As we close the year, we are reminded to give especially in the case of expiring upgrades, instruments, and extras we may not be able to use ourselves.
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Last Christmas, I Gave You [A First Class Upgrade]
So it wasn’t really last Christmas, it was, in fact, at the end of the year. I found myself flush with United Premier PlusPoints that can be used to clear upgrades from Basic Economy to International Business Class. But that was a bad idea because I waited far too late to distribute them efficiently. I had 200 PlusPoints that were set to expire before I could use them. I was happy to submit upgrade requests for flights within 2-3 days and as the points emptied from my account, I saw many of them clearing which gave me an incredibly joyful feeling.
A reader from Live And Let’s Fly joined in the fun with his own 300 PlusPoints and we spent a Sunday (and part of a Monday) making last-minute upgrade dreams come true. Some recipients were flying with their elderly parents who had never experienced a lie-flat seat.
This year, a reader reached out and offered their expiring upgrades for an upcoming surprise trip I booked. That kindness and generosity will make all the difference to my family.
This Year, To Save Me From Tears, [You’ll] Give It To Someone Special
Rather than wait until there’s not enough time left, I thought there’s no better day to give someone an upgrade, PlusPoints, an expiring lounge pass – whatever it may be that you can’t use – than Christmas Eve. Let’s not wait until the last couple of days of December or January to get these instruments redeemed.
I am a lowly World of Hyatt Explorist this year and this is well in advance, but I have two Club Access Awards to start the process. They expire on February 29th, 2024, and must be redeemed for stays that end on or before then. Each is good for up to (7) nights and some properties are excluded.
Certainly, someone can do better than that.
Comment[er]s
As readers of the blog this year may recall, I wasn’t seeking status with an airline that provides meaningful upgrade instruments and I don’t have any of my own to give from hotel stays other than the two above. But that shouldn’t stop our amazing community from being able to share with one another.
If you have something to give this season (and you’re feeling generous) please comment below with what you have to offer. If needed, I will be happy to be the go-between. If you’d like to email me instead, my email address is kyle@scottandthomas.com.
There’s nothing worse than letting these go to waste unnecessarily. Thanks for reading and for being a part of our amazing community. Merry Christmas.
I have 260 UA Plus Points expiring on 1/31/2024. Happy to gift these to anyone who can use them.
Thanks for kindness offer, many of my friends are taking vacations on January and we would like to provide certain gifts to you to exchange your advice
Please contact me if you still have expiring plus points
@John q … Where are their destinations ? Which are their airlines ?
That would be a blessing. I am moving back to Asia as my family has passed on for a new start. Wanting to fly back around 10 January 2024. Happy Holidays regardless.
@Brian … where in Asia ? Asia is a big place .
Hello. Flying to either HND or NRT.
I am going to Zurich on January 26th 2024, currently in Premium Economy. Would love to use Plus Points to upgrade if possible. Thanks!
Hi, am flying IAD-FRA on 5 Jan would be vv grateful for this if poss! can I email you?
Brad, I am flying from DC to Frankfurt on the 5th of January and would be very grateful for this if at all possible! Can I email you?
Hey Brad,
Merry Christmas! if you still have points, I’d love to give them a try! I (and my mom and fiance) flying back from DEL-EWR on Dec 30. Probably have 0 chance knowing that this route is a hot for pax using PlusPoints, but would love to give it a try and just see my name on the upgrade list!
Brad, my wife has a work trip coming up January 16-24 to Sydney (MCO-SFO-SYD), booked in economy.
I would love to try and get her in a more comfortable seat on one of the trans-pacific legs. Even if the points are already gone, thank you for your generosity. Merry Christmas!
My son and I are flying on UA to see family on Christmas day…….spending most of the day getting to the airport and sitting on airplanes but all worth it to get to see family before the holiday is over.
I’m in the opposite boat hoping for the Christmas miracle upgrade, but doesn’t look like we will clear a CPU since we are further down the upgrade list than remaining seats. If anyone is feeling super generous, an instrument upgrade would push us up the list and at least my son might be able to get up front on one of the segments.
If anyone is feeling super generous with PlusPoints, it might give us a better chance for tomorrow!
I have a couple of United lounge passes that will expire in early January. Is it within the rules to give them away and how would I do so?
@Christian … give them to your fellow passengers in the check-in line ?
I think you can just give your screenshot with the redemption on it and that should get waved through. It’s been awhile since I was even at a United Club and I couldn’t comment on Admiral’s or SkyClubs.
Sorry, expire in early February.
Thanks Christian! I’d be so grateful
Apologies for the delay but, well, Christmas. I’m happy to pass these on but any suggestions how I would get these to you? I’m disinclined to list my email address since I’m a regular commenter on LALF.
A good friend of mine has a Lufthansa flight coming up that can be upgraded with points plus. He is doing very good international development work. If there are extra points plus out there it would be great to benefit him.
@Chris … What type of international development work , may I ask ?
@Kyle … Very thoughtful and generous of you … Happy Christmas and Happy New Year to you , your family , and the other commenters .
Nice gesture folks but don’t hold your breath. There’s a reason we have an abundance of Plus Points. Our own upgrades don’t clear.
Ain’t that the damn truth…
Flying UA to DEN in early Feb. I’ve never been in first class, but it is something I’ve always dreamed of, even if it’s just domestic first. Would be amazing if anyone had a few plus points to spare, but no troubles if not possible. Thank you all so much and Merry Christmas.
I have four short haul upgrade vouchers for Finnair which will expire unused at the end of the year (every time I checked, their short haul pricing. in both classes of service, was ridiculous, particularly when departing from the UK). I am pretty confident that they can be used for bookings into 2024. In the unlikely event that anyone is interested, you can respond to this comment with your email address and I will get in touch so that we can have a go at applying them.
8 club accsss awards. Must be redeemed when new World of Hyatt program changes take effect from 01 Jan 2024.
Chris (chrwong@iu.edu)
I have some points expiring 1.31.24. Send me the United reservation number and last name and I’ll request the upgrade. My email is: luisgseoane@gmail.com
I have-
4 Delta regional upgrade certificates (can be used for Delta One Transcontinental)
4 JetBlue move to mint certificates
Happy to share.
Hi Paul / anyone else offering anything for United or JetBlue!
Please shoot me an email if you’re still offering these! Would love to use the JetBlue certificates. Skipping the @ so it’s less visible – my email is shillhouse26 at gmail.
Thanks everyone.
Hi Paul, just following up on my response. Happy New Year!
Flying HND-ORD on UA in mid-Jan. Plenty of PZ availability and would love some PlusPoints to upgrade myself and soon to be fiancée 🙂
Flying ZRH-EWR via LHR in around a little less than a week. Assuming pluspoints won’t work on the Swiss ZRH-LHR leg, but would be really grateful for an upgrade on the LHR-EWR leg! There’s still PZ availability for my flight. Thanks in advance!
Hi all. Need to book a long trip home from Australia to the US in mid January. Any ability to upgrade on United would be really appreciated. Happy holidays everyone!
I have 10 plus points expiring March 31 (2 days). I had no idea I could gif them or I could get plus points gifted to me. I found out know to see how else I could use these 10 PP.
I would have done this earlier if I knew.
BYW how do you gift PP ?