Friendly Skies reported earlier today that United has asked Expert Flyer to stop displaying upgrade and award space beginning Friday, October 30, 2013. United responded this evening, blaming Expert Flyer for accessing space in an unauthorized manner and promising...
"I Can’t Give Away this First Class Seat!"
Once in awhile on United I see a domestic flight go out with open seats in first class despite a long waitlist of elites waiting for a complimentary upgrade. This is usually attributable to a lazy or rushed gate...
United Airlines Island Hopping in Coach: Avoid "Direct" Flights
Five days ago I promised a post making the case for why I will continue to remain loyal to United Airlines despite my photo incident and more importantly, despite the dearth of complimentary upgrades, hit-or-miss service, no onboard wi-fi,...
Confirmed in First Class but No Seat Assignment
Thanks to shrewd planning and a watchful eye, I’ve dodged landmines and avoided most calamities in the post-merger world of United Airlines. Others have not fared so well. Will today be my day of reckoning? I’m flying from Newark...
First Class Downgrade = First Class Upgrade on United
When does a first class downgrade equal a first class upgrade? Read on to find out. Sunday, I was scheduled to fly from Burbank to New York JFK via San Francisco. “Premium Service” transcon flights feature three-cabins of service...
Protecting Your Upgrade on United Airlines
Tomorrow is a big day and I could really use a flat bed tonight to fly across the country. The problem: United’s international-config 757s have only 16 seats in BusinessFirst and 153 in economy class, a bad ratio for...
No Upgrade Tonight!
I have not had to sit in the “back of the bus” on a United Airlines transcon flight since the merger, but tonight I will break my perfect upgrade record…by choice. Tomorrow will be a full day of work...
Upgrading a Held Reservation on American Airlines
I finally bit the bullet and booked my first flight on American Airlines–it was either standby on United or a remarkably great $187 r/t ticket on American for my trip from Washington to Los Angeles this weekend. But it...
United.com Restores "Expert" Mode
After intense pressure from frequent flyers, United Airlines backed down and agreed to restore the ability to view upgrade availability online last week. Today, that functionality is back. Similar to the way it was for the pre-merger united.com, however,...
The Real Reason United Removed Online Upgrade Inventory
Yesterday, I posited three theories seeking to explain why United removed the display of upgrade inventory from united.com. I have a fourth one–and my experience today demonstrates why it is most likely the correct one. The reason is not...
United’s Foolish Attempt to Shield Online Upgrade Inventory
Count me as one of the angered ones over United Airlines’ recent decision to no longer display upgrade fare buckets online. The move was shortsighted and will quickly prove itself counterproductive. Shannon Kelly, UA Insider on Flyertalk and MilePoint,...
Did I Screw Up the Upgrade Queue on My LAX-DEN United Flight?
After posting about the intrigue surrounding United Airline’s complimentary upgrade process yesterday, reader Dan left this insightful comment: It’s very simple — there is someone ahead of you in the CPU queue who has a ticket ‘out of sync’...
United Airlines CFO Labels Certain MileagePlus Elites as "Entitled"
Many are up in arms over recent comments about certain MileagePlus elite members made by United Airlines CFO John Rainey at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Transportation Conference last Thursday. I am yawning. While not very savvy, his...
Alaska Airlines Migrates to Electronic Upgrades, Adds Restrictions
Upgrading on Alaska Airlines is always a pleasure–and often free. You see, the airline issues paper upgrade certificates to elites that can be transferred to anyone and applied over the phone to any fare class, as long as there...
How to Check for Upgrade Space on Continental Airlines Flights
Gauging upgrade space is not always easy. With the way U.S. carriers have monetized upgrading on international flights, I would think that airlines would make availability easy accessible and actively hawk upgrades when available. Instead, it often takes many...
United Systemwide Upgrades Can Now Be Used on Continental Flights!
Ben reports that United systemwide upgrades (SWUs) can now be applied on Continental flights. For now, you have to call to request the upgrade, but within the coming days this should be available to request online. I gave Continental...
Systemwide and Regional Upgrade Reciprocity Coming to Continental/United this Summer
Good news for holders of confirmed upgrades instruments on United and Continental: your upgrade options will soon widen. This morning I received the following e-mail from United: We understand how important upgrades are to you. Currently, elite members of...
Watch Those United Upgrades on Continental Codeshares!
While the Continental/United integration process remains a work in progress, one benefit that we saw almost immediately after the merger was reciprocal upgrades on the two carriers. But based on what happened to me today, this technology has not...
The Difference Between Pending and Waitlisted Upgrades on United
A reader recently asked me to explain the difference between a pending upgrade and a waitlisted uprade on United Airlines. It’s really quite simple: pending means that you are outside the time limit for a waitlist to clear. Waitlist...
Why the 2011 United/Continental Elite Program Isn’t the End of the World
Reading some of the responses on Flyertalk today after United announced changes to the Mileage Plus program for 2011, you would think the world was coming to an end. Relax. I’m not happy about the changes either, but we may...
