Last month FCF had a look at how American Elite-Status and Schedule-Focused Travelers Fly Business Class. This month, we take a close look at United’s mileage upgrades from economy, as they are frequently the best way to get Business Class when:
- Fares are high
- You do not have a lot of miles
- You don’t have much flexibility
- You need to earn elite qualifying credit
- Someone else is paying for your ticket
As with most mileage programs, most people think that a free award ticket is the best way to use miles because there is no co-pay. But it’s often the wrong move, especially if you fall into one of the five categories above. Follow the lead of most airlines’ highest-paying customers, who use upgrades to maintain elite status.
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The odds of getting a free Business Class award ticket on United are not the same as an upgrade award because United releases many more Business Class upgrade awards than it does free awards. In a given month, for every one free-award-ticket available, there may be up to 17 dates with upgrades available.[/aside]
Consider Using Mileage Upgrades If You Are:
An Elite Status Seeker: On United, upgrade awards are the only way to go because free awards do not earn elite credit.
A Business Traveler: When company or clients are paying the base economy fare, use United miles to upgrade.
Short on Miles: Costing roughly half the miles of a free award, upgrades stretch your mileage bank. The economy ticket also earns miles, lessening the mileage cost of the upgrade.
Wanting Better Odds: Mileage upgrades offer more access to non-stops because United offers more upgrade inventory on them. As for United Partner Awards, they’re not as good a bet because the carrier’s partners control the space more tightly than United does on its own flights. (See chart below for three sample routes.)
Number of September Days with Availability for Business Class Upgrade vs. Free Awards
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On High-Fare Routes: Such as most flights to Asia, Australia, and even many to Europe.
On Short Notice Travel: Washington, DC-Sydney is often sky-high in Business Class, even if you have for a 50 day-advance purchase ticket ($6,500+). A 14-day advance-purchase Business Class ticket can easily be $10,000+, while even the 14-day economy fare is $2,400. So, the savings and return-on-miles are even greater when booking an upgrade for short-notice travel.
No Minimum-Stay Requirement: Chicago-Tokyo’s lowest Business Class fare is $5,209 and requires a minimum-stay of 14 days. Stay even a day less and the price increases by $800. The economy ticket with no minimum-stay is only $2,027, so the savings are substantial when using miles to upgrade.
Sample Savings Using United Miles for an Upgrade to Business Class
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FCF thinks you shouldn’t. You should invest in airline currencies—Star Alliance partners Asiana and All Nippon—with which you can get United flights for fewer miles than United requires. In other words, a United credit card makes little sense.
See these previously published reports for more.