Jan 10, 2016, 10:56 pm
Last edit by: atword
Previous threads: 2015 Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU) Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
2014 Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU) Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
2013 "Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU)" Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
PCU (Premium Cabin Upsell) Nets extra PQM's and can be done at purchase or anytime before checkin if prompted. This will book into a business/first bucket.
UFC (Upgrade For Cash) is done at checkin (online, counter, lounge, gate) and will not earn extra PQM's.
TOD (Tens of Dollars); please post at another thread Post your TOD buy-up experiences here [2016 Edition]
From #198 of the TOD thread by thejaredhuang: "I think there's still a distinction (from upsell thread). This thread is more about offers at check-in, I always read TOD as Time of Departure anyways."
2014 Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU) Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
2013 "Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU)" Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
PCU (Premium Cabin Upsell) Nets extra PQM's and can be done at purchase or anytime before checkin if prompted. This will book into a business/first bucket.
UFC (Upgrade For Cash) is done at checkin (online, counter, lounge, gate) and will not earn extra PQM's.
TOD (Tens of Dollars); please post at another thread Post your TOD buy-up experiences here [2016 Edition]
From #198 of the TOD thread by thejaredhuang: "I think there's still a distinction (from upsell thread). This thread is more about offers at check-in, I always read TOD as Time of Departure anyways."
2016 Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU) Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
Jun 12, 2016, 11:02 am
#196
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
Thanks WineCountry. Perhaps a dunce question, but how exactly do you check for an upgrade after already being checked in?
I haven't had to worry about this before and I don't recall seeing upgrade offers on the app / online / kiosks after already having been checked in.
I haven't had to worry about this before and I don't recall seeing upgrade offers on the app / online / kiosks after already having been checked in.
And keep rechecking regularly: as mentioned in a previous post of mine, the offer appeared about 1.5 hours before departure for an int'l flight (and disappeared quickly again), on other flights I see it from checkin until boarding time.
Jun 12, 2016, 1:36 pm
#197
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
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This thread seems like a good place to ask this question. I took advantage a $169 upgrade after purchasing my ticket. So, my ticket still claims the original $350 price, but not the total $519 cost . My trip got postponed. When I go to change the ticket on line, I am not given credit for the $169 upgrade. I know I will have to pay a $200 change fee. Is the $169 upgrade fee lost? Any experience with this situation? (I'm assuming I will need to call, but curious if I need to prepare for a fight, or if United is good about this).
Jun 12, 2016, 2:25 pm
#198
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
This thread seems like a good place to ask this question. I took advantage a $169 upgrade after purchasing my ticket. So, my ticket still claims the original $350 price, but not the total $519 cost . My trip got postponed. When I go to change the ticket on line, I am not given credit for the $169 upgrade. I know I will have to pay a $200 change fee. Is the $169 upgrade fee lost? Any experience with this situation? (I'm assuming I will need to call, but curious if I need to prepare for a fight, or if United is good about this).
Jun 12, 2016, 2:35 pm
#199
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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Unfortunately, the upgrade fee is nonrefundable.
Refunds
I doubt it. That's just giving F inventory away.
Cabin upgrade fees are generally nonrefundable, but if a flight for which an upgrade fee has been paid is affected by a schedule change, cancellation or oversale, and you cannot be accommodated in United Global First℠, United First , United BusinessFirst or United Business on a later flight, you may request a refund of the fees paid for the upgrade using the Cabin Upgrade refund form.
I doubt it. That's just giving F inventory away.
Jun 12, 2016, 3:46 pm
#200
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
The same page also has essentially the same limitation on E+ access fees and those are refunded many times for voluntary changes. Wondering if the same applies to upgrade fees, I have never test that (or remember a case where a FT tested this). Not wildly hopeful but worth a try.
Jun 13, 2016, 7:56 am
#201
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
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Posts: 10,159
Thanks WineCountry. Perhaps a dunce question, but how exactly do you check for an upgrade after already being checked in?
