Upgrade Rules??
Jul 6, 2002 | 12:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 468
Upgrade Rules??
I recently flew SEA/LHR, and upgraded with miles. Since UA doesn't fly non-stop from Seattle, I flew through Chicago.
Outbound on SEA/ORD/LHR, I was upgraded SEA/ORD/LHR, both legs for 20,000 miles.
On the return, LHR/ORD/SEA, the gate agent at Heathrow said "no-way", it was 20,000 for LHR to first USA stop, then another 10,000 for a US domestic upgrade, and that had always been the rule.
Now, someone was wrong, but I am hesitant to call or write Mileage Plus, since maybe it was the US agent who was wrong, in which case, I would just live with the result.
Any advice or comments?
Bruce McAlister
Outbound on SEA/ORD/LHR, I was upgraded SEA/ORD/LHR, both legs for 20,000 miles.
On the return, LHR/ORD/SEA, the gate agent at Heathrow said "no-way", it was 20,000 for LHR to first USA stop, then another 10,000 for a US domestic upgrade, and that had always been the rule.
Now, someone was wrong, but I am hesitant to call or write Mileage Plus, since maybe it was the US agent who was wrong, in which case, I would just live with the result.
Any advice or comments?
Bruce McAlister
Jul 6, 2002 | 12:58 pm
#2
Company Representative - Air Canada
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Canada
Posts: 24,224
It's based on Origin to destination, so in your case it should be 20K miles for LHR to SEA. The agent was lying to you.
In fact, you can even have one stopover en route if you're upgrading with miles.
Call UA and get your miles back.
In fact, you can even have one stopover en route if you're upgrading with miles.
Call UA and get your miles back.
Jul 6, 2002 | 1:10 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
Empress is correct, and I've encountered the same issue, on two separate occasions, in LHR.
Jul 6, 2002 | 1:53 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Reality, Freedom
Programs: AF FB Platinum For Life (F+ Rouge Vintage) / Hertz President's Circle / SNCF Grand Voyageur Le Club
Posts: 10,112
UA owes you 10,000 miles.
Jul 6, 2002 | 7:15 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 468
Thanks All,
United should hire some of the people here to work at Heathrow.
Now, all I have to worry about is whether all my flight segments will appear and qualify for the *Alliance 55,000 bonus.
Bruce
United should hire some of the people here to work at Heathrow.
Now, all I have to worry about is whether all my flight segments will appear and qualify for the *Alliance 55,000 bonus.
Bruce
Jul 6, 2002 | 11:42 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: San Francisco, CA USA // UA 1K 2 Million Miler, AA EXP 2MM, HH Diamond, SPG Plat // Easily found on SFO-ORDs
Posts: 2,726
Oooh, don't get many of us started on LHR staff and their ill-informed knowledge of the rules. They're some of the nastiest when it comes to gifted SWUs (even when the rules say they're transferable), and good luck with rebooking assistance in the event of irregular operations. They more than any other station seem equipped only to deal with high-rev (not necessarily high-status) fliers.
Jul 7, 2002 | 12:06 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Reality, Freedom
Programs: AF FB Platinum For Life (F+ Rouge Vintage) / Hertz President's Circle / SNCF Grand Voyageur Le Club
Posts: 10,112
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Oooh, don't get many of us started on LHR staff and their ill-informed knowledge of the rules.</font>
Jul 7, 2002 | 1:06 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,351
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">They're some of the nastiest when it comes to gifted SWUs (even when the rules say they're transferable)</font>
Jul 7, 2002 | 11:13 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,045
It's funny how we all can have such different experiences.
In the year+ that I've been lurking I've read the stories of painful experiences at LHR. In my 2-4 trips/year for the past 3-4 years through LHR I've never had a problem; I'd even praise the UAL staff there for their speed and willingness to help (especially in often switching me from LHR-IAD-SFO to the non-stop LHR-SFO). On these trips I'm usually flying on some type of coach fare with a confirmed mileage or SWU upgrade.
My only complaint about my LHR travel is the recent lack of 747-400's. Business on 777's is more than adequate, but upper deck on a 400 is so nice...
-BP
In the year+ that I've been lurking I've read the stories of painful experiences at LHR. In my 2-4 trips/year for the past 3-4 years through LHR I've never had a problem; I'd even praise the UAL staff there for their speed and willingness to help (especially in often switching me from LHR-IAD-SFO to the non-stop LHR-SFO). On these trips I'm usually flying on some type of coach fare with a confirmed mileage or SWU upgrade.
My only complaint about my LHR travel is the recent lack of 747-400's. Business on 777's is more than adequate, but upper deck on a 400 is so nice...
-BP
Jul 7, 2002 | 8:26 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NorCal - Platinum 2.6MM
Posts: 2,152
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Empress:
It's based on Origin to destination, so in your case it should be 20K miles for LHR to SEA. The agent was lying to you.
</font>
It's based on Origin to destination, so in your case it should be 20K miles for LHR to SEA. The agent was lying to you.
</font>
[This message has been edited by Starman (edited 07-07-2002).]