PS Upgrades...How to?
Oct 15, 2016, 4:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: FAT
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Plat
Posts: 52
PS Upgrades...How to?
Hi Folks,
Pardon this request if it's been spelled out before. I'm having trouble searching the forum for short terms, like GPU and PS.
I'd like to know what my options are for an evening flight from LAX to EWR on 10/28 and I want to compare the cost of biz first one way $1330 or so with what it would cost for an economy and upgrade instrument seat (I have an RPU, GPUs and miles available). I can't seem to figure out how to search upgradeable fares.
Can anyone tell me how to do it?
Thanks,
Defendem
Pardon this request if it's been spelled out before. I'm having trouble searching the forum for short terms, like GPU and PS.
I'd like to know what my options are for an evening flight from LAX to EWR on 10/28 and I want to compare the cost of biz first one way $1330 or so with what it would cost for an economy and upgrade instrument seat (I have an RPU, GPUs and miles available). I can't seem to figure out how to search upgradeable fares.
Can anyone tell me how to do it?
Thanks,
Defendem
Oct 15, 2016, 4:59 pm
#2
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: 66,856
Hi Folks,
Pardon this request if it's been spelled out before. I'm having trouble searching the forum for short terms, like GPU and PS.
I'd like to know what my options are for an evening flight from LAX to EWR on 10/28 and I want to compare the cost of biz first one way $1330 or so with what it would cost for an economy and upgrade instrument seat (I have an RPU, GPUs and miles available). I can't seem to figure out how to search upgradeable fares.
Can anyone tell me how to do it?
Thanks,
Defendem
Pardon this request if it's been spelled out before. I'm having trouble searching the forum for short terms, like GPU and PS.
I'd like to know what my options are for an evening flight from LAX to EWR on 10/28 and I want to compare the cost of biz first one way $1330 or so with what it would cost for an economy and upgrade instrument seat (I have an RPU, GPUs and miles available). I can't seem to figure out how to search upgradeable fares.
Can anyone tell me how to do it?
Thanks,
Defendem
On a PS flights there is no min fare class and the priority of miles, RPU and GPU are the same. Note with miles there will be a copay for most fares.
Another option is to learn about "Expert Mode" and manually look for R inventory.
Oct 15, 2016, 5:03 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: FAT
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Plat
Posts: 52
When I try to do this, on the advanced search page, the results are shown in 3 or four columns. First is an economy fare, second is the business class fare, then the next column is an upgradeable first class fare and there is nothing in this field because there are no first-class seats on the PS flight. It won't show me how much it costs for an economy to business upgrade.
Oct 15, 2016, 5:05 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
When I try to do this, on the advanced search page, the results are shown in 3 or four columns. First is an economy fare, second is the business class fare, then the next column is an upgradeable first class fare and there is nothing in this field because there are no first-class seats on the PS flight. It won't show me how much it costs for an economy to business upgrade.
If you select rpu/gpu it doesn't matter as there are no fare class restrictions for PS flights, only R availability
If you select Miles/money - then it should give you the miles and copay in the second column
Make sure you select buy economy and upgrade to business
Oct 15, 2016, 5:07 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
Hi Folks,
Pardon this request if it's been spelled out before. I'm having trouble searching the forum for short terms, like GPU and PS.
I'd like to know what my options are for an evening flight from LAX to EWR on 10/28 and I want to compare the cost of biz first one way $1330 or so with what it would cost for an economy and upgrade instrument seat (I have an RPU, GPUs and miles available). I can't seem to figure out how to search upgradeable fares.
Can anyone tell me how to do it?
Thanks,
Defendem
Pardon this request if it's been spelled out before. I'm having trouble searching the forum for short terms, like GPU and PS.
I'd like to know what my options are for an evening flight from LAX to EWR on 10/28 and I want to compare the cost of biz first one way $1330 or so with what it would cost for an economy and upgrade instrument seat (I have an RPU, GPUs and miles available). I can't seem to figure out how to search upgradeable fares.
