emofeng

Hi all,

I travel for work(domestically). I currently have UA Gold for this year and I've already met the UA Gold requirements for next year...so by the end of the year I will for sure hit UA Plat, if not UA 1k.

According to the UA Plat benefits, I get X amount of regional upgrade vouchers? As for UA 1k, I get X number of Global upgrade vouchers? Does anyone know how many I actually get? Are there any other major benefits that I'll get from UA 1k vs UA Plat? If i'm UA 1k, are the chances of me being upgraded "for free" exceptionally higher? When I fly for work, i got upgraded like 2 times to first class while booking a coach fare.

I'm trying to gauge if it's worth it for me to actually meet the UA 1K requirements...Looking at my status for this year, I will be very close to hitting UA 1k. I may have to book 1-2 personnel travels(with my own money) to meet the UA 1k requirements. This is only my 2nd year in a mileage program and I would like to seek more advice from my fellow flyertalkers.

I'm based in SFO.

Madone59

2 RPU's when you cross Plat

2 RPU's when you cross 1K along with 6 GPU's for a total of 10

The benefits are higher rank on upgrade list - but the impact of that varies depending on what routes you fly. Dedicated 1K call line...which is good, but plat is really good already.

It all comes down to you, and the value you put on these things. Other benefits and 1K information is well documented here, check it out: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...3-edition.html

WineCountryUA

@75K 2 RPUs
@100K 6 GPUs, 2 RPUs
@125K 2 RPUs
@150K 2 GPUs, 2 RPUs
ecetera
RPU earning
GPU earning
Premier benefits and more

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...3-edition.html

higher yes, but depending on purchased fare and flight times likely to see 30 to 60% on hub-hub flights -- transcons the least successful


Things are tougher for 1Ks @SFO unless you are high fare flyer. Too many 1Ks and GSs.

emofeng

Thanks for the responds. Right now, I'm thinking it is worth it to say spend $1000 to get a good MR to meet my 1K requirement because the extra RPUs, and GPUs "should" be valued more than $1000. But then again...I've never had any experience with RPUs or GPUs and not sure exactly how they work. Can RPUs or GPUs be sold "legally"?

WineCountryUA

no, they can be gifted to others but UA comes down hard on e-bay-ers, craiglist, ....

kluau88

You really don't want to sell miles or any upgrade certs regardless of what airline you fly. It will only end up bad for you and bad for the person who bought the miles or upgrade certs.

emofeng

I really really appreciate all the links! I'm still very new to this frequent flyer business. Thanks for all your help!

What a bummer...I was actually hoping I can get upgrades for international flights from like SFO-HKG or SFO-NRT. I want to get my parents to fly the upper classes for once .

Would my chances of being upgraded be better if I fly SJC-NRT via ANA? Does that even work since ANA is in the star alliance. Again...I'm sooo new to this!

Appreciate every comment! Thank you all!

emofeng

I completely understand. Will I get in trouble if I book an award flight for my parents(i will not be traveling) and use my upgrades for them? That's actually the only reason why I would get to UA 1k for the upgrades for parents to travel! =/

Madone59

You can upgrade your parents on Intl. flights, just read the rules for using an upgrade. For a GPU they need to be on a W fare or higher.

As far as ANA goes, I am quite sure you can't use a UA upgrade cert any other *A partner other than LH. But a more frequent international FTer can confirm or correct me.

So read some of the links FT has given you....

WineCountryUA

not sure anyone has stated that could not happen but if not cleared at booking, it is not a certainty but decent odds.
For a parent trip probably best to find a flight with space at booking

GPUs don't work on ANA

see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ns-thread.html

no problem but you can not upgrade award flights. You need to find a business class award (with miles).

emofeng

Will read right now! Thanks

Kacee

I have successfully burned 12 GPUs over the past two years on SFO-HKG, SFO-NRT, and SFO-ICN. To achieve this sort of success level, it's essential to have some flexibility in scheduling.

This, to me, is far and away the greatest benefit to being 1K. Used this way, two GPUs represent the difference between a $1400 W fare and a $5000 P/Z fare.

There is no problem gifting GPUs for your parents' benefit. You just can't sell them to third parties.

emofeng

Thanks for the heads up! I will keep this in mind.

kluau88

I have done my fair share of flying on SFO-HKG and SFO-NRT over the past 10 years and have quite a bit of experience with upgrade roulette.

As has been mentioned you are better off using GPU vs. miles. While you will need to buy a W fare or higher on the GPU, using miles offers a bit of flexibility in fare class, but then you are also paying a surcharge + miles.

SFO-HKG is one of the tougher routes in the system to upgrade even as a 1K. I would highly suggest avoid playing upgrade roulette here and only buy this if you can find confirmed space. As UA launches more service to China upgrades on this route might not be so difficult, but I will just say there is one tech company that has a high concentration of paid biz on SFOHKG. Some of that might go away with the launch of SFOTPE and SFOCTU.

SFO-NRT is much much easier given that there are 2 flights daily. If you were to book without being able to confirm upgrade space, I would try to book for travel during the week. Another option would be routing them via IAH as there are currently 2x daily service between IAHNRT and loads so far have been really light especially on UA1.

Richym99

GPU's are invaluable if you are travelling Internationally. The downside is that you have to buy up to a higher fare in order to be eligable for upgrades (minimum W fare for international upgrades) This can lead to what some call the Upgrade lottery, purchasing a more expensive fare in the hope of an upgrade clearing. Often, however, upgrade space is available at booking. The expert mode on Ua.com will reveal if space is available. Look for R space greater than 0.

Some say that unlike domestic uogrades, SFO is easier for upgrades on TPAC routes, because the 747's have more C seats than other aircraft.

I made the effort to get to 1k last year fir the first time. So far, my GPU's have gone towards uogrades from Y+ to business on a TATL overnight, LHR to SFO return on the top deck of a 747, BAH to LAX one way on a mileage run to get to 1k for next year, and LHR to GIG via IAH and back to ORD (that one is waitlisted, all the rest have cleared).

In short, I've got a London to LAX business return for $1250 and potentially Rio for $1200 thanks to the GPU's.