Yes, it’s clearly a glitch, but I am still amused at how much United Airlines is asking for a Polaris Business Class upgrade to Scotland…hurry, this offer won’t last!
It’s A Steal: Business Class Upgrade On United Airlines For Only $50K…
A passenger posted on reddit, with some degree of amusement, his upgrade offer from economy class to business class on his upcoming trip between Newark and Edinburgh, Scotland:
That’s a glitch (not that the system would fail to charge your card for that amount if you proceeded) because the price of a round-trip business class ticket on those travel dates is $9,755.40:
Your luxury accommodations include a 20-year-old B/E Diamond seat in a 2-2 configuration, allowing you close fellowship with your neighbor. Food is served after takeoff and it may not be something you would serve to your dog at home, but it’s much better than what was served onboard last year at this time!
> Read More: United Airlines 757-200 Business Class Review
On a serious note, do be advised that purchasing “instant upgrades” on United does come with a risk. Although you are rebooked in a “paid business class fare bucket” (like P, Z, D or C), if you have to make changes to your flight you forfeit the price you paid for the upgrades.
So in this case, let’s say the guy paid $1,000 for his flight and nearly $50K for the upgrades…if he moved his flights by a day, only the original $1,000 would carry over as travel credit.
That’s why I am very reluctant to purchase upgrades through this avenue, though it can result in substantial cost-savings over the price of a paid ticket and is also an easy way to upgrade an award ticket.
CONCLUSION
Nearly $50K for an upgrade on United 757-200? That’s a hard pass. Even though this case is a clear glitch, do keep in mind that you “all sales are final” on these upgrades and the value cannot be transferred to another flight.
You would think that most of these instant upgrade prices should be lower than the cost to rebook at the higher class. But most of the recent prices offered to me have been at or even higher than the cost to rebook.
This is hilarious
Hmm…bad food, long delays, and a ride on a rickety, 30 year old fleet type? No thanks.
If they carried me on the plane and no one else was on board, I’m in!
Inflation has gone crazy!
While I almost never seen an option to pay to upgrade on flights starting in the US, this is very common to see in flights leaving Latin America. I have seen people sharing great value on Emirates, Lufthansa and other airlines.
$9,700 to fly an outdated product on a 25 year old+ plane is hilarious.
Agree. But do you know what? People pay that. Try to book a business class flight to anywhere on US airlines and they usually cost north of $7k. And they are all full. Supply and demand.
Now if work is paying for it…
They’ve got some nerve charging almost $10 K for what looks like a terrible product.
Sounds worse than an online scammer. Sure United, take my money!
United is doing a good job at updating their fleet unlike AA and Delta who are lagging behind. Perhaps you should look at more important things as a measure of an airline like archaic apps on AA and DL and whic carrier recovered best during the meltdown. Hint it wasn’t AA or DL.
Of course, the upgrade price is crazy. I find the notion of charging the same fare for a narrowbody 2-2 J seat as a 1-2-1 widebody is, well, really an insult. I’ll pay for domestic 2-2 F seats, but if my only international option is 2-2 J, I’ll go somewhere else or connect. (I travel only for pleasure now.)
What in the world is that “meat” on the dinner plate? It looks like a brick was placed there.