We’re just five days away from the start of United’s new unlimited domestic upgrade program. I’m looking forward to it, though in the back of my mind there is a lingering concern that my perfect upgrade record since I became 1K in 2007 will come to an end.
Although it is rather tedious now to have to support domestic upgrades with e500s, miles + co-pay, or regional upgrades, I always get the upgrade when I want it–even if I request it at the last minute.
I decided yesterday to try to upgrade my ORD-PHL flight this evening. I only had one e500 left, but thought I could talk an agent into comping me a second one since the UDU program starts later in the week (I was successful, BTW).
The flight was zeroed out, though a couple seats remained open in F, and I chuckled as I looked up on the departure monitor at O’Hare and saw that I was first on the list of 26 passengers trying to upgrade.
That’s been the beauty of being a 1K on United. I look forward to having a shot at First Class on every non-p.s. domestic flight now, rather than just the flights I want to upgrade, but this new program is not going to go over well with me if I ever find myself in the back on a 757 transcon.
I don’t think I need to worry–even transcon and midcon A319s have been a relatively easy upgrade the last year–but I just can’t supress that nagging feeling that the upgrades will stop clearing.
On a separate note, I shed a tear as I looked at MY ITINERARIES this evening on united.com–it’s empty. I’ve got to book a couple trips to California tomorrow. I get restless very quickly.
Welcome to the real world, buddy.
@Hunter: Did your SFO-ATL upgrade clear?
Let’s talk about what did clear. I rerouted through SLC (I have a light schedule and flexibility with work today), and because of everything going on with east coast weather, I got:
42 in food and transportation vouchers
First class to ATL
2 nights at the SLC Downtown Radisson (actually ok and with free wifi)
800 Delta Dollars
Score!