did united ever offer complimentary upgrades on international routes?
Jul 23, 2019, 4:35 pm
#46
Join Date: Jul 2015
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When UA was running 3 class flights I got a couple of Biz to F to accommodate instrument upgrades from Y to J . I guess that is sort of a CPU.
Jul 23, 2019, 5:21 pm
#47
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Jul 23, 2019, 5:41 pm
#48
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One time I know it was to accommodate instrument upgrades because I did ask. The other time you may be correct in that it may have been a full flight and they OpUp'ed me. Both times I was traveling as a single pax and was told "I was the easiest to move".
Jul 23, 2019, 5:58 pm
#49
Join Date: Nov 2012
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But there was something weird: my wife who had a waitlisted GPU to get into J, paid for the TOD at check-in and found herself in F. Only reason she paid the TOD is that she had missed the upgrade on the outbound.
Jul 23, 2019, 6:14 pm
#50
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Jul 23, 2019, 7:54 pm
#51
Join Date: Mar 2003
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)I got upgraded from GPU’d J to F on BKK-NRT in 2014. The previous day’s flight had been canceled, and Y was oversold.
Last edited by SS255; Jul 24, 2019 at 9:09 am
Jul 23, 2019, 8:57 pm
#52
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Y-UPs were available around then for elites (confirmed at booking, no capacity controls), also on TW IIRC.
Back then, one-way fares or r/ts without a Saturday night stay often booked in Y/B class (and were refundable), so I got my fare share of the YUPs back then when traveling for work. ^
Jul 24, 2019, 7:01 am
#53
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Ah, yes. I remember those days. I was upgraded several times on international flights with this strategy; once after I was on the plane. I was also upgraded on Swiss Air because of my gold status with UA.
Jul 24, 2019, 7:26 am
#54
Join Date: Oct 2009
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This thread has rekindled a lot of fond flying memories. One thing that seems apparent is that the FAs were much nicer back in the 90s. I remember many times where they would do extra favors for elites in Y. The coolest thing that one did for me was to arrange a visit to the cockpit in flight. The pilots were incredibly friendly and explained how everything operated, etc. and spent a good 20 minutes talking with me. We were over the arctic at the time and I can remember how impressed I was with the view from the cockpit.
Those were the "Good Ole Days"
Those were the "Good Ole Days"
Jul 24, 2019, 8:11 am
#55
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,931
This thread has rekindled a lot of fond flying memories. One thing that seems apparent is that the FAs were much nicer back in the 90s. I remember many times where they would do extra favors for elites in Y. The coolest thing that one did for me was to arrange a visit to the cockpit in flight. The pilots were incredibly friendly and explained how everything operated, etc. and spent a good 20 minutes talking with me. We were over the arctic at the time and I can remember how impressed I was with the view from the cockpit.
Those were the "Good Ole Days"
Those were the "Good Ole Days"
Jul 24, 2019, 8:27 am
#56
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 690
Jul 24, 2019, 10:53 am
#57
Join Date: Jul 2015
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Jul 24, 2019, 12:39 pm
#58
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,130
This thread has rekindled a lot of fond flying memories. One thing that seems apparent is that the FAs were much nicer back in the 90s. I remember many times where they would do extra favors for elites in Y. The coolest thing that one did for me was to arrange a visit to the cockpit in flight. The pilots were incredibly friendly and explained how everything operated, etc. and spent a good 20 minutes talking with me. We were over the arctic at the time and I can remember how impressed I was with the view from the cockpit.
Those were the "Good Ole Days"
Those were the "Good Ole Days"
Jul 25, 2019, 4:54 pm
#59
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Over the years I've had a few real nice upgrades:
•I took BA from LHR-SFO for my first transoceanic business trip around 2001. The check-in agent asked if I had a suit; I responded of course Brooks Brothers. She said well return in ten minutes and I'll see what I can do. Got a F ticket. Too bad I was too naive to even contemplate going to a lounge.
•ICN is very much my favorite *A place to connect in Asia. While people don't talk about it here much, I'm particularly fond of the OZ lounge. On more than one occasion I've received an upgrade on my onward flight to SIN or China; once it was even on the second floor of an A380.
•My (UA Gold) wife and (UA Platinum) I went snowboarding in Korea once. UA gave us both upgrades to J and her first time on the top floor of a 747.
At the same time I also did a five year stint as a UA Gold without a single upgrade on any flight. I'm now disloyal and buy the best value nonstop ticket. Currently a AS MVP (aka Silver), WN A and Companion Pass Holder and a UA Silver. I'll probably end up this year as a UA Gold or Platinum due to a couple long haul laps, but domestically prefer AS and WN.
•I took BA from LHR-SFO for my first transoceanic business trip around 2001. The check-in agent asked if I had a suit; I responded of course Brooks Brothers. She said well return in ten minutes and I'll see what I can do. Got a F ticket. Too bad I was too naive to even contemplate going to a lounge.
•ICN is very much my favorite *A place to connect in Asia. While people don't talk about it here much, I'm particularly fond of the OZ lounge. On more than one occasion I've received an upgrade on my onward flight to SIN or China; once it was even on the second floor of an A380.
•My (UA Gold) wife and (UA Platinum) I went snowboarding in Korea once. UA gave us both upgrades to J and her first time on the top floor of a 747.
At the same time I also did a five year stint as a UA Gold without a single upgrade on any flight. I'm now disloyal and buy the best value nonstop ticket. Currently a AS MVP (aka Silver), WN A and Companion Pass Holder and a UA Silver. I'll probably end up this year as a UA Gold or Platinum due to a couple long haul laps, but domestically prefer AS and WN.
Jul 26, 2019, 7:43 am
#60
Join Date: Jun 2016
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I have upgrade certificates from the 80's (CO and People's Express) and the 90's through 1999.
All made it clear that they were good for domestic, NA and select (Caribbean, Micronesia) foreign flights.
All made it clear that they were good for domestic, NA and select (Caribbean, Micronesia) foreign flights.