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[edit] Complimentary (USA) Domestic Upgrades

In October 2009, United Airlines announced that in 2Q2010, UA would be eliminating the 500-mile electronic upgrade certificates and changing to a scheme where on US domestic flights passengers would receive no-cost/no-certificate upgrades based on the status of the passenger in UA's Mileage Plus program. This primarily should benefit very high status passengers (i.e. UA Global Services or UA 1K) and might not be well received by lower-tier passengers.

This change matches the long-standing practice of Continental Airlines (CO); Continental Airlines joined the Star Alliance in late October 2009.

United 1Ks will continue earning Confirmed Regional (CR-1) upgrade certificates after this Mileage Plus program change. This reverses a earlier decision to cease offering CR1s.