Scandinavia this summer: What would you do? Pay $2700 for C or $1700 W with SWU?
 

I am flying for a vacation to Scandinavia this summer. As you may or may not know, United is having a huge sale for $2700 business class fares SFO-Scandinavia (matching SAS's sale). Although it's not a super-bargain, it's pretty cheap for a business class fare SFO-Europe.

However, it's still about $1000 more than if I were to fly UA 901 to FRA and try to upgrade a W fare with an SWU. An upgradable fare SFO-Scandinavia is around $1650 to $1800 in economy in July. Of course, NC=0 this summer, as we know how the new UA is. If I could get NC confirmation, I would not even ask this question; I'd save the money.

What would people do? Pay the extra $1000 for the guaranteed C (plus the bonus of no stress and the extra EQM), or try to save the $1000 and go for the W fare? $1000 is $1000, and I could do a lot with a $1000! But then again, $1000 for guaranteed C is still another nice perk (plus 150% EQM). Thanks for any input people may have.

I'd definitely pay the $2,700. But then again, people value their $$$ differently.

The first thing I'd do is see if there is a chance to buy an upgradeable coach fare that allows you to use miles and co-pay to confirm the upgrade at purchase. If that isn't available, I'd buy the C seat. I have no faith in buying a W fare and upgrading with an SWU, given the new management's habit of preferring GMs over elite members.

thanks.

100% no way to confirm at purchase. It's the gate lottery.

NC=0.

Total NC=0.

Welcome to the new United.

If you can confirm the miles+copay at booking (into NC space), a SWU could also be confirmed at booking.

To the OP: Which part of Scandinavia are you flying to? Is it served out of EWR? It might be worth connecting there.

Not true?

Is this fare good only on SAS metal? Reading descriptions of SAS business leads me to think that UA's new C or CO's BF hard products are superior.

Connecting on the US east coast would give you a 20% EQM bonus for (nearly) free.

The EQM bonus of a C fare is roughly 3k EQM. I value 3k EQM at about $150, not $1000. What do you value your EQM at?

Unfortunately, on the dates that I'm interested in: NC=0, UA 901, 900, 926, 927, as well as out of ORD & IAD.

It would be on UA metal all the way except in Europe, when it's on LH metal. UA has matched SAS fares. I prefer to fly SFO-Europe non-stop because when you connect on the East Coast, those flights are so short (7 or 8 hours) that you really can't sleep on them. Plus, it takes 5hours to get there in domestic first, which is barely a step up over economy plus.

How does one get the 20% EQM bonus by connecting on the east coast? I think you may have lost me there. I know that on LH and UA, you get 150% EQM (I am not going to fly SAS metal).

I never thought about how much I value EQMs, unforunately! I guess I'll have to think about that!

Thanks for your great response!

Are you firm on your dates? The NC=0 could be because of the Olympics. Don't want to give away all those business seats for free ;) when they could sell them for Olympic visitors who combine a European vacation with the Olympics.

Good point, but unfortunately, it has nothing to do with that.
 

Good point, but unfortunately, if you take a look at this summer, NC=0 every single day. Look for yourself. It has nothing to do with the olympics unfortunately.

The NC=0 out of SFO-FRA is because this is the new United. Welcome to it.

Ok, forget Olympics, but summer is high season to Europe so I would expect fewer, if any, NC seats available. Was that way years ago too. Summer to Europe is always bad.

Because it's more miles to get there with a connection. About 800 more. Something like 5600 v 6400 to go sfo-fra v sfo-ewr-fra

I see
 

Ah, I see. Thank you. Great observation. I hadn't thought of that.

FWIW, all my op-ups have been in high summer, when vacationers fill the back of the bus and business travellers are all on vacation.

But, you already know the answer: if you must be in Business, you have a bargain. If you are a gambler and don't object to being in E+, then save the $$.

Never said they would sell them, they just hope to sell them ;) It's getting cheaper for Americans to travel there. The exchange rate has been getting better for us lately.

Or alternatively, pay $1,300 and travel Economy Extra on SK. Although you'd have to connect in ORD/IAD/EWR, and I'm not sure you can apply CR-1s for the domestic portion (operated by UA) if it's a codeshare.

I'm assuming this books into Z so you can't use an SWU C->F. But if you put up some miles, $2700+miles might make for a fun trip in F.