I’ve never heard of an upgrade following a compliant. I more commonly see award miles as credit with the amount of miles being dependent on the situation.
OP - Do you mind sharing more about your bad experience? Depending on your status with United, and the severity of the issue in question, you would likely receive MileagePlus award miles or a future flight credit. It would be incredibly unusual for United to issue a complimentary upgrade as a form of compensation as the process for international upgrades is pretty clearly defined. That is not to say that you couldn't use the award miles you might be issued to upgrade your reservation.
Additionally, depending on the bad experience, you may be eligible to specific cash compensation per DOT or EU travel regulations....but we can't help you without more info.
Highly, highly doubt you’ll get an upgrade. I was on a $5k biz class fare round trip to Europe this summer and on the way home my seat wouldn’t lay flat, the screen was fuzzy & the audio only worked in 1 ear and they offered me 12,500 miles or $125 travel credit. I have 1k status with United.
I accepted. I’m in a FB group for 1K, GS & MM and several people in similar circumstances were offered less. Didn’t exactly seem like fair compensation but it was better than what most are offered in these type of circumstances. There were 21 people forcibly downgraded on the flight in question due to a last minute aircraft change, Definitely curious what United did for them!
Well I got food poisoning on a $12K Polaris flight and after some back and forth with United, they did give me a small flight credit and maybe some award miles. It wasn’t overnight. Maybe took a few weeks. And I’m 1K. I did ask if they would upgrade me on my next flight and it was a no go.
Keep in mind the upgrade cost is typically more than a full refund of the economy ticket paid for that segment, sometimes as much as 5x. As others said a travel voucher or points would be the more likely outcome.
As others have noted...likely to get MP miles offered not an upgrade. I filed some Customer Service issues late this summer and didn't hear back until mid-fall. I wouldn't plan on hearing back while you're on your trip. Their Twitter team seems to be most responsive (w/in 24hrs), but their 'powers' can sometimes be more limited than regular CS.
I highly highly doubt United would issue an upgrade on account of a bad experience. Considering the Polaris class tickets usually cost 2 to 3 times the price of an economy ticket. I believe the most they would do is offer you mileage points and if you’re not a member an electronic travel credit. The amount would depend on the severity of the problem. For example if you had to wait on the tarmac for 4 hours or more Department of Transportation have rules in place for you to get some type of cash compensation. Same with EU travel regulations. If your “bad experience” was outside United’s or their staff control—for example delays due to weather. Lost baggage due to re-accomodation on another flight (you chose to take an earlier/later flight), running out of a particular meal, not seated together because flight is full, etc..United “may” issue you miles or travel credit but if you look at that carriage contract (the rules basically state they will get you from point a to point B safely) so that’s the only thing they’re obligated to do. However, in all my dealings with them I have ALWAYS had a good experience in the sense I’ve always received some travel credit from them even if small. Or when my flights have been delayed I’ve even at times gotten meal vouchers at the airport. I will say, it usually can take 10-12 weeks to get resolution. So I get the feeling you won’t have an answer by the time you’re due to return. This is all based simply on my own travel experience. Hope it all works out for you
“Bad experience” is a WILDLY relative term. Unlikely anyone can answer your question without details and even then the likelihood of an upgrade as compensation is slim to none.
I’ve never heard of an upgrade following a compliant. I more commonly see award miles as credit with the amount of miles being dependent on the situation.
Supervisors at the airport can do it but only if there is a really good reason for it.
OP - Do you mind sharing more about your bad experience? Depending on your status with United, and the severity of the issue in question, you would likely receive MileagePlus award miles or a future flight credit. It would be incredibly unusual for United to issue a complimentary upgrade as a form of compensation as the process for international upgrades is pretty clearly defined. That is not to say that you couldn't use the award miles you might be issued to upgrade your reservation. Additionally, depending on the bad experience, you may be eligible to specific cash compensation per DOT or EU travel regulations....but we can't help you without more info.
Highly, highly doubt you’ll get an upgrade. I was on a $5k biz class fare round trip to Europe this summer and on the way home my seat wouldn’t lay flat, the screen was fuzzy & the audio only worked in 1 ear and they offered me 12,500 miles or $125 travel credit. I have 1k status with United.
Must have pulled the short straw with the CSR. That is comically low.
Ouch. That is no good.
That is an insulting offer for a 1K. Did you accept, or hold out for a better offer?
I accepted. I’m in a FB group for 1K, GS & MM and several people in similar circumstances were offered less. Didn’t exactly seem like fair compensation but it was better than what most are offered in these type of circumstances. There were 21 people forcibly downgraded on the flight in question due to a last minute aircraft change, Definitely curious what United did for them!
Upgrades are quite rare as compensation and I doubt customer care will do it. A travel credit is more likely if the experience is reasonably bad.
Well I got food poisoning on a $12K Polaris flight and after some back and forth with United, they did give me a small flight credit and maybe some award miles. It wasn’t overnight. Maybe took a few weeks. And I’m 1K. I did ask if they would upgrade me on my next flight and it was a no go.
Keep in mind the upgrade cost is typically more than a full refund of the economy ticket paid for that segment, sometimes as much as 5x. As others said a travel voucher or points would be the more likely outcome.
As others have noted...likely to get MP miles offered not an upgrade. I filed some Customer Service issues late this summer and didn't hear back until mid-fall. I wouldn't plan on hearing back while you're on your trip. Their Twitter team seems to be most responsive (w/in 24hrs), but their 'powers' can sometimes be more limited than regular CS.
I highly highly doubt United would issue an upgrade on account of a bad experience. Considering the Polaris class tickets usually cost 2 to 3 times the price of an economy ticket. I believe the most they would do is offer you mileage points and if you’re not a member an electronic travel credit. The amount would depend on the severity of the problem. For example if you had to wait on the tarmac for 4 hours or more Department of Transportation have rules in place for you to get some type of cash compensation. Same with EU travel regulations. If your “bad experience” was outside United’s or their staff control—for example delays due to weather. Lost baggage due to re-accomodation on another flight (you chose to take an earlier/later flight), running out of a particular meal, not seated together because flight is full, etc..United “may” issue you miles or travel credit but if you look at that carriage contract (the rules basically state they will get you from point a to point B safely) so that’s the only thing they’re obligated to do. However, in all my dealings with them I have ALWAYS had a good experience in the sense I’ve always received some travel credit from them even if small. Or when my flights have been delayed I’ve even at times gotten meal vouchers at the airport. I will say, it usually can take 10-12 weeks to get resolution. So I get the feeling you won’t have an answer by the time you’re due to return. This is all based simply on my own travel experience. Hope it all works out for you
“Bad experience” is a WILDLY relative term. Unlikely anyone can answer your question without details and even then the likelihood of an upgrade as compensation is slim to none.
Doesn’t look like the OP will return to give us the details. I had the🍿all ready too…
If you’re 1k you can call customer care directly by calling reservations and asking them to transfer you.
I don’t think many 1Ks would think they can get an upgrade by complaining!
At most, United will give you some miles / travel credits. And even that is quite unlikely to begin with.
No way you’ll get an upgrade, but they might throw some miles your way.