Upgrade from Discount Economy to Business Class using Cash!

[JohnK]

I booked a return flight SYD-SFO, for a friend and his wife, from zuji travelling end August returning mid September ~A$3100 for 2 people. He wanted business class but best price was ~$9500 for 2 people and United was the cheapest of all carriers.

My friend is very tall and was concerned with the pitch of economy seats even though we put in a request for exit row. No status so would have to be lucky to nab exit row. He is used to cramped spaces as most times he travels with knee caps touching his chin anyway.

A day before the flight he rang United to ensure that all was OK with bookings and voiced his concern of having trouble coping with economy seat pitch. The agent advised him to ask again at check-in. The next day at check-in he politely asks for upgrade to business class and is offered upgrade to business class @ US$500 per person which he accepts. Business class experience is much better than economy but he still cannot stretch his legs put fully.

Returning SFO-SYD 2 days he tries the same request at check-in. Again he is offered upgrade to business class @ US$500 per person. Has lounge access for 3 hours at SFO and also manages to sleep for 8 hours on the flight.

The return trip in business class cost ~A$5800 for 2 people as opposed to the asking price from zuji of ~A$9500 for 2 people. Initially, before we booked flights, he was prepared to pay up to double the economy price for business class seats.

Is the offer of paying cash for business class upgrades a common occurrence? I guess from United's point of view it is better to receive US$500 for an otherwise empty seat. I can also understand why other airlines do not do this more often as it would reduce the price of a business class ticket.

[one9]

I booked a return flight SYD-SFO, for a friend and his wife, from zuji travelling end August returning mid September ~A$3100 for 2 people. He wanted business class but best price was ~$9500 for 2 people and United was the cheapest of all carriers.

My friend is very tall and was concerned with the pitch of economy seats even though we put in a request for exit row. No status so would have to be lucky to nab exit row. He is used to cramped spaces as most times he travels with knee caps touching his chin anyway.

A day before the flight he rang United to ensure that all was OK with bookings and voiced his concern of having trouble coping with economy seat pitch. The agent advised him to ask again at check-in. The next day at check-in he politely asks for upgrade to business class and is offered upgrade to business class @ US$500 per person which he accepts. Business class experience is much better than economy but he still cannot stretch his legs put fully.

Returning SFO-SYD 2 days he tries the same request at check-in. Again he is offered upgrade to business class @ US$500 per person. Has lounge access for 3 hours at SFO and also manages to sleep for 8 hours on the flight.

The return trip in business class cost ~A$5800 for 2 people as opposed to the asking price from zuji of ~A$9500 for 2 people. Initially, before we booked flights, he was prepared to pay up to double the economy price for business class seats.

Is the offer of paying cash for business class upgrades a common occurrence? I guess from United's point of view it is better to receive US$500 for an otherwise empty seat. I can also understand why other airlines do not do this more often as it would reduce the price of a business class ticket.

To me, it seems stupid for United to do this. By doing this, they encourage people not to pay high ticket prices, and to gamble at check in.

Doing things like this is probably why United is in such a bad financial state.

[bigjobs]

I guess from United's point of view it is better to receive US$500 for an otherwise empty seat. I can also understand why other airlines do not do this more often as it would reduce the price of a business class ticket.

i suppose that because it's check in time for the flight the airline most likely has an idea that the seats will not sell before departure ... so this is like a last gasp attempt to at least get something for them rather than let them fly empty or on complimentary upgrades.

i have been on US domestic flights where there have been announcements that the flight has 'first/business class' seats available for upgrades at USD50 per seat ...

[Kiwi Flyer]

Yup common for US-based airlines to offer this. I'm surprised they asked US$500 per person per flight - the ones I've heard (in person or via others) have been much less than this.

I think it is fairly short-sighted as a contributing reason why some airlines struggle to sell paid business and first is it is too easy to get upgraded for little or no cost.

[simongr]

This is a no-brainer for me - for commercial reasons they simply shouldnt do this. It is slightly different to giving upgrades to status passengers - and even that should be rare rather than common. How else can you justify buy a good seat when they might give it to you regularly.

The only time I think this could be justified is where they have oversold the flight and maybe the first port of call before op-ups should be a "fire sale" of seats.

[NM]

To me, it seems stupid for United to do this. By doing this, they encourage people not to pay high ticket prices, and to gamble at check in.

Doing things like this is probably why United is in such a bad financial state.

And I believe this is a reflection on UA's financial position over the past 5 years. But just which is the case and which is the affect .

[Mal]

Quite a few airlines do this.

I have heard BA sometimes do it on certain routes (mainly ex U.S), and a lot of the other legacy U.S carriers also put up the "Upgrades available" sign at times.

I agree that it devalues their J or F product.

[JohnK]

so this is like a last gasp attempt to at least get something for them rather than let them fly empty or on complimentary upgrades.

Quite right. Why take-off with a near empty business class cabin when there are people, who would not normally consider travelling business class, prepared to pay a reduced price for upgrade to business class. Increase the revenue of the flight for not much extra cost. I just wish it was more common with other airlines. Thumbs up to United.

Yup common for US-based airlines to offer this. I'm surprised they asked US$500 per person per flight - the ones I've heard (in person or via others) have been much less than this.

My friend is not worried about being charged US$500 for upgrade because in the end it was a much better experience than economy and he still paid less than double the economy price which he was prepared to pay when booking flights.

[Kiwi Flyer]

Quite right. Why take-off with a near empty business class cabin when there are people, who would not normally consider travelling business class, prepared to pay a reduced price for upgrade to business class. Increase the revenue of the flight for not much extra cost. I just wish it was more common with other airlines. Thumbs up to United.

Because the cost is the long-term loss of revenue - likely to be much more than the short-term gain for that one flight.

[ozstamps]

UA has been doing this for ages to and from SYD.

Always $US500 a person. Always done only at check in.

Be warned it is a total crap shoot. On a full plane (they very often are) you are toast and back in row 58F.

Also even if you do get UG you generally get the worst biz seats like the first C cabin which has far less pitch than other seats. (Rows 6/7/8)

Also be mindful UA offers elites lots of upgrade opportunities, which unlike Qantas you can confirm 330 days out. If they are on a PA waitlist you are also toast with a paid one.

I get 6 x free confirmed upgrade certs a year as a 1K that allow me to upgrade all flights in advance. And you can earn more if you fly more than me.

ONE cert covers SYD-LAX-LHR etc.