StuckinITH

That has been my experience in all my flights. Do you recall if you got a TOD at check-in?

jmcintosh

1015-1k

Booked on a Z fare, ORD-PEK (3-class 777). GPUs were not eligible on the Z fare of course. In the days prior, I had been offered $10,000+ (really ridiculous) or 30,000 miles +$600 for the upgrade.
24hrs out, still F8...no F class booked. Biz class is full. A couple non-revs start showing up on the waitlists, but no one else (probably irrelevant, but just painting the picture).
Upon online check-in, I was offered the buy up for $1800. I found this amount odd, because when I searched for outright buying an F seat at this point, it was only about $1000 more than my paid Z fare.
So I go to "change" my itinerary and search for First class only. Lo and behold, the change fee for a First (A) seat was $0. Got a confirmed A fare for the exact same price as my Z fare.

Lucky fluke, or is this somehow built into the system? I ask others to give this a shot in similar circumstances.

FlytheTail

My flight from ORD-CDG was available for upgrade at OLCI for $1029 for me, and $879 for my non-status relatives. Go figure. First filled with 5 standbys before departure.

I actually tried to see what alternative flights were available for me (booked in H, upgraded to R) and my family (biz award in IN). The only options that came up were in economy. Thanks for mentioning though.

CIT85

I was sent an email offer to upgrade IAD-CDG from P fare Business to GF for $5100+ for each member of my party of 4.

Who comes up with this kind of offer? Is anyone seriously going to cough up $5100+ to upgrade from Business to what remains of Global First?

My return CDG-IAD offer was $3200+ from R (W fare with GPU).

cfischer

That's insane, especially with the much reduced offerings in GF. Frankly, I think they want to go flat rate say $750 ... still better than upgrading NRSAs.

StuckinITH

You are in the right ballpark as when I purchased in January my Polaris Business ticket for ORD-PVG-ORD for $3,600 for a flight next week, the price for Polaris First was $5,100: $750 more for each direction.

I'm not planning to accept any TOD to get to First since my wife and I have what we consider the best combination of seats in Polaris Business for passengers who like aisle seats: 6H and 6J. But I'm curious what the offers will be in each direction.

mozilla

So the coupons for the flights in which I was cleared in ON have changed from "Paid" to "Flown," and once again I have to admit that I will really miss INTL F on UA.

Yes, most of the additional amenities are gone now, but the service was impeccable, the FA's were again among the best I've seen on UA, and I just appreciate the amount of personal attention you get vs the rushed service in INTL J. Overall, I'm still convinced the experience (and the seat!) in F is a step above J, and worth of an instrument or $$$ upgrade.

I'm not bound to UA but I'm loyal to *A, so I'm actively considering switching to LH for TATL in their INTL F product, although I'll miss the American flair. I may have one more RT in UA's INTL F though if they decide to push the EOS back again.

StuckinITH

So, my curiosity was answered in the direction ORD-PVG. It's $1979 coming from a P fare.

I have already flown in Polaris First so it's not something that I have to check off of a to do list. I have also flown BA First and the experience on that airline was better. They serve LPGS champagne, the dishes for First were all delicious and you get access to the Concorde Room. In addition, being in the front of a 747 is great (I had flown Business on the upper deck many times).

CIT85

When I checked in online last night for my IAD-CDG flight, the upgrade was $863, still not worth it to me but not as ridiculous as the $5100 earlier.

BF and GF upgrade wait lists are identical, 4 with same last name and 2 others, so all Non-Rev.

wxguy

Recently I had a conversation with a well-placed executive at UA. He confirmed, as others have (including ua1flyer), that for flights served by three-cabin aircraft where first is not sold, upgrades are day-of-departure and based on fare paid then check-in time. However, a new policy is being developed that will be status-based and not limited to day-of-departure; no further details are available but would be announced later in the summer.

As always, Our Mileage May Vary

glbltvlr

Hmmm. Trying to reconcile "upgrade policy to be announced later in the summer" with the conversion schedule for three class aircraft.

kevanyalowitz

This sounds promising. The ban on P/Z GPU upgrades needs to go while F is being phased out.

LimeyFlyer

We had an equipment swap sometime in the last 48 hours and have gone from a two class to a three class plane.

I called GS line when finding out this am, when checking in that this had happened, to try and use a GPU and was told that it was under gate control and upgrades would be done at the gate since they weren't selling the seats.

Standby last, business upgrade list and first upgrade list have the same two people listed.

First availability is 5 +1 blocked.

(1) Assume that the two folks on all three of these lists are standby non-revs?

(2) Odds on getting the upgrade tomorrow am? Would think pretty high as there have only ever been max 3 or 4 GSs in business on the flights on this route previously when I have traveled this route. (There may have been a couple more traveling in economy.)

(3) Is it correct that I can't use a GPU (or other instrument) < 24 hours? (Just because it's the equipment switch and they aren't selling first?)

(4) Will check in order trump fare class (P) on the upgrade priority?

Presumably first in this case is just a bigger seat?

TIA

raehl311

The gate can't apply GPUs, so likely the non-revs get the seats and they'll upgrade anyone else if they need the seats in the back.

You might have better luck through some other channel, or using your GS powers on an airport agent who can make the call to someone who can apply your GPU, but I would really try HUCA and try and get your GPU applied now. Technically GPUs aren't supposed to be useable sub-24 but Y(GS?)MMV.