Y/B/M Premier Instant Upgrade - How does it work? {Archive}
May 8, 2012, 8:42 pm
#31
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Central Florida
Programs: MP 1K/Onepass Plat 1MM, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 562
I have yet another very simple solution....
Million Milers trump all others for upgrades.^
I have over $380K lifetime spend on Continental and United, and more importantly 10-12 years more left as a 200K+ a year flyer.
FWIW, I don't have time for Mileage Runs.
Why should I be prioritized behind some upstart that spent $40K last year?
Million Milers trump all others for upgrades.^
I have over $380K lifetime spend on Continental and United, and more importantly 10-12 years more left as a 200K+ a year flyer.
FWIW, I don't have time for Mileage Runs.
Why should I be prioritized behind some upstart that spent $40K last year?
May 28, 2012, 11:44 am
#32
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in CUZCO, PERU
Posts: 58,629
Premier 1K Instant Upgrade Fare: FINALLY a change I like
Just booked my first Premier 1K Instant Upgrade Fare for a not-crazy expensive ($881) domestic ticket to a destination (DCA-SBN) that I could not do with my spiffy new AA EXPLAT status casue you can't get there from here on AA. I rarely got Y-up fares on old UA on a route/fare like that. So maybe I finally stumbled on a change I actually like...CO Elite Upgrade fares.
May 28, 2012, 12:10 pm
#33
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: PDX
Posts: 2,284
I see that as a savings of $13 vs. the fare published in A-class (HUAUP1) to the general public. It'd take a lot more than $13 to get excited over this benefit, or am I missing something?
May 28, 2012, 12:17 pm
#34
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: ORD-LAS
Programs: UA MM 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 4,419
Yes I love these too! I always take a 1K's free upgrade with these fares. All my fares are Y and B!
May 28, 2012, 12:46 pm
#35
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,895
CO has long offered almost-affordable B fares, which makes PN availability a nice deal.
May 28, 2012, 1:56 pm
#36
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 286
If you are under a travel policy that prohibits purchase of A-class, it's an epic difference.
May 28, 2012, 2:00 pm
#37
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Silicon wasteland
Programs: UA 1KMM
Posts: 1,381
May 28, 2012, 2:50 pm
#38
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
If one books the HUAUP1 fare it books directly into the F cabin and that's how the purchase shows up on the receipts. If one books the M/B/Y-Up fares they can be upgraded at any time the PN or JN inventory is available. That means the flight can be purchased in coach and then freely upgraded after the ticket is issued and, more importantly, the receipt is cut showing a coach fare. It also means that it can be upgraded later in the cycle if the inventory shows up but wasn't available at the time of purchase. On an HUAUP1 if the A inventory isn't there at time of booking you're stuck in coach.
May 28, 2012, 5:17 pm
#39
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SFO and OAK
Programs: FAF, Hyatt <>, SPG PLT
Posts: 2,240
That's not to say you might not be able to book the HUP without A available via a different means than the United website. But I know even less about that than I know about the website. Which isn't saying much.
May 28, 2012, 5:24 pm
#40
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,686
There is actually a quite significant difference in the two.
If one books the HUAUP1 fare it books directly into the F cabin and that's how the purchase shows up on the receipts. If one books the M/B/Y-Up fares they can be upgraded at any time the PN or JN inventory is available. That means the flight can be purchased in coach and then freely upgraded after the ticket is issued and, more importantly, the receipt is cut showing a coach fare. It also means that it can be upgraded later in the cycle if the inventory shows up but wasn't available at the time of purchase. On an HUAUP1 if the A inventory isn't there at time of booking you're stuck in coach.
If one books the HUAUP1 fare it books directly into the F cabin and that's how the purchase shows up on the receipts. If one books the M/B/Y-Up fares they can be upgraded at any time the PN or JN inventory is available. That means the flight can be purchased in coach and then freely upgraded after the ticket is issued and, more importantly, the receipt is cut showing a coach fare. It also means that it can be upgraded later in the cycle if the inventory shows up but wasn't available at the time of purchase. On an HUAUP1 if the A inventory isn't there at time of booking you're stuck in coach.
By the way, given my screename, can you guys start a fan club for me and contribute funds for my discretional use?
May 28, 2012, 5:27 pm
#41
Join Date: Jul 2003
Programs: UA1K 3MM, AS MVP 75K Gold
Posts: 2,706
So how do you find out what is a Premier 1K Instant Upgrade Fare?
May 28, 2012, 5:50 pm
#42
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SFO and OAK
Programs: FAF, Hyatt <>, SPG PLT
Posts: 2,240
May 28, 2012, 7:21 pm
#43
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: PDX
Posts: 2,284
(A lot of good info here, thanks. All of my business tix are booked by a third party, so I don't see the "U" at booking, and haven't booked a UA flight since 3/3 yet.)
May 28, 2012, 7:34 pm
#44
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in CUZCO, PERU
Posts: 58,629
The deets are beyond me. But I have been flying DCA-SBN for a long time. And sadly I've paid $600-$1000 quite a bit. Not out of my pocket, but certainly out of my budget. And for the first time ever it 'seated' directly into F rather than having to wait/apply upgrade instruments.
My wife, a 3-4-5 consultant, says many people she used to work with would book as late as possible in order to hold out for CO Elite Upgrade fares. And that that's why 3-4-5s loved CO.
My wife, a 3-4-5 consultant, says many people she used to work with would book as late as possible in order to hold out for CO Elite Upgrade fares. And that that's why 3-4-5s loved CO.
May 28, 2012, 9:45 pm
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,239
But what sbm12 was saying is that, generally, you can't "come to be booked" on a HUAUP1 fare in Y, barring a 1-class connecting flight or irregular ops. If no A inventory is available, the booking engine will default to a true coach fare, and then you'll "be stuck in coach." And I don't think you can waitlist for the discounted FC inventory required to book these -UP fares either, although it might depend on the specific rules of the fare, which likely vary.