United 1Ks will have access to M class upgrades on CO (all UA elites to B/Y)
Nov 17, 2009, 10:28 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: YVR
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United 1Ks will have access to M class upgrades on CO (all UA elites to B/Y)
Mods - feel free to merge with one of the existing threads.
As confirmed by the CO Insider, United Elites will be able to confirm domestic upgrades at the time of booking for Y and B fares. GSs/1Ks will be able to do the same on M fares. Considering that transcon M fares are often around $600 all-in, this is a great deal ^ .
As confirmed by the CO Insider, United Elites will be able to confirm domestic upgrades at the time of booking for Y and B fares. GSs/1Ks will be able to do the same on M fares. Considering that transcon M fares are often around $600 all-in, this is a great deal ^ .
Nov 17, 2009, 10:31 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat, SPG Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 1,970
Nice. Just keep this stuff off United metal 
And if they do keep it off UA metal, then this is the first true UA benefit from this whole partnership that I can see.
And if they do keep it off UA metal, then this is the first true UA benefit from this whole partnership that I can see.
Nov 17, 2009, 10:32 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2004
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Just a note on the transcons -- M & B fares are not pulled from last seat F availability so before you buy, be sure to make sure there's inventory to clear into.
Y fares do have last seat F availability.
Y fares do have last seat F availability.
Nov 17, 2009, 10:33 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: OMA/DSM
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 164
This is also good news. Now it sounds like UA is going to do the same thing with their Y,B or M fares. (I would assume that UA 'E' fare would be included in this as well since it's more expensive than M)
Mods-Please keep this as separate topic to avoid very large threads that can't easily be read.
Mods-Please keep this as separate topic to avoid very large threads that can't easily be read.
Nov 17, 2009, 10:36 am
#5
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: YVR
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That is a good point, though availability (especially when booking early) is very good.
Nov 17, 2009, 10:36 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: OMA/DSM
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 164
Alliances need to work both ways. Put yourself as a CO Elite. Now if UA didn't do that, CO Elites would all be mad. It's gotta be fair for everyone and quit being selfish.
Nov 17, 2009, 10:39 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
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I was just going to post this. This is indeed a great benefit for GS/1Ks on CO. There are some really reasonable M fares on CO transcon flights, especially if one is connecting. Sometimes the B fare is lower than the M. This was the main reason asked CO to comp me to Plat, so now I'll have to decide weather it is worth keeping CO Plat or not.
For example I bought SFO-EWR-BUF for $415.20 (AI) and instant upgrade to F on the SFO-EWR flight, no upgrade instrument or waiting needed. Also this was a B fare which earn 150% EQM on either UA or CO. ^
For example I bought SFO-EWR-BUF for $415.20 (AI) and instant upgrade to F on the SFO-EWR flight, no upgrade instrument or waiting needed. Also this was a B fare which earn 150% EQM on either UA or CO. ^
Nov 17, 2009, 10:39 am
#8
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+1
This very thing is what killed OnePass.
Nothing is always 100% equal. CO elites get E+ on UA. This may be the concession to make that happen.
This very thing is what killed OnePass.
Nothing is always 100% equal. CO elites get E+ on UA. This may be the concession to make that happen.
Nov 17, 2009, 10:42 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
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It would really not make sense for UA to not offer this. Why would a GS/1K buy a Y/B/M fare on UA when they could buy it on CO and upgrade instantly - provided the same route is offered.
Nov 17, 2009, 10:57 am
#10
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Sounds like great news. I would expect that UA would offer the M upgrade also, as SF1K stated, in order to avoid losing business to CO. The only caveat might be if the two airlines worked out some sort of code-sharing or otherwise shared revenue under such circumstances, but that seems complicated or perhaps simply unfeasible.
Nov 17, 2009, 10:57 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: OMA/DSM
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 164
Plus United B and M fares are a lot of times twice the price as CO's B and M fares, why not reward those $1,000 plus tickets with a free instant upgrade.
Now the question is what inventory will the instant upgrade clear out of?
F Bucket?
A Bucket?
NF Bucket?
XF Bucket?
Nov 17, 2009, 11:02 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat, SPG Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 1,970
You guys do realize that there are plenty of people who actually buy F fares on UA, right? That would certainly changed if they insta upgraded an M fare.
In other words, if UA does offer it, it most certainly would not come out of the F or A bucket.
In other words, if UA does offer it, it most certainly would not come out of the F or A bucket.
Nov 17, 2009, 11:20 am
#13
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Keep in mind that UA already does first-for-economy pricing via MUAUP, HUAUP, etc. So I don't really see why UA would introduce an extra "confirmable for M bucket" scheme. And I'd imagine if UA does do it, it'd come out of those fare availabilities and at those prices.
Nov 17, 2009, 11:27 am
#14
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Location: DEN
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They were around $600 when first introduced in July, and I certainly took advantage of that. Now LAX-, SFO-, SAN-, and DEN-EWR are all > $1000 RT, so it's not the deal that it once was. The M-ups are only good to/from hubs as well, from what I can ascertain (for example, there are no published M fares that I've found ex-DEN except to IAH, CLE, and EWR).
Nov 17, 2009, 11:44 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: UAL 1KMM,Hilton Diamond
Posts: 758
This does upgrades harder. My travels do not put my on CO, but I am guessing that on UA metal there will be more CO elites keeping upgrades from UA members.