, FL
Programs: CO Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,939
I also need to book economy fares with my corporate credit card but after booking I use the web to change flights immediately after the confirmation arrives. I always do my homework regarding the fare basis of front cabin seating before making the original booking. On rare occasions when I have not been abler to rebook/up-fare at the anticipated price, I call in with the information and the agent will find the proper fare. I always use my personal credit card to pay the differential.
I'd prefer to make my changes online and avoid talking to anyone.
#53
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,211
Always use an online source to check the lowest available F cabin fare for your flight before accepting the online offer - the system has attempted to screw me multiple times to the tune of hundreds of dollars every time, so I need to call an agent and have them manually rebook me into the correct class and collect only the proper fare difference.
#54
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,432
A laughable tale of UA offers for F EWR-PBI
So I am making reservations from EWR-PBI. The N fare is $109.00. I go thru the process to purchase and I am offered to purchase F for 325.00 more. I pass. I am ticketed now and looking at the record and I am offered a Buy Up to F for $469.00. OK I am still passing. So I am looking at the record now and for laughs I look at the upgrade offer and the laugh is good, I can now upgrade for 729.00
Some context. This has all happened in the last 6 hours for a flight in Sept. and F is still available via expert mode and shows the ability to book 9 seats so it's wide open and no seats are booked.
Does UA have some grand plan that I am too dumb to figure out? I have heard of dynamic pricing but seriously?
Some context. This has all happened in the last 6 hours for a flight in Sept. and F is still available via expert mode and shows the ability to book 9 seats so it's wide open and no seats are booked.
Does UA have some grand plan that I am too dumb to figure out? I have heard of dynamic pricing but seriously?
#56
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Verdi, NV, SFO & Olympic (aka Squaw )Valley.
Programs: Ikon Pass Full + AS Gold + Marriott Titanium + Hilton Gold. Recovering UA Plat. LT lounge AA+DL+UA
Posts: 3,823
It really bothers me that UA offers buy-ups to elites. I understand their desire to maximize transactional revenue, but this really undermines loyalty.
From my perspective upgrades should be processed by status and within that fare class: Paid>GS>1k>Plat>Gold>Silver>BuyUps>NonRev.
The only exception should be when a UA employee must be on a flight; in that case bump an elite up front and give the employee the E+ seat.
From my perspective upgrades should be processed by status and within that fare class: Paid>GS>1k>Plat>Gold>Silver>BuyUps>NonRev.
The only exception should be when a UA employee must be on a flight; in that case bump an elite up front and give the employee the E+ seat.
#57
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,432
#58
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
It really bothers me that UA offers buy-ups to elites. I understand their desire to maximize transactional revenue, but this really undermines loyalty.
From my perspective upgrades should be processed by status and within that fare class: Paid>GS>1k>Plat>Gold>Silver>BuyUps>NonRev.
The only exception should be when a UA employee must be on a flight; in that case bump an elite up front and give the employee the E+ seat.
From my perspective upgrades should be processed by status and within that fare class: Paid>GS>1k>Plat>Gold>Silver>BuyUps>NonRev.
The only exception should be when a UA employee must be on a flight; in that case bump an elite up front and give the employee the E+ seat.
1. Trying to sell the upgrade for more than the lowest available F price -- that's just a sneaky way to fleece your customers, hoping they won't check.
2. Non-elites on the same PNR as an elite being offered an upgrade for less than the elite member
#59
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: CLE
Programs: United, Hilton, Marriott, Hertz, National
Posts: 189
If you scan the TOD and upgrade offer threads here, you'll see numerous tales of nonsensical/laughable/questionable/(insert whatever adjective you'd like) offers to F that do not follow any rule of logic.