Can you upgrade to business class from economy via points? via cash?
I am planning a trip to Japan. We wanted to purchase economy tickets on United Airlines using points. From there, we wanted to purchase an upgrade to business class with points and/or cash (credit). Is this possible? If that is not possible, can you purchase economy tickets full price and then use points to upgrade to business class?
I have called United more than once and every time they give me different answers.
Comments
You can use points (miles) to buy a business class or an economy class award ticket depending on award availability. If you get an economy award then you can't actually upgrade it, you would actually have to change the ticket to a business class award (depending on availability when you make the change) and pay a $75 fee for the change, assuming you have no status on United.
You can get a business class award one way and economy the other way. Or same class both ways. You can also fly first class one or both ways. If you get an award then you will get a confirmed seat in the class of service you choose. You don't earn any miles when flying on an award ticket.
You can purchase an economy class ticket and request an upgrade to business class. This will cost you 30,000 miles plus a cash "co-pay" each way. The co-pay depends on the fare you buy and would be between $350 and $600. The higher your fare the higher your chances are that your upgrade request will clear. If your upgrade does not clear then you get the miles and co-pay back (I think the money is not collected until it clears). If you bought a higher fare, in the hopes of upping your chance for an upgrade, and then upgrade doesn't clear then you are stuck with that fare. Your upgrade request might clear immediately are at any time up to boarding or never. You would earn miles at the economy class rate. You can request upgrades each way or just one way.
When you check in for your flight you may be offered an upgrade for your flight(s) that day. You may get this offer if you check in online or at a kiosk at the airport. It is my understanding that you would not be offered such an upgrade if you checked in with an agent at the airport. This offer, if you get one, won't be cheap. I believe that the upgraded seat would be confirmed at the time you pay for it. You would earn miles for the flight(s) at the economy class rate.
You can always upgrade to the next class above you with points or cash. But the only thing is that if you use cash, you will be more than likely paying what a business class full purchase ticket would be. There won't be shortcuts like get economy and then purchase an upgrade. But points could be worth it. But you would require lots of points. Since this is an international trip, the total points round trip would be about 120,000 miles. It depends when you purchase the upgrade (like how near or far from departure date). If you don't have enough miles, you can always purchase a 1 way business class upgrade. Once I went to India on Emirates in economy. I only had to spend 8,000 miles for a business class upgrade. It was great, an worthwile.
I truly have flown both some situations and do not believe agency classification is is definitely worth it (really on non-in one day flights). i'm narrow and characteristic mastered the fetal position even as drowsing on a basic. there is one large benefit that you need to consider. economic equipment classification in many situations permits you to have 22kg luggage the position as in agency this is 32kg. each and each and every of the stunning for Australia, i'm effective you'll do properly.