Well I won't sell my 6 systemwides, but I might be interested in trading them...for a car or something.

Let me make sure I understand this: the "main benefit" of 1K over 1P is the systemwides, but the systemwides are rapidly becoming all but worthless. Obviously, I'd be better off with second-tier elite status in two FF programs than giving UA twice as much revenue.

Enjoy your first meal choice. :P

I am happy to get all those 'worthless' systemwides ... please send them to my snail mail address.

There are many other advantages/differences: confirmable NorthAmerican-upgrade-vouchers, heading the waiting list (100 hrs) for the 500-miles-NAmerican-upgrades, no-black-out-dates, 1K-check-in-line/-lounge (I never use that lounge), free upgrades in some hotels (my favorite example: Mandarin Oriental, BKK) ... and those supplementary 50'000 UA-flight miles also bring me nearer to my 1Mio-flight-goal with UA.

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 10-06-2000).]

Yes. They are far from becoming "all but worthless" IMHO. This is a special sale fare we are talking about, and those are usually excluded as a matter of course. It is highly restricted and specifically excludes upgrades and even extensions for medical emergencies or senior/Silver Wings discounts!

My protest was that during this "sale" period, they eliminated the "normal" non-sale low V and W fares, so you have to wait until this sale is over before the upgradable ones pop up again (I hope).

And I might add that while poking about the web, this LAX/SFO-LHR special sale is the only one I've been able to find with this upgrade restriction.

An associate of mine just today upgraded an extremely low fare to Hong Kong using a 1K Systemwide with no problem. So they are still "gold" as far as I'm concerned.

Just taking a little preemptive action to help keep them that way. I hope.


[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 10-06-2000).]

WLXUKSPX also exists for NYC-LHR. Same restriction on the upgrade. Found the same fare basis on IAD-LHR as well.

[This message has been edited by seawolf (edited 10-06-2000).]

Rudi,

Can you expound a bit on this free hotel upgrade thing? Perhaps a new thread would be in order. Particularly on point with me since I'll be in BKK next week.

Thanks!

just present your 1K card at check-in (availabilty shouldn't be a problem, it is still low-season in BKK) and they will gladly put you in a (nicer, larger, but no Suite though) Riverside room. This info (in general for all Mandarin Oriental's) was included in my 1K info, back in feb-99 (and it worked twice in sep and nov-99, but I also did present my Leaders Club membership card from LHW).

Upgrade restriction on WLXUKSPX fare (NYC-LON) has changed. It now reads:

NOTE - WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 1K SYSTEM UPGRADES -. THESE FARES ARE NOT UPGRADEABLE THROUGH MILEAGE PLUS/ SYSTEM UPGRADES/ SALES UPGRADES TO A HIGHER CLASS OF SERVICE

Wasn't that the exact fare basis that was posted above October 4 by SFO_FT and yourself?

So does your wording mean 1K SYS are now again still OK to use on that fare? Sounds like it. Be nice to see these things loosening up, not tightening! Maybe a few complaints from those here, myself included, have had that one overturned. Be wonderful to think it did.



[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 11-04-2000).]

That new language also reads on the current SFO/LHR LAX/LHR ORD/LHR and I'm sure all the others (which I haven't specifically checked). Perhaps, just perhaps, they never intended the 1Ks to be barred from using these.

I'm glad to see that they changed their minds on the 1K SYSTEMWIDEs

What I would find interesting is to hear if persons who are not 1K's, but may have a 1K Systemwide Upgrade in their posession (as a gift) are still having success obtaining upgrades on all fares. I know that many have been able to do this in the past, but I'm curious if UA is asking non-1K's for further details regarding the Systemwides that they plan to use (what is the expiration date? where did you get the SW? who is the 1K that was issued the SW? etc.) Or does the upgrade inventory just get reduced regardless of the ultimate ability to "pay" with a SW?

I believe the last thing UA is going to do is to piss off its 1Ks by making SWUs into a joke. They have done everything they could (other than running an on time reliable airline ) to retain their most valuable loyal and profitable customers.

I (not 1K right now, but this trip will bring me just over the 100'000 UA status miles) had no difficulties to upgrade, using a (kokonutz-) gift-1K-systemwide, my upcoming UA ORD-FRA flight from (grey market) business to international first on nov-26.2000.

Reservation (and upgrade confirmation was made in late september 2000).

I posted above: I wrote to United (rather than Mileage Plus, as United is the controller of the fare rules) regarding this, and today received a snail mail letter thanking me for bringing this to their attention and that appropriate action has been taken in the fare rules to remedy the misunderstanding where applicable.

So seems United does read their mail and sometimes takes action where appropriate. I just hope they remember to include this authorization for 1K Systemwide usage on all future situations like this one.

And thanks to SFO_FT for bringing this to our attention so we could nip this baby in the bud before it got out of hand. Hope it's not too late for your upgrade.