My United Upgrade Instruments (SWU/CR-1) Are Going to Expire - What Are my Options?
Oct 30, 2011, 11:56 am
#106
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: DC|NYC
Programs: UA GS, DL Plat, Marriott Bonvoy LIfetime Titanium/SPG refugee, Hertz Prez, Amtrak Select
Posts: 3,201
Of course, the point of the question is avoiding having them go unused.
Well, it was really nice of you to try! I was thinking of going up to frazzled looking people and offering them, but with my luck, I would offer them to folks whose fares don't qualify. I think my best option is to start flight shopping and post the offer to my Facebook friends as well
Has anyone ever tried donating SWU's to a charity like Make-a-Wish?
Well, it was really nice of you to try! I was thinking of going up to frazzled looking people and offering them, but with my luck, I would offer them to folks whose fares don't qualify. I think my best option is to start flight shopping and post the offer to my Facebook friends as wellHas anyone ever tried donating SWU's to a charity like Make-a-Wish?
Oct 30, 2011, 12:04 pm
#107
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 187
As I've discovered, it's hard to give away SWUs to your friends and random strangers with no status. First of all, for non-domestic travel they still need to buy more expensive tickets than they otherwise might in order to be eligible. The big problem, though, is that they seem to be prioritized based on their own status, rather than yours. Bottom line is that last-minute upgrades are almost impossible, so you need to do it well in advance, maybe before you even realize that you're going to have any leftovers to give away.
Does one exist that I don't know of?
Oct 30, 2011, 4:59 pm
#108
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: United 1K, HH Diamond, CBP Global Entry
Posts: 732
last year, i asked for all my extra SWUs to be converted to paper LH vouchers.... and on my Christmas flight to Frankfurt, i befriended my seat mate, an old gentleman flying in coach to India on a LH connecting flight in FRA... I gave him my extra LH paper SWU... he instantly upgraded at his gate in FRA all the way to india!
it was a good Christmas gift for an elderly stranger. felt good.
it was a good Christmas gift for an elderly stranger. felt good.
Nov 2, 2011, 9:52 pm
#109
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SAN
Programs: Delta Gold. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Explorist.
Posts: 1,676
last year, i asked for all my extra SWUs to be converted to paper LH vouchers.... and on my Christmas flight to Frankfurt, i befriended my seat mate, an old gentleman flying in coach to India on a LH connecting flight in FRA... I gave him my extra LH paper SWU... he instantly upgraded at his gate in FRA all the way to india!
it was a good Christmas gift for an elderly stranger. felt good.
it was a good Christmas gift for an elderly stranger. felt good.
Nov 14, 2011, 9:09 pm
#110
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Posts: 8
Where to gift them
I have two that I will not be using this year. I see people say you can gift them to various organisations. How does one do that ?
Nov 15, 2011, 12:18 am
#111
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
You can not "gift" SWUs to an organization. You can gift to an individual that has a reservation. So you could contact an organization and offer to sponsor someone who is travelling but you would have to do the upgrade request.
Nov 29, 2011, 10:58 am
#112
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: 1K, HH Gold VIP, Plat PC, Ex National, Plat Amex
Posts: 46
I need to use my SWU certificates
I have 4 certificates left and I'd like to use it on an international flight but don't know where to go. Can some of you wonderful flyertalk friends help me out? Does anyone know any good deals. I was looking at going from ORD to SYD but that was costing a ton and I would be waitlisted and being a 1K don't know if I'd make the cut on travel day. I am looking to fly on December 21 and go home December 26. Hope to hear some great advice. My SWU's expire at the end of this year.
Last edited by miketravelparty; Nov 29, 2011 at 11:08 am
Nov 29, 2011, 11:10 am
#113
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 1,782
The airfare into Europe isn't too terrible right now and I saw some good deals into Asia (China and Japan and Manilla) in the MR deals forum. I don't know if you need a W fare, but all of those cheapo fares were less than $1000 RT AI
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Nov 29, 2011 at 11:11 am Reason: not even in jest, please
Nov 29, 2011, 11:13 am
#114
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,041
I have 4 certificates left and I'd like to use it on an international flight but don't know where to go. Can some of you wonderful flyertalk friends help me out? Does anyone know any good deals. I was looking at going from ORD to SYD but that was costing a ton and I would be waitlisted and being a 1K don't know if I'd make the cut on travel day. I am looking to fly on December 21 and go home December 26. Hope to hear some great advice. My SWU's expire at the end of this year.
Nov 29, 2011, 11:13 pm
#115
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Bethesda, MD
Programs: UA Million Miler, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 814
Not sure if this has been addressed but I am not pleased that the SWU's I earned in Sept 2011 expire in Sept 2012 and not Dec 2012. I feel that I am being penalized for hitting 1k early. I usually have more international travel in Oct and Nov. I realize they use a 12 month window but since everything else related to MP is on calendar year, the expire dates should be too.
Nov 29, 2011, 11:59 pm
#116
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
see the end of http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-end-year.html
Nov 30, 2011, 8:10 am
#117
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,145
The word is in 2012 you will be able to extend the SWUs until Dec 2012.
see the end of http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-end-year.html
see the end of http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-end-year.html
I currently have 2 which were deposited in January, 2011, as they were the result of crossing 100k in 2010. UA has twice now switched these to support a domestic u/g (hey, better to use them than let them expire), but twice now a couple of days later .bomb has shown the SWUs back in my account and CR1s pulled for that January itin.
It would be fine and dandy if I could get UA to extend those 2 SWUs later into 2012, but if I read things correctly, that's not an option, right?
Nov 30, 2011, 9:01 am
#118
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
In past years that had been an opportunity in November to extend 1 older SWU but as November comes to an end, there has been no such opportunity this year.
Dec 21, 2011, 10:17 am
#119
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: CLE
Programs: UA 1k , CO SI,
Posts: 7
help with system wide upgrades
Ok, I know this is a common rant but I am sitting on 9 systemwide upgrades but cannot seem to burn them. January need to route CLE-RUH-DXB-CLE. Can only find one confirmed upgradable segment. tired of trying to bank Star Alliance miles and not use the upgrades. Any clever advise on routings? or
Dec 21, 2011, 10:40 am
#120
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 1,208
Get on the waitlist ASAP and cross your fingers
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Dec 21, 2011 at 11:04 am Reason: member does not meet access requirements for CC