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)
Apr 19, 2024, 7:45 pm
#797
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 35
I paid $399 for the 772 in 2022 and $499 in the 773 last year for reference. My current offer is $639 for the 773 in July and it's been there for awhile with only 2 seats chosen so far. I'd take that offer if it were me, what month is your flight?
Apr 19, 2024, 7:58 pm
#798
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: AA PLT, AC E35k
Posts: 469
Thanks for the points of reference, this is for a weekday in early May. Seems like the lowest it has gone for this route is $349 after some searching so not far off.
Apr 22, 2024, 9:33 am
#799
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Alexandria, Longboat Key
Programs: UA Gold Marriott Gold AA Gold Choice Gold Wyndham PLAT IHG PLAT Avis President's Club Amtrak Select
Posts: 2,263
Apr 22, 2024, 12:08 pm
#802
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: NJ
Programs: UA Silver, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 510
Apr 22, 2024, 12:13 pm
#803
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,239
No we would not upgrade for $1790 pp. I’m tempted to upgrade for $400 pp if it goes that low. But we’ll survive in PP. I sleep well in Polaris, my partner does not.
Apr 22, 2024, 12:17 pm
#804
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,344
Apr 22, 2024, 12:22 pm
#805
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,239
US to Europe is almost always $350-400 for coach to PP provided there's R space open. That number tells me PP is fully or heavily booked.
You can always try to change your flight to one that has R>0 but that depends on your original coach class being available, whether you can change for free (US originating tickets qualify but tickets originating from Europe do not), and possibly having to change dates. If you give us the date you're flying we can try to find something better for you. Of course, even with R open that doesn't guarantee a cheaper buy-up but I'd say chances are very high you'd find something better.
-RM
You can always try to change your flight to one that has R>0 but that depends on your original coach class being available, whether you can change for free (US originating tickets qualify but tickets originating from Europe do not), and possibly having to change dates. If you give us the date you're flying we can try to find something better for you. Of course, even with R open that doesn't guarantee a cheaper buy-up but I'd say chances are very high you'd find something better.
-RM
Apr 22, 2024, 1:06 pm
#806
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,344
-RM
Apr 22, 2024, 1:24 pm
#807
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: 66,850
Apr 22, 2024, 2:22 pm
#808
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,552
ICN-SFO next month, for me originally booked in R class, upgrade to Polaris: $1,355. Same flight and date for SO originally booked using miles (XN) then upgraded to R ($399), now upgrade to Polaris: $6,130.
Apr 23, 2024, 7:10 am
#809
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: AA PLT (MM), UA 1K, Marriott Ti, IHG Diamond
Posts: 929
FWIW, mine fixed itself, upgrade offers are visible once again.
Apr 23, 2024, 7:14 am
#810
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,239
Mine also fixed itself. Was it a UA system problem?
it just so happened that I called both UA and TP about missing seat assignments yesterday which is when it started working again. (Being able to upgrade.)
it just so happened that I called both UA and TP about missing seat assignments yesterday which is when it started working again. (Being able to upgrade.)