Upgrading Bind
 

Search feature seems to be down for me, and I really have no Idea how to go about doing this.

Here's my bind : I have a confirmed intl upgrade using miles to United Business. I'd like to switch my upgrade from the miles pulled to use a SWU. To make it more complex, I want to use a GIFTED SWU.

Res. Agents all tell me switching miles to a SWU is impossible at this point, because upgrades will be lost when they are cancelled. Let alone gifting the SWU.

I think however that it would be possible to switch upgrade insturments at the gate/ checkin. So would a letter from SWU giftee suffice? A auditors coupon signed with no PNR?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Your Giftor needs to call reservations, or as a "bluey" will need to be signed anyway, go to a ticketing desk.

It is possible to do this. I've gifted a CR1 this way, and I've also had a SWU gifted to me with this same scenario.

It takes an agent who is willing to do it, and also the knowledge (or be willing to call and ask someone who knows). If the first agent can't do it, have your giftor call, call, call again.

What wimpy wrote!

I also get this all the time when they say "seats are now under airport control". BS. So log on as the airport and give me a seat. They can do it. They just don't know how or don't want to take the time to help you.

I think the issue here is that the confirmed upgrade will be released when the form of upgrade is changed. If there are not upgrade seats in inventory (sounds like they are not), then the new upgrade request goes on the waitlist.

I would not think that a letter from the giftor would be enough, but it might with a sympathetic agent. The best would be getting the giftor to go with you to the airport at checkin and try to take care of it at the checkin counter (also with the letter in hand, which couldn't hurt).

I have done this switch before but either there were still upgrade seats available to get, or the original request was waitlisted so it went off the waitlist and back on.

Charles