Upside of fewer upgrades - preferring domestic Y!
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: San Francisco
Programs: 1K 2.2MM
Posts: 2,352
Upside of fewer upgrades - preferring domestic Y!
Can't believe I am going to actually write this but for the first time in years as a 1k I've missed several domestic upgrades from Y. The lesson learned is taht with the right seat, I think I prefer it.
Pros include: If you have a E+ or exit with the seat next to you empty, I find it more private and spacious. Sure beats a bad bulkhead row 1 seat on some aircraft.
Even tho you have to pay for meals - you have a (usually) bigger choice.
And, I often find the other pax in FC to be rude. Hogging luggage bins, arrogant attitude, rude to the FAs etc. Where did the class in first class go?
Cons: pay for drinks - tho this isn't a big deal for me on domestic flights and i do have some chits to get me started.
No hot meal choice - but not such big deal given what hot airine meals are like.
Makes me wonder about when the comp upgrades begin. Will we have a choice to not accept an upgrade, and still have our preferred seat in Y, or will they automatically upgrade seat?
Pros include: If you have a E+ or exit with the seat next to you empty, I find it more private and spacious. Sure beats a bad bulkhead row 1 seat on some aircraft.
Even tho you have to pay for meals - you have a (usually) bigger choice.
And, I often find the other pax in FC to be rude. Hogging luggage bins, arrogant attitude, rude to the FAs etc. Where did the class in first class go?
Cons: pay for drinks - tho this isn't a big deal for me on domestic flights and i do have some chits to get me started.
No hot meal choice - but not such big deal given what hot airine meals are like.
Makes me wonder about when the comp upgrades begin. Will we have a choice to not accept an upgrade, and still have our preferred seat in Y, or will they automatically upgrade seat?
#2
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Crystal City, VA
Programs: United Mileage Plus 1K 2 MM, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,627
If the E+ seats had their own armrests, I could tolerate better sitting in them. But I dislike playing 'share the armrest' for 5-hour flights.
#4
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 1,230
Can't believe I am going to actually write this but for the first time in years as a 1k I've missed several domestic upgrades from Y. The lesson learned is taht with the right seat, I think I prefer it.
Pros include: If you have a E+ or exit with the seat next to you empty, I find it more private and spacious. Sure beats a bad bulkhead row 1 seat on some aircraft.
Even tho you have to pay for meals - you have a (usually) bigger choice.
And, I often find the other pax in FC to be rude. Hogging luggage bins, arrogant attitude, rude to the FAs etc. Where did the class in first class go?
Cons: pay for drinks - tho this isn't a big deal for me on domestic flights and i do have some chits to get me started.
No hot meal choice - but not such big deal given what hot airine meals are like.
Makes me wonder about when the comp upgrades begin. Will we have a choice to not accept an upgrade, and still have our preferred seat in Y, or will they automatically upgrade seat?
Pros include: If you have a E+ or exit with the seat next to you empty, I find it more private and spacious. Sure beats a bad bulkhead row 1 seat on some aircraft.
Even tho you have to pay for meals - you have a (usually) bigger choice.
And, I often find the other pax in FC to be rude. Hogging luggage bins, arrogant attitude, rude to the FAs etc. Where did the class in first class go?
Cons: pay for drinks - tho this isn't a big deal for me on domestic flights and i do have some chits to get me started.
No hot meal choice - but not such big deal given what hot airine meals are like.
Makes me wonder about when the comp upgrades begin. Will we have a choice to not accept an upgrade, and still have our preferred seat in Y, or will they automatically upgrade seat?
#5
Join Date: May 2008
Location: 3951'31"N 10440'23"W
Programs: UA 1.5K MM/SPG Plat/Various Random Golds lol
Posts: 1,071
+1, I've thought the same thing. Well stated in that the whole seat opponent thing is a pain, but I have learned to be pretty comfortable sharing the arm rest. I'll keep my E+ fav seats secret though for now
#6
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,102
Give me 6A or 6F on the Airbii, and I'm cool. You won't hear a peep from me.
I'm still figuring out where to best sit, period, in F, or Y, on the non-PS 75s. Just did a flight in 8E from SFO to BOS. Not my fav . . . For F, I think I'll take row 6 . . .
I'm still figuring out where to best sit, period, in F, or Y, on the non-PS 75s. Just did a flight in 8E from SFO to BOS. Not my fav . . . For F, I think I'll take row 6 . . .
#7
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SEA
Programs: DL Gold
Posts: 1,510
IIRC, United PR indicated in the other mega-thread that you'll be able to opt out of upgrades. Likely best done BEFORE you get upgraded, otherwise you might not have that preferred seat to move back into, as lower status pax might be on-the-ball at the 72-hour point to jump into the newly vacated seats.
#8
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,824
IIRC, United PR indicated in the other mega-thread that you'll be able to opt out of upgrades. Likely best done BEFORE you get upgraded, otherwise you might not have that preferred seat to move back into, as lower status pax might be on-the-ball at the 72-hour point to jump into the newly vacated seats.
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,110
The FAQ on united.com addresses this as well. You can cancel the request just like canceling an e-500 request.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SF, Japan, YYG
Programs: ANA Pt
Posts: 378
I agree; domestic F is not that big of a deal, compared to my absolute need to get international C upgrades. 4 or 5 hrs in E+ is fine. Satisfaction with probable E+ also lowers my gate stress factor (heart rate & BP) in waiting for upgrades to clear, and as 1K, clearing upgrade is getting pretty rare flying in and out of SFO. Most of the time I am 2nd on the list with 3 seats open, and I don't get any upgrade love.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: San Francisco
Programs: 1K 2.2MM
Posts: 2,352
Yes, the next to seat is a crap shoot, but in F you ALWAYS have someone next to you. Often not somebody nice. My flight yesterday in F, guy next to puts his bag in overhead sideways to hog the whole bin, keeps sneezing without covering his nose or face, gets his breakfast omelette and says to FA "Bring me some ketchup" and asks again after she nicely says they don't offer it. He must have been a captain of industry! I was impressed by both his status and manners!
#12
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Palo Alto. Previously, below the approaches to Rwy 19 @ DCA or 28 @ ORD
Programs: UA 1K 0.8MM, AA EXP
Posts: 1,768
And, if seat-back and/or under-seat storage is absolutely necessary (say, if there's the need for intensive work on the laptop), then the windows and aisles in rows 15 and 16 are among the most roomy exit row seats in the fleet, too.
#13
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: YVR SFO
Programs: UA G
Posts: 4,866
(I keed I keed!)
#14
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Gold-MM, AA Gold-MM, F9-Silver, Hyatt Something, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,376
Gimme 16C or 16D any day. And so long as Y isn't 100% full, you often get the middle empty. I find that most GA's hand out seat assignments from the front of E+, and I bet they purposely put the lone empty next to the 1K's in the exit row. It only makes sense, and I can't tell you how many times 16B/E has been empty for me.
#15
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United/Star Alliance - 1K
Posts: 2,176
And you get a full "bottle" of wine, as opposed to a glass that holds half that volume and you have to trust that the FA will refill often. Also, 2 bottles in Y doesn't seem like overindulging, while 4 glasses in F, while the same volume of wine, make you look like a lush.