Where to find free “In-Class Seat Upgrades” through little-known aircraft-deployment anomalies.
This month, in another FCF installment of getting an international seat on domestic routes, we look at United, which has just completed its new international Business and First Class seat rollouts. It’s an opportunity to get a double upgrade on domestic routes, meaning not only an international premium seat but a flat-bed one at no additional cost.
Comfort Comparison: United’s International Business Class & Domestic First Class Seats
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The International Seat
United sometimes uses three- and two-cabin international aircraft (B777s, B787s, B767s, and B757-200s) on domestic routes. On three-class aircraft First Class offers United’s Global First seat, which is 22-inches wide, converts to a 78-inch-long flat-bed, and has a 15.4-inch touch-screen monitor.
The Business Class seat, called Business First, a 76-inch-long flat-bed, is approximately 20-inches wide and has a 15.4-inch touch-screen monitor.
Where to Find the International Seat on Domestic Routes
There are two caveats to the chart at right: United changes flight numbers and aircraft deployment often. For example, on Chicago-Houston on Oct. 12, United operates an international B767-300 as flight UA374. On Oct. 26 the flight number changed to UA1752, and on Dec. 21 to UA1875, meaning flight numbers and aircraft type change often with United. Then on Feb. 11, 2016, United will discontinue the B767 on this route.
Rough Guide to Where to Find United’s International First and Business Class Seat on Domestic Route
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(Recheck flight numbers at time of booking, and type of aircraft by clicking on “type of aircraft” on the UA website.) One exception: aircraft used on routes to Hawaii don’t change as often.
When to Pay Cash for an International Seat on a Domestic Route
Domestic First Class fares for flights within the Continental U.S. continue to drop, to levels that on many routes frequently make United mileage upgrades and free mileage awards less lucrative. These new, lower domestic First Class fares can also be found on flights that offer an international Business Class seat.
A good example is Houston-Newark, a route on which United flies international and domestic aircraft. If you book flight UA1057, the B767-400—which has the new international Business Class seat—the lowest domestic First Class fare is $458 round-trip, the same as United charges for its domestic aircraft, the B737, and A319. Either aircraft make an award ticket or an upgrade a bad deal, given the return on miles of 1¢ or less.
[aside headline="Good Connections Count" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]Keep the flight numbers and routes mentioned in the chart in mind when connecting to get a better seat. When flying Monterey-Honolulu, for example, connect in San Francisco to catch UA73 so that you get the B767-400; when flying Houston-Rome, go via Washington, DC, to catch UA 373 so that you get the B767.[/aside]
When to Pay with Miles for an International Seat on a Domestic Route
The Return-on-Miles Math Free Mileage Award: On the Washington, DC-San Francisco route, United uses a three cabin B777. This route offers a great return on miles because fares are usually high—a Business Class ticket easily costs $2,484 and First Class is $5,478. United charges 50,000 miles for a Business Class ticket and 70,000 for First Class, which equals 4.9¢ to 7.8¢ per mile ($5,478 divided by 70,000). An even better alternative: use 35,000 to 50,000 Lufthansa miles or 40,000to 60,000 Singapore miles.
Mileage Upgrade: The math for an upgrade on the Washington, DC-San Francisco route: Subtract the published Business Class ticket cost ($2,484) from the upgradeable economy ticket ($536 including co-pay), and then divide the savings by the cost of miles (40,000): $2,484 minus $536 is $1,948, divided by 40,000, yields a return of 4.9¢ per mile.
Mileage Upgrade Inventory is Better: As FCF repeatedly demonstrates, United’s upgrade inventory is usually more plentiful than free award inventory—if you can’t find a free Business Class award, look for a Business Class upgrade.
Getting Miles
United is a point transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards. Or, buy the miles directly from the airline when they’re on sale, about every other month or so. At times, you can get 50,000 miles for just $1,279.