Economy + upgrade for Star Alliance Silver (BMI) redemption miles journey?

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Sep 24, 2005, 3:52 am

treadsoftly

Original Poster

Join Date: Sep 2005

Location: London (UK), Wellington (NZ)

Programs: AirNZ AP *GE, Aegean *G, BMI Gold, BA Exec club Gold, UA MP, QFF

Posts: 303

Economy + upgrade for Star Alliance Silver (BMI) redemption miles journey?

Hi all,

First post here and I hope you can help - I did try a search but couldn't come up with an answer. I might have missed it.

I've just booked a redemption miles flight in economy class from LHR - LAX on United in December. I have BMI / Star Alliance Silver Status. Am I correct in my understanding that this may entitle me to a free upgrade to Economy +? If this is correct, any advice as to how I may best go about making sure I manage to secure this?

Cheers for any help you can offer

Last edited by treadsoftly; Sep 24, 2005 at 4:22 am

Sep 24, 2005, 4:02 am

plat

Join Date: Jan 2005

Location: NYC

Programs: AA Exec PLT; Marriott PLAT

Posts: 1,120

You're entitled to E+. Call United directly and request seats.

Sep 24, 2005, 4:12 am

treadsoftly

Original Poster

Join Date: Sep 2005

Location: London (UK), Wellington (NZ)

Programs: AirNZ AP *GE, Aegean *G, BMI Gold, BA Exec club Gold, UA MP, QFF

Posts: 303

Quote:

Originally Posted by plat

You're entitled to E+. Call United directly and request seats.

Excellent news. Is it best to call United in the UK - the point of origin for the flight?

I'm currently in NZ and will be until Nov 19th.

Sep 24, 2005, 5:15 am

treadsoftly

Original Poster

Join Date: Sep 2005

Location: London (UK), Wellington (NZ)

Programs: AirNZ AP *GE, Aegean *G, BMI Gold, BA Exec club Gold, UA MP, QFF

Posts: 303

Just called United airlines in the UK and was denied advance reservation of Economy +

I asked if I could check if a seat might be allocated upon check - in, at which point the CS agent wanted to check something. She came back a few seconds later saying that her supervisor had assigned me seat 21A in the Economy + section - window seat too - as I requested.

Result!

Sep 24, 2005, 9:04 am

dcgators

Join Date: Apr 2005

Location: We got lucky9876coins

Programs: Life IS good !!! ®

Posts: 3,180

Welcome to FT! ^

Happy to hear you got E+ as you are eligible. If you get some hogwash by a uninformed or just plain lazy CSR, just ask for a supervisor or hang up and call back to speak to another CSR.

Do it as many time as is necessary until you find one willing to help you.

BTW, you could have called any UA office, not just the UK. Your trip originating at LHR is irrelevant as they can all see your PNR and make changes to it.

Last edited by dcgators; Sep 24, 2005 at 10:13 am

Sep 24, 2005, 9:58 am

sanedude

Join Date: Aug 2005

Location: LAX

Programs: LH Sen, UA Premier Exec

Posts: 93

enjoy your flight

Sep 24, 2005, 5:45 pm

treadsoftly

Original Poster

Join Date: Sep 2005

Location: London (UK), Wellington (NZ)

Programs: AirNZ AP *GE, Aegean *G, BMI Gold, BA Exec club Gold, UA MP, QFF

Posts: 303

Now, being incredibly cheeky and impudent here, but what chances do you give me of getting a further upgrade at check-in?

I hear that UA flights are often overbooked by up to 30% in Economy ...

Sep 24, 2005, 10:00 pm

dcgators

Join Date: Apr 2005

Location: We got lucky9876coins

Programs: Life IS good !!! ®

Posts: 3,180

It never hurts to check the loads carefully the night before. If a flight looks heavily booked, you may want to get there early to either VDB or give the Speech in order to get op-upped to C.

BTW, a canceled flight by UA or a competitor can also make your previously empty flight go into oversold situation in no time at all so getting to the airport early and volunteering is always a good policy when aiming for VDB and/or op-ups.

Sep 24, 2005, 10:09 pm

treadsoftly

Original Poster

Join Date: Sep 2005

Location: London (UK), Wellington (NZ)

Programs: AirNZ AP *GE, Aegean *G, BMI Gold, BA Exec club Gold, UA MP, QFF

Posts: 303

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcgators

It never hurts to check the loads carefully the night before. If a flight looks heavily booked, you may want to get there early to either VDB or give the Speech in order to get op-upped to C.

Thanks for the reply dcgators. Can you give me a heads-up on "VDB" - (I think it means something to the effect of volunteering to get bumped for some kind of compensation) and "The Speech"?

Cheers!