Automatic Upgrade Request Inhibitor
Sep 5, 2018, 11:20 am
#31
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Virginia
Programs: UA Plat (1MM), Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 89
I was traveling to a company meeting, and as luck would have it, a colleague was on my same flight. I as a 1K scored the upgrade, she had zero status and sat in the back. Somehow she fit that into her presentation and resented me ever since. Privately she thought I should have given her my seat. I honestly didn't know what to say to her, but I was annoyed that she started her presentation with singling me out about the trip.
Sep 5, 2018, 11:28 am
#32
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,655
I travel with coworkers on occasion, but I travel solo three times as often. Sometimes I'll get a well humored jab when I stand in BG1 and they're somewhere lower. I cheerfully reply that I'd be more than happy to trade my status if I could have all the days of their life that I've spent trapped inside of an airliner. Commercial air travel is a grind, I have no issues with accepting a few perks from the airlines for enduring the grind more often than my coworkers.
Sep 5, 2018, 11:43 am
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 19,502
Then there are those survivalist types who figure the best odds of surviving an air crash are in the back (Ever hear of a plane backing into a mountain?)
Sep 5, 2018, 12:04 pm
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA Silver, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 21,544
Sep 5, 2018, 12:18 pm
#35
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
This year, there were some of my co-workers on a domestic flight where I got upgraded. I gave them some of my drink coupons since there's no way that I'm using the 15 we got this year (10 for me + 5 for my wife). Made them happy.
Later this year, I have an international trip where I'm already upgraded. I'm flying a few days before and returning a few days later than my colleagues. So, there will be no embarrassing moment at the gate.
Later this year, I have an international trip where I'm already upgraded. I'm flying a few days before and returning a few days later than my colleagues. So, there will be no embarrassing moment at the gate.
Sep 5, 2018, 1:36 pm
#36
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,089
Her words: "My husband is a 1K and always gives me his seat when we travel together". My response was that I do the same for my wife, but you aren't her, I simply work with you. Nevertheless, she made my life a living hell as she had favoritism with our boss and I finally gave in and left the company.
Sep 5, 2018, 5:27 pm
#37
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
Programs: UA 1K and Million Miler, *A Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hertz Five Star,
Posts: 1,301
Alternatively, just check in a couple hours before your flight instead of 24ish hours in advance. You'll fall lower on the upgrade list. Look at the number on the list and the number of available seats. Only when there's a real chance of being upgraded at the gate—or if you get an email a day (if you're silver) or more (if you're higher) in advance that you got upgraded, or, you look at the the F cabin a couple days before the flight and it's still wide open and you might get upgraded more than 24 hrs in advance, would you need to call.
Sep 5, 2018, 7:42 pm
#38
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 35
Hi fellow flyers--
I have what may seem like an unusual question, but hoping someone can help me anyway. I have managed to achieve premier status with Mileage Plus, and I enjoy most of the benefits, but there is one benefit which I do NOT want to use, but I can't figure out how to get rid of it. When I book I flight, I like to choose my own seat specifically...but with premier status, it seems like I am always automatically placed on the upgrade waiting list. I don't want that--I want the seat that I picked.
I've never actively asked for an upgrade or to be placed on an upgrade waiting list--it (the app) just tells me that I'm eligible and/so I'm automatically on the wait list. What I have done about this so far is to contact the Reservations desk and ask that I be taken OFF the upgrade wait list...and then they flip an "upgrade inhibitor" flag on my reservation.. But they said this is per reservation only, and cannot be done "permanently".
They told me that if I don't want to be placed on the upgrade waiting list, don't request it on the app during the check-in process...but I have combed the screens of the app (and the website), and there is no opt-in or -out section of the check-in process.
Is there anyone with more experience with this that can tell me what to do about this? Either tell me where in the app / site that I can opt-out, or who can I call or talk to to opt-out without calling reservations every single time.
Thanks in advance for any help!
I have what may seem like an unusual question, but hoping someone can help me anyway. I have managed to achieve premier status with Mileage Plus, and I enjoy most of the benefits, but there is one benefit which I do NOT want to use, but I can't figure out how to get rid of it. When I book I flight, I like to choose my own seat specifically...but with premier status, it seems like I am always automatically placed on the upgrade waiting list. I don't want that--I want the seat that I picked.
I've never actively asked for an upgrade or to be placed on an upgrade waiting list--it (the app) just tells me that I'm eligible and/so I'm automatically on the wait list. What I have done about this so far is to contact the Reservations desk and ask that I be taken OFF the upgrade wait list...and then they flip an "upgrade inhibitor" flag on my reservation.. But they said this is per reservation only, and cannot be done "permanently".
They told me that if I don't want to be placed on the upgrade waiting list, don't request it on the app during the check-in process...but I have combed the screens of the app (and the website), and there is no opt-in or -out section of the check-in process.
Is there anyone with more experience with this that can tell me what to do about this? Either tell me where in the app / site that I can opt-out, or who can I call or talk to to opt-out without calling reservations every single time.
Thanks in advance for any help!
But this would have put me too far back, and I couldn't get anyone to swap. So I just declined the seat.
Now I did this at the desk so they didn't automatically flop me someplace else. Taken care of at the airport was easy.
Sep 6, 2018, 7:09 am
#39
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 183
I was traveling to a company meeting, and as luck would have it, a colleague was on my same flight. I as a 1K scored the upgrade, she had zero status and sat in the back. Somehow she fit that into her presentation and resented me ever since. Privately she thought I should have given her my seat. I honestly didn't know what to say to her, but I was annoyed that she started her presentation with singling me out about the trip.
