EsquireFlyer

Wow, I wish I had a GA like that! As noted upthread, agents in JFK told me that I could pay for upgrade NC->F on SFO-NRT, but that it would have to be done in SFO because they couldn't price it in JFK (which I don't think is correct--the prices are in a profile, right?)

But at SFO, the agents all said that this was not allowed because I was already in NC (although they could get a price for C->F of ~$600, which I thought was reasonable, but they said the price did not apply to NC).

As a result, the F seat went out empty and UA made $600 less. Maybe this could still be a good long-term strategy for UA to deny the upsell to NCs (if the long-term benefits, like selling more full-price F seats, outweigh the short-term losses). But that day I saw a $600 short-term loss to UA.

bseller

I do not believe it is or ever WAS a glitch. I have seen it on OZ routes, and I have seen it on TATL.

Whatever it IS, it is known to IM, imo.

Dave

LarkSFO

Fair enough. I should not state unequivocally that it is a glitch, because of course I do not know either.

However, I have not seen a recent report of anyone being offerd this (Y - F under certain conditions) upsell.

bseller

Fair point. The last time I availed myself of it was on 23rd June.

Dave

5khours

Just to clarify on how I am using the terminology.

A Double upgrade is when you upgrade once from Y to C and then use a separate instrument, cash, etc. to upgrade from C to F.

A two class upgrade is when you use cash to upgrade from Y to F.

I have purchased and used at least a half dozen two class upgrades. All to A and all offered either a purchase or at some point well before flight date.

I have asked for many, many time and never got a double upgrade until this week, when I used an SWU to UG from W to NC (a week before the flight) and then the GA overrode the system and sold me a UFC for $608 to UG from NC to F.

A couple of things to note. 1) Unlike what I have been told before the agents can override the system. The GA mentioned that they are being encouraged to sell UGs so maybe this is the beginning of the end of the prohibition on double upgrades.

ORD-LIH

This is the new-CO, they'll be encouraged to sell everything. In fairness, UA was also moving in this direction in the past few years with a whole host of services. The industry has realized that (ticket revenue) - [(fuel costs) + (labor costs)] is too volatile a spread without enough upside elasticity on the first factor due to competition. Meanwhile, once you have those millions of flyers captive, fee revenue can provide much more consistent margins (i.e. the number of pax per 1000 pax that will accept when offered a Y>C buy-up on a route at a given price is probably startlingly forecast-able. Well, unless you're an actuary, then I'm sure you find nothing startling about it.)

5khours

How do (should we) get this thread moved over to the consolidated UA/CO forum?

goalie

You can send your suggestion by clicking the little red triangle to the left of your post as that is not only for "reporting bad posts" but for just the suggestion you asked.

sim510

Any recent experience with buy-up-at-the-gate on Swiss? I'd like to buy up to C from Y on 's' fare, for ORD-ZRH in November. How much should it cost me? I did it a few years ago. I'm sure things have changed a bit!

5khours

Tried this recently for C to F. No special pricing even with F wide open....just the fare difference.

JetAway

Not sure why anyone would think Swiss would have the same business practices as UA.

sim510

"Not sure why anyone would think Swiss would have the same business practices as UA. "
Well, for one thing, because I've done it before. Granted, it was at least a couple of years ago.

"....just the fare difference."
Did you also have to use miles as well?

Edwardvan

Pre-merger I was traveling ps business JFK to LAX on award ticket. Was offered F for 295$ by the gate agent. I did not take the upsell.

cesco.g

Interesting. Was that XC>F or XY>F?

1kBill

You might get better answers in the LH forums.