We usually fly with AA; so I'm a novice at navigating UA options. I have around 42,000 miles to use for travel to Washington, D.C. this fall. My questions: (1) if I buy or use miles for a UA Economy Plus pass, how likely is it that I will actually be able to get the EP seats? (2) I can use either 40,000 miles for the EP pass or pay $300 for one; but I can also use miles for the UA Choices program to pay for the ticket, at $419, which is a better deal.

So...please advise!

I fly UA often and have always gotten an economy plus seat, sometimes booking only a few weeks out. But, if it is a popular time and route (don't know where you are originating) and you book close to your travel dates, it may not be available. If there's little chance you will fly UA in the next year (length of the membership), it seems like a waste of money or miles to buy it. I think there is an option to buy EP on a one time basis for the flights you will be on. I don't know if you would have to pay for the ticket to buy the one time EP or if you can use miles for the ticket and pay for the EP.

Thanks. We'll be flying next October, SMF to IAD. I'll ask about the one-time EP when I call.

The "weird" thing is that most airlines won't let you upgrade if you're on ff miles.

Remember, you're talking about a 5 hour flight eastbound and a 6 hour flight westbound. Cruise the www.ual.com website and then decide.

Also, check out the seat differences at www.seatguru.com The difference usually means the amount of legroom you have, with the seat width the same. The amount is about 3".

From there, try to make your decision. You have beaucoup time.

Underhill,
Two years ago we were offered E+ at United while checking in for $99.00 each (IAD-ZRH) which we declined. We did accept the same offer on the return flight and the extra 5" made a world of difference. The annual cost at that time was $299.00 for E+ for purchaser and one companion.

It sounds as though I should use my miles to buy an Economy Plus pass and then just pay for the tickets.

The price now for E+ is $349 for 1 year and it covers the purchaser and 1 passenger flying with them. The additional passenger (not the one who purchased the E+) has to sit next to the other person. So if the plane is 3 across you will need to have 1 person in the middle seat. For that long of a flight I think it is defintely worth going E+ unless u r short! I have never had a problem getting E+ seats.

If u buy the E+ for the year, and u use miles for your flight, the E+ seats will be offered to you when u choose your seats.

40,000 miles is a lot to pay for essentially $349.

I am shortish, but after 2 knee replacements I really need to be able to stretch my legs out. Is it not possible to sit across the aisle from the travelling partner? That is weird!

A few years ago, I could always select seats such that we sat across the aisle from each other and/or sat aisle & window. However last month when I tried to do that, they wouldn't let me. I tried online and then called. I even tried to change the seats online and the 2 moved together! Maybe it was just bad luck on my part. I'd certainly try to get what u want.

I shall; thanks very much for the advice.

Next question: will UA tell me whether economy plus seats are available BEFORE I buy a ticket?

There will be E+ seats available before you buy the ticket and UA will tell you so.

The worst option you have is spending 41900 choices/miles for a ticket that you can get for 25,000 miles.

But what you really ought to do is buy the ticket with $ and then <b>upgrade to first class</b>, 15,000 miles each way.

What are your travel dates? I will check for upgrade seat availability. Or call United and ask for availability.

I would avoid row 1 if going in F.

Buying a ticket and upgrading to FC would work for me, but not for my husband--he is not in the UA program.

So it's either use miles to buy one ticket, buy another, and then join Economy Plus.

I paid the yearly fee for E+. I always book tickets online. I have never had any issue with booking aisle seats across from each other for both me and my DH. Of course, the purchase is occurring in a single transaction where I'm buying two tickets by logging into the website under my FF #. It also still gives me the option to enter his FF # during the process. Seat maps are displayed to show what's open even before the final purchase key is hit.

Thanks--I'll give that a try.

The single transaction could be the key. For the recent flt they wouldnt let me book seats across the aisle, it was done in 2 tranacations due to some vouchers/coupons being used.

Just to finish up...I ended by getting one free ticket to Hawaii (plus one paid), then paying to upgrade to economy plus without buying that annual pass. We got the aisle seats I'd wanted, too.

But strange--the United web site didn't display the Economy Plus seats available for the flight. Instead it showed them as taken.

The site will not show E+ availability until one registers for and pays for E+ seating. Knowing this, I called the E+ number today to find out if they would tell me over the phone if certain seats were available for a September IAD/ABQ flight. The answer was a polite "no", but I could sign on for E+ and if I didn't like what was available, cancel within seven days of joining and get a refund.

That's good to know. I wish airlines would stop being so coy about seating!