petey49

Hi. I am new to this whole business of frequent flying and upgrades. My company booked me economy IAD-COS on a United Express Flight (4 hours 6 mins) on a CR7 over supper time. As I don't fly these distances often, I used points to upgrade to First class, hoping for a bit of a nicer experience and a meal with a glass or two of wine, as a treat for myself. I read on another thread that flights operated by United Express only serve snack boxes. Did I just waste 17,000 points on a crappy snack box filled with junk food?

If yes, does anyone know if I can request my points back and go back to economy?

FlyinHawaiian

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

Yes, I am sad to say there are no ovens on United Express flights so "meals" are of the snack-box type, even for such a long flight. Your miles-supported upgrade will get you free checked luggage, priority check-in and boarding, a wider seat and free drinks plus said snack box. I hope you find enough worth in that for your hard-earned miles.

You may request to be downgraded. The rules are as such:

Before the day of your flight, the exact fare bucket must be available. If you booked an economy class ticket in a "Q" fare bucket, the Q fare must still be available.

On the day of your flight, if there is any economy seat open, you can ask to be downgraded into it.

I believe there is no fee for recrediting your miles if you self-downgrade.

clacko

probably, but its better than what you might get in back....did one ord-dfw a while back and the bw & i both got 2 boxes....

as219

Welcome to FT, petey49! ^

Yes, you'll probably get a crappy snack box, though I think the food has been slightly upgraded from pure Junk status. A waste of the miles? No one but you can know whether the use of miles to upgade is "worth" it or not, but I certainly don't think upgrading a 4+ hour CR7 flight is a waste. Quite the contrary: That's a long flight on a small plane. (I didn't even know a CRJ could fly 1,463 miles!?! Is there any longer UA CR7 flight?) You'll appreciate the comfortable if small F cabin (definitely go for a seat in row 1).

One question: 17,000 miles? Did you mean 15,000? (Or have prices changed and I missed the memo?

Madone59

I have spent a lot of time in CRJ 700's, most of it in F and don't think you wasted miles - 4 hours in a CRJ 700 is a long time!


Enjoy the snack box and welcome to FT.

goingbananas

Three flights come to mind, all to SFO... from MCI, AUS and SAT. Not much longer, but still longer than Barbie jets should be flying.....

JayhawkCO

Which is why when flying out West, I always try to book the MCI-SFO flight because it's weight restricted so often that VBD opportunities abound.

Chris

jhayes_1780

+1...

While not a "great" use of miles, it is certainly not a waste.

Also, where does the 17K fit in (or were you rounding from 17.5K on a w/V fare)?

petey49

Hello. Sorry it was 17,500 points. That is what they charged me when I requested an up-grade by clicking.

Baze

Per UA's site if you have a confirmed upgrade using miles and you cancel the upgrade there is a fee to redeposit the miles. How much depends on status. General Member is $150. See part 2 paragraph c in the following.

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,50994,00.html

CrispyRice

Any chance of getting yourself rerouted through DEN instead? I fly IAD<->COS and always prefer to connect in DEN. Bigger plane with a real meal in F over dinner, plus you get the extra 500 miles for the 13 minutes in the air from DEN to COS.

haddon90

F on that flight will be much better than Y IMO.

goodeats21

I can think of few things worse than 3+ hours in the back of an RJ.

This is not about the best use of miles to obtain a great travel experience.
This is about the best use of miles to avoid discomfort.

Worth it IMO.

Happy Hour

Do you have any status? If not you'll have to pay about a $75 co-pay at the airport.

jmr50

EWR-OKC, 1325mi, E145
I'd kill for a CRJ700