Getting a row in E+ on SFO-SYD
Jun 12, 2009 | 8:57 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat, AS MVPG
Posts: 290
Getting a row in E+ on SFO-SYD
Friend (also 1P) and I are headed SFO-SYD in August.
Obviously we'd love to get a row to ourselves back in E+ (we were planning to upgrade but with the delay in the new co-pay, that's not going to happen..). Are we better off grabbing the window and aisle of one of the 3 seat sections on the side, or the two aisles in the 4 seat middle section?
Or is this whole question silly because it depends on loads, which I should keep an eye on?
Thanks.
Obviously we'd love to get a row to ourselves back in E+ (we were planning to upgrade but with the delay in the new co-pay, that's not going to happen..). Are we better off grabbing the window and aisle of one of the 3 seat sections on the side, or the two aisles in the 4 seat middle section?
Or is this whole question silly because it depends on loads, which I should keep an eye on?
Thanks.
Jun 12, 2009 | 9:04 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
Definitely take a window & aisle and hope for an open middle.
As far as upgrading.. there was a comment in the other thread that UA is waiving change fees if you want to upgrade your ticket to an H or M fare..you just pay the fare difference which may work out to be around the same amount you would have paid with a copay (or maybe not...but worth checking). Then you can spend 30k miles each way to upgrade. But of course, if your upgrade doesn't clear you don't get any money back.
As far as upgrading.. there was a comment in the other thread that UA is waiving change fees if you want to upgrade your ticket to an H or M fare..you just pay the fare difference which may work out to be around the same amount you would have paid with a copay (or maybe not...but worth checking). Then you can spend 30k miles each way to upgrade. But of course, if your upgrade doesn't clear you don't get any money back.
Jun 12, 2009 | 9:09 am
#3
In Memoriam
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: BUR/LAX
Programs: UA 1K, RCC; AA EXP; HH Diamond; CC Gold
Posts: 693
Also, it never hurts to ask at the gate to see what they can do... especially before they clear employee standbys, as they might take note of your request & try to *block* the empties around you from filling up with non-revs. YMMV
Jun 12, 2009 | 9:13 am
#4
Join Date: May 2009
Location: MEM
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 253
Friend (also 1P) and I are headed SFO-SYD in August.
Obviously we'd love to get a row to ourselves back in E+ (we were planning to upgrade but with the delay in the new co-pay, that's not going to happen..). Are we better off grabbing the window and aisle of one of the 3 seat sections on the side, or the two aisles in the 4 seat middle section?
Or is this whole question silly because it depends on loads, which I should keep an eye on?
Thanks.
Obviously we'd love to get a row to ourselves back in E+ (we were planning to upgrade but with the delay in the new co-pay, that's not going to happen..). Are we better off grabbing the window and aisle of one of the 3 seat sections on the side, or the two aisles in the 4 seat middle section?
Or is this whole question silly because it depends on loads, which I should keep an eye on?
Thanks.
Jun 12, 2009 | 9:26 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Currently: DCA (+IAD/BWI). Before that: FNL (+DEN/COS). Before that: HVN (+BDL/LGA/EWR/JFK).
Programs: UA 1K, DL Gold, Hertz Five Star, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 626
As far as upgrading.. there was a comment in the other thread that UA is waiving change fees if you want to upgrade your ticket to an H or M fare..you just pay the fare difference which may work out to be around the same amount you would have paid with a copay (or maybe not...but worth checking). Then you can spend 30k miles each way to upgrade. But of course, if your upgrade doesn't clear you don't get any money back.
Jun 12, 2009 | 10:13 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: VA Gold, UA, SPG Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Ambassador
Posts: 3,644
I would take the middle block of seats and park yourselves on both aisles. Those middle seats will be the last to fill up 
. If they do, then you or your friend can just swap one aisle for one of the middles and sit next to each other.
It worked for me.....except someone nice blocked the middles for me and there was a stranger on the other aisle.
If I am travelling in Y on a 747, I do prefer the middle block over the window seats, only because if it is a full flight, at least only one person climbs over you in the aisle to get out. In the window section, you have 2 people climbing over you, if you are in the aisle seat.
Good luck.
. If they do, then you or your friend can just swap one aisle for one of the middles and sit next to each other. It worked for me.....except someone nice blocked the middles for me and there was a stranger on the other aisle.
If I am travelling in Y on a 747, I do prefer the middle block over the window seats, only because if it is a full flight, at least only one person climbs over you in the aisle to get out. In the window section, you have 2 people climbing over you, if you are in the aisle seat.
Good luck.
Jun 12, 2009 | 12:08 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 21
Frank
Jun 12, 2009 | 12:43 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2009
Location: MEM
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 253
Frank, that's true and also part of reason I will choose window section if the load is high. However, if the load is low, it is unlikely someone will jump into these center seats.
Jun 12, 2009 | 12:52 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: UA (1MM); SPG Plat
Posts: 335
If load is heavy, do the window/aisle combo. We were lucky on both occassions that the middle seat was a no-show (the middle seat was blocked off in seating chart, so we thought there was someone else there, but no one showed up).
Jun 12, 2009 | 1:09 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: MCO
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 58
I just got back from SYD. I had a G aisle in E+ going there and a D aisle in E+ coming back. I was quite comfortable with my brookstone seat cushion and nobody next to me.
There is a box at your feat but its really not a problem. I'm tall and I didn't find it to be an issue at all.
The loads were high on both of my flights (June 4th and June 11th)- nobody was getting entire rows to themselves.
There is a box at your feat but its really not a problem. I'm tall and I didn't find it to be an issue at all.
The loads were high on both of my flights (June 4th and June 11th)- nobody was getting entire rows to themselves.
Jun 12, 2009 | 5:33 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat, AS MVPG
Posts: 290
I can confirm this. I changed an S-fare to an H-fare and upgraded with miles under the "old" system last night. The fee was waived (after a quick convo with the supervisor) due to the postponement of the new upgrade system. Do check for NC/NF availability on all your flights, though, before requesting the upgrade - no point in changing to a higher fare (and paying more money) unless you know you're going to get your upgrade!
Jun 12, 2009 | 7:34 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Marriott Pltm, Hyatt Diamond, spg Pltm
Posts: 381
How about upgrade to W and then pay with an SWU? How much would be from K?
Jun 12, 2009 | 10:10 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat, AS MVPG
Posts: 290
$1,000 more to W. Not terrible but unfortunately I won't make 1K till probably the 4Q, so I'm not sitting on SWU's to use.
I suppose I could hit up the CC to see if there are SWUs floating around.. but I haven't hit the magic 90 posts to access that forum yet.
Oh well. This is why they invented Ambien!
I suppose I could hit up the CC to see if there are SWUs floating around.. but I haven't hit the magic 90 posts to access that forum yet.
Oh well. This is why they invented Ambien!