Upgrade offer is higher than buying First outright
Aug 6, 2015, 9:30 am
#61
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: EWR
Programs: SPG LT Plat/P100, UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 532
Does anyone have recent experience trying to buy up to P after booking?
Booked a JFK-SFO RT a few weeks ago in coach, P is now available on the return leg and I'd like to buy up to it. The agent said that starting in July, you have to pay the $200 change fee even if you're just paying to upgrade on the same flight.
Is this correct or just a case of hanging up and trying again?
Thanks!
Booked a JFK-SFO RT a few weeks ago in coach, P is now available on the return leg and I'd like to buy up to it. The agent said that starting in July, you have to pay the $200 change fee even if you're just paying to upgrade on the same flight.
Is this correct or just a case of hanging up and trying again?
Thanks!
Aug 6, 2015, 10:22 am
#62
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
Does anyone have recent experience trying to buy up to P after booking?
Booked a JFK-SFO RT a few weeks ago in coach, P is now available on the return leg and I'd like to buy up to it. The agent said that starting in July, you have to pay the $200 change fee even if you're just paying to upgrade on the same flight.
Is this correct or just a case of hanging up and trying again?
Thanks!
Booked a JFK-SFO RT a few weeks ago in coach, P is now available on the return leg and I'd like to buy up to it. The agent said that starting in July, you have to pay the $200 change fee even if you're just paying to upgrade on the same flight.
Is this correct or just a case of hanging up and trying again?
Thanks!
Aug 6, 2015, 11:36 pm
#63
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,857
Aug 7, 2015, 5:29 am
#64
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: san antonio, texas
Programs: 3.2MM AA, 1.4MM UA,StwdLftPlt
Posts: 1,586
Sep 9, 2015, 2:17 pm
#65
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,017
United is at it again. Upgrade offer as soon as purchase was complete was $3,059. I declined. I then went into change seats... and upgrade using BuyUp and see offer for $2,232. uh vey United. Let's get it together.
Sep 10, 2015, 3:27 pm
#66
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
I always decline the post-purchase upgrade offer, but I leave the browser as is. In another browser, I check the reservation for a lower offer (has to ticket first, of course). If the post-purchase offer is better, I can go back to that browser and "back" into the offer again. (No guarantee this will work for you, of course). If not, you can always try booking the same itinerary again and see if you get the same (or better) post-purchase offer. You can do this several times, if necessary. But remember to cancel all unwanted bookings.
Sep 13, 2015, 9:08 am
#68
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
A world in which some business travelers are forbidden by various policies/practices from purchasing F tickets, but can use their own means to upgrade from Y tickets?
Sep 13, 2015, 9:32 am
#69
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LAX NYC
Programs: UA 1K 3.01MM, Global Entry, RCC LIFETIME (pd $2k in '90)), HH GOLD, Pan Am Clipper Club Lifetime
Posts: 178
Future trip MCO/LAX on 07NOV..... My upgrade offer is $722. Booking a brand new ticket in First is $385. United will not allow ME (1K 2MM) to buy up to the $385 First fare BUT my NO STATUS travelling companions were allowed to upgrade for $168 (fare paid PLUS fare difference). Head still shaking on this one.
Sep 13, 2015, 10:18 am
#70
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,466
Future trip MCO/LAX on 07NOV..... My upgrade offer is $722. Booking a brand new ticket in First is $385. United will not allow ME (1K 2MM) to buy up to the $385 First fare BUT my NO STATUS travelling companions were allowed to upgrade for $168 (fare paid PLUS fare difference). Head still shaking on this one.
UA has been aware of this "bug" for years and has elected not to fix it. (Although UA Insider at one time told us they were working on it.)
Sep 13, 2015, 10:52 am
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
Future trip MCO/LAX on 07NOV..... My upgrade offer is $722. Booking a brand new ticket in First is $385. United will not allow ME (1K 2MM) to buy up to the $385 First fare BUT my NO STATUS travelling companions were allowed to upgrade for $168 (fare paid PLUS fare difference). Head still shaking on this one.
Sep 13, 2015, 1:06 pm
#72
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
Future trip MCO/LAX on 07NOV..... My upgrade offer is $722. Booking a brand new ticket in First is $385. United will not allow ME (1K 2MM) to buy up to the $385 First fare BUT my NO STATUS travelling companions were allowed to upgrade for $168 (fare paid PLUS fare difference). Head still shaking on this one.
Sep 17, 2015, 1:11 pm
#74
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 5,000
Killer A-Fares
Yesterday, I booked two transcons for early NOV in L and the cost was 390- RT. I wanted to use RPUs to upgrade and there was no availability, but there was a buy-up available for 859- for a total cost of 1,249-!
Later on the same day, I accidentally entered a search for business class and saw an A-Fare for 475-, so I cancelled my original flights and rebooked my flights in F.
Later on the same day, I accidentally entered a search for business class and saw an A-Fare for 475-, so I cancelled my original flights and rebooked my flights in F.
Sep 18, 2015, 6:48 pm
#75
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
Yesterday, I booked two transcons for early NOV in L and the cost was 390- RT. I wanted to use RPUs to upgrade and there was no availability, but there was a buy-up available for 859- for a total cost of 1,249-!
Later on the same day, I accidentally entered a search for business class and saw an A-Fare for 475-, so I cancelled my original flights and rebooked my flights in F.
Later on the same day, I accidentally entered a search for business class and saw an A-Fare for 475-, so I cancelled my original flights and rebooked my flights in F.