United's New "Enrolled Friend" Employee Travel Benefit
Jan 2, 2007, 5:07 pm
#46
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 303
Perhaps you ought to ask the employee sponsering your travel how standby buddy passes work.
You'll be hard-pressed to get a family of four to Australia. You might want to choose another destination.
Actually, August is one of the busiest travel times of the year. If you can wait until after Labor day, you'll stand a better chance of getting empty seats.
You'll be hard-pressed to get a family of four to Australia. You might want to choose another destination.
Actually, August is one of the busiest travel times of the year. If you can wait until after Labor day, you'll stand a better chance of getting empty seats.
Jan 2, 2007, 5:24 pm
#47
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,684
/agree with others.
Down under is about the WORST place you can try at ANY time of year, especially when school is out here. For the same reasons...You CANNOT get F, C is full with upgrades, and Y is often weight restricted (i.e. any freight has priority over you) and 95% of employees (the other 5% are not very wise) will be traveling at a higher priority than you, and they most likely will be trying for a few days on both sides.
USA-SYD is served by 2 carriers only (although I think AC is now starting service) due to OZ govt protectionist rules(much more restrictive than LHR limitations.) The demand far outweighs the supply, which is why low fares don't show their heads often.
From DEN or CHI to Cedar Rapids/Des Moines is a good bet to use them without risking a few days of standing at the airport on both sides.
During the summer, many many many unaccompanied companions get VERY frustrated at both UA, and their "friends" becuase the friends didn't tell them the real chances of going to 1) LAS on a Fri, 2) Hawaii on any day, or SYD any day. By the 3rd day of trying, most people throw in the towel.
It isn't impossible, just isn't a good way to spend your time...but you will get a 1st hand experience of "employee travel" and may actually think it isn't such a great way to travel. The thing that is really going to hurt you is the quantity of people you have...the fewer the better, unless you are willing to split up and go different days if 1 or 2 seats happen to open up.
Down under is about the WORST place you can try at ANY time of year, especially when school is out here. For the same reasons...You CANNOT get F, C is full with upgrades, and Y is often weight restricted (i.e. any freight has priority over you) and 95% of employees (the other 5% are not very wise) will be traveling at a higher priority than you, and they most likely will be trying for a few days on both sides.
USA-SYD is served by 2 carriers only (although I think AC is now starting service) due to OZ govt protectionist rules(much more restrictive than LHR limitations.) The demand far outweighs the supply, which is why low fares don't show their heads often.
From DEN or CHI to Cedar Rapids/Des Moines is a good bet to use them without risking a few days of standing at the airport on both sides.
During the summer, many many many unaccompanied companions get VERY frustrated at both UA, and their "friends" becuase the friends didn't tell them the real chances of going to 1) LAS on a Fri, 2) Hawaii on any day, or SYD any day. By the 3rd day of trying, most people throw in the towel.
It isn't impossible, just isn't a good way to spend your time...but you will get a 1st hand experience of "employee travel" and may actually think it isn't such a great way to travel. The thing that is really going to hurt you is the quantity of people you have...the fewer the better, unless you are willing to split up and go different days if 1 or 2 seats happen to open up.
Jan 2, 2007, 8:59 pm
#48
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Not at home
Programs: MP
Posts: 2,312
To the OP, I would not plan on 4 people on the same flight as companions. Too far out for the loads at this point anyway.
Jan 2, 2007, 9:00 pm
#49
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Not at home
Programs: MP
Posts: 2,312
/agree with others.
Down under is about the WORST place you can try at ANY time of year, especially when school is out here. For the same reasons...You CANNOT get F, C is full with upgrades, and Y is often weight restricted (i.e. any freight has priority over you) and 95% of employees (the other 5% are not very wise) will be traveling at a higher priority than you, and they most likely will be trying for a few days on both sides.
USA-SYD is served by 2 carriers only (although I think AC is now starting service) due to OZ govt protectionist rules(much more restrictive than LHR limitations.) The demand far outweighs the supply, which is why low fares don't show their heads often.
From DEN or CHI to Cedar Rapids/Des Moines is a good bet to use them without risking a few days of standing at the airport on both sides.
During the summer, many many many unaccompanied companions get VERY frustrated at both UA, and their "friends" becuase the friends didn't tell them the real chances of going to 1) LAS on a Fri, 2) Hawaii on any day, or SYD any day. By the 3rd day of trying, most people throw in the towel.
It isn't impossible, just isn't a good way to spend your time...but you will get a 1st hand experience of "employee travel" and may actually think it isn't such a great way to travel. The thing that is really going to hurt you is the quantity of people you have...the fewer the better, unless you are willing to split up and go different days if 1 or 2 seats happen to open up.
