quick upgrade question
 

can a Q class int'l fare ($440 RT ATL-GLA) be upgraded with 20k UA miles? Is a Q class fare "most fares"? Does the upgrade continue on the British Midland codeshare?

jl

I'm pretty sure the answers to your questions would be (in the order asked):

No
No
No

(I believe Q and V are never upgradable internationally... http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif )

I believe "M" and "H" are the upgradeable international fares.

I didn't realize that British Midland flies a two class flight to Glasgow. I usually have flown BA and the only have coach on that flight.

international UA fares for upgrades with miles are:[*]Y,B,M,H as eco-fares for upgrades to bus[*]C as only business-fare for upgrades to first[*]and only on UA-flight-numbers with UA as carrier (no code-shares)

but you can also use UA miles to upgrade all paid LH-fares, with the only exception of LH 'W' eco-fares for one-class-upgrades (here too, only on LH-flight-numbers with LH as cariers, no code-shares). If you do so, get your paper-upgrade-voucher from UA (saying 'good for a one-class-upgade on LH from ... to ...) at least two weeks before the flight.

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 10-18-1999).]

LH segments (LH as flight number AND carrier) are the ONLY ONES that you CAN UPGRADE with UA-vouchers (beside UA.segments).

No British Midland, not even any other *A-partner! NONE!

BD unlike BA has 2 cabin planes throughout UK, although the seating is still 6 across (but more legroom). Its NOT worth an upgrade or higher fare, unless part of a complete int'l C or F fare. On their flights you often get a meal in Y, if you are a RCC member you can use their lounge, and their flights are rarely more than an hour. One note, however, they can be VERY RESTRICTIVE on carry on size.

RCC card holders can use BD lounges when connecting with a UA-code-share flight on BD even when flying eco.

thanks all

I have another question regarding international upgrades using miles. As a Premier Exec, can I increase my chances of getting an upgrade significantly by buying an M-class fare rather than an H-class one? Thanks in advance for any advice.

NO - either an (upgraded) award seat is available or not - both fares qualify and the fare doesn't influence the availability!

The only way it WOULD influence the availability is at the airport for last min. upgrades. They then sort by farebase. But until that point, if NF/NC is available, its yours.

... even at check-in, my experience is that they sort then first by STATUS and may be after that (if too many ff have the same status), by fare paid.

Yes Rudi you are correct. At the gate, first by Status. But within that same status level (let's say 1K's), if there is a "competition" the race is a bit of a mystery. I've heard it will go to the highest fare paid. I've also heard it will go to the flyer with the most year-to-date status miles on the books. But I do know that in the event of a tie within a status level (all things being equal), it would go the person whose name was first on the Departure Management List.

Be sure to check the price/fare difference between the 20k and 40k roundtrip upgrades. I was checking to Frankfurt and in that market, at one time, the 20k upgrade fare was only $20 more than 40k upgrade fare.

That's a great help. Thanks, folks.