E+ With No Status
 

Is there a way to get E+ on an International Flight without having any UA miles. I have 60k or so US Dividend Miles, but I rarely fly on UA. How does the upgrade process for E+ work--is it something you can purchase, or is it only open to frequent UA flyers? Interestingly, I really can't seem to find this on united.com. So, I'm turning to my friends at FlyerTalk who know all there is to know anyway.

Reserving the seats in advance is limited to UA Premier (and above), US Preferred, and Star Alliance Elites. Since you aren't in these three categories, you won't be able to reserve the seat in advance.

When you check in at the airport, you should ask if there are seats available. If they are, then the agent should move you to one. Recent talk has indicated that UA has started to charge passengers to sit in E+ so I'm not sure what that will mean for your trip. But your best bet is still to ask at the airport upon checkin.

UA is moving to restrict Economy Plus to either UA/Star Alliance elites or full-fare (Y/B) passengers.

They are starting to offer upgrades at check-in when using Easy Check-In kiosks (from $25 and up depending on flight distance). So far, people are reporting success in asking at the Gate, but it appears UA is briefing their front-line employees on the new policies so expect your chances to get less and less over the next few weeks and months.

This may mean more empty middle seats in E+ :D

I sincerely hope so. It would be the best enhancement UA has given me this year. ^

I have seen the charge of $25 when checking in at the kiosk...however, I have also had success asking at the gate or at a CSR desk. It just depends on the day of the week for me. That is my experience at least.

My wife was offered E+ for $15 when using Easy check-in (for a short flight between MSP-ORD). Anyone know whether it is based on distance (if so, it will be quite expensive for Intl flights)? Other options are: buy a higher priced ticket (as indicated) or fly with someone with a status.

Yes it is. I believe someone noted a ~5000 mile international flight the offered upgrade was a few hundred. Mid-cons have been going for around ~$150.

Yes, the "upgrade" price is more expensive on long haul flights but it still isn't exactly prohibitive, at least on domestic flights. I don't know about transcon, but for LAX-SEA my friend was offered an E+ seat for $45 the other day, and that's a 2.5 hour flight. I think I read in another thread that int'l flights can be significantly more.

One of the best enhancements that UA could make would be to add some teeth to the "block" that appears on middle seats in the computer when a 1K, 1P, or 2P has the aisle or window. The computer should not release the block unless: (1) another 1K, 1P, or 2P requests the middle seat; (2) a full fare Y or B pax requests it; (3) an eligible pax in the window or aisle seat has a travelling companion who wants the middle seat; or (4) all E- seats are filled. This would differ from current practice in that if a non-eligible pax asked at check-in "are there any E+ seats available," the agent would be forced to say "no" even if there were in fact blocked middle seats available. The marginal benefit of charging $25 to fill the middle E+ seat with an upgrader is IMO outweighed by the benefit of keeping elites and full-fare pax happy.

This enhanced blocking would be an even bigger benefit on Ted, where there is no first class and therefore more grumbling from E+ pax accustumed to comfier seating.

I was with you until you got to this


I wouldn't not want UA to keep from getting $25 (or more) for that middle E+ seat.

But like you, I wouldn't want UA to just give it away either (if E- is still available).

Monday (Labor Day) LAX-BOS UA162 agent at T6 gave me E+ Exit Row for free b/c Mr. Check-In couldn't check me in, BOS-LAX UA67 $40 for E+ on a 1/2 full flight! I had the exit section all to my self. The agents in BOS are very by the book. argh. However at a larger station like LAX they're very easy and friendly. The CSA at BOS however was not able to change my seats until the 20 minute thing was up.

I guess it comes down to a question of which generates more revenue: selling $25 upgrades to fill blocked E+ middle seats, or whatever benefits flow from keeping the E+ cabin less crowded (more sales of Y and B fares, more elite bookings). I am assuming the latter, but I admit that I have no data to back this up. If the upgrade sales of blocked middle seats truly improve the bottom line, then I agree with you that UA should continue them.

There is another way, don't have a seat selection at all, if the flight is full then they will have to put people in the blocked seats in the e+ section. May or may not go to you, but if you have a seat in the back, then there is a better chance you won't be in E+, but you can try.

I've always been amazed that to sit in E+ you either have to be full fare coach, you have to be status with them, or be the last person to show up and ask for a seat on a full flight.

I'm thinking they should double up in the back or something and keep that seat next to me empty.

(kidding)

I am not comfortable with this charging to "upgrade" to E+, especially when standbys are being given E+ seats to "fill" flights.

When I was regular MP, I never paid for an upgrade for E+. I would wait until about 35 minutes before the flight and then I would go to the counter and say "before you do standbys, any possibility of getting an exit row or something in E+?". Most of the time, I have had my seat assignment changed doing this.

I wonder if/when they will offer pay upgrades on the OnLine chicken service. I don't use the kiosks anymore. The last time I used a kiosk, it offered me an upgrade to F on DEN-OMA for $65. (I was in PHX very well in advance therefore there was room in F).

This leaves me with another question (which may not be appropriate for this thread), if you are 2P and you pay for the easy chicken upgrades to F do you get the bonus EQM/EQS???