Economy + "Free Upgrade"
Feb 6, 2020, 5:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 148
Economy + "Free Upgrade"
I have never seen this happen before, but I booked my girlfriend on a redeye SAN-IAD next week, and requested a MUA for her. Anyways, she received an email today saying that they have given her a free upgrade to Econ +. She is still waitlisted for First Class. Has anyone seen this before?
Feb 6, 2020, 5:42 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
I have never seen this happen before, but I booked my girlfriend on a redeye SAN-IAD next week, and requested a MUA for her. Anyways, she received an email today saying that they have given her a free upgrade to Econ +. She is still waitlisted for First Class. Has anyone seen this before?
Feb 6, 2020, 8:49 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Rochester, MN
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,830
Interesting. In the same light, I was able to choose E+ seats from award Y, with no fee paid. I have no status. This was on the return long haul from SYD and a domestic leg as well. No clue as to how it happened.
Feb 6, 2020, 9:14 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,882
Silver here, and yes, I’ve seen this once. Was CVG-SFO (R.I.P.) in October. Got this about a week prior to flight. And Yes, I took advantage. E+ was practically empty...don’t remember how full E- looked - always hard to know these days as with many flying in BE, could look not super full, yet it could still be.
I was actually a little surprised not to see this on CVG-DEN in December. We booked fairly last minute - about a week prior to departure, and there were 3 of us - there weren’t any 3 seats together in E-, or even relatively close. I didn’t select seats, and didn’t even get auto-assigned to any, presumably due to there not being any together (my impression is UA.com will usually select seats automatically if you don’t). A couple of days prior to flight, we were all assigned in something like row 25, which I believe appeared to be occupied prior, but I’m pretty sure were actually just blocked. Was able to select seats in E+ at T-24 without a problem - even 3 together in a row. So not sure what the algorithm was showing, but I thought that for sure would have gotten the E+ invite. Obviously, in the end didn’t matter, but part of me still is curious as to why.
I was actually a little surprised not to see this on CVG-DEN in December. We booked fairly last minute - about a week prior to departure, and there were 3 of us - there weren’t any 3 seats together in E-, or even relatively close. I didn’t select seats, and didn’t even get auto-assigned to any, presumably due to there not being any together (my impression is UA.com will usually select seats automatically if you don’t). A couple of days prior to flight, we were all assigned in something like row 25, which I believe appeared to be occupied prior, but I’m pretty sure were actually just blocked. Was able to select seats in E+ at T-24 without a problem - even 3 together in a row. So not sure what the algorithm was showing, but I thought that for sure would have gotten the E+ invite. Obviously, in the end didn’t matter, but part of me still is curious as to why.
Feb 7, 2020, 6:16 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,597
Silver here, and yes, I’ve seen this once. Was CVG-SFO (R.I.P.) in October. Got this about a week prior to flight. And Yes, I took advantage. E+ was practically empty...don’t remember how full E- looked - always hard to know these days as with many flying in BE, could look not super full, yet it could still be.
I was actually a little surprised not to see this on CVG-DEN in December. We booked fairly last minute - about a week prior to departure, and there were 3 of us - there weren’t any 3 seats together in E-, or even relatively close. I didn’t select seats, and didn’t even get auto-assigned to any, presumably due to there not being any together (my impression is UA.com will usually select seats automatically if you don’t). A couple of days prior to flight, we were all assigned in something like row 25, which I believe appeared to be occupied prior, but I’m pretty sure were actually just blocked. Was able to select seats in E+ at T-24 without a problem - even 3 together in a row. So not sure what the algorithm was showing, but I thought that for sure would have gotten the E+ invite. Obviously, in the end didn’t matter, but part of me still is curious as to why.
I was actually a little surprised not to see this on CVG-DEN in December. We booked fairly last minute - about a week prior to departure, and there were 3 of us - there weren’t any 3 seats together in E-, or even relatively close. I didn’t select seats, and didn’t even get auto-assigned to any, presumably due to there not being any together (my impression is UA.com will usually select seats automatically if you don’t). A couple of days prior to flight, we were all assigned in something like row 25, which I believe appeared to be occupied prior, but I’m pretty sure were actually just blocked. Was able to select seats in E+ at T-24 without a problem - even 3 together in a row. So not sure what the algorithm was showing, but I thought that for sure would have gotten the E+ invite. Obviously, in the end didn’t matter, but part of me still is curious as to why.
Feb 7, 2020, 10:22 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: MRY/SFO
Programs: UA Platinum; IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 458
This actually happened to me two weeks ago on a sfo-ewr flight, flying on a cheap economy (not basic economy). I don’t have status either. I decided against taking the free offer since all the seats available were middle seats, so perhaps that had something to do with it.
Feb 7, 2020, 10:37 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,597
E+ transcon gives a free hot meal!