United Domestic Upgrade Question
Jun 2nd, 2011, 11:02 AM
#1
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United Domestic Upgrade Question
Just booked a ticket for February, 2012 from Miami to Maui, Hawaii for $565.00. Seemed like a great deal. So I ask United Frequent Flyers, what are my changes of getting upgraded on the 757-200 from LAX to Maui, if I'm Gold Elite, and Platinum Elite? I was Silver Elite this year and missed the upgrade by two people. Now I know why they don't allow guns at the airport gate!!
Jun 3rd, 2011, 11:55 AM
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All I can tell you is that UA seems to be allowing half of the aircraft to qualify for an upgrade. Flew IAD-SFO-PSP-IAD last month, and there were literally dozens of people hoping to upgrade. If flying in F is a must, cash in miles & upgrade that way.
Jun 3rd, 2011, 08:17 PM
#3
If I read the upgrade-for-miles webpage correctly then an upgrade will cost you 17,500 miles + $300. On June 15 the rules change to 27,500 miles + $125. That is assuming your tix are in the lowest fare buckets.
I would guess that you would have a good chance of a free (UDU) upgrade with Platinum status. A fair chance as a Gold. LAX-OGG is not like IAD-SFO which is very elite-heavy.
Last year I was in F flying KOA-LAX and the FA or somebody welcomed the MP members on board and mentioned there was 1 GS and 3 1Ks on board. I was a bit surprised that there were so few. The 24 seats in F were full, probably quite a few people flying on award tix.
There is a website where flyertalkers are recording their upgrade success: udustats.com That website shows that some Gold status (1P) flyers and even one Silver (2P) getting the UDU.
I would guess that you would have a good chance of a free (UDU) upgrade with Platinum status. A fair chance as a Gold. LAX-OGG is not like IAD-SFO which is very elite-heavy.
Last year I was in F flying KOA-LAX and the FA or somebody welcomed the MP members on board and mentioned there was 1 GS and 3 1Ks on board. I was a bit surprised that there were so few. The 24 seats in F were full, probably quite a few people flying on award tix.
There is a website where flyertalkers are recording their upgrade success: udustats.com That website shows that some Gold status (1P) flyers and even one Silver (2P) getting the UDU.
Jun 4th, 2011, 06:11 PM
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It isn't just United, it's the new way of the skies. With less airlines (NWA/Delta merge & United/Continental) then you add the fact there are less flights, you now have less seats and more people fighting for them.
People who pay hard cash, get first choice. Then the elites get the leftovers.
Then they start with the highest tier, if there is more people than seats, it's who paid the most for their seat. Often times Platinum (or higher) get their conformation days in advance.
If there are seats left they go down to the next tier, and repeat the process.
This contiunes to until the run out of seats.
While rare, sometimes there isn't enough elites, so they offer up the seats at the gate for a fee to anyone who wants to hand over their credit card.
I was Platinum and always got an upgrade, then times got rough and I dropped to Gold. At Gold only once did I get left in the back of the bus. However the following year I fell to Silver and only got upgraded once.
People who pay hard cash, get first choice. Then the elites get the leftovers.
Then they start with the highest tier, if there is more people than seats, it's who paid the most for their seat. Often times Platinum (or higher) get their conformation days in advance.
If there are seats left they go down to the next tier, and repeat the process.
This contiunes to until the run out of seats.
While rare, sometimes there isn't enough elites, so they offer up the seats at the gate for a fee to anyone who wants to hand over their credit card.
I was Platinum and always got an upgrade, then times got rough and I dropped to Gold. At Gold only once did I get left in the back of the bus. However the following year I fell to Silver and only got upgraded once.
