UPDATE: The fare is gone but the giveaway continues. And now there’s a GPU valid through the end of 2012 available, too. So if you could use that toss your comment in below.
Seems to be a bit of a fare war going on out there on transcons right now. These aren’t the best prices ever, but a sub-$250 round trip right now is a pretty good deal these days. Virgin America, Delta, US Airways, American Airlines and United Airlines are all in on the deal and inventory is reasonably decent across a wide range of dates. JetBlue has joined the party, too, but at $5 more than the others.
Here’s a search for one-way flights in October:
Like I said, lots of inventory open right now. Oh, and it works from LaGuardia, too, if you want a few extra miles on the connection. This fare is loaded through the end of the schedule (or maybe only mid-December; I’m having trouble parsing conflicting fare rules from different sources), with a limited number of dates (mostly holiday weekends) excluded. Here’s the limits from United:
TRAVEL IS NOT PERMITTED ON 14OCT 12 OR ON 21OCT 12 OR 16NOV 12 THROUGH 17NOV 12 OR 24NOV 12 THROUGH 26NOV 12 OR 19DEC 12 THROUGH 23DEC 12 OR ON 26DEC 12 OR 28DEC 12 THROUGH 30DEC 12 OR ON 02JAN 13 OR 05JAN 13 THROUGH 06JAN 13 OR ON 15MAR 13 OR ON 17MAR 13 OR ON 22MAR 13 OR ON 24MAR 13 OR ON 29MAR 13 OR ON 31MAR 13 OR ON 05APR 13 OR ON 07APR 13.
So, about that free upgrade…
Turns out that I have an RPU valid for a one-way upgrade on United which I’m not going to be able to use. It expires on October 31 and you must complete travel by that date. If you have an itinerary with a transcon segment and there is award inventory available (look for the “R” bucket on your reservation) then leave a comment below. Even if it doesn’t have award inventory go ahead and leave a comment, but priority will be given to those which will clear immediately. I’ll pick a random itinerary to win the upgrade on Friday at noon EDT and we’ll go from there.
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A month later and I might’ve taken you up on that offer, unfortunately no p.s. in October, just November and December.
I actually snagged what might be one of those the other day from my little home airport for November. One way AGS-LAX for $140. Quite happy with it!
I could use the RPU…currently R inventory on my SFO-IAD segment.
I have at least one (possibly armfuls after I finish booking things this evening) p.s. trip with R5. A free RPU would be much appreciated.
R2 and R8 on p.s. flights for a family member.
I’m flying SMF-LAX-CLE-MCI-SFO-SMF on Oct 1-2. I’d sure love a RPU for the red-eye segment!
I booked mileage run on 31st jfk-sfo-sna-sfo-jfk for $208! The leg SFO-JFK is red eye flight departing at 11:15 pm and has 3R’s available! It would be great to have it for that leg!!
Could definitely use an RPU here.
MKE-ORD-SFO-EWR-SJU routing couple R cabin available
Will be flying from LAX to JFK on September 23 (red eye flight). Expert flyer currently shows 7 open seats in R class. I am a college student and I would LOVE to be able to use the upgrade!
Got a SAN-IAH-PHL in October with R space. I upgraded my better half already and as of now I am riding in the back! Would really appreciate the RPU so we can sit together!
Could use an RPU. Thanks!
Please … please … please … pick me! Leaving next week on United, roundtrip LAX to IAD and I verified using two methods that upgrades are available in both directions – I checked and then I also confirmed with UA over the phone that upgrades are available in both directions and that my ticket allows an RPU.
One is a red-eye and I’m thinking I would use it for that flight.
Not that I’m begging … but please pick me! 🙂
Thank you for this generous offer to your readers!
Hi! I am flying LAX-JFK on 9/27 and then back JFK-LAX on 10/7. It would be great to finally experience an upgrade. I am new to this and haven’t yet experienced this type of perk. Pick me!
Flying SFO to EWR on a red eye in late October. I think they have business first, not regular domestic first, and it would be great to get a good night’s sleep on some flat seats!
I could use an RPU on my LAX-CLE or CLE-SFO segments coming up! Thanks!
JFK-LAX in October. R5.
The wife has EWR-SAN on United coming up 9/24. Outbound is R0 but return is R1.
Yeah I know, cutting it close but what are you gonna do? 🙂
Would love an upgrade on DCA-DEN on 9/21 showing R3.
Thanks!!
ORD-SFO and SFO-IAD have R1
Would love the upgrade. Thanks Seth!
Would love to have the upgrade on JFK-SFO or SFO-JFK on Dec 1.
Please let those with longer segment enjoy the upgrade to maximize its value.
CID-SYD Sept. 14 (R5 on the domestic legs); Would love to upgrade my wife
Would love the GPU for a parent who is coming to visit me in SYD at the end of march (tickets will be booked soon)
I have a long flight from singapore to NYC this september. Your GPU will benefit me a lot. thanks!
