Jan 21, 17, 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 instead Buy 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 Buy 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
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 and Day of Departure (TOD)
Jul 1, 19, 12:20 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA General
Posts: 4
UA Upsell Offers to Business/First/PP at Purchase and Day of Departure (TOD)
SFO -> TPE (purchased 15 days before flight) July flight
W to A (PP) : $899
W to Polaris business: $6000, not sure about fare class.
A question: Have anyone see a case that price and cabin remaining change according to currency? like $1000 difference because of cabin availability.
newbie @UNITED and FT, Thanks in advance.
W to A (PP) : $899
W to Polaris business: $6000, not sure about fare class.
A question: Have anyone see a case that price and cabin remaining change according to currency? like $1000 difference because of cabin availability.
newbie @UNITED and FT, Thanks in advance.
Jul 1, 19, 1:23 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 39,920
Originally Posted by saisama
SFO -> TPE (purchased 15 days before flight) July flight
W to A (PP) : $899
W to Polaris business: $6000, not sure about fare class.
A question: Have anyone see a case that price and cabin remaining change according to currency? like $1000 difference because of cabin availability.
newbie @UNITED and FT, Thanks in advance.
W to A (PP) : $899
W to Polaris business: $6000, not sure about fare class.
A question: Have anyone see a case that price and cabin remaining change according to currency? like $1000 difference because of cabin availability.
newbie @UNITED and FT, Thanks in advance.
You can buy the ticket in Polaris outright for about 4500, or better yet, as I recently did, fly YVR-TPE on AC for under 2400 r/t USD....a much better deal than 6,000
Jul 5, 19, 7:10 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: UK
Programs: UA 1P
Posts: 17
MAN-EWR
MAN - EWR, offered at OLCI with 14 open seats upfront - $829 USD on an L fare. Declined. I'm UA *G
Does anyone know if this includes the additional cost of APD, out of curiosity, or would this be another cost on top of the offer?
Does anyone know if this includes the additional cost of APD, out of curiosity, or would this be another cost on top of the offer?
Jul 7, 19, 8:00 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 29,245
Originally Posted by Climb&Maintain
MAN - EWR, offered at OLCI with 14 open seats upfront - $829 USD on an L fare. Declined. I'm UA *G
Does anyone know if this includes the additional cost of APD, out of curiosity, or would this be another cost on top of the offer?
Does anyone know if this includes the additional cost of APD, out of curiosity, or would this be another cost on top of the offer?
Not a bad price, I would have considered it.
Jul 12, 19, 2:18 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 8
Check-in upgrade from PP to Polaris
Hello, tomorrow I will be traveling from EWR to BRU on UA. I am currently booked in PP but the Polaris cabin has 15 open seats according to the seatmap (nobody waiting to upgrade). I am considering upgrading to Polaris, but curious as to whether anyone could suggest if I should do it at check-in or try to do it at the gate if there's still availability as I understand that within 3h prices can change at the discretion of the gate agent. I.e. what is a better bet?
Any thoughts? Thanks very much! Currently offer is $782 using reservations, will post check-in offer later.
Any thoughts? Thanks very much! Currently offer is $782 using reservations, will post check-in offer later.
Jul 12, 19, 3:40 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,476
Originally Posted by Amart107
Hello, tomorrow I will be traveling from EWR to BRU on UA. I am currently booked in PP but the Polaris cabin has 15 open seats according to the seatmap (nobody waiting to upgrade). I am considering upgrading to Polaris, but curious as to whether anyone could suggest if I should do it at check-in or try to do it at the gate if there's still availability as I understand that within 3h prices can change at the discretion of the gate agent. I.e. what is a better bet?
Any thoughts? Thanks very much! Currently offer is $782 using reservations, will post check-in offer later.
Any thoughts? Thanks very much! Currently offer is $782 using reservations, will post check-in offer later.
I don't think the GA will give you a special price. It's the UA system that tells the GA what the offer is and you will find the same offer on the website or the App.
Jul 12, 19, 3:50 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 8
Originally Posted by StuckinITH
Welcome to FlyerTalk and especially to the United threads!
I don't think the GA will give you a special price. It's the UA system that tells the GA what the offer is and you will find the same offer on the website or the App.
I don't think the GA will give you a special price. It's the UA system that tells the GA what the offer is and you will find the same offer on the website or the App.
Jul 12, 19, 4:07 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 18,330
Originally Posted by Amart107
Thanks very much for the response. I had thought as much, then read something in an old thread yesterday about prices being subject to change by agents within 3h of departure.
