Upgrade Co-Pay Changed your Travel Frequency?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: If only I knew
Programs: Several of my own making in which I was recently fast-tracked to super-duper-über-elite status
Posts: 1,074
Upgrade Co-Pay Changed your Travel Frequency?
In my case, it's led to reduced international travel this year.
Usually by this time in the year, I'm sitting at around 30K BIS. YTD I've got a whopping 8K BIS (granted I've got a TPAC and TATL coming up before the end of the year, but still unlikely to meet average mileage over the last few years ).
I just can't rationalize paying those darned co-pays to upgrade and reluctant to subject myself to cattle class on long hauls. While I understand UA's reasoning, I think something is out of whack when the co-pays are more than the ticket itself.
Just wondering if anyone else has seen their travel affected by the co-pays.
Usually by this time in the year, I'm sitting at around 30K BIS. YTD I've got a whopping 8K BIS (granted I've got a TPAC and TATL coming up before the end of the year, but still unlikely to meet average mileage over the last few years ).
I just can't rationalize paying those darned co-pays to upgrade and reluctant to subject myself to cattle class on long hauls. While I understand UA's reasoning, I think something is out of whack when the co-pays are more than the ticket itself.
Just wondering if anyone else has seen their travel affected by the co-pays.
#2
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: 52,121
Can't say as the copay has even been a consideration, but that's the advantage of SWUs...
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Nope, but I've survived each and every one of my Y flights - even SYD-SFO and HKG-LAX (back in the day) - and I got to have the great experiences when I was there so the mildly cramped experience of Y travel for a longhaul isn't such a big deal to me. It definitely isn't enough to give up travel opportunities.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHL & (gasp) AVP (NEPA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 787
But if you can get the dirt cheap fares (K) vs a M/H fare it can actually work out cheaper.
While I haven't done a mileage upgrade I think it is a big ^ to be able to upgrade any fare class now.
Of course if you are only getting M/H fares then it certainly is a
While I haven't done a mileage upgrade I think it is a big ^ to be able to upgrade any fare class now.
Of course if you are only getting M/H fares then it certainly is a
#5
In memoriam
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Danville, CA
Programs: AA EXP - UA *G MM - HH Diamond - Hertz PC
Posts: 3,242
In my case, it's led to reduced international travel this year.
Usually by this time in the year, I'm sitting at around 30K BIS. YTD I've got a whopping 8K BIS (granted I've got a TPAC and TATL coming up before the end of the year, but still unlikely to meet average mileage over the last few years ).
I just can't rationalize paying those darned co-pays to upgrade and reluctant to subject myself to cattle class on long hauls. While I understand UA's reasoning, I think something is out of whack when the co-pays are more than the ticket itself.
Just wondering if anyone else has seen their travel affected by the co-pays.
Usually by this time in the year, I'm sitting at around 30K BIS. YTD I've got a whopping 8K BIS (granted I've got a TPAC and TATL coming up before the end of the year, but still unlikely to meet average mileage over the last few years ).
I just can't rationalize paying those darned co-pays to upgrade and reluctant to subject myself to cattle class on long hauls. While I understand UA's reasoning, I think something is out of whack when the co-pays are more than the ticket itself.
Just wondering if anyone else has seen their travel affected by the co-pays.
Are you saying you have just stopped traveling, or you're taking another carrier due to the co-pays?
#6
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SFO bay area
Programs: UA 1MM, AA EXP 1MM, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,729
It hasn't for me.
Never used miles to upgrade (and don't plan to now that it has copay on top of miles). When in Y, I usually try SWU, but I'm OK with staying in E+.
Never used miles to upgrade (and don't plan to now that it has copay on top of miles). When in Y, I usually try SWU, but I'm OK with staying in E+.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: If only I knew
Programs: Several of my own making in which I was recently fast-tracked to super-duper-über-elite status
Posts: 1,074
Obviously, it doesn't affect 1Ks as much. I think the consensus always was that it would hit us 1P's the hardest.
I dunno, maybe I just got too used to a good thing and need an attitude adjustment.
#8
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 257
I think the co-pays are great adding more flexibility and options if you use miles to upgrade.
Do you normally buy H fares? I don't get your statement that the co-pay is more than the ticket - that would not be the case on an H+ fare.
Of course, I would never use miles anyways, because SWU's are better, but overall, for those who use miles I think the co-pay is a good thing.
Do you normally buy H fares? I don't get your statement that the co-pay is more than the ticket - that would not be the case on an H+ fare.
Of course, I would never use miles anyways, because SWU's are better, but overall, for those who use miles I think the co-pay is a good thing.