UA upgrade process is confusing!
Oct 3, 2011 | 9:11 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA Plat (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 11,218
Since I've never had this happen to me (the whole offloading thing if you're upgraded after checking in) because my upgrade percentage on UA is ridiculous...
What happens if you attempt to board with your coach BP not knowing you were upgraded? Does it beep and you get a new BP or does it let you board and the FC seat goes out empty?
-RM
What happens if you attempt to board with your coach BP not knowing you were upgraded? Does it beep and you get a new BP or does it let you board and the FC seat goes out empty?
-RM
Oct 4, 2011 | 9:51 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 7,176
update
I just had an issue. YVR to SFO. 1P. showed three seats in F, about 8-1 hours prior to flght. Get the airport, I'm #2 on the list, must be another 1K or 1P with more flights this year on the flight. Still, checkin agent says, "there are THREE seats available, so you're #2"
Get to gate, check with gate agent "nope, first has checked in full" So, my #1 1K GF has 1B, so we decide to board and see what happens. We get on the flight, and the FA says, yep, F checked in full. So, I say let's get you back with me in the exit row, why don't you turn in your F seat so someone ELSE can be upgraded. So, that takes a LONG time, she has to be off loaded, re-loaded, checked back in, etc. Here, we could have just said to heck with it, keep the seat, come back to sit next to me (in the seat which was empty to begin with)
So, someone DOES take her seat in 1B, I can see that. But, then the GA comes back and says "we have your F seat for you sir" Well, uh you told me 'no way', checked in full, I'm back here and so is my SO. So, sorry give it to the next person on the list please"
And, of course the seat remains empty for the flight.
get the system working people
Get to gate, check with gate agent "nope, first has checked in full" So, my #1 1K GF has 1B, so we decide to board and see what happens. We get on the flight, and the FA says, yep, F checked in full. So, I say let's get you back with me in the exit row, why don't you turn in your F seat so someone ELSE can be upgraded. So, that takes a LONG time, she has to be off loaded, re-loaded, checked back in, etc. Here, we could have just said to heck with it, keep the seat, come back to sit next to me (in the seat which was empty to begin with)
So, someone DOES take her seat in 1B, I can see that. But, then the GA comes back and says "we have your F seat for you sir" Well, uh you told me 'no way', checked in full, I'm back here and so is my SO. So, sorry give it to the next person on the list please"
And, of course the seat remains empty for the flight.
get the system working people
Best use of 1:30 back in the exit row EVER! (we got free drinks too since the FA saw me helping people get their bags in the overhead bins.) :-)
Oct 4, 2011 | 9:53 am
#18
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K/MM, MC Life Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 722
Since I've never had this happen to me (the whole offloading thing if you're upgraded after checking in) because my upgrade percentage on UA is ridiculous...
What happens if you attempt to board with your coach BP not knowing you were upgraded? Does it beep and you get a new BP or does it let you board and the FC seat goes out empty?
-RM
What happens if you attempt to board with your coach BP not knowing you were upgraded? Does it beep and you get a new BP or does it let you board and the FC seat goes out empty?
-RM
Oct 4, 2011 | 10:30 am
#19
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 7,176
Not sure if the computer will catch it, but it does remind me that you'd better claim that FC seat at least 20 minutes prior to departure time. Once I showed up only 15 minutes prior, feeling secure because I had a checked-in coach boarding pass and had received notification of the upgrade (was hanging out in the Presidents Club with no way to get a new UA boarding pass). They said FC was full and I had not been upgraded. When I pointed to my FC boarding pass sitting on the counter, the agent just tore it up and said that I hadn't checked in in time.
But honestly, that's just BEAT!
Oct 4, 2011 | 11:00 am
#20
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Programs: Hertz and Best Western, a free agent in all other respects
Posts: 384
I've had it beep at the gate a couple times, GA reaches over with a new BP. The upper deck LAX-SYD was the high point of my year. ^
Oct 4, 2011 | 1:46 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA Plat (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 11,218
My question is specific to UDU. If you get a UDU after you checked in but don't know it, what happens at the gate when they scan your coach boarding pass?
-RM
Oct 4, 2011 | 1:49 pm
#22
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,726
Same process as the op-up Bow Rider describes. The Y boarding pass rejects at the scanner and the agent hands you the new boarding pass.
Oct 4, 2011 | 1:51 pm
#23
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,815
USUALLY it beeps at you, they will look at your seat, and they will just give you the new BP. Sometimes, you will board and they will issue a new BP after you board (this is the case when you earn an upgrade after gate closes). However, some overloaded GAs (esp during IIROPS) or inattentive GAs will overlook this and send you on your merry way. Only happened to me once though so its a common thing.