Knowing when to use the upgrade
Jul 19, 2009 | 7:11 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA - 1K 1MM; Hyatt - Explorist; Marriott - Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,587
I've been using a lot of e500s back and forth between ORD-SEA. Generally, I'm screaming into ORD for a crack of dawn flight so it's nice to be able to pick up the meal as well as use the larger seat to get some shut eye. Only drawback is the typical 75, which results in not a lot of legroom in F.
Jul 19, 2009 | 7:42 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bellingham/Gainesville
Programs: UA-G MM, Priority Club Platinum, Avis First, Hertz 5*, Red Lion
Posts: 2,808
Lately I've been flying to MCO quite a bit and have found myself upgrading the ORD-MCO segment with 500-milers to avoid the Mickey Mouse Clubs in Y. I also try to use them on transcon or redeye flights. This got me thinking:
How much do others value their 500-milers? How often do you use them and are there some routes in particular when you make it a point to upgrade?
How much do others value their 500-milers? How often do you use them and are there some routes in particular when you make it a point to upgrade?
ORD-MCO should give a good meal. I've flown several ORD-JAX mainline and had decent food and that segment is longer.
Jul 19, 2009 | 7:42 pm
#18
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,724
Well of course it all depends on your base airport, which in my case is SFO, so SFO-PDX is my favorite upgrade. It would make no sense to upgrade except with 500-miles certs and I am almost always successful.
But my travel is almost all to PDX, YYZ and LHR and so I use e-500's, CR-1s and SWU's in equal proportions!!
But my travel is almost all to PDX, YYZ and LHR and so I use e-500's, CR-1s and SWU's in equal proportions!!
Jul 19, 2009 | 8:01 pm
#19
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 534
I am sorry to get off topic here a little bit, but gone are the days of warm food in F class on domestic routes on United now? The last few times I upgraded was on a 3-class cabin, and the other was an overnight redeye flight which never served hot/warm food.. but what about lunch and breakfast? no more omelettes for LAX-DEN during breakfast?
-j
-j
Jul 19, 2009 | 9:00 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1kMM; AA EX Plat, Hilton Diamond and SPG Plat
Posts: 2,040
Anything over 500 miles I will try and upgrade, I can't seem to use them fast enough.
Basically I won't use them on SFO-LAX or short trips like that.
Basically I won't use them on SFO-LAX or short trips like that.
Jul 19, 2009 | 10:15 pm
#21
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
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Posts: 53,219
Jul 19, 2009 | 10:56 pm
#22
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: SYD; Central Coast, NSW
Programs: UA, LT Plat 2MM
Posts: 947
Jul 19, 2009 | 11:13 pm
#23
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: 1P, AA EXP, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,491
For 2Ps/1Ps, I think it's best to use the e500s as much as possible. Before I adopted this approach, those things were expiring all the time because they don't always clear for the big flights I save them for. (Though this year as 2P, I'm 3/3 using them for transcon bos<=>sfo/lax. Way better than expiring! Need to start the "upgrades getting easier" thread.)
Jul 19, 2009 | 11:32 pm
#24
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 2K, BD Gold, DL/NW Gold, SPG Plat, MRW Silver, Hertz PC
Posts: 240
I am sorry to get off topic here a little bit, but gone are the days of warm food in F class on domestic routes on United now? The last few times I upgraded was on a 3-class cabin, and the other was an overnight redeye flight which never served hot/warm food.. but what about lunch and breakfast? no more omelettes for LAX-DEN during breakfast?
-j
-j
Jul 19, 2009 | 11:40 pm
#25
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 5,087
i use them when i fly during "eating hours" and i dont have an opportunity to get food before the flight. ie, 6pm departure on a friday going home.
Jul 20, 2009 | 2:10 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA Plat, MM *G for life, AY Plat, BA Silver
Posts: 10,556
Most of my flying is international, so I tend to use CR-1s for my rare domestic flights that have any length to them at all. That leaves e500s for flights where they are pretty well guaranteed to upgrade (ie very short or very bad value). Not had the chance to use any this year, and only one CR-1 so far.
Jul 20, 2009 | 2:16 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,681
FYI, thorough discussion of this question may be found in the specific aircraft seating threads found in the FAQ as well as sites such as www.seatexpert.com or www.seatguru.com.
I normally won't use an upgrade on a flight that doesn't have meal service or is less than 500 miles in length.
I normally won't use an upgrade on a flight that doesn't have meal service or is less than 500 miles in length.
ORD-DTW: 3.5 hours
CMH-ORD: 4 hours
and
ORD <--> LGA: up to 5 hours a few times
ORD <--> DCW: 4.5 hours
I'm guessing you fly mostly HI-CA routes, though?
Jul 20, 2009 | 6:58 am
#28
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: Marriott Titanium, , Delta 2MM & DM UA Gold
Posts: 299
As a 1k, I try to use 500's on flight requiring 2, serve a meal, and are often on widebodies. SFO-DEN is an example. SFO_MSP always works, and if possible ORD_SFO.
Before 1k, I would try any flight that needed more than 1. Just didnt make sense for a short flight
Before 1k, I would try any flight that needed more than 1. Just didnt make sense for a short flight
Jul 20, 2009 | 3:07 pm
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: MCO
Programs: UA
Posts: 109
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/Palm-D060; Blazer/4.5) 16;320x320)
Dumb question: aside from putting the itineraries into .bomb and checking the flight info for each flight, is there an easy way to identify wide-body flights?
ORD-MCO is usually a 320, but sometimes a 763, sometimes a 752...
Dumb question: aside from putting the itineraries into .bomb and checking the flight info for each flight, is there an easy way to identify wide-body flights?
ORD-MCO is usually a 320, but sometimes a 763, sometimes a 752...
Jul 20, 2009 | 3:09 pm
#30
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Join Date: Apr 2004
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