Lost my 1K status almost 2 years ago, so now I'm a Clampett flyer. ((

But just booked a major RT flight SYD to PHX, all three tix in BC. Well, one domestic leg (LAX-DEN) is Economy. As a non-status, E+ is blocked off. But, am I entitled to E+ as an Award Ticket Booked in C? As I recall, I am, unless things have changed in the last 2 years.

Also, am I entitled to waitlist for domestic First? If so, PA or PB? Or only at the airport?

Thanks,
Ernie

Last year I gave 3p to a co-worker instead of my wife because she always flys with me. Long story short she flew over to visit me in China and also alone to MCO to visit family. Both on F saver tickets but both had short hops that did not have F space and she would have ended up in E-. Imagine flying home from PVG in new config first and then doing ORD BDL in E- at the time of booking there was plenty of E+ seats and I called 1k but she did not qualify. She ended up staying an extra day in Chicago as she was spending a few days there visiting friends already and they had space in F the next day.
She got my nomination this year.

Yes, if it's an all UA itinerary. You can waitlist for XF. (Well, maybe in your case XC, but that's not clear to me either in this case. Not all domestic flights have C inventory, but some do.) Anyway, you need to call for that.

It's not PA or PB at this point. If you make it to that waitlist after checkin, most people here think you should be on the FFCC waitlist, but YMMV with that. It won't happen automatically, you will have to ask about it, and hope you get somebody that will do it for you.

Sorry, I don't think you get E+ unless you buy it for that leg. LAX-DEN is a relatively short flight for you.

-David

No you are not entiltled to E+ for the Y segment no matter the award ticket booked in C or F as you have no status. Nothing had changed in the last 2 years either, it is probably E- was full at the time, so you got E+ seats.

IMHO If someone pas _paid_ for F/C (yes an award ticket is a payment) and then only get a Y seat then they should be entitled to the best Y seat in the house ie E+. In the past I've emailed MP about this and had family members moved into E+ (and I'm just a lowly 1P). As it was they ended up clearing the F/C seats.

Sad to say, but I think LIH Prem and ORDnHKG are prolly right on this, even though it defies logic. But then, who ever said that airline rules were logical?

I never really had experience with E+ without status before. I was 1K for several years, and 1P and 2P before that. And prior to getting status, UA was pretty liberal in handing out E+. A non-status flyer could get E+ just for the asking at the airport check-in, if available. They just couldn't reserve it. But then, that was before UA discover that they could make money selling it! Now I understand they no longer give it full-fare Y pax. That's really bad! If I had paid $2000 for a domestic coach ticket, I'd be REALLY unhappy in a E- seat!

BrisbanePE's thinking is logical, and my way of thinking also. It does seem ludicrous that one can spend over 400K miles for three C award tix, and even be eligible for for FFCC priority for FC at the airport, yet can't even qualify for a lousey E+ seat! Yet, UA is frequently not logical, and they do set the rules! BrisbanePE, you were able to get E+ because you were a 1P. ANY level of status qualifies for E+.

BTW, thanks for the mention of FFCC, LIH Prem! Forgot about that one. Only got that once...same situation, award ticket domestic leg of an intl. XC. Unfortunately, I didn't clear then because all of the FC pax checked in.

However, if we don't get FC via FFCC (may be tough with 3 pax on itin., even though right now the 24 seat FC cabin is totally empty....still 7 months away). If we don't clear, I'll ask at check-in and gate for E+. Sometimes the agent will take pity, and give it regardless of the letter of the law. If not, it's only a 2 hour flight.

The family had no status and were on a different PNR to me, as my ticket as paid. So I don't think they rode into E+ on my coat-tails.

I remember discussing the change regarding Y tickets with local UA folk (ANZ Sales & Marketing) and they were just as mystified as myself as to how that could make any sense.

Pretty poor form.