Upgrade Question
Mar 9, 2009 | 1:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SNA
Posts: 164
Upgrade Question
Hello all,
I am flying LAX-FRA on the 19th and FRA-LAX on the 23rd, I am really excited for the trip as its for work but a fun work trip. I should have a little over 30K in the bank by the time I get to FRA and my trip there is not as important on the way back ( I have to work on the 24th) for comfort. I am booked on a S Fare and was wondering if I could use miles to upgrade into business class for the FRA-SFO leg of my trip home? Any hope? And also any expectation of what it will cost in $$$ and/or miles? Thanks a lot, I am pretty new to this site but I hope to learn a lot here.
Thanks.
VWGuru
I am flying LAX-FRA on the 19th and FRA-LAX on the 23rd, I am really excited for the trip as its for work but a fun work trip. I should have a little over 30K in the bank by the time I get to FRA and my trip there is not as important on the way back ( I have to work on the 24th) for comfort. I am booked on a S Fare and was wondering if I could use miles to upgrade into business class for the FRA-SFO leg of my trip home? Any hope? And also any expectation of what it will cost in $$$ and/or miles? Thanks a lot, I am pretty new to this site but I hope to learn a lot here.
Thanks.
VWGuru
Mar 9, 2009 | 1:26 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: D.R.E.A.D. Gold card holder
Posts: 53,195
Welcome to FT, VWGuru!
Your S fare cannot be upgraded with miles - that requires an H fare, which is quite a bit more expensive than your S fare. Your only real hope for an upgrade would be UFC (Upgrade For Cash). See this thread for mor information on what you might expect to pay:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...pile-here.html
Your S fare cannot be upgraded with miles - that requires an H fare, which is quite a bit more expensive than your S fare. Your only real hope for an upgrade would be UFC (Upgrade For Cash). See this thread for mor information on what you might expect to pay:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...pile-here.html
Mar 9, 2009 | 1:27 pm
#3
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,724
Welcome to FlyerTalk!
Miles-supported upgrades require mid-range fares; I don't believe an "S" fare can be upgraded. I flew FRA-SFO last month in the new Business Class seat on the upper deck of a 747 and that was a really, really nice flight.
Miles-supported upgrades require mid-range fares; I don't believe an "S" fare can be upgraded. I flew FRA-SFO last month in the new Business Class seat on the upper deck of a 747 and that was a really, really nice flight.
Mar 9, 2009 | 1:38 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Phoenix
Programs: UA1k;HH Gold;MR Gold
Posts: 6,112
You might get a UFC offer for around $700
S fare is not upgradable with miles
S fare is not upgradable with miles
Mar 9, 2009 | 1:54 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: either here or there
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Titanium?
Posts: 264
[Putting flame retardant suit on...]
Regardless of what the rules are, you can always ask. If C is really empty, they may allow you to UG with miles anyway. It costs nothing to ask, and you don't even have to pretend you didn't know this was not allowed. I have been sucessful doing this and have personally witnessed many others as well. It comes down to if the GA decides they want to allow it or not. Given the general emptiness of the last couple of TATL flights I've taken, I would think they would let you, but YMMV.
OK, rule-lovers...flame away...
Regardless of what the rules are, you can always ask. If C is really empty, they may allow you to UG with miles anyway. It costs nothing to ask, and you don't even have to pretend you didn't know this was not allowed. I have been sucessful doing this and have personally witnessed many others as well. It comes down to if the GA decides they want to allow it or not. Given the general emptiness of the last couple of TATL flights I've taken, I would think they would let you, but YMMV.
OK, rule-lovers...flame away...
Mar 9, 2009 | 3:22 pm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ravens Country
Programs: UA-1K, Marriott-Gold, SPG-Gold, IC RA/Plat, Amtrak Select
Posts: 3,887
Chances are the SFO-FRA flight wont have a light load.
But just ask at the gate what the options are to upgrade, the worst thing they can say is we are offering UFCs for $700.
But just ask at the gate what the options are to upgrade, the worst thing they can say is we are offering UFCs for $700.
Mar 9, 2009 | 3:37 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: YYC
Programs: UA 1K, PC Plat
Posts: 762
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8900/4.6.1.152 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)
To answer another part of your question, it would cost 30k miles to upgrade FRA-LAX. As others will likely chime in agents in FRA tend to be sticklers with rules so a miles upgrade will be highly unlikely. Definitely try for UFC if the upgrade is worth $700 to you
To answer another part of your question, it would cost 30k miles to upgrade FRA-LAX. As others will likely chime in agents in FRA tend to be sticklers with rules so a miles upgrade will be highly unlikely. Definitely try for UFC if the upgrade is worth $700 to you
Mar 9, 2009 | 3:42 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SNA
Posts: 164
Thanks for all the input, I guess I will have to gamble as $700 is a bit rich for my blood, but if the stars align right and they will grant a mileage upgrade I will definatley take it. I looked at the Biz cabin for FLT 901 on the 23rd and it looks pretty barren while I cannot choose a seat yet for my flight, anyone know why UA does this? I usually fly AA but this year I am doing some long haul on AC (I was able to pick my seats for my HKG trip in Oct) so I am using UA to build status this year with them and try them out and see if the switch is worth it.
Mar 9, 2009 | 5:25 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
If all efforts to get the upgrade to C fail, you might ask about an "upgrade" to Economy Plus for cash. It is not really an "upgrade," but on such a long flight those extra inches of legroom can be very welcome and the cash outlay will be less than for C. Since you are "trying out" UA, you may as well see what the advantages of elite status include.
Mar 9, 2009 | 6:19 pm
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: D.R.E.A.D. Gold card holder
Posts: 53,195
Mar 9, 2009 | 7:19 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ravens Country
Programs: UA-1K, Marriott-Gold, SPG-Gold, IC RA/Plat, Amtrak Select
Posts: 3,887
The reason you cannot select a seat is because all of the non E+ seats are assigned. That can be a good thing as come DM time if all they have is E+ seats you will get one for free.