Down under is about the WORST place you can try at ANY time of year, especially when school is out here. For the same reasons...You CANNOT get F, C is full with upgrades, and Y is often weight restricted (i.e. any freight has priority over you) and 95% of employees (the other 5% are not very wise) will be traveling at a higher priority than you, and they most likely will be trying for a few days on both sides.
USA-SYD is served by 2 carriers only (although I think AC is now starting service) due to OZ govt protectionist rules(much more restrictive than LHR limitations.) The demand far outweighs the supply, which is why low fares don't show their heads often.
From DEN or CHI to Cedar Rapids/Des Moines is a good bet to use them without risking a few days of standing at the airport on both sides.
During the summer, many many many unaccompanied companions get VERY frustrated at both UA, and their "friends" becuase the friends didn't tell them the real chances of going to 1) LAS on a Fri, 2) Hawaii on any day, or SYD any day. By the 3rd day of trying, most people throw in the towel.
It isn't impossible, just isn't a good way to spend your time...but you will get a 1st hand experience of "employee travel" and may actually think it isn't such a great way to travel. The thing that is really going to hurt you is the quantity of people you have...the fewer the better, unless you are willing to split up and go different days if 1 or 2 seats happen to open up.
Mar 13, 2007, 1:40 am
#50
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 8
UA Employees - Buddy Pass Question
Hey there,
I have a quick question for UA employees:
My friend is giving me a pass to use on a SFO-PEK flight. He says that I cannot be listed in Int'l F because the employee has to actually travel with you and because they want to keep that cabin as least crowded as possible. Is this true?
Thanks,
Chalta
I have a quick question for UA employees:
My friend is giving me a pass to use on a SFO-PEK flight. He says that I cannot be listed in Int'l F because the employee has to actually travel with you and because they want to keep that cabin as least crowded as possible. Is this true?
Thanks,
Chalta
Mar 13, 2007, 2:02 am
#51
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: united
Posts: 88
it's true. unless you are flying with an employee or a dependent you can't fly int'l first. but you can fly business. good luck..
Mar 13, 2007, 2:52 am
#52
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,011
Why are you doubting your friend in the first place? 
Mar 13, 2007, 5:39 am
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
Welcome to Flyertalk!^
You can do domestic first, can't do international first on a buddy pass without your buddy.
You can do domestic first, can't do international first on a buddy pass without your buddy.
Mar 13, 2007, 6:30 am
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 20,404
Mar 13, 2007, 7:22 am
#55
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: BKK/SMF
Programs: SQ PPS UA 1K MM
Posts: 226
This is true. My friend recently listed me in F on KWI-IAD and upon checking in I was downgraded to C. (It was a trip out of my pocket and the cheapest fare was $2500) The benefit allows travel in F on domestic but not intl. Although it is in the end up to the agent. And a place like KWI the agents are worried about not making mistakes, therefore no bending rules. Which was fine as I had a wonderful crew. Those China routes are always pretty full, and F would be very unlikely for you anyway as a lot of C pax are using upgrades, and all employee non revs go before you. Be sure to dress correctly, and don't bother the agents, any problems with a non rev pax can lead to problems for the pass lender.
Mar 13, 2007, 9:02 am
#56
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: all views expressed by me are mine only and do not reflect those of UAL or their partners
Posts: 267
. Be sure to dress correctly, and don't bother the agents, any problems with a non rev pax can lead to problems for the pass lender.[/QUOTE]
Exacty**plz behave**lol!
Exacty**plz behave**lol!
Mar 13, 2007, 12:59 pm
#58
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 8
Thanks everyone for the input. I was just curious to see whether or not it was actually possible to put that in on the computer as F Int'l and also how much I could talk the UA gate agent to put me in F. But from what I've read so far, not very possible at all and I would never want to put my friend's job into jeopardy.
But hey Business Class is still great.
But hey Business Class is still great.
Mar 13, 2007, 2:57 pm
#59
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: BKK/SMF
Programs: SQ PPS UA 1K MM
Posts: 226
Let your friend book you how they want to book you thats that. You are paying $160 or so for Y or C to China... Honestly if you want F buy a C ticket and upgrade or an F ticket. Yes my friend booked me in F and there were about 5 open F seats on this 14 hour flight, but it is not my business to argue an united policy. (Well unless I was a revenue pax) I could have paid $2800 for biz and used an SWU and I chose to pay $200... Im glad I got C and excellent (surprising) service
Mar 13, 2007, 3:15 pm
#60
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 8
Let your friend book you how they want to book you thats that. You are paying $160 or so for Y or C to China... Honestly if you want F buy a C ticket and upgrade or an F ticket. Yes my friend booked me in F and there were about 5 open F seats on this 14 hour flight, but it is not my business to argue an united policy. (Well unless I was a revenue pax) I could have paid $2800 for biz and used an SWU and I chose to pay $200... Im glad I got C and excellent (surprising) service
