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Getting a decent upgrade on United

Getting an upgrade on a flight to Paris is tough (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Getting an upgrade on a flight to Paris is tough- but possible! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

A reader query…

Dear Chris:

I have been saving my miles to use for an upgrade from coach to business on round trip United nonstop SFO to Paris/CDG. Planned to travel beginning October.

I called and had the ticket all booked ($1289.00) and ready to go. Then the agent said, “you are aware that there is a $550 co-pay each way’?  So the ticket would have been $1289. 00, + the 20,000 miles each way, + $1,100 dollars. I said forget it.

Is it even possible to get a reasonable upgrade on these flights?

D.R.

Hey D.R. First off, congrats on getting that $1289 economy class roundtrip fare on SFO-CDG- that’s a good deal, especially if you can use your status to sit in economy plus. And September in Paris is spectacular! No crowds, great weather, friendly locals…

But getting a big, flat business class seat on United’s popular Boeing 767 SFO-Paris flight is a tough nut to crack. Especially in October when business travel is back in force and United can sell those seats at a premium.

We did a quick scan of business class fares on the SFO-CDG nonstop and found them in the $8,000 to $9,000 range.

United's business class fares SFO-CDG in early October

United’s business class fares SFO-CDG in early October

So that fare + copay of $2,389 plus 40,000 miles is still a lot cheaper than buying a ticket.

Even when you calculate your 40K United miles at about 1.5 cents per mile ($600, or $2,989 total), you still come out way ahead of the business class fare.

So it really depends on how badly you want this:

2-1-2 BusinessFirst class seats on United's 767-300ER

2-1-2 BusinessFirst class seats on United’s 767-300ER

Or are willing to sit through this:

Economy class on a United 767 (Photo: United)

Economy class on a United 767 (Photo: United)

What would YOU do? Please leave your comments below.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: Two new nonstops to India + New Centurion lounge opens + Planespotting 101: Airbus + Pay to join loyalty programs? + More!


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Comments

  1. $1,000 for a seat upgrade? That’s like an extra week in Paris. Why do you even fly with us plebs dude? Don’t you have a yacht or a G5 you can take? Sell some more blood diamonds or something.

  2. This is a terrific price for a seat up front to Paris. I think people need to take a step back and think about what they’re buying. It’s not a matter of a low economy price plus some miles, it’s a matter of the cost and comfort of a first class seat. October is magic in Paris, call ’em back and book it!

  3. When booking upgades on paid tix, it’s important to know what the prevailing fare is, just as Chris has illustrated. The days of buying the least expensive coach tix and upgrading with miles only are long gone. Just do the numbers and it’s easy to make the decision of whether to upgrade or not. For me, an extra thousand dollars to fly up front would be well worth it on a long flight.

  4. I wouldn’t say that you will arrive “refreshed.” But you’ll get more sleep and arrive less stressed-out than you would if you flew Economy or Economy Plus.

  5. It used to be that you could upgrade on United using only miles, but no more. Last year, I couldn’t get an upgrade on a flight from SFO to Frankfurt, and I was willing to pay the $550 copay.

  6. I certainly agree with this, but I would be careful with Lufthansa right now. Their pilots union has been striking with alarming regularity, and if you’re caught during one of their strikes if can send shock waves through your travel plans and even ruin an expensive vacation. Wait until they get their act together before flying them.

    However, I just flew Lufthansa to Germany a few days ago and returned by United. I must say that I liked Lufthansa better, although my experience on United was also good.

  7. I am a “Million Mile ++” Member with Air Canada (Super Elite…or as I say, Super Abused)…It does help at times. However, I have probably flown as many miles on United & it means nothing….Air Canada now demands that one flies at least 50% of the 100,000 Miles required to maintain SE Status on their flights…trying to stop AC Members from enjoying Asian & European Airlines.

    I used to fly on Singapore from SFO to HKG & still will but not as often. After being an SE Member on AC for 21 years, I am seriously looking at other programs for 2016. I will not fly Delta as they are affiliated with Air France…or is that “Air Always On Strike”?

  8. Absolutely concur on flying the non-US airlines! I’m grateful my permanent status on AA was when AA still allowed OneWorld flights to count to lifetime MM (and multi MM) status, so a lot of time on Cathay Pacific and BA vs American. Sadly United (and probably AA) only recognize BIS miles on their metal now for lifetime status.

  9. Do yourselves a huge favour by opting for Lufthansa, Air Canada, Singapore, etc. if you prefer Star Alliance.Better yet, demand that the government allow “Open Skies” that would allow Asian & European Airlines the ability to fly within North America. If the average individual had the opportunity to use these various International Carriers, within the USA, United, American, Delta, etc. would either have to start treating passengers as human beings again or just shut down. Either way, we the customer would benifit.

  10. I realize this is a United non-stop argument but many other airlines run business class SFO-CDG in the $3000-$4000 range plus you earn miles. I don’t see the value with United on this route. United tends to be very pricey to me on many West coast routes in my experience.

  12. Co-pays should def count towards the revenue goal. Ultimately, SWA needs to crack into the Europe market eventually. Until then, I try to fly AA.

