Where to find free “In-Class Seat Upgrades” through little-known United Airlines service anomalies.
This month, in another FCF installment of getting an international seat on domestic routes, we will be looking at United, the only U.S. carrier who, at this point, has completed its new international seat rollout for Business and First Class.
The focus, specifically, is how you can make this strategy a double upgrade on domestic routes.
Why? Because all of United’s international aircraft have the new flatbed Business Class seat, giving you a double in-seat-comfort upgrade: An international aircraft and a new flat-bed seat, both.
In other words, think of the airline as offering three levels of Business Class service, all at the same price. If you know how to get the best of the three, compared to someone who doesn’t, you could call it a double upgrade.
Comparing United’s International Business Class and Domestic First Class Seats
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The International Seat
United sometimes uses three- and two-class international B777-200s, B747-400s, B787s, B767-400s, B767-300s, and B757-200s on domestic routes. 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 new Business Class seat, called BusinessFirst, offers 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
United changes flight numbers and aircraft deployment often. For example, on Washington, DC-San Francisco on Feb. 16, United operated an international B767 as flight 1233. On Feb. 23 the flight number changed to 1723, and on March 2 to 1094; and then United discontinued using the B767 for the rest of March, only to bring it back on April 6 as flight 1571. (Recheck all flight numbers at time of booking.)
One exception: aircraft used on routes to Hawaii don’t change as often. Check search results on United’s website for “type of aircraft.”
When to Pay Cash for an International Seat on a Domestic Route
Promotional Domestic First Class Fares are Often Valid for International Business Class Seats
Domestic First Class fares for flights within the Continental U.S. have changed over the past year in ways that make United mileage upgrades and free mileage awards less attractive on some routes.
A good example is Houston-Washington, DC, a route on which United flies the B737-900, B737-800, and B767-300. If you book United’s flight 723 or 249, the B767-300, which has the new international Business Class seat (booking code P), the lowest domestic First Class fare is $825 round-trip, the same as United charges for B737 flights. That makes an award ticket or an upgrade worthless, given the return on miles of 1.7¢ 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 in order to get a better seat. When flying Houston-Monterey, for example, connect in San Francisco to catch UA1257, so that you get the B787; when flying Houston-Zurich, go via Washington, DC to catch UA 723 so that you get the B767-300—which is better than the other flights.[/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-Honolulu route, United uses a B767-300. This route offers a great return on miles because fares are usually high—a Business Class ticket easily costs $3,520. United charges 80,000 miles for that ticket, which equals 4.4¢+ per mile ($3,520 divided by 80,000).
Mileage Upgrade: The math for an upgrade on the San Francisco-Honolulu route: Subtract the published First Class ticket cost ($2,989) from the upgradeable economy ticket, including co-pay ($737), and then divide the savings by the cost of miles (55,000): $2,989 minus $737 is $2,252, divided by 55,000, gives you a return of 4.1¢ per mile.
Mileage Upgrade: Better Mileage Inventory. As FCF has shown in two other articles ( and July issue), United’s upgrade inventory is often much better than free-award inventory. If you are having trouble finding availability for a free Business Class award, look at availability for a Business Class upgrade—which is most often totally different.
Getting Miles
United is a point transfer partner with Chase Ultimate Rewards. Spend $3,000 in the first three months after receiving the card and you’ll get 40,000 Chase Points, enough for a free roundtrip domestic upgrade on United. Buy the miles directly from the airline when they’re on sale (about every other month or so), and you can get 50,000 miles for just $1,354, at times.
Where to Find United’s International First and Business Class Seat on Domestic Routes
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