Jul 20, 2013, 6:22 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archived thread, the active thread is UA Upsell Offers to Business/First/PP at Purchase and Day of Departure (TOD)
UA Upsell Offers to Business/First at Purchase and Day of Departure (TOD) [Archive]
Jan 30, 2018, 1:16 pm
#3376
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,416
That being said, purchasing the buy up after purchase may not be the lowest price you'll pay especially when booking far enough in advance and certainly would represent what United would like to get rather than what they would actually offer. You can view these buy up offers by going to manage reservation on the UA website and clicking redeem upgrade to see what the current offer is. The buy up prices have a tendency of yo-yoing around as availability changes in the front cabin. It is also known that sometimes the upgrade offers given at check-in can significantly beat the buy-up options given prior to departure (i.e. BOS -> SFO in p.s. for $249). Sometimes you'll also earn extra milage if the ticket re-fares into P (i.e. double PQM) but I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.
The other consideration is that the at-purchase buyup should be significantly cheaper in order to make it worth taking. The pop-up offers accrue no additional PQD, and are non-changeable and non-refundable. That's a decent amount of additional benefit to buying the premium cabin outright.
Jan 30, 2018, 1:26 pm
#3377
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
The other consideration is that the at-purchase buyup should be significantly cheaper in order to make it worth taking. The pop-up offers accrue no additional PQD, and are non-changeable and non-refundable. That's a decent amount of additional benefit to buying the premium cabin outright.
When thinking of upgrades I first consider the hardware I'm flying on (is it a 777 with lie flats or is it an Bombardier CRJ with nearly identical seats in F/Y?). I then consider the service on-board. Typically for short haul flights (i.e. 1-2 Horus) you're looking at a plate with cheese and crackers and wine (at least that was my experience flying AC ORD -> YYZ on a. ticket UA CPU'd) whereas long haul the food can be quite a step up over Y (i.e. LH's 5 course meals on TATL itins) and almost a must on long haul domestic (i.e. EWR -> HNL). Finally I consider the cost of the upgrade. Generally if the upgrade cost is close to $50 per hour flown I'll bite, especially if we're talking about lie-flat seats on long haul flights or red-eyes.
Safe Travels,
James
Jan 30, 2018, 1:29 pm
#3378
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,416
*seems like you had a rare experience of getting PQD for this pop-up.. this is extremely unusual
Jan 30, 2018, 2:42 pm
#3379
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 42
What price to expect buy up to first from EWR to IAH during check in?
Jan 30, 2018, 2:43 pm
#3380
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,416
Jan 30, 2018, 2:45 pm
#3381
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
I'd recommend taking a look at this spreadsheet I put together from the FT community based on responses from last year's ToD forum:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing
Jan 30, 2018, 3:51 pm
#3382
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Houston
Programs: United Silver, Hyatt Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 195
Correct. I fly this route every month and have gotten the upgrade at that price every time. I either upgrade thru "manage reservations" or at check in, if I am feeling risky. I have gotten the double miles every time. I also book on the lie flat aircraft of which their are usually 3-4 going each way every day.
Jan 30, 2018, 8:16 pm
#3383
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
ORD-RDU
At Booking: W Fare $180, P Fare $289
Premier Silver
After booking offered an upgrade for $119. I guess the $10 extra is punishment for my waiting?
Declined
At Booking: W Fare $180, P Fare $289
Premier Silver
After booking offered an upgrade for $119. I guess the $10 extra is punishment for my waiting?
Declined
Jan 31, 2018, 10:08 am
#3384
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HSV
Programs: Silver MileagePlus, Diamond Hilton
Posts: 672
EWR - CUN
T fare $299 upgrade offer at online check in
T fare $299 upgrade offer at online check in
Feb 4, 2018, 12:41 am
#3385
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA Premier Silver
Posts: 311
SEA-IAH, 2/4/18, offered me the last seat in F at OLCI (and app) for $599.
If i wanted to spend three times the money to fly in first, I would've just bought first. Also, considering when I booked it was only 400-500 for the first class ticket... Why would they think I'd spend even more when I declined buying it in the first place? Haha their systems amaze me sometimes.
If i wanted to spend three times the money to fly in first, I would've just bought first. Also, considering when I booked it was only 400-500 for the first class ticket... Why would they think I'd spend even more when I declined buying it in the first place? Haha their systems amaze me sometimes.
Feb 4, 2018, 4:54 am
#3387
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
NRT-ORD
Z-->F $1409
I passed. The soup is good, but it's not that good.
Z-->F $1409
I passed. The soup is good, but it's not that good.
Feb 5, 2018, 12:48 am
#3388
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
02/05/18 LAX-CLE
738 / lunch
Q -> <domestic first>
$379
passed.
that being said, there were 6 open seats in F at T-24 and 2 folks already upgraded at that mark. now, at T-12.5, same 2 folks are still upgraded, upgrade standby list for F has 13 people on it and F shows as "Booked: Full" - so the 6 buy ups got themselves into F-class fares and passed "GO" and didn't stop at the upgraded list.
David
738 / lunch
Q -> <domestic first>
$379
passed.
that being said, there were 6 open seats in F at T-24 and 2 folks already upgraded at that mark. now, at T-12.5, same 2 folks are still upgraded, upgrade standby list for F has 13 people on it and F shows as "Booked: Full" - so the 6 buy ups got themselves into F-class fares and passed "GO" and didn't stop at the upgraded list.
David
Feb 5, 2018, 1:06 am
#3389
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The City/Honolulu
Programs: UA 3MM; Hyatt Glob*****; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,473
2/4/18 IAH-SFO $99.
K fare.
I SDC onto this flight and was offered the buy up on the app.
I took it.
K fare.
I SDC onto this flight and was offered the buy up on the app.
I took it.
Feb 5, 2018, 4:42 am
#3390
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA Mileageplus
Posts: 7
2/5/2018 UA282 EWR-DEN
V fare; $199 buyup offer at check-in machine.
Was also offered $409 on my subsequent DEN-KOA flight through the app, but when I tried to accept it the seat failed to confirm.
V fare; $199 buyup offer at check-in machine.
Was also offered $409 on my subsequent DEN-KOA flight through the app, but when I tried to accept it the seat failed to confirm.