EWR-SFO for Thanksgiving! (obviously for Tommy’s GPU) Would make that a pretty awesome flight!
OK … I’m such a newbie that I had to look up what GPU means. Will it work on BA? If so, I’m throwing my hat in the ring. I have a RT before year’s end.
Thanks again! 🙂
I will be flying EWR-DEL, and could definitely use a GPU
I could definitely use a GPU! Hope I win…
Flying from the east coast to SF… Fingers crossed!
Pick me!
Thanks for the GPU as well as RPU opportunities! They would both come handy!
I could use the RPU.
LAX-JFK, UA912 (ps), on 9/18; it is R1. A redeye that my parents are taking home after coming out to visit their four-week old granddaughter. Would be wonderful for one of them to have a more comfortable ride home.
Sorry I didn’t ‘tune in’ sooner, but congrats to those who got in on teh deal!
Would really appreciate one. thanks
Fate could smile on me. Stranger things happen.
i have a outbond flight in late sep, leaving mia-iah-ewr-sea only ewr-sea available. Another flight in oct leaving from mia-iah-sfo to pvr. r class only available from mia-iah 🙁
Flying Copa to CTG for Turkey Day. A GPU might come in handy. Thanks!
Have a RT flight AUS-AMS in October and AUS-LON in November. Would love a GPU for the transatlantic portion
Flying GRU-EWR on Thanksgiving. It would be great to get a GPU. Thanks !
I would love it for my ORD-IAD flight on the 8th of Sept. Not exactly transcon but I have a tight connection to make in IAD and being up front would certainly help. Alternatively I could use it on my IAD-ORD return.
I’ve got a segment JFK-SFO in November that shows R6 available!
A free RPU for LAX to EWR would be great. THANKS
SFO-EWR October showing R space. Thanks Seth!
Will be flying DCA-IAH-SJU-ORD-IAD next week (9/14, returning 9/15). R availability all segments. Would love to use a RPU on one of the long segments (IAH-SJU is 4:30 / 2007 miles) or preferably SJU-ORD (5:06 / 2072 miles). Am 6’4″ so this could be rough in the back. Thanks!
I have several flights that this would be incredibly useful for, namely IAD-DXB or NRT-ORD. Would make for an incredible overnight segment on one of these flights in my RTW itinerary. Thanks!
I’m traveling to FTU on Nov 30-Dec 2 with plenty of R on both segments. Would love to use a RPU because as a measly silver, I hardly get the upgrade experience (unless traveling with Kevin and if he’s feeling nice to give it up to me haha)
I also have an EWR-IST flight on Nov 18-25 on UA metal if that’s eligible with the GPU
Crossing fingers!!
I have MCO-DRS flight I am about to book for beginning of October. I would love the opportunity to fly business using a GPU. Also, 9/7 is my birthday. I cant think of a better gift! 🙂
My girlfriend and I are traveling to Europe for our first time Sept 26-Oct 7 on United. Will be flying IAD-MAD, MUC-FRA-IAD. Plenty of R availability on the FRA-IAD. Would love a GPU for her on the way home! Thanks!
Thanks Seth – I’m in. Heading to MSP in late September. R availability on all legs except the RJ and EMB-120 🙁
Flying nearly 24 hours from New York to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in October (connecting in Beijing). Would love that GPU for the way there, on which there is plenty of R availability. The idea of 14.5 hours in coach makes me nervous about my ability to be “on” from the moment I arrive!
Thanks for the offer! Flying to Israel for only a 3 day visit! IAD thru EWR in October. R available both ways. GPU would make the 3 day trip tolerable!!
Headed to Europe in early October. IAH-IAD-GVA-NCE-FRA-IAH. Would love to upgrade one of the transcontinental segments!
SFO-ORD-DTW on 9/12. Thanks!
Ive got a few upcoming flights this would make much more enjoyable
I’ll be flying my mom from WAS to LAX (On to HNL) mid october to meet her new grandbaby, due oct 14! This would definitely help, considering she had back surgery and those Coach seats can be quite tough on her.
Hey Tommy the Goalie! My 2 kids and I are flying IAD to your homeland, then Sweden, then Finland on Oct 11! Your GPU would be a treat for my 10 year-old daughter, if you’re game…
Would love an RPU or GPU to use!
is that RPU still available?
i could definitely use my gpu for my trip to europe next week
An RPU & GPU would be great on a Redeye from LAX-IAD-BDL at the end of the month. Thanks.
I have a SFO-ORD Friday red-eye and a SFO-BWI segment that I could use this for. Thanks for the giveaway Seth!
Too bad it’s not valid in November, have IAH-LIM and back. If Tommy’s GPU is in play, I’d probably switch it to GRU-EWR since I’ll be flying back from FLN anyway, oh well :
No transcons, but 4+ hour flights – count me in.
RPU please… BDL->ORD
I would love to get that GPU. I’m taking the Dreamliner on Dec 2 from SFO-IAH. There’s plenty of availability on it (surprisingly). That redeye would be oh so much more comfortable.