Do United Mileage upgrades even work anymore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

It's discussed in the article above. Demand is up and the airlines realized they could make more by selling the upgrades for cash- $1000 is a lot better than 20k miles and $550 for the airline, and people are willing to pay it.

[Anonymous]

When I flew to Rome this summer, I was able to get upgrades for miles and cash the week of the departure. On the way home, we had to call United and pay cash for upgrades so seems to just be availability.

[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.

Agreed. But there's 3 kinds of pay. I'll use an exmple of a flight I booked recently on United:

1. Just buy business outright. That was $7k.
2. Buy economy, and take their paid upgrade they offer just after you book (only sometimes do they offer this.. that's the catch), that was $2,500 more.
3. Use miles + cash to upgrade, It will only clear about a day before, depending on space. $300 + 25k miles.

All those are "paid" ugprades but vary by cost, being available at all, and the chance you'll get it.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if miles and cash upgrades are ever available on TK flights to Istanbul? I was able to get economy tickets on TK via United miles fwiw but not sure if these same tickets are available for purchase via United website and then upgrade