Ridiculous upgrade pricing on United.com
Mar 10, 2016, 10:55 pm
#31
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 4,043
I booked an F award on an partner. UA leg was Saver Economy so I had to wait list to IN. Waitlist IN failed despite the domestic leg being an 789 and morning 730am flight. Was surprised I ended up making it still because United upgraded elites instead of last minute options.
No TOD was offered at check-in.
Mar 10, 2016, 11:16 pm
#32
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
I feel United is making effort to upgrade elites rather than last minute methods.
I booked an F award on an partner. UA leg was Saver Economy so I had to wait list to IN. Waitlist IN failed despite the domestic leg being an 789 and morning 730am flight. Was surprised I ended up making it still because United upgraded elites instead of last minute options.
No TOD was offered at check-in.
I booked an F award on an partner. UA leg was Saver Economy so I had to wait list to IN. Waitlist IN failed despite the domestic leg being an 789 and morning 730am flight. Was surprised I ended up making it still because United upgraded elites instead of last minute options.
No TOD was offered at check-in.
Not to spout cliches, but the absence of evidence is not necessarily evidence of absence...
Greg
Mar 10, 2016, 11:31 pm
#33
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 4,043
3 PAX, family members included. I'm the only elite.
I was split off the reservation for upgrade purposes. They did not have any TOD's nor did I during OLCI, CI, and much prior to departure.
Usually UA opens all the saver premium cabin seats very close in departure. I never ran into this issue in the past. But than I haven't booked an UA international F award for an while. UA costs too much. But IMO the FSC didn't make sense on NH so I used UA.
Mar 11, 2016, 9:33 am
#34
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott-Gold
Posts: 621
Mar 11, 2016, 9:46 am
#35
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
No, you're completely wrong about me. But why does everything have to be black and white? I mean for heaven's sake: "the only loyalty any service company has"? What's the point of debating a straw man?
Why shouldn't a for-profit company employ analysts who determine how best to monetize their assets, when their competition is doing the same thing?
Mar 11, 2016, 9:56 am
#36
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,339
Really ridiculous upgrade pricing
With the theme of ridiculous upgrade pricing, I thought I'd offer this example. I just booked MCO-YYC. P fare was $297 CAD more than an economy fare when booking. After booking economy, the upgrade offer was as follows:
MCO-IAH $450
IAH-YYC $5334 (a 4 hour flight)
Total $5784 CAD (about $4200 US)
Over $5000 to upgrade a 4 hour flight on a 737 is pretty ridiculous!
Thought this was pretty crazy that the upgrade offer after purchase was about 20 times the difference between economy and business booking in the first place. The flight is F9, so it's not like it's the last seat, either!
MCO-IAH $450
IAH-YYC $5334 (a 4 hour flight)
Total $5784 CAD (about $4200 US)
Over $5000 to upgrade a 4 hour flight on a 737 is pretty ridiculous!
Thought this was pretty crazy that the upgrade offer after purchase was about 20 times the difference between economy and business booking in the first place. The flight is F9, so it's not like it's the last seat, either!
Mar 11, 2016, 10:03 am
#37
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
No argument here. I just had a similar experience trying to upgrade a BOS<>DEN itinerary for this coming September. Not quite so crazy as your example, but still annoying: my economy fare is $371 r/t, and UA wants an additional $2,436 to upgrade, despite the fact that the F cabin is wide open.
I just had a similar experience trying to upgrade a BOS<>DEN itinerary for this coming September. Not quite so crazy as your example, but still annoying: my economy fare is $371 r/t, and UA wants an additional $2,436 to upgrade, despite the fact that the F cabin is wide open.
Last edited by RandomBaritone; Mar 11, 2016 at 10:11 am
Mar 11, 2016, 10:05 am
#38
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
That is impressive, indeed.
I think it's clear that something is actually broken in the pricing logic.
The question in my mind is whether it's broken because something went wrong or if it's broken because they're transitioning to a completely different pricing logic or scheme, and the IT is out of sync.