Do you have status with United? UA is showing Premium Plus as full, but there are still four unclaimed seats on the seat map and they're willing to sell at least 9 more P+ seats (!). If they're successful, that would result in quite a few operational upgrades to Polaris (read: free) for people who are booked into P+. Those would be based upon status, then fare.
Jul 12, 19, 4:54 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 8
Originally Posted by jsloan
Prices are subject to change, and 3 hours prior to departure might have been a sweet spot in the past, because UA used to open up inventory in all fare buckets at that time, and the upgrade offers seem loosely based upon inventory. They no longer do that reliably; however, every inventory bucket is already wide open on your flight, so I wouldn't necessarily expect a cheaper offer.
Do you have status with United? UA is showing Premium Plus as full, but there are still four unclaimed seats on the seat map and they're willing to sell at least 9 more P+ seats (!). If they're successful, that would result in quite a few operational upgrades to Polaris (read: free) for people who are booked into P+. Those would be based upon status, then fare.
Do you have status with United? UA is showing Premium Plus as full, but there are still four unclaimed seats on the seat map and they're willing to sell at least 9 more P+ seats (!). If they're successful, that would result in quite a few operational upgrades to Polaris (read: free) for people who are booked into P+. Those would be based upon status, then fare.
Jul 12, 19, 5:17 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,476
Originally Posted by Amart107
Only silver unfortunately. Price is up to $829 after check-in opened. Looks like I'm giving PP a shot
I have to say that for my return from PVG yesterday that was supposed to be on a pmUA 772 with the 2-4-2 configuration, my wife informed me a week before the flight that if the TOD offer was good and there were still aisle seats available she would pay for it for herself. Even though we had GPUs waitlisted. She did not want to be upgraded to a middle seat in the middle section. Lucky for our wallets that the plane was switched to a reconfigured Polaris flight and her offer was $4,053. So, she could wait for the upgrade to clear which it did one hour later. If it had not cleared we would have experienced the Premium Plus seats for the first time.
Jul 13, 19, 10:11 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 8
Originally Posted by StuckinITH
Price might still fluctuate down (or up if there are many TOD takers) so it's worth checking that from time to time. From my own experience it's good to have in mind before check-in a price where you would take the TOD if one is offered as sometimes there is no further offer after check-in. There was a thread maintained by a nice FTer showing the TODs for different destinations but at the time I was reading it Premium Plus was not existing (and it still does not exist if you want a direct flight from ORD) so I have no idea if $782 was a good price.
I have to say that for my return from PVG yesterday that was supposed to be on a pmUA 772 with the 2-4-2 configuration, my wife informed me a week before the flight that if the TOD offer was good and there were still aisle seats available she would pay for it for herself. Even though we had GPUs waitlisted. She did not want to be upgraded to a middle seat in the middle section. Lucky for our wallets that the plane was switched to a reconfigured Polaris flight and her offer was $4,053. So, she could wait for the upgrade to clear which it did one hour later. If it had not cleared we would have experienced the Premium Plus seats for the first time.
I have to say that for my return from PVG yesterday that was supposed to be on a pmUA 772 with the 2-4-2 configuration, my wife informed me a week before the flight that if the TOD offer was good and there were still aisle seats available she would pay for it for herself. Even though we had GPUs waitlisted. She did not want to be upgraded to a middle seat in the middle section. Lucky for our wallets that the plane was switched to a reconfigured Polaris flight and her offer was $4,053. So, she could wait for the upgrade to clear which it did one hour later. If it had not cleared we would have experienced the Premium Plus seats for the first time.
Jul 13, 19, 10:27 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 18,330
Originally Posted by Amart107
Still showed $829 so I called the premier line and the guy gave it to me for $443, and also upgraded me on my subsequent flight from BRU to Budapest! Never hurts to call I guess!
"Never hurts to call," is accurate, I suppose, but what you saw was an anomaly, almost certainly because you were heading to BUD in particular (business class fares to BUD tend to be lower than to most other major European cities). For most people, calling would have been a waste of time.
Jul 13, 19, 10:57 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,476
Originally Posted by jsloan
$443 must have been the fare difference between what you already paid and the lowest available business class fare (otherwise, you wouldn't have been "upgraded" from BRU to BUD). Make sure to check that your return flight is unchanged.
"Never hurts to call," is accurate, I suppose, but what you saw was an anomaly, almost certainly because you were heading to BUD in particular (business class fares to BUD tend to be lower than to most other major European cities). For most people, calling would have been a waste of time.
"Never hurts to call," is accurate, I suppose, but what you saw was an anomaly, almost certainly because you were heading to BUD in particular (business class fares to BUD tend to be lower than to most other major European cities). For most people, calling would have been a waste of time.
