Kathie

For a couple of decades now, I've purchased coach tickets to Asia and used United miles to upgrade to Biz (at the time of ticket purchase). This year, when I call to do the same, I'm told that no biz seats have been released for upgrades. Of course, no one I've talked to can give me an idea of when the seats will be released, and they don't seem to know that in the past the seats for upgrades have been released at the same time the seats were made available for purchase (330 days in advance). I had one agent tell me that they weren't going to release any seats for upgrades, and that upgrades to Biz will be given only to those who purchase a tickets, get on the waitlist and are a 1K member!

I know that beginning in July, United will start charging a co-pay for international upgrades. I've asked agents about whether the non-availability of biz seats for upgrades is related to this, and so far, all have denied it.

Anyone else having this problem? Anyone know what's up with this?

ms_go

Kathie, there's a very long thread about this on flyertalk. I can't find it at the moment but will look for it; you might take a look, but yes, many others are encountering this. I haven't read all the way through it, but I got the impression that some feel upgrade inventory will still be available, but much closer to travel. But no one really knows.

Out of sheer luck, I secured mileage upgrades for three people for a trip to Europe this summer just before all the inventory seemed to disappear.

ms_go

There are more than a thousand posts on this thread, but many toward the end are from the last month or so when this began to become apparent to people.

http://tinyurl.com/7sdg9v

By the way, this isn't just a mileage upgrade issue; it is affecting 1Ks who want to use systemwide upgrades as well (both types require NC inventory). And, although I haven't tried searching myself, I've read that the same issue applies to business class saver awards, not just upgrades.

I'm sure there are many factors here, not the least of which is maximizing revenue from the new seats--which are still far from being done (they haven't even started the 777s yet).

Kathie

Thanks, ms go. I had done a search both here and on flyer talk to no avail. The words are too common and you get hundreds of hits. I will take a look at that thread.

yestravel

ms_go, does this mean that in the future business class saver award seats might not be available until closer to departure date? thanks

ms_go

yestravel, I really have no idea; it just appears that right now, available business award seats are few and far between. I just tried a quick search for one business class saver award from Chicago to Narita (United only, of course, since I'm searching online) and didn't find one seat in either direction for the whole year. There were plenty of first class saver awards available. For London, where there are three flights per day, I found one available business award (and only in one direction) after May.

yestravel

thanks -- i did the same with some searches and got mixed results. Some had no saver awards available which seemed odd, but then again that could be possible. Does make me think about my loyalty to UA. I don't fly enough esp great distances to beomce a 1k'er but do fly relatively often and try to use UA to get the miles, but why bother if they will be just about impossible to book?

patandhank

I lucked out and was able to get two Biz saver award seats from PHX to CPH in 10/08 for 7/09. Of course I had to call because UA doesn't fly there from PHX -so got them on Star Alliance partner Lufthansana for the international segments. I had to call and make my arrangements through the MP award desk. I have to say the agent was pretty helpful in finding something. It will be interesting to see how it goes in the future in finding seats or upgrades.

Femi

Hi Kathie,
When I purchased a ticket to LHR, I was given the same story you were about upgrades. I was pretty unhappy but bit the bullet and purchased the M fare. Well 2 days later the upgrades were approved (this was still a few months out from the travel date). While I got the upgrades, I'm still not pleased about the uncertainty at the time of purchase.

Kathie

Thanks, Femi. I have to say that at this point I'm unwilling to buy until I know I have an upgrade. We're still 10 months out from my dates.

mrwunrfl

Kathie, do you know how to find upgrade seat availability at united dot com?

patandhank

Somebody posted this a while back and I saved it. May help.

UPGRADES

Or, you can check via the website--to do so, you need to make sure that your ual.com profile is set to "expert" availability mode (found under "my travel preferences" in the profile) and that you are logged in. If so, then do a search for a standard business class award. Find the flight you want, mouse over the "flight details" link; there will be a box that appears with lots of letters and numbers; look for "NC" inventory. If you see "NC 0," no upgrades are available; if you see something like "NC 4," then that means there are four upgrades available.

If there is availability, upgrades can be confirmed as soon as the reservation is ticketed. If not, you'll be put on a waiting list.

FYI, to upgrade with miles, you need to purchase an eligible fare: H/M (30K miles each way) or Y/B (15k miles each way). These will be more expensive than the lower discounted fares.

mztery

No one is mentioning the single most reason for no U/G or seats - the new Biz Class seats have LOWERED inventory on all the planes they have been fitted with! 747 for ex, has only about 1/2 the C seats.

It iS danged if you do, danged if you don't - if you wait to purchase, you will be lower and lower on the waitlist for the upgrade. If you buy and don't make it you're out a LOT of $$. They're just NOT releasing seats as far in advance and I doubt that'll change at least till they have some idea of loads with thee new configurations (and after July with the new co pays)

Kathie

Thanks for the additional responses since I last checked this thread.

Yes, I do have my United profile set for expert, but since no NC seats were showing on any flights, I decided to call United to see if any had been released or if there was any info on when they would be released.

I checked again today - still nothing.

I also wondered whether the new seats was part of the issue. I'll be flying a 777, and I understand they haven't yet started to upgrade those planes.

ms_go

FWIW, I was doing a little searching last week for a few international routes out of Chicago (Europe and Asia) and found some NC inventory about four months out from the search date--so through about mid-May--but not beyond that.

simpsonc510

Kathie,
Don't forget you can do a buy-up at the gate (or at check-in, or in the Red Carpet Club). I've been doing this when I buy an economy ticket and want a bus class seat for the long haul. Granted, it costs more (and the price varies each time); but I have yet to be denied a bus class seat! The fact that I'm willing to buy-up may be the reason I've gotten some free upgrades in 2008!!
Carol

Kathie

Carol, that's interesting. Biz from Seattle to Narita is always full. I find it hard to believe that there are buy-ups available on that route in November. But perhaps this year will be different. Still, I don't think I'd chance not getting a biz seat...

ms go, I have searched back through Sept for my Asia routes, and have found nothing. It will be interesting to see when (if) the NC seats get released. Four months out - I think I would have made alternative plans by then. But perhaps I just need to be patient.

Kristina

Hi Kathie-
Just saw this post for the first time.
I wish I had advice for you, but I can only commiserate.

When I went to France in October, I had upgradable seats and was waitlisted on one leg, IAD-CDG. I was unable to get confirmation on an upgrade until the day before and that was only because of two things:
1. I posted my plight here and some lovely Fodorites who had much better access to seat availabilty than I did, kept checking for me.
2. I called every day and then near departure, twice a day. On the last call (when a Fodorite told me there was only 1 seat left), I insisted the agent look again and lo and behold, there it was!

Honestly, I'm not sure it's worth it or that I want to go through that again. My next trip is also in Business class, but those were "bought" in full with miles, 11 months out.

I don't know anything about that co-pay. Is that only for upgraded seats, or for all FF seats?

mrwunrfl

I remember that, Kristina. Was your flight on the new lie-flat seats? Where to next?

Patience is a virue.

You know, it is possible that an NC seat came open today. But it went to somebody who bought their ticket a week or two ago and was waitlisted for the upgrade. The person who has been waiting the last three weeks to see the availability appear before buying missed out.

What kind of cancel/change penalty comes with one of those M/H tickets?

mrwunrfl

But it is about 4 months too soon for me to be buying a ticket for November.