  13. Why is an elite “calling” to book a ticket? This can all be done online (including the upgrade), which details out all of the fees. #confused

  14. Definitely can still do this. There are several fare exceptions (deep discounted) and also a few variations by region, but it is possible to upgrade with miles and the dreaded co-pay. Within the continental US and a few other routes, the co-pay is waived if you are a Premier member.

  15. Yes, it’s a similar game on United, just a different approach. On UA you can upgrade internationally on all BUT the lowest four (or so) fares…… versus on Delta where it is only the top economy fares that are upgradeable. But, you either use a certificate (6 annually per top tier) and no cash out of pocket, or mileage plus a substantial $$ co-pay.

  16. “A decent upgrade on United”….. perfect definition of an oxymoron! 🙂 Frankly I think the whole co-pay thing is nonsense. Of course I understand why they did it, but it is irksome as a frequent traveler. What is more disconcerting is that I have seen lower tier frequent fliers clear the upgrade when using points+co-pay, ahead of a higher status person using a certificate. On the same fare class. THAT is ridiculous. Agree also with other comments that any co-pay needs to count towards the revenue goal.

  17. I would spend the mileage. The extra comfort on an 11 hour plus flight is worth it. $1,000 certainly does not buy you two nights of a luxury hotel in Paris (check rates at Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Crillon, Le Meurice, Plaza Athenee, etc.), but if you gain an extra day by being rested when you get there and don’t need an extra day to recover when you get home it is a smart investment.

  19. One more thing that really sucks on United. In the case of this ticket, you have to pay $1,100 just to upgrade. But that money doesn’t count toward mileage which would make that upgrade a lot easier.
    I have written a lot to United about these upgrades, if I spend $1,100 I want that to be counted for miles, it’s only fair. But United never gets back to me so they couldn’t give a damn.

  20. Yes I agree with D.R. it really sucks.
    What makes it so bad is that just six years ago you use to be able to upgrade with just miles. It was 20,000 miles and no co-pay, for a number of years that is how I would go business class to London.

    That’s what people don’t understand that stings so much, when your use to getting something and it drastically changes.
    Chris is right in some respects, flying business class in October is terribly expensive. In June, July and August starting about April, United runs limited business class special in which the business class fare is between $3,000 and $4,000. Then you have to make a decision, do you pay that or the upgrade fare of around $2,300, first saving the miles and next you will get more mileage with the money spent. But once summer is over, the fares for business go sky high and the $2,300 is a bargin.

    It’s all a big game and in the long run you have to ask yourselve, can you put up with the crap and inconvenience to save a thousand dollars. Trust me, that 11 hour flight from California to Paris takes like a week in coach but a wink of the eye in business class, so for me the answer is easy, whatever it takes you want that big seat.

  21. Maybe business travel is “back in force” in October, however the back of the plane is sparsely populated September-November so you can easily end up with an empty seat next to you. The $1000 that you would pay for a roundup upgrade to biz could go a long way in Paris given the current exchange rate. It could buy you two full days at a luxury hotel in the heart of city. It could buy you 4 roundtrip, last minute train tickets to just about any area in France including the Cote D’Azur. It could also allow you to have a $1000 shopping budget for items that would last you far longer than the 10 hour flight to Paris.
    Add 5k miles to the 40k that you would pay for the upgrade and you have a roundtrip ticket to Hawaii, with a retail value of ~$480.
    In total you would be paying about $1500 for the upgrade, or about $150 per hour given a 10 hour flight.

  22. Have your company pay the difference and write it off on its taxes. That way we can all pay.

  23. Isn’t the co-pay for taxes or something like that? Anyway, it’s a steal in my opionion. I also thought that United discontinued being able to purchase in one class & then use miles to upgrade to another. It sounds like I’m wrong about that. Can anyone comment pelase?

  24. I’d totally do it! That’s a great deal. Plus you’ll earn miles!? Air France biz is near 10k last I checked for fall…..

  25. Call me ignorant (and most do) but what on God’s Green Earth is a copay? I fly DL (3M). Is it similar to the shell game DL does by requiring a M, B, Y fare for upgrade which generally run 5k to 6k for an upgradable coach seat

  26. It has always been cheaper with American to buy business class seats with points rather cash. Appears to be the same with United. We are leaving American for United’s better connections to Europe and Asia, and we’re too scared up from feuding with American for award travel during this past merger mess. Business v. Economy = We always saved business class award travel for longer flights like Asia, etc. By using award flights in economy to Europe we could fly there more frequently.

  27. Boy United really overprice their product, Air France will take you in Business for $5600.

  28. SEA or would make more sense than ATL. And if you look at the latest baggage on-time stats, UA nonstop is still worse than DL 1-stop. But, to each his own, if UA works for you, more power to you.

  29. If you have the time to change planes and risk luggage loss at ATL vs. nonstop. I prefer nonstop Economy+ vs. a 16 hour connection (assuming no delays) in domestic “first” and international biz.

  30. I’d fly DL. 1-2-1 beats 2-1-2 by a mile. And United means a cancellation or delay is far more likely.

  31. Called me spoiled but I just pay the difference, spend the miles and enjoy the extra space, comfort, sleep, etc… It really buys you an additional day when you arrive in Europe refreshed.

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