carpboy

I haven't flown much since 2008 happened. I just looked at some serious award travel redemptions and I am totally blown away at the mile inflation. Stunned.

As a reference point, CO premerger EWR-HNL BizFirst was either 70k or 100k RT, I can't remember. Now it looks to be 225k+.

Anyway, I am looking to go to Europe and my hopes of Business have been dashed upon the mileage rocks.

What I need to know: As a 1k, if I book international economy (reward) can I grab the blue (economy plus) seats? I presume the Premium Plus is out of reach.

Is there a reward level for economy plus that would let me grab a PP seat?

Finally, if sitting in a regular old blue seat, do the process 1k upgrades into the next seat class if available at boarding?

Thanks all.

- Flummoxed ex-CO plat.

MatthewLAX

No complimentary upgrades, but you can provide a regional premier upgrade (or 20 points after 11/8). Do you have RPUs?

Kleinnaf

can't apply an instrument to awards unless miles are coming from a GS account.

garykung

Because UA does not release award inventory for EWR-HNL nonstop. The rate you see if a result of both dynamic pricing and full-fare award.

Yes. If the route you are flying is not designated as a PremiumPlus route, you can still get the seat for free.

.

Not at this moment.

If your route is CPUable (or EUAable in CO terms), you will be waitlisted until UA determines a seat is available to you and you will be upgraded. The earliest is 96 hours.

HNLbasedFlyer

In theory, if you find a saver ticket, it is still 100K RT EWR-HNL RT - you just won't find it

Most days, it is 190K RT

High peak days can go well beyond 225K with dynamic pricing

ctownflyer

You mean like this:




Those days are gone like all the good things that ain't never coming back. Murdered by Smisek, Kirby, and their ilk.

carpboy

Never seen an RPU. We lifers don't get them.

I am so glad my serious travel happened pre-merger. FF in general is just such a downer anymore.

I am so thankful to have seen the US and some of the world for free. Now, you have to be of GS caliber just to get a sniff of what we had even 10 years ago.

It's Europe so no CPU. It looks the best I can do is book cheap and grab blue. PP is available on the seat map (787), it is an award level as well, so I looks like it will have been fully differentiated by next spring.

The wayback machine, I miss that look and feel.

jsloan

OK, so, a couple of things here.

First off, as of November 15, UA is axing the award charts. For travel after that date, awards will cost whatever the computer says that they cost. I suspect you're already seeing the results of that.

However, that doesn't immediately mean that you need to cancel your plans. You said you wanted to go to "Europe." That's a pretty flexible statement, and flexibility can be key.

You list ABE/PHL as an origin. Assuming that's accurate, don't just try searches from ABE and PHL; also EWR, IAD, CLE, ORD -- anywhere that's reasonably nearby. You can figure out how to get to the gateway after you find space.

Know the route map. Search all UA destinations in Europe. Search partner destinations that offer nonstop flights. Search Tuesday, search Wednesday.

When you see something attractive, book it. Unless you're planning to use the Excursionist Perk -- and for intra-European travel, I wouldn't bother -- book one-ways so you can change them later. Keep searching; as a 1K, you can change for free, at any time.

This massive devaluation hasn't hit partner awards yet. Search JFK. Search flights to FRA / MUC / BRU / ZRH / GVA / VIE, where you might get an LH-group flight.

If you don't see anything today, look again tomorrow. Things change all the time.

Finally, to answer your specific questions: No to complimentary upgrades (even on CPU-eligible routes, unless you have a qualifying credit card). Yes to P+ awards, but only on UA metal, which means that it might be more expensive to fly in UA P+ than in LH J. Or LH F (may be available within 14 days of departure).

How many miles do you have? How many tickets are you looking for? What's your timeframe?

HNLbasedFlyer

7 straight years of record tourism is likely more to blame - I do that trip a handful of times a year and the F price to buy often isn't unreasonable...

carpboy

I made an error, PP is NOT showing up as an award level. This to Europe from EWR in spring+.

jsloan

It depends upon the route.

You can get complimentary P+ seating only on routes where the plane has the P+ cabin but it's not for sale. Generally, that's because they're not willing to guarantee P+ service -- there are still plenty of planes without a P+ cabin in the fleet.

Even then, as people on EWR-LAX/SFO just found out, if they later start to sell P+ on your route, you may be reseated.

ctownflyer

HNL is merely one example that OP referenced.
The lack of post-merger saver J award space is a problem nearly systemwide.

carpboy

I was looking at EWR-BRU and at the moment it (P+) isn't for sale as an award. I can't imagine that would remain in that state all the way to late spring. I guess I can try it and then pick a P+ and see what happens. I would sure hate to be downgraded though, in fact, the very thought of that will probably keep me from this avenue.

ctownflyer

GS today doesn't get you nearly the saver award space or upgrades that CO Plat did back in the day.

Often1

And by an economy on screech where people actually buy their tickets.