Code S and System wide Upgrade
 

I make 1K on segments; I fly to exotic places like Cleveland and Detroit on a weekly basis. So many flights are on CRJ’s or various regional jets, so upgrading can be a big deal for me.

Last week I got my weekly United E-fare’s and in a spur of the moment thing purchased two tickets for my wife and I to Paris from Chicago. I thought wow beside a romantic weekend in Paris I’ll surprise the wife with an upgrade seeing as I have 6 or so system Wide upgrades. I was really surprised to find out that the S fare I purchased is non upgradeable for even a 1K.

I have flown S fare flights purchased of the weekly e-fare’s emails I get and have been able to upgrade. I’m just surprised that even for a 1K flyer I got a basic “tough” from UA customer relations.

Beside the joy of flying something besides a CRJ I’m 6ft 4 and was looking to actually stretching out on a flight.

This all came as a supprise, was wondering if any one has had luck upgrading.

UA hasn't allowed UGs on S since the Sweet Spots. :( I'd try to get exit row at least.

S fares for domestic itineraries are upgradeable with certs or miles.

S fares for international itineraries are not upgradeable with certs of miles.

You should, however, be able to re-fare your tickets in a W fare for just the fare difference, and W fares are upgradeable with SWUs (as well as elligible for double EQMs if you are participating in that offer, as well).

The fare diff. from S to W should be relatively small (<$100) + well worth the trip upfront. As a 1K you should have no problem getting the upgrade. I'm not sure about your companion (if no status), but certainly someone on this board will know!

If you have many e-SWU and not that many miles since a lot of your travel is on short haul (but lots of segments), you might think about checking out the coupon connection: several people are swapping e-SWU for miles/awards. BTW, I found the CC FAQ to be very useful.

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

Also remember that UA does not charge you extra for international buy-up. That is you only pay the fare difference to an upgradable fare and not an extra $100/150, which should soothe the sting.

Oh, and welcome to FT, maltman1!

As long as your companion is on the same PNR, they should enjoy your status when it comes to upgrade priority. I recently had a GA tell me different, but 1K customer service just confirmed that that's still the policy.

Companion has the same priority for upgrade waitlisting if on the same PNR (for advance clearing). However, for airport standby, which was what the GA was refering to, each one is on his/her own.

Which sucks when your travelling with someone. :td:

I wouldn't put it beyond customer relations to be incorrect, although my query was about that very situation, waiting at the gate. Hmm, I guess anything can happen once it's under gate control, though.

I take it most folks have found that once you're waitlisted at the gate, companions are no longer tied to your status?

Here was my question to United:

"Related to the clearing of that upgrade, the gate agent told me that
despite my girlfriend and I being on the same PNR, our upgrades would
not both be tied to my status. Rather, I might clear, but she, as a
general member, would be at the bottom of the list. I'd always been
under the impression that companions on the same PNR would enjoy my
status in determining upgrade priority. Would you mind clarifying the
policy on this?"

United's response was "...as long as your fiancé is on the same PNR her upgrade priority status is linked with your status."

It did used to be like that. I recall myself and the other half getting upgraded because of this. Then, several years ago, folks started to complain (IIRC) that they were getting trumped by non-status fliers. UA then, on the quite, changed the rules to be the status was carried if on the same (or linked?) PNR prior to gate control. Once it went to gate control it is EMFH. This was probably about the same time they elimnated the good old double upgrades :(

I guess the system is great if you fly alone all the time and sucks if you travel with someone.

That statement is correct when you are on PNR waitlist. However, waitlists on PNRs are purged a few hours prior to flight, if not confirmed. When you check-in, the agent needs to manually put you on the airport standby list (DM list). The GA will process DM list to clear standby upgrades. PNR has no bearing on DM list. Don't forget that a good number of passengers on the DM list may not have PNRs to begin with; interline passengers without reservation, employees, misconnects, etc. On the DM list, the priority is set by BP (Boarding Priority) code, than your status (UGS, 1K, 1P etc). Each one will be on his/her own and even a UGS may not get on if there is someone with a higher BP code, such as FFCC etc.

Leave it to FT to provide a more detailed breakdown of the rules than UA themselves! Thanks, TerryK, for the clarification.

Update
 

Nothing worked.

The gate agents at O'hare all had a different policy on why I could not be upgraded or even considered for a upgrade. it was like a S fare and I was some sort of Plague victim. What killed me was that there were many open business seats open on this flight.

I was told that at best it would be $400 a ticket and 30,000 in miles to allow an upgrade.

The US staff in CDG was much nicer and tried to upgrade my wife and I but Business and first were booked so I did not feel bad.

I'm not sure what your issue was here. International S fares are NOT upgradable with SWU's. Suggestions on how to fix your problem were given to you before you flew, to expect UA to break the rules for you would mean we would all want them broken for us

That is not true at all! I only expect them to be broken for me!