Y/B/M Premier Instant Upgrade - How does it work? {Archive}
Sep 29, 2013, 3:56 pm
#136
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Sep 29, 2013, 4:00 pm
#137
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True, And I know that, but you never know when there is going to be a glitch and there is no indication of their status in the post or profile.
Sep 29, 2013, 4:02 pm
#138
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Texas
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I don't believe this is correct. M upgrades show up on my searches all the time, and I am not 1K.
My company booked me a round trip international B ticket with domestic connection. Due to business need, I changed return. I looked a one-way B fare return in United web site, it showed a flight with instant UG available in domestic part. I changed to the flight, but instant B UG was not available. Called MP, no use. I was told instant UG was not available. That was a couple of days ago. I checked web site again today, it still has the same flight with instant B UG available. When checked seat map, there are three First seats available. What should I do to get the UG, it is a big deal as it is from coast to coast and 1/3 of total flight time. If someone is buying that ticket in B, will he/she get the instant UG? If not, will you be pissed off?
(1) Pay the difference out of pocket between the B fare and the lowest first class fare. This difference is usually small.
(2) Upgrade with 5,000 miles. If you do not have the miles, you can purchase them at united.com for $70. There is usually great availability for this type of upgrade.
Sep 29, 2013, 4:07 pm
#139
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 74
I got my 1K last year due to a lot of business travels. But was not traveled that much before. The agent checked domestic portion alone and said not first class seat available when I called.
Sep 29, 2013, 4:13 pm
#140
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Thank you. Instant upgrades are capacity controlled so just because there is a seat open and it offers the instant upgrade to you does not mean you won't be wait listed.
Sep 29, 2013, 4:15 pm
#141
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Texas
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I understand now. B fares are fully refundable; ask the agent -- or check by yourself -- what is the difference in fare between the B fare and the lowest first class fare (typically P or A). In some cases the P fare might be lower than the B fare. In some cases the A fare might be within $100 of the B fare.
Sep 29, 2013, 4:19 pm
#142
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.. I changed to the flight, but instant B UG was not available. Called MP, no use. I was told instant UG was not available. That was a couple of days ago. I checked web site again today, it still has the same flight with instant B UG available. When checked seat map, there are three First seats available. ..
Sep 29, 2013, 4:24 pm
#143
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If you search using expert mode on united.com, PN is the instant upgrade fare class for a B fare. If PN>0, the instant upgrade is available. Otherwise you will be put on the waitlist.
Sep 29, 2013, 4:35 pm
#144
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OP says he's 1K, he's on a B fare and the Instant Upgrade symbol was there. The only reason he might not have obtained the UG was that somebody else grabbed it before he did.
He likely now goes into the UG lottery, but at a pretty high standing. Only people ahead of him:
1. GS
2. Any elite on Y
He likely now goes into the UG lottery, but at a pretty high standing. Only people ahead of him:
1. GS
2. Any elite on Y
Sep 29, 2013, 5:00 pm
#145
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 74
I understand the situation when seat is not available, I wont get the upgrade. But how come UA is still selling the tickets with instant upgrade symbol down there when I do a dummy booking with the same flight.
Sep 29, 2013, 5:11 pm
#146
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B seats are still available. At this point, the "instant upgrade" note is saying that purchasing the B ticket makes you eligible for an upgrade - if a F seat is, or becomes, available. You're still allowed to buy a refundable B fare ticket.
Sep 29, 2013, 5:15 pm
#147
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But it has to be available in the correct bucket. Just because a seat is empty and being sold does not mean it is in the fare bucket an instant upgrade can go into. And as far as I have seen you will always get the symbol on a Y/B fare and it states as IAH-OIL-TRASH points out.
Jan 11, 2014, 10:22 am
#148
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
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Posts: 495
I just learned that married segments will remove P/PN availability. I'm have a SAN-IAD-GVA itin in B, and the SAN-IAD leg has P3/PN3 right now, but married it is zero. I find it completely frustrating that agents don't understand why that is the case, and I had to point out the possibility of the married segment causing the issue.
Avoiding through flights I am good at, but married segments are a bit harder to avoid in high fare buckets without paying more.
Avoiding through flights I am good at, but married segments are a bit harder to avoid in high fare buckets without paying more.
Jan 11, 2014, 12:27 pm
#149
Join Date: May 2001
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I just learned that married segments will remove P/PN availability. I'm have a SAN-IAD-GVA itin in B, and the SAN-IAD leg has P3/PN3 right now, but married it is zero. I find it completely frustrating that agents don't understand why that is the case, and I had to point out the possibility of the married segment causing the issue.
Avoiding through flights I am good at, but married segments are a bit harder to avoid in high fare buckets without paying more.
Avoiding through flights I am good at, but married segments are a bit harder to avoid in high fare buckets without paying more.
Jan 11, 2014, 12:39 pm
#150
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
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Posts: 495
I see plenty of P/PN space only if I search by the first leg, if I search the outbound itin SAN-IAD-GVA then the P/PN disappears on the first leg. 3 phone agents told me in the end it is a married segment issue, and I can't get it to clear at all either by phone or on booking summary. I know that this only applies to domestic leg, but it is still absurd that the married segment issue applies to instant upgrades the same as it applies to upgrade instruments.