Sep 6, 2018, 7:58 am
#40
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Virginia
Programs: UA Plat (1MM), Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 89
Yikes. That sounds like a symptom of a toxic work environment. Where I work she would have been shown the door for childish actions like that. Or more probably, we would have weeded her out in the hiring process. Hope you're happier with your new gig.
Her words: "My husband is a 1K and always gives me his seat when we travel together". My response was that I do the same for my wife, but you aren't her, I simply work with you. Nevertheless, she made my life a living hell as she had favoritism with our boss and I finally gave in and left the company.
Sep 6, 2018, 8:09 am
#41
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
As for making a reservation without an MP number...that's an interesting alternative, I hadn't considered that, thanks. I do like most of the benefits, like the bonus points, and the free checked bag, and priority boarding, etc...I just didn't want the "automatic" upgrade / seat change benefit.
.
I think there are narrow cases - one might be on a mostly empty flight where F is full but a Y seat might get an entire row to oneself. I've occasionally looked a bit wistfully at my open bulkhead aisle seat (7C/D on a 320) with unlimited legroom and no one in 7B/E as I climb over a pax from my assigned F upgrade in back-row window. Of course, I knock back a glass or two of free, half-decent wine and get over it.
Sep 6, 2018, 2:03 pm
#42
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,269
I'm not sure, but perhaps you could remove your MP# after you make your reservation. I'm not sure if that is an option on the website. If you can't then it won't help.
If you can, you can add your MP# back after checkin. I think you only get added to the list at checkin. Or just wait til after your trip.
You can still get the free checked bag and premier access by showing your your MP card.
WOW. I typically travel solo. When travelling with a coworker, I usually do my best to extend as many benefits as I can, premier checkin, security, boarding, e+ seat. The only time I've gotten a CPU happened to be with my boss, but I did get him a e+ seat. I felt slightly bad and gave him 2 drink vouchers. Something came up during the trip and he had to fly back early so no e+. I gave him 4 more drink vouchers.
If you can, you can add your MP# back after checkin. I think you only get added to the list at checkin. Or just wait til after your trip.
You can still get the free checked bag and premier access by showing your your MP card.
Her words: "My husband is a 1K and always gives me his seat when we travel together". My response was that I do the same for my wife, but you aren't her, I simply work with you. Nevertheless, she made my life a living hell as she had favoritism with our boss and I finally gave in and left the company.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 6, 2018 at 3:45 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member; please use multi-quote
Sep 18, 2018, 5:58 am
#44
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
Hi fellow flyers--
I have what may seem like an unusual question, but hoping someone can help me anyway. I have managed to achieve premier status with Mileage Plus, and I enjoy most of the benefits, but there is one benefit which I do NOT want to use, but I can't figure out how to get rid of it. When I book I flight, I like to choose my own seat specifically...but with premier status, it seems like I am always automatically placed on the upgrade waiting list. I don't want that--I want the seat that I picked.
I've never actively asked for an upgrade or to be placed on an upgrade waiting list--it (the app) just tells me that I'm eligible and/so I'm automatically on the wait list. What I have done about this so far is to contact the Reservations desk and ask that I be taken OFF the upgrade wait list...and then they flip an "upgrade inhibitor" flag on my reservation.. But they said this is per reservation only, and cannot be done "permanently".
They told me that if I don't want to be placed on the upgrade waiting list, don't request it on the app during the check-in process...but I have combed the screens of the app (and the website), and there is no opt-in or -out section of the check-in process.
Is there anyone with more experience with this that can tell me what to do about this? Either tell me where in the app / site that I can opt-out, or who can I call or talk to to opt-out without calling reservations every single time.
Thanks in advance for any help!
I have what may seem like an unusual question, but hoping someone can help me anyway. I have managed to achieve premier status with Mileage Plus, and I enjoy most of the benefits, but there is one benefit which I do NOT want to use, but I can't figure out how to get rid of it. When I book I flight, I like to choose my own seat specifically...but with premier status, it seems like I am always automatically placed on the upgrade waiting list. I don't want that--I want the seat that I picked.
I've never actively asked for an upgrade or to be placed on an upgrade waiting list--it (the app) just tells me that I'm eligible and/so I'm automatically on the wait list. What I have done about this so far is to contact the Reservations desk and ask that I be taken OFF the upgrade wait list...and then they flip an "upgrade inhibitor" flag on my reservation.. But they said this is per reservation only, and cannot be done "permanently".
They told me that if I don't want to be placed on the upgrade waiting list, don't request it on the app during the check-in process...but I have combed the screens of the app (and the website), and there is no opt-in or -out section of the check-in process.
Is there anyone with more experience with this that can tell me what to do about this? Either tell me where in the app / site that I can opt-out, or who can I call or talk to to opt-out without calling reservations every single time.
Thanks in advance for any help!
Probably a moot point anyway. It sounds like you have reached Silver status. The chances of getting an upgrade are VERY slim. If lightning does strike, and you do get the upgrade... then asking the new resident of your E+ seat to trade for F will be almost universally accepted.
Sep 18, 2018, 6:13 am
#45
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: DL
Posts: 31
I can understand why someone would turn down upgrades. I was working a job in Dc and regularly got upgraded. I has to turn in boarding passes and every time they saw a first class seat I my expense report got bounced because "the don't pay for first class." I had to explain, yet again even though I noted it on the ER, it was a free upgrade and happened automatically, ofteh as soon as I booked the ticket. A real pain for a very short flight I took weekly.