I will be traveling to Ghana in august and i am flying ual and lf and i was wondering if anyone has ever gotten free upgrades from just asking? i have on domestic flights on other airlines and i was wondering if anyone has gotten a free upgrade or know if it is even possible? not sure if i want to ask at the counter and sound like an idiot if they don't ever....thanks for the help

With fewer flights, so many people redeeming FF miles, and so many others with elite status, the chances of a non-elite getting an upgrade are about zero. On the other hand, there is no penalty for asking.

You certainly can ask (people do it all the time) but chances are the answer will be "No!". Upgrades, when available, are given first to those customers who have "elite" frequent flier status (in order of their seniority) with the particular airline and even then they have to "pay" for the upgrade with miles or pay an upgrade fee. On most flights there are usually more "elite" FF travellers making requests than there are Business or First Class seats. If you do not have "elite" status your chances of getting an upgrade are very slim and if you are lucky enough to be given one the chances of it being "free" are nil. The only way you can be sure of getting an upgrade is to purchase one at the time you book your flight.

On the United-operated fligth, it won't be silly to ask if there are seats available in the "Economy Plus". They may give one to you for free, but most likely only middle seats will be left. They are the same economy seats, but with 3-5 inch of extra legroom.

Or you can pay $299 a year to get the "Economy Plus Access" from UA that will give you and a companion E+ seats.

If you go ask for an upgrade to business, not only will it not happen, but I think you will sound like an idiot.

The only times economy passengers are upgraded to business is if they oversell economy, but with business class seats available. Still, they'll assign those to their highest level "elite" members. If you are not a UA Premier, you have zero chance.

thanks guys, now that i know i would sound like an idiot!!! just wanted your expert opinions!!!

Agree with the above, slim to none, and slim has left town.....

OTOH, AA did a very nice thing on yesterdays flight from Osaka to Dallas. Business had about 10 seats open and coach was pretty full, so they upgraded couple of servicemen to business. One of them was sitting in my row so we got to talk some. A young man that wasn't spoiled by flying J all the time with complaints about this or that, just a wide eyed, and a very happy traveler. At the end of the flight he did admit that it will be hard to fly in the back of the bus again...

United has started offering paid upgrades at checkin often costing hundreds of dollars...500 plus one way to Asia. There's an ongoing list of them at Flyertalk.com

Given that they are managing to sell these upgrades and that they should offer upgrades to elites first it seems unlikely... but then there has never been any logic when I've been upgraded!

No chance of an upgrade without elite status or $$$.

United doesn't fly to Ghana, so you are probably flying to Frankfurt and then taking a Lufthansa codeshare to Accra (via Lagos).