Jan 21, 2017, 10:27 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
UA will generally offer cash upgrades from any non-Basic Economy fare for UA operated flights, these can be offered:
- At the time of purchase
- Before travel in the itinerary view
- At check-in (computer, smartphone, airport)
- You can inquire with an agent anytime (including at the gate)
The price can vary, as it appears multiple processes are used -- occasionally yielding strangely high offers. Always cross-check on what the fare difference (up fare) might be and consider insteadBuy up to higher fare class w/o change fee? {GG BUYUP}
Awards tickets may be offered similar cash upgrade but generally only at check-in (Aug 2022 update, frequent reports of award ticket cash upgrade offers; at booking, after booking and check-in. Unclear under what conditions.
For Check-in offers, these can vary post initial check-in, so check back closer to departure.
Such upgrades will be eligible for all the benefits of a premium cabin ticket, UA makes no distinction on how a passenger premium cabin ticket was obtained.
Generally, fees for upgrades are non-refundable if you voluntarily cancel. If UA cancels or fails to provide the upgrade, the fees will be refunded. On voluntary changes, the agent may transfer to the changes flight but that is not standard policy.
True up-fares (ADD/COLLECT) are transferable if the appropriate inventory space is available.
PCU / Premium Cabin upgrade
Older term UFC / Upgrade First Class
Fees paid for upgrades now {2020) earn PQPs
Will the upgrade earn PQDs or bonus PQMs see the wiki of Some Paid Upgrades Count Towards PQD & mileage bonus and some DON"T!
On how pricing is structured, see A Comprehensive Look at Domestic First Class Monetization (FCM) on United
Previous Threads:
UA Upsell Offers to Business/First at Purchase and Day of Departure (TOD) [Archive]
2016 Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU) Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
2015 Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU) Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
2014 Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU) Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
2013 "Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU)" Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
- At the time of purchase
- Before travel in the itinerary view
- At check-in (computer, smartphone, airport)
- You can inquire with an agent anytime (including at the gate)
The price can vary, as it appears multiple processes are used -- occasionally yielding strangely high offers. Always cross-check on what the fare difference (up fare) might be and consider instead
Awards tickets may be offered similar cash upgrade but generally only at check-in (Aug 2022 update, frequent reports of award ticket cash upgrade offers; at booking, after booking and check-in. Unclear under what conditions.
For Check-in offers, these can vary post initial check-in, so check back closer to departure.
Such upgrades will be eligible for all the benefits of a premium cabin ticket, UA makes no distinction on how a passenger premium cabin ticket was obtained.
Generally, fees for upgrades are non-refundable if you voluntarily cancel. If UA cancels or fails to provide the upgrade, the fees will be refunded. On voluntary changes, the agent may transfer to the changes flight but that is not standard policy.
True up-fares (ADD/COLLECT) are transferable if the appropriate inventory space is available.
PCU / Premium Cabin upgrade
Older term UFC / Upgrade First Class
Fees paid for upgrades now {2020) earn PQPs
On how pricing is structured, see A Comprehensive Look at Domestic First Class Monetization (FCM) on United
Previous Threads:
UA Upsell Offers to Business/First at Purchase and Day of Departure (TOD) [Archive]
2016 Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU) Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
2015 Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU) Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
2014 Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU) Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
2013 "Upsell Offers to Business/First (UFC/PCU)" Questions/Discussion (Paid Upgrades)
UA Upsell Offers to Business/First/PP at Purchase (PCU) to Day of Departure (TOD)
Apr 22, 2024, 1:24 pm
#256
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 68,333
Apr 22, 2024, 2:22 pm
#257
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL Plat/2MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil.
Posts: 4,569
ICN-SFO next month, for me originally booked in R class, upgrade to Polaris: $1,355. Same flight and date for SO originally booked using miles (XN) then upgraded to R ($399), now upgrade to Polaris: $6,130.
Apr 23, 2024, 7:10 am
#258
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: AA PLT (MM), UA 1K, Marriott Ti, IHG Diamond
Posts: 929
FWIW, mine fixed itself, upgrade offers are visible once again.
Apr 23, 2024, 7:14 am
#259
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 6,335
Mine also fixed itself. Was it a UA system problem?
it just so happened that I called both UA and TP about missing seat assignments yesterday which is when it started working again. (Being able to upgrade.)
it just so happened that I called both UA and TP about missing seat assignments yesterday which is when it started working again. (Being able to upgrade.)
Apr 23, 2024, 8:10 am
#260
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K - 1 MM, Marriott LT-Plt, Hyatt Glb
Posts: 296
SFO-AUS-SFO RT this week. L Fare one way, S the other. Both eventually got down to $249 UG and I bit. One was a week out one was T-30 (J=3). For a 3:45 flight
I will pay $250 to be able to work for that much time. And United seems to be in sync with me since mid-con flights seem to consistently drop to $249 if there is space available.
I will pay $250 to be able to work for that much time. And United seems to be in sync with me since mid-con flights seem to consistently drop to $249 if there is space available.
Apr 24, 2024, 6:02 am
#261
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: Wellington
Programs: NZ*G
Posts: 99
I have an upcoming SFO-LHR flight (T class) that was booked through NZ (086). I can see on the UA app I have the option to upgrade with miles (to join the waitlist), but not cash.
Is there an option to upgrade with cash at the gate, or closer to departure? Or not at all as it was not booked through UA (016)?
I’ll be checking in with NZ in WLG (I’m flying WLG-AKL-SFO on NZ, then SFO-LHR on UA) so I’m guessing it’s unlikely I can upgrade then.
Is there an option to upgrade with cash at the gate, or closer to departure? Or not at all as it was not booked through UA (016)?
I’ll be checking in with NZ in WLG (I’m flying WLG-AKL-SFO on NZ, then SFO-LHR on UA) so I’m guessing it’s unlikely I can upgrade then.
Apr 24, 2024, 11:11 am
#262
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
Programs: UA Platinum, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,284
Apr 24, 2024, 7:09 pm
#263
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 33,043
I have an upcoming SFO-LHR flight (T class) that was booked through NZ (086). I can see on the UA app I have the option to upgrade with miles (to join the waitlist), but not cash.
Is there an option to upgrade with cash at the gate, or closer to departure? Or not at all as it was not booked through UA (016)?
I’ll be checking in with NZ in WLG (I’m flying WLG-AKL-SFO on NZ, then SFO-LHR on UA) so I’m guessing it’s unlikely I can upgrade then.
Is there an option to upgrade with cash at the gate, or closer to departure? Or not at all as it was not booked through UA (016)?
I’ll be checking in with NZ in WLG (I’m flying WLG-AKL-SFO on NZ, then SFO-LHR on UA) so I’m guessing it’s unlikely I can upgrade then.
Apr 24, 2024, 7:15 pm
#264
Join Date: Aug 2021
Location: Wellington
Programs: NZ*G
Posts: 99
upgrades on non-016 tickets are tricky. You can’t upgrade at check-in and the likelihood you’ll be able to do anything at the gate in SFO is low. Keep checking for $$$ upgrade offers, also check the UA app. After you have checked in, you can try again on the UA app to see if an offer pops up. Also try to move your seat to Polaris and see if an offer comes up that way.
At the moment both Polaris and PP are unavailable on my seat map, but perhaps I’ll try looking on the UA app again for cash offers at T-24/after I’ve checked in with NZ.
Apr 27, 2024, 8:14 pm
#270
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 22,465