I haven't had to worry about this before and I don't recall seeing upgrade offers on the app / online / kiosks after already having been checked in.
I haven't had to worry about this before and I don't recall seeing upgrade offers on the app / online / kiosks after already having been checked in.
If you have the app: go to my reservations, select "More Options" or similar button (not the + button), scroll down. It lists things like SDC and upgrades if they're available (they don't always appear).
And keep rechecking regularly: as mentioned in a previous post of mine, the offer appeared about 1.5 hours before departure for an int'l flight (and disappeared quickly again), on other flights I see it from checkin until boarding time.
And keep rechecking regularly: as mentioned in a previous post of mine, the offer appeared about 1.5 hours before departure for an int'l flight (and disappeared quickly again), on other flights I see it from checkin until boarding time.
Jun 13, 2016, 2:59 pm
#202
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ORD, MKE
Programs: Bonvoy LT Gold, Hilton Silver, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 710
Jun 13, 2016, 3:12 pm
#203
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ORD, MKE
Programs: Bonvoy LT Gold, Hilton Silver, Hyatt Discoverist, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 710
EWR-ORD on B763-I
XN (E-) -> domestic J (IPTE lie-flat)
$139 UFC on mobile app after auto check-in.
Declined. Instead, was "upgraded" to row 13, the E++ crew rest seats with extra recline, foot rests, and full domestic J service, because E- was full.
XN (E-) -> domestic J (IPTE lie-flat)
$139 UFC on mobile app after auto check-in.
Declined. Instead, was "upgraded" to row 13, the E++ crew rest seats with extra recline, foot rests, and full domestic J service, because E- was full.
Jun 14, 2016, 8:19 am
#204
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), Hyatt Discoverist(?), Marriott/SPG Gold
Posts: 124
SFO-IAH $199 (789 - to F) + IAH-LHR $829 (788 - to ZN) on mobile app through the check-in functionality. Had already checked in yesterday, but decided to take a look one more time this morning. Upgraded that puppy (nice way to hit 1MM).
Jun 14, 2016, 10:28 am
#205
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Or do they still award based on the original ticket price?
Jun 14, 2016, 1:03 pm
#206
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 302
EWR-ZRH
P Fare
$829 to GF in the app post-checkin/T-4h
P Fare
$829 to GF in the app post-checkin/T-4h
Jun 15, 2016, 8:19 am
#207
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,236
Warning on International upsell from B fare
OLCI BF upgrades generally don't come with higher cabin PQM premiums. The default is the standard 100% PQM. However, if you already have a Y or B fare that gives higher PQM's, you can actually get hurt by upgrading. In my case, my LHR-EWR B fare went to ZN which only gave me 100% PQM. I noticed and called in, and the agent got a supervisor to manually add the PQM's and PQS bonus for a B fare. Yet another reminder to check your activity after every flight.
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Jun 15, 2016, 10:43 am
#208
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), Hyatt Discoverist(?), Marriott/SPG Gold
Posts: 124
I just assume that I won't get a PQM/PQS bump doing upgrades within 24 hours, so the bump on the SFO-IAH leg was a pleasant surprise.
Jun 15, 2016, 11:22 am
#209
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Otherwise ("upfare", "PCU", "GG BUYUP" - shows on receipt as an Add/Collect "for the difference in fare"): all earnings are for the premium cabin based on the new ticket. New money is PQD/RDM earning.
*Usually it earns bonus if it books into a revenue bucket (F, A, C, D, Z, P). My theory (unsubstantiated) is that the fee upgrade will book into the lowest available inventory.
Jun 15, 2016, 1:04 pm
#210
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, DL Platinum, UA Gold, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 89
I haven't tried to do this, but unfortunately you are probably out of luck. Because the at-booking offer is structured as a fee, the additional value is not added to the ticket and therefore not part of the coupon when changing it. Especially if doing a change with the same O&D, a nice agent might pity you and comp the upgrade on the new flight.