Do United Mileage upgrades even work anymore?

[Anonymous]

Up until 3 years ago, we used to purchase economy tickets to Europe on United then use 20,000 miles + pay $550 and get upgraded to business. I’d say the upgrade worked about 80% of the time.

Now, I’m trying to book tickets for June and December and all the flight upgrades are waitlisted! Do the mileage upgrades work at all. Am I missing anything?

I’m a Gold mileage plus member if that makes any difference.

[Anonymous]

I do them all the time. I'd say about 50% clear. Most of them clear the day before, and in a rare case they clear a few days before like if it's really low season.

I have one right now for July and it's sititng on waitlisted as expected.

[Anonymous]

You're booking during peak travel (to Europe to boot).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're booking during peak travel (to Europe to boot).

For upgrades, it's not always what you expect. I'm on United's flight Frankfurt-IAD in July and they run a large business class of about 50 seats because there's usually a lot of businss travelers on that route, but there's a lull in business travel then due to European holidays.

Compare that to Barcelona-IAD which is mostly leisure, and they run it with just 28 business class seats on that same date.

[Anonymous]

No the airlines have gotten a lot craftier the last few years about monetizing upgrades, they usually end up selling them for cash in most cases. Might be say $1k for a one-way to Europe.


This is for American, but it applies across the board.

https://onemileatatime.com/insights/american-executive-platinum-upgrades/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No the airlines have gotten a lot craftier the last few years about monetizing upgrades, they usually end up selling them for cash in most cases. Might be say $1k for a one-way to Europe.


This is for American, but it applies across the board.

https://onemileatatime.com/insights/american-executive-platinum-upgrades/

That's for domestic flights, since Elites can get complimentary upgrades (and I agree with the article). It's different for international since elites generally don't get complimentary updates -- they have to use points or certificates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No the airlines have gotten a lot craftier the last few years about monetizing upgrades, they usually end up selling them for cash in most cases. Might be say $1k for a one-way to Europe.


This is for American, but it applies across the board.

https://onemileatatime.com/insights/american-executive-platinum-upgrades/

That's for domestic flights, since Elites can get complimentary upgrades (and I agree with the article). It's different for international since elites generally don't get complimentary updates -- they have to use points or certificates.

Yes but the same applies- the international flights have also gotten to be dominated by cash upgrades.They just don't open up the mileage upgrade availability much if at all. The only way I think someone can mostly count on an upgrade on those routes is by using the certificates/PlusPoints/etc and being high level elite.

[Anonymous]

United offered paid (but discounted) upgrades to Business when we flew to France last summer. We took their offer - because we knew if we did not take them someone else would take them. Either way, mileage upgrades were not going to happen on that flight.

[Anonymous]

Same experience. We’re platinum and frequently buy Y fare and yet no upgrade. IAD-Geneva never works. Too many employees of international organizations.
Even paid upgrades did not materialize on pretty expensive fares, as much as British Airways business out, economy back.
Last summer, we were 1 and 2 on the upgrade list, at checkin business seats were still available for purchase, after boarding, two business seats were still open, so we were waiting to be whisked to the front. I finally asked and was told “they were for the crew”.

[Anonymous]

I just upgraded a United flight this week - 20k points+$425. Straight mileage upgrades weren't available. The flight is in 10 days and Polaris had a lot of space in it, so it's possible it will switch to mileage. But it's also January, not June!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No the airlines have gotten a lot craftier the last few years about monetizing upgrades, they usually end up selling them for cash in most cases. Might be say $1k for a one-way to Europe.


This is for American, but it applies across the board.

https://onemileatatime.com/insights/american-executive-platinum-upgrades/

That's for domestic flights, since Elites can get complimentary upgrades (and I agree with the article). It's different for international since elites generally don't get complimentary updates -- they have to use points or certificates.

Yes but the same applies- the international flights have also gotten to be dominated by cash upgrades.They just don't open up the mileage upgrade availability much if at all. The only way I think someone can mostly count on an upgrade on those routes is by using the certificates/PlusPoints/etc and being high level elite.

And buying a ticket higher on the priority scale. On United that typically means a Y, B, M ticket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No the airlines have gotten a lot craftier the last few years about monetizing upgrades, they usually end up selling them for cash in most cases. Might be say $1k for a one-way to Europe.


This is for American, but it applies across the board.

https://onemileatatime.com/insights/american-executive-platinum-upgrades/

This ^^. Several times in the past several years I've purchased upgrades at the last minute when they were marketed at me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No the airlines have gotten a lot craftier the last few years about monetizing upgrades, they usually end up selling them for cash in most cases. Might be say $1k for a one-way to Europe.


This is for American, but it applies across the board.

https://onemileatatime.com/insights/american-executive-platinum-upgrades/

That's for domestic flights, since Elites can get complimentary upgrades (and I agree with the article). It's different for international since elites generally don't get complimentary updates -- they have to use points or certificates.

Yes but the same applies- the international flights have also gotten to be dominated by cash upgrades.They just don't open up the mileage upgrade availability much if at all. The only way I think someone can mostly count on an upgrade on those routes is by using the certificates/PlusPoints/etc and being high level elite.

PP at 18:17 here who has purchased multiple upgrades over the last few years after getting emails marketing them at me. They were all on international flights.

[Anonymous]

Demand for paid premium cabin is at an all time high. Upgrades for international flights just aren’t there like there used to be. Want to fly upfront? Pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Demand for paid premium cabin is at an all time high. Upgrades for international flights just aren’t there like there used to be. Want to fly upfront? Pay.

Why though? What happened all of a sudden the last 3 years?