I think it's clear that something is actually broken in the pricing logic.
The question in my mind is whether it's broken because something went wrong or if it's broken because they're transitioning to a completely different pricing logic or scheme, and the IT is out of sync.
Mar 11, 2016, 12:38 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,379
Given how long it's been like this, I think it's the former. UA can barely get their website to allow you to book tickets, so I doubt fixing this is a priority.
Mar 11, 2016, 2:27 pm
#40
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Seattle
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 220
For my flight GDL-SEA coach was priced at $219 and Business was $419. The offer to upgrade was over $700 though. That is just crazy that they sell the upgrade for several times what it would cost to buy a ticket outright. So after I decided to fly Business I just cancelled and rebooked. But that wouldn't have been an option had I waited more than 24 hours. Still, it would've been cheaper just to buy a new ticket rather than do the upgrade.
Mar 13, 2016, 11:25 am
#41
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott-Gold
Posts: 621
I thought the cardinal rule here was to discuss the posts, not the posters?
No, you're completely wrong about me. But why does everything have to be black and white? I mean for heaven's sake: "the only loyalty any service company has"? What's the point of debating a straw man?
Why shouldn't a for-profit company employ analysts who determine how best to monetize their assets, when their competition is doing the same thing?
No, you're completely wrong about me. But why does everything have to be black and white? I mean for heaven's sake: "the only loyalty any service company has"? What's the point of debating a straw man?
Why shouldn't a for-profit company employ analysts who determine how best to monetize their assets, when their competition is doing the same thing?
Any case, another data point for today... ATL-IAH t-5 hours, 3 open seats, only one person upgraded (must be GS). Upgrade offered at $199. No thanks! Before buyups, I would have been in a confirmed FC seat, a few days ago already.
Mar 13, 2016, 5:02 pm
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,886
I just booked a multi-city itinerary (SFO-CLE, then IND-SFO) both non-stops. When going through the checkout process the E+ pricing for the seats I wanted were $59 and $93 respectively, and the Upgrade to F screen appeared and offered me a $249 and $199 upgrade for my flights. I was in a hurry while booking so I ignored all the upgrade screens.
When I went back a half hour later to select my E+ seats the pricing had changed to $62 and $99 for my selected seats. And the F upgrade went to $783 and $865 for each of my flights.
What is this nonsense?! You offer one price during checkout, and suddenly the prices all go up?? Anyone else see this behavior during checkout, and does the price ever go back to what I was originally offered?
For the record, my SFO-CLE was "1 ticket left at this price" for W, and now the only available seating is in V, which was $30 more than what I paid originally.
When I went back a half hour later to select my E+ seats the pricing had changed to $62 and $99 for my selected seats. And the F upgrade went to $783 and $865 for each of my flights.
What is this nonsense?! You offer one price during checkout, and suddenly the prices all go up?? Anyone else see this behavior during checkout, and does the price ever go back to what I was originally offered?
For the record, my SFO-CLE was "1 ticket left at this price" for W, and now the only available seating is in V, which was $30 more than what I paid originally.
Mar 13, 2016, 5:31 pm
#43
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,377
Cancel the tickets, clear your cookies and re book,
Prices change depending on the number of hits and offers...
I have booked award space, 6 hours before departure PEK ORD, one hour before, no award.., with many seats empty in FC..
Prices change depending on the number of hits and offers...
I have booked award space, 6 hours before departure PEK ORD, one hour before, no award.., with many seats empty in FC..
Mar 13, 2016, 6:38 pm
#44
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,404
Mar 14, 2016, 11:44 am
#45
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: MSP/ORD
Programs: UA 1MM/GS, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 318
A somewhat similar data point from Friday: ORD-SFO (6pm departure), T-8 hours, only 1 open seat left, and as a Platinum I was offered the upgrade at $199. I 'knew' that I had no chance of getting the seat via CPU (I ended up at #8 on the list), so I seriously thought about it, but decided to pass.
