I didn't know this thread existed. Maybe this goes here? Just booked an Economy seat BNA - SYD for March 2024 using miles. These were the Upgrade offers on the Day of Purchase. The Business Class RT is about $10,000 so to upgrade two one ways is more than to just buy it outright. I guess that's normal.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5bf31af879.jpg

The 5/23/2023 UA 872 TPE-SFO reservation posted a few posts upthread (#1606) was an international ticket for which PP was applied and on waitlist. UA did offer cash upgrade - at prices far higher than if I just pay fare difference to change to a new ticket in the higher cabin.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ac3a0e2545.jpg



April 24 PVG-SFO. A colleague didn't get the upgrade offer (waitlisted for Polaris), but if he changes seat to Polaris, the price shows up.

$13,569

This is a quick way to make 1K. ;)

Hello Fellow Flyers
I have been a member for 20 years but have been away from this forum for a long time. I just started following it again. First, I want to thank everyone for their excellent and wise advice. I feel like I should share my recent experience. Me and my wife have 2 XN award tickets one-way IAD-HND at 35K. United offered upgrade to PE for $300 each for our almost 14 hour flight. Reading other comments, I jumped on it and now have Row 20 seats for our UA804 flight in July 2023.
However, on checking seating charts, the flight is almost empty with PE showing only 3 other seats taken besides us. My question to the experts is this: Did we make a good purchase or try to see if we can downgrade if there is a schedule change?
Also, UA is offering upgrade to J for $6198 each which we will definitely pass.

Bought Economy (Q) on SFO-CDG in the beginning of July; post-purchase upgrade to J for $890. Cheaper than buying J there and economy back

Sounds like a good investment to me. Note also that if your upgrade booked into a revenue fare class (O, A, R), you may have a reasonable chance for a mileage upgrade to business class, depending on how full that cabin is and how many higher status pax from PE list for the upgrade.

You got a trip to Tokyo in an 8-across (777) or 7-across (787) seat (vs. 10-across 777 / 9-across 787) for $300 plus 35K increasingly devalued MileagePlus miles.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, and don't assume that the back will stay empty. :)

Personally, there is no way I'd downgrade, because there is no way I'd sit 14 hours in 9/10-across Y when there was a reasonable alternative.

(Note that 9-across in a 787 and 10-across in a 777 are approximately equivalent, due to the fuselage width).

Welcome back, flyingwish!

I think a $300/each upgrade is a good deal for a flight that long. The two of you will have a row to yourselves, with an easy exit from the window seat if you want to stretch your legs.

April 2023, ORD to FRA, at check-in offer from Premium Economy to Polaris $699.

First international trip since February 2020 and I'm Silver (which was a free gift from UA). I took the offer.

Premium Economy was Full and there were 6 seats left in Polaris out of 44 when I checked in.

I know, I have to change my profile to UA Silver.......

Booked 35K miles XN award EWR-HND for May. Waitlisted using 40 PP.

It shows J6 C6 D4 Z2 P1.

Still, there is no cash upgrade offer.

Thank you for your advise and that of others here. I will keep my seats and see if a reasonable offer comes my way for J. Right now it is still $6192 for each of us.

Thank you for the good input. I think it is now a YN ticket which was originally XN but I will check again.to make sure.

Hello,
I checked my reservation and we are now booked in fare class A which is giving an option to upgrade from PE to J for 30K miles + $450 each. Our flight is on July 16th IAD-HND. Should I wait to see if a better offer comes along or take the current offer? As always, any advice is most appreciated.

That's not an offer, it's the standard cost of a mileage upgrade. It will not change.

There is currently no upgrade space (PZ) available on UA803 on 7/16. If you elect to upgrade using miles, you will be placed on the waitlist.

Thank you for the information. I still have so much to learn from you all.

As others mentioned, that's the standard offer and personally I would take it (waitlist) for such a long flight. If it doesn't clear, you'll get your cash + miles back, and if it does, all the better!