• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  Continental Airlines • United Airlines  >  Fly from Alabama to Philadelphia via Denver? Sure. First Class? Sure. Thanks UA!
Continental AirlinesUnited Airlines

Fly from Alabama to Philadelphia via Denver? Sure. First Class? Sure. Thanks UA!

Matthew Klint Posted onDecember 14, 2009 2 Comments

Sunday afternoon I arrived at Hunstville, AL for my flight back to Philadelphia (via IAD and ORD) only to find the ExpressJet plane that was scheduled to take me back to Washington was broken. A replacement jet was dispatched from Nashville, but the delay would be over two hours, meaning I would miss my connection to ORD (on a tri-cab 767 confirmed in Business Class…).

Angry that I would miss my chance to fly on a three-cabin plane, I pulled out my laptop and began to examine other options to get me back to PHL. I narrowed it down to three options:

1. HSV-DCA on US with a cab voucher to IAD to make my original flight to Chicago

2. HSV-ORD-IAD-PHL on UA (less miles, no three cabin planes, no meal service)

3. HSV-DEN-PHL on UA (more miles, F3, Y3 DEN-PHL [possible bump])

I chose option three and easily cajoled the gate agent into routing me through Denver, despite the bewildered look on his face. Next came the more difficult part: getting me into First Class.

I asked what booking code I was in and he said "B" so that meant I would get a complimentary space-available upgrade. But DEN-PHL was an A319 and I did not want to risk being stuck in the back on a full flight. I asked the gate agent if he would confirm me in First because I already had confirmed upgrades from IAD-ORD-PHL (using only one e500 upgrade!).

He tapped on his keyboard for a few minutes, but said that the best he could do was waitlist me. I asked him if he could change my "B" booking class to "A" and he asked me what "A" was. I explained the different booking classes to him and he moved me to A class (discounted First). Score!

The flight from HSV-DEN was on a Skywest CR7 and I had 1B and 1C to myself. Not only was the seat comfortable, but the legroom was tremendous. The FA’s on the other hand…

In my experience, Skywest has the best FA’s in the regional jet industry, but the two young females on this flight were terrible. No finesse in their service and promptly after drink/snack service (thumbs up to the UA exPlus snackbox BTW) they both disappeared in the front galley for the most of the flight. A broken toilet drew them out for a moment, but they quickly returned to their magazines. I had to walk up to the galley (barricaded by a drink cart so they could both sit down) to get a glass of water.

I quickly proceeded to the PHL gate at DEN in hopes of a VDB opportunity, but there were 12 open seats and no bump opportunities. There were many volunteers needed on the earlier flight to PHL the gate agent told me. Oh well. Looking up at the flight status monitors, I chuckled to see 27 people on the upgrade waitlist before proceeding to the Red Carpet Club. I thought about checking out the Continental President’s Club, but there was not sufficient time to change terminals.

The flight to PHL was good–we arrived 40 minutes early–but no sweets were loaded! Actually, I avoid sweets anyway (most of the time…) but was surprised. Usually on midcon dinner flights there is cake served with dinner then chocolate chip cookies prior to landing.

Another great day of travel on United. Do you understand now why I love irregular operations?

Previous Article I Survived My Trip on Mesa Air!
Next Article British Airways Cabin Crew to Strike December 22-January 2

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • United Airlines Polaris Meal Service: The Sad State Of Affairs

    January 27, 2023
  • United Airlines Pago Pago Trip Report

    Trip Report: United Airlines 787-9 Diversion To Pago Pago

    January 25, 2023
  • Is United Airlines Poaching Pilots From American And Delta?

    January 23, 2023

2 Comments

  1. Mike Reply
    December 14, 2009 at 11:23 pm

    Can you explain to me how a gate agent can change your economy class booking code to a first class booking code so easily?

  2. Matthew Reply
    December 15, 2009 at 12:00 am

    @Mike: It’s as simple as a few keystrokes.

    During irr/ops, you are usually rebooked in Y or B (at the top of the Economy fare classes) but an agent can specify with one key which class to put you in.

    I asked for “A”. He typed in “A”. Presto.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • Pre-Boarding With Children: How Old Until They Are Too Old? January 27, 2023
  • Dog Business Class Turkish Airlines
    Dachshund Flies Business Class To Paris…In Her Own Seat January 27, 2023
  • United Airlines Polaris Meal Service: The Sad State Of Affairs January 27, 2023
  • Jordan Visa On Arrival
    How To Obtain A Visa On Arrival In Jordan January 27, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Casting Couch? Kuwait Airways Forces Prospective Flight Attendants To Undress For “Research Purposes” January 4, 2023
  • Spirit Airlines Captain Runs Out Of Cockpit After Woman Yells “I Hope Y’All Crash And Die!” January 17, 2023
  • SWISS First Class Awards Bookable With United Airlines MileagePlus January 5, 2023
  • Helsinki Airport Train Guide
    Guide: How To Travel Via Train Between Helsinki Airport And City Center January 3, 2023

Archives

January 2023
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Dec    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.