Hello, folks! Long time lurker, first time poster here! Nice to meet you all and thank you for all the information that you've provided in the past. It all has been very useful to me.
I just had a few questions about upgrading international flights and some of the United/RCC policies.
I am mostly a domestic traveler and do far less traveling in general than most of the people on this forum I would imagine. I have never been to any of the international airports in my upcoming trip to Bangkok, nor have I flown any United flights to Asia.
Thus, the entire international upgrade process and travel to Asia is new to me!
Here is some of the information that I will assume is needed to assist in this matter:
My Information
MileagePlus Status: Premier Silver
Upgrade Instrument: Miles and $600 co-pay
Ticketing Date (all flight segments): July 24, 2013
Domestic Waitlist: Economy to First
International Waitlist: Economy to BusinessFirst
Waitlist Placement Date (all flight segments): July 24, 2013
Waitlist Clearing Dates
(UA 1431) PHL to SFO: July 25, 2013*
(UA 838) NRT to SFO: July 29, 2013*
*Upgrades cleared the waitlist automatically (without me calling in and manually having someone push them through or checking to see if "R" space had opened up).
Here is what my itinerary looks like on United.com as of today:
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As you can see, I bought tickets in some really low fare classes (K, L).
Now, here are my questions (apologies for the long post):
United Club
Note: I do not have a RCC membership subscription, credit card that permits entry, or other means of entering the RCC without a fee.
Based on what I've read on United.com and the forums here, on September 9 (the return) I will be able to use the RCC in Tokyo (Narita) because I am traveling in BusinessFirst on the flight to San Francisco. Is this correct? I realize there isn't much time in between the BKK to NRT and the NRT to SFO segments anyway but I'm curious to see if it would be allowed under the rules.
Will I be able to use the RCC in San Francisco when I arrive back in the United States on the BKK to SFO flight?
Also, from my understanding, since I upgraded from Economy to BusinessFirst, the Arrivals Lounges are off-limits, correct? Only paid BusinessFirst and GlobalFirst tickets with printed invitations are permitted entry into the Arrivals Lounge?
Previous Experience Upgrading International Flights
Does anyone here have previous experience upgrading these segments (SFO to NRT or NRT to BKK)? Have the travel gods been kind to you in the past with clearing the waitlists and snagging an upgrade on these flights?
I know there is some mystery and controversy surrounding whether post-booking paid upgrades, miles and money upgrades from lowbie members like me, or people with higher status with UA using other instruments get first crack at better seats so I am wondering what other people have experienced in the past with this.
Anyway, thanks in advance for any input you can provide and apologies if I left anything out! I will keep posting updates to see if my flights clear so that, if nothing else, there is more information out there on the success rate of international upgrades clearing with MP Awards and money from lowbies like me!
I just had a few questions about upgrading international flights and some of the United/RCC policies.
I am mostly a domestic traveler and do far less traveling in general than most of the people on this forum I would imagine. I have never been to any of the international airports in my upcoming trip to Bangkok, nor have I flown any United flights to Asia.
Thus, the entire international upgrade process and travel to Asia is new to me!
Here is some of the information that I will assume is needed to assist in this matter:
My Information
MileagePlus Status: Premier Silver
Upgrade Instrument: Miles and $600 co-pay
Ticketing Date (all flight segments): July 24, 2013
Domestic Waitlist: Economy to First
International Waitlist: Economy to BusinessFirst
Waitlist Placement Date (all flight segments): July 24, 2013
Waitlist Clearing Dates
(UA 1431) PHL to SFO: July 25, 2013*
(UA 838) NRT to SFO: July 29, 2013*
*Upgrades cleared the waitlist automatically (without me calling in and manually having someone push them through or checking to see if "R" space had opened up).
Here is what my itinerary looks like on United.com as of today:
As you can see, I bought tickets in some really low fare classes (K, L).
Now, here are my questions (apologies for the long post):
United Club
Note: I do not have a RCC membership subscription, credit card that permits entry, or other means of entering the RCC without a fee.
Based on what I've read on United.com and the forums here, on September 9 (the return) I will be able to use the RCC in Tokyo (Narita) because I am traveling in BusinessFirst on the flight to San Francisco. Is this correct? I realize there isn't much time in between the BKK to NRT and the NRT to SFO segments anyway but I'm curious to see if it would be allowed under the rules.
Will I be able to use the RCC in San Francisco when I arrive back in the United States on the BKK to SFO flight?
Also, from my understanding, since I upgraded from Economy to BusinessFirst, the Arrivals Lounges are off-limits, correct? Only paid BusinessFirst and GlobalFirst tickets with printed invitations are permitted entry into the Arrivals Lounge?
Previous Experience Upgrading International Flights
Does anyone here have previous experience upgrading these segments (SFO to NRT or NRT to BKK)? Have the travel gods been kind to you in the past with clearing the waitlists and snagging an upgrade on these flights?
I know there is some mystery and controversy surrounding whether post-booking paid upgrades, miles and money upgrades from lowbie members like me, or people with higher status with UA using other instruments get first crack at better seats so I am wondering what other people have experienced in the past with this.
Anyway, thanks in advance for any input you can provide and apologies if I left anything out! I will keep posting updates to see if my flights clear so that, if nothing else, there is more information out there on the success rate of international upgrades clearing with MP Awards and money from lowbies like me!
