Some common, pop-culture myths that keep premium travelers from many money-saving, comfort-and-convenience opportunities.
[aside headline="Intended Audience:" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]
- Frequent—and non-frequent travelers (if you fly a lot or a little, it doesn’t matter)
- United Elites—and non-United travelers (want to earn elite status credit or never heard of elite status credit, it really doesn’t matter)
- United Mileage Bank Owners—and non-owners (you need not own a single United mile to use these methods)
- Premium Travelers (Business or First Class is fine either way)
- People who are busy or value their time greatly—and people who value it to a medium degree (both are eligible for the benefits)
- Upgrade Experts—and novice upgraders (been a FCF member for 16 years or joined yesterday)
- U.S.—and EU-originating travelers (the program works in reverse, nearly the same)[/aside]
It’s hard to talk people out of Travel-World Dogma (TWD). So many ‘travel frameworks’ are dead-on faulty for a variety of reasons, but that’s a conversation for another forum.
The challenge for most travelers, then, is to reverse the effects of these influences. So today we’ll take a look at the data behind the question, “Are United MileagePlus miles better used for free tickets or upgrades when flying to Europe?”
While the data we’ll look at may seem to fly in the face of everything you’ve read, and this article can’t possibly cover every imaginable travel scenario, the goal is to put more Ammo in your Upgrade Arsenal—which you can’t stockpile enough of these days given the decreasing number of lucrative, premium-ticket opportunities. Tunnel-vision is out. Call me alone dude in the wilderness trying to get premium travelers to not waste their time, cash, and miles by overlooking what’s readily available.
Here are some of the most common false impressions people have when using their United miles on United flights to Europe:
False Impression #1: Business Class Free Awards vs. Upgrade Award
The best use for my miles is a free award ticket, most unexposed to the Upgrade Mindset think. Yet, so often: Wrong! When it comes to upgrading with miles to Europe, most people see the co-pay ($1,100) and run for the Free-Ticket Hills.
In many, many cases this is simply not a good move, especially during shoulder- and off-season when economy fares are low. That is time you ought to be thinking about visiting Europe in the first place! Because there are so many fewer tourists, cities are more themselves, and hotel prices come down.
Side-by-Side: Upgrades vs. Free Tickets:
As you can see from the chart on the next page, an upgrade to Business Class often costs less than a free Business Class award ticket, once you put a dollar value on your miles.
Sample Cost of Business Class: Upgrade vs. Free Mileage Award on Chicago-Frankfurt
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[aside headline="Miles Value" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]
If you don’t think your miles have significant value, the algorithm changes. Run the numbers to see how that alters the equation for you. Valuing your miles at much less than their replacement cost presupposes that you are only traveling because you have the miles—as opposed to using miles because you travel. Some spend endless amounts of time earning every 500- and 1,000-mile bonus, but it gets tricky and even more time-consuming to figure out the value of your time. This piece is for people who place a high value on their time.[/aside]
False Impression #2: Availability! Free Awards vs. Upgrade Awards
The chance of getting a free award ticket is the same or better than a mileage upgrade, most unexposed to the Upgrade Mindset think. Usually wrong! On most routes United releases many more mileage upgrades than it does free mileage awards. As you can see from the sample route in the chart above, using miles for an upgrade gives you up to 1,100% more mileage seat inventory.[/aside]
What’s the biggest complaint about mileage awards? Availability. What’s the obvious Availability-Increaser at relatively the same cost? In two words: Upgrade Awards.
Example: Days of Availability of Business Class Upgrades vs. Free Mileage Awards on United Houston-London
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False Impression #3: First Class Award Availability vs. Upgrade Awards
Just as most do with Business Class, most people think that the chances of getting a free First Class award ticket is the same or better than a mileage upgrade.
Usually wrong! On most routes United releases more upgrade awards than it does free mileage tickets, even for First Class. As you can see from the sample route in the chart below, using miles for an upgrade gives you up to 600% more mileage seat inventory.
Example: Days of Availability of First Class Upgrades vs. Free Mileage Awards on United Washington, DC-London
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[aside headline="Who Mileage Upgrades Are Best Suited For" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]
- Elite Status Seekers: Someone who needs to earn elite credit. If you are a United elite trying to earn credit, Upgrade Awards are in general the only way to go, and now you can feel even better about upgrades.
- Business Travelers: When company or clients are paying for the base fare in economy (especially B fares) or Business Class, use your own miles to get what you really want.
- People short on miles: Costing roughly half the miles, by their very nature, upgrades stretch your mileage bank. If you fly a lot and can’t get enough miles, this is the way to go.
- Convenience Seekers: With up to 1,100% more seats available, mileage upgrades can offer more access to non-stops and more convenient routes. While United Partner Awards theoretically open up space—and they do open up the options for free-ticket seekers—it’s still more tightly controlled space. Yet they do have their place, especially for free First Class seats for those who can be flexible or fly on a moment’s notice ( for more on the Upgrade Two-Step).[/aside]
Who would have thought that the highly coveted First Class free award is easier to get than a Business Class one? Ah, the misconceptions of Pop-Think (PT).
One thing is for sure: It’s worth paying the 35,000 more miles for First. I’ve always maintained that the difference
between Business and First is similar to the difference between coach and Business. (Plus, First Class availability can at times be better if you needed another reason.)
False Impression #4: Having United Miles is Required to Monetize United’s Mileage Program
Wrong! You do NOT need to be a United mileage program member—or even know anything about the program or anything about mileage program strategies—to save on Business and First Class travel to Europe when EasyUp fares are not available and are otherwise high. You can get United miles fast and easy by transferring from Chase Ultimate Rewards.
In other words, you need not be a United expert, an upgrade expert, or a frequent flyer, etc., to jump on this opportunity today.