Jan 21, 2017, 10:27 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
UA will generally offer cash upgrades from any non-Basic Economy fare for UA operated flights, these can be offered:
- At the time of purchase
- Before travel in the itinerary view
- At check-in (computer, smartphone, airport)
- You can inquire with an agent anytime (including at the gate)
The price can vary, as it appears multiple processes are used -- occasionally yielding strangely high offers. Always cross-check on what the fare difference (up fare) might be and consider insteadBuy up to higher fare class w/o change fee? {GG BUYUP}
Awards tickets may be offered similar cash upgrade but generally only at check-in (Aug 2022 update, frequent reports of award ticket cash upgrade offers; at booking, after booking and check-in. Unclear under what conditions.
For Check-in offers, these can vary post initial check-in, so check back closer to departure.
Such upgrades will be eligible for all the benefits of a premium cabin ticket, UA makes no distinction on how a passenger premium cabin ticket was obtained.
Generally, fees for upgrades are non-refundable if you voluntarily cancel. If UA cancels or fails to provide the upgrade, the fees will be refunded. On voluntary changes, the agent may transfer to the changes flight but that is not standard policy.
True up-fares (ADD/COLLECT) are transferable if the appropriate inventory space is available.
Fees paid for upgrades now {2020) earn PQPs
Will the upgrade earn PQDs or bonus PQMs see the wiki of Some Paid Upgrades Count Towards PQD & mileage bonus and some DON"T!
On how pricing is structured, see A Comprehensive Look at Domestic First Class Monetization (FCM) on United
Previous Threads:
UA Upsell Offers to Business/First at Purchase and Day of Departure (TOD) [Archive]
2016 Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU) Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
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)
- At the time of purchase
- Before travel in the itinerary view
- At check-in (computer, smartphone, airport)
- You can inquire with an agent anytime (including at the gate)
The price can vary, as it appears multiple processes are used -- occasionally yielding strangely high offers. Always cross-check on what the fare difference (up fare) might be and consider instead
Awards tickets may be offered similar cash upgrade but generally only at check-in (Aug 2022 update, frequent reports of award ticket cash upgrade offers; at booking, after booking and check-in. Unclear under what conditions.
For Check-in offers, these can vary post initial check-in, so check back closer to departure.
Such upgrades will be eligible for all the benefits of a premium cabin ticket, UA makes no distinction on how a passenger premium cabin ticket was obtained.
Generally, fees for upgrades are non-refundable if you voluntarily cancel. If UA cancels or fails to provide the upgrade, the fees will be refunded. On voluntary changes, the agent may transfer to the changes flight but that is not standard policy.
True up-fares (ADD/COLLECT) are transferable if the appropriate inventory space is available.
Fees paid for upgrades now {2020) earn PQPs
On how pricing is structured, see A Comprehensive Look at Domestic First Class Monetization (FCM) on United
Previous Threads:
UA Upsell Offers to Business/First at Purchase and Day of Departure (TOD) [Archive]
2016 Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU) Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
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)
UA Upsell Offers to Business/First/PP at Purchase to Day of Departure (TOD)
Feb 28, 2023, 11:50 am
#62
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,277
Must be trying to help people get some marginal value from reaching their PQP thresholds by offering upgrades when the flight is J1C0 or something instead of needing the straight cash buy up at the end of the year
Mar 4, 2023, 8:05 am
#64
Join Date: Oct 2002
Programs: United Premier 1K
Posts: 1,230
Seems to also be true for flights to Canada (at least the $99 I am often offered to upgrade YYZ<>EWR fully posts as PQP)
Mar 9, 2023, 12:48 pm
#66
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA S
Posts: 1,335
I'm seeing $398 to Premium Plus for LHR->SFO in April on an award ticket, seems like a reasonable offer.
1. What are the odds that this drops if I'm willing to gamble day of? Flight looks lightly loaded atm.
2. Fair chance I end up cancelling this award. Is the refund process for cabin upgrades sane?
1. What are the odds that this drops if I'm willing to gamble day of? Flight looks lightly loaded atm.
2. Fair chance I end up cancelling this award. Is the refund process for cabin upgrades sane?
Mar 9, 2023, 1:02 pm
#67
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Went to buy SBN-ORD-RDU today. $249 for a V fare or $470 for a mixed Q/P Fare (SBN-ORD is single class). After booking I was offered to upgrade ORD-RDU for $149. I passed, it's not worth that to me.
Mar 9, 2023, 1:42 pm
#68
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Personally - I think the odds are zero and will go up quite a bit
Mar 9, 2023, 5:50 pm
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,361
I'm seeing $398 to Premium Plus for LHR->SFO in April on an award ticket, seems like a reasonable offer.
1. What are the odds that this drops if I'm willing to gamble day of? Flight looks lightly loaded atm.
2. Fair chance I end up cancelling this award. Is the refund process for cabin upgrades sane?
1. What are the odds that this drops if I'm willing to gamble day of? Flight looks lightly loaded atm.
2. Fair chance I end up cancelling this award. Is the refund process for cabin upgrades sane?
Mar 10, 2023, 10:45 am
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Mar 10, 2023, 4:22 pm
#72
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,940
Your offer beats mine for the upfare offer of an XN award (PVG-SFO), which is nearly $9K. If I buy this one-way ticket (PVG-ORF) with cash, the dollar amount is slightly less than the upfare fare. In other word, my 35K miles for the economy ticket have a negative value!
Mar 18, 2023, 6:59 pm
#73
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,525
Day of departure. KIX-SFO (10hrs).
I have a W/Q ticket.
Paid $300 a few days ago for PP upgrade. At the time Polaris upgrade was priced around $5,000 I think.
Now I have a chance of PP to Polaris for $900.
That would bring it to $1200 total, pretty much in line with the $550+30,000 mile offer I have been seeing for the last couple weeks on the upgrade cabin tab.
Too rich for my blood though, given the roundtrip was around $2,600.
My partner is on an award ticket.
Offer is $800 for PP or $900 for Polaris.
I have a W/Q ticket.
Paid $300 a few days ago for PP upgrade. At the time Polaris upgrade was priced around $5,000 I think.
Now I have a chance of PP to Polaris for $900.
That would bring it to $1200 total, pretty much in line with the $550+30,000 mile offer I have been seeing for the last couple weeks on the upgrade cabin tab.
Too rich for my blood though, given the roundtrip was around $2,600.
My partner is on an award ticket.
Offer is $800 for PP or $900 for Polaris.
Mar 19, 2023, 9:56 am
#74
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA - Silver, Hertz-5 star
Posts: 217
I'm on SFO-BNE in 3 weeks, I got a Premium Plus ticket through AMEX travel, when I login to United Account no cash upgrade offer shows, just a Miles for a waitlist option. It's a 788 so just 28 Polaris seats onboard but 10 showing empty.
Is this usual?
-Paul
Is this usual?
-Paul
Mar 19, 2023, 11:37 am
#75
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
March 27, PVG-SFO. $1,300 G Class ticket.
Buy-up offer: $5,800 for PE, $8,100 for J.
Total price: original fare + buy up = $7,100 for PE, $9,400 for J.
However, if you buy ticket for the same flight, PE fare is $3,300 and J fare is 5,500.
This is insane.
Buy-up offer: $5,800 for PE, $8,100 for J.
Total price: original fare + buy up = $7,100 for PE, $9,400 for J.
However, if you buy ticket for the same flight, PE fare is $3,300 and J fare is 5,500.
This is insane.