Can anyone tell me how to do it?
Thanks,
Defendem
Oct 15, 2016, 5:10 pm
#7
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: 66,856
For miles, the amount of miles and copay depends on the purchased fare class -- see travel and upgrade award chart page 4
Not to burst your bubble, but I would not expect to have any luck applying an instrument upgrade on this flight. The only time when I was able to score it was out of sheer dumb luck...UA pretty much zeroes out the p.s. R fare bucket because they can sell all of the seats up front.
There is no First on PS flights, only BF,E+ and E-.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 15, 2016 at 5:15 pm Reason: self-merge
Oct 15, 2016, 5:25 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: FAT
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Plat
Posts: 52
Ok, for some reason (likely user error) the search is working for me now. Unfortunately all requests for RPU/GPU are waitlist only. Any folks have experience with RPU/GPU upgrades on these PS routes on Friday nights? (12:45a Saturday morning out of LAX is instantly confirmable, but gets me into EWR too late) What's the likelihood of RPU/GPU success as a 1K on PS service Friday nights? Can fly out of SFO or LAX, though LAX is more convenient
Oct 15, 2016, 5:36 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: Hyatt Globalist (2020:Exp), United Gold
Posts: 1,525
Interesting...when searching with RPU, the second column is "First (upgrade-eligible Economy Fare)"...just adding to the confusion. I guess it's B/BF/F depending on the day of the week.
Instructions on #4 work, I show the 12:45am (very early Sat) flight is currently R6, at $144+RPU.
Good luck!
Instructions on #4 work, I show the 12:45am (very early Sat) flight is currently R6, at $144+RPU.
Good luck!
Oct 15, 2016, 5:44 pm
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
Ok, for some reason (likely user error) the search is working for me now. Unfortunately all requests for RPU/GPU are waitlist only. Any folks have experience with RPU/GPU upgrades on these PS routes on Friday nights? (12:45a Saturday morning out of LAX is instantly confirmable, but gets me into EWR too late) What's the likelihood of RPU/GPU success as a 1K on PS service Friday nights? Can fly out of SFO or LAX, though LAX is more convenient
The Thursday and Friday night red-eyes are very popular though.
And in case this hasn't been made clear already, there are no minimum fare restrictions to upgrade on ps with an RPU/GPU. Higher fares have higher upgrade priority though.
Front cabin on ps is always BF.
Oct 15, 2016, 8:29 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Considering I have cleared twice in recent weeks (and I have dropped to Plat for this year) , that is overly pessimist --- it isn't easy and success is far from guaranteed, but it is far from impossible. One was at booking and another was a SDC to a flight with R>0.
Ok, for some reason (likely user error) the search is working for me now. Unfortunately all requests for RPU/GPU are waitlist only. Any folks have experience with RPU/GPU upgrades on these PS routes on Friday nights? (12:45a Saturday morning out of LAX is instantly confirmable, but gets me into EWR too late) What's the likelihood of RPU/GPU success as a 1K on PS service Friday nights? Can fly out of SFO or LAX, though LAX is more convenient
Oct 15, 2016, 11:32 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
Not to burst your bubble, but I would not expect to have any luck applying an instrument upgrade on this flight. The only time when I was able to score it was out of sheer dumb luck...UA pretty much zeroes out the p.s. R fare bucket because they can sell all of the seats up front.
Oct 16, 2016, 6:35 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
I know you're asking about upgrading, but did just want to mention that the PS routes are one of the few (only?) domestic routes I know of where round trips are cheaper than the comparable sum of one ways. I.e if you can, book your flight as a round trip and it'll be cheaper.
Oct 16, 2016, 6:43 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
I know you're asking about upgrading, but did just want to mention that the PS routes are one of the few (only?) domestic routes I know of where round trips are cheaper than the comparable sum of one ways. I.e if you can, book your flight as a round trip and it'll be cheaper.
Oct 16, 2016, 11:53 am
#15
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