As a frequent flyer with United Airlines, the author shares their experience with upgrading flights using miles and cash. Living near a United hub, they have accumulated significant miles and hold Gold status, but lack PlusPoints which are crucial for guaranteed international upgrades. Instead, they often have to bid for upgrades, a process that does not always guarantee a seat upgrade despite their status. The article highlights a specific instance where the author managed to secure a last-minute Polaris upgrade for a cash-only fee, bypassing the usual miles-plus-cash bid and avoiding the uncertainty of the upgrade waitlist. This experience underscores the importance of knowing the current valuations of miles for making informed decisions at the check-in counter.
Read the full article here.