United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - ORD-SIN - best chances for upgrade

Traveling ORD-SIN RT during first week of April. Found First Saver space on UA881(ORD-SIN with stop at NRT) on March 30th and grabbed it. Now, the return leg will need to be paid for, but looking for best routing chances to get clear SWU. According to search, I can take UA882 direct(stops at NRT), or I can connect in HKG. The wildcard is that I am returning April 7th - day after Good Friday and right before Easter. Not sure what it would mean for SWU clearing opportunity - but looking for advice on best UG chances - either UA882 or connections via HKG. Right now all NC space on all of those flights shows as 0 with plenty of seats unsold...

Thanks!

I've found the HKG=>ORD routing to have the best chance of success, though there is a downside. Not long ago, they replaced SIN=>HKG with a 738 from a 744 (HUGE downgrade) so seats for that leg (about 4 hours) are incredibly hard to come by.

The other downside is that SIN=>HKG flight is at 5:30 AM, unless something's changed in the last month. I think the SIN=>NRT flight is at about 9:00, if I recall correctly?

Personally, I'd rather just get the flight over with in one short and one massive flight (HKG=>ORD) than splitting it in NRT anyway...

UA882 SIN-NRT departs at 7:10 a.m.

I believe the late-arriving HKG-SIN and early departing SIN-HKG is to allow the crew (GUM-based if I'm not mistaken) to do a turn and not have to stay over in Singapore, as used to be the case when this flight was flown with "real" equipment.

So, how does the fact that I am flying during Easter weekend affects anything? I would prefer to stay on 882 if possible...

I doubt flying during Easter is a big deal in Asia as they are in the US. Chinese New Years would be heavy travel season in Asia.

I doubt flying during Easter is a big deal in Asia as they are in the US. Chinese New Years would be heavy travel season in Asia.

Thanks - I was hoping for a LIGHTER load as opposed to a same or heavier load. Like I said, C looks WIDE open now for 4/7 SIN-ORD flight - just hope it will stay that way....

Any tips for finding a decent One-Way int'l fare?

I'm trying to go to S.E. Asia in May and would like to use a Saver Business award one way, and purchase an Economy ticket home. However, on the best bet I want (on Qatari through Doha), the one-way is 85% of the roundtrip fare, and the round trip was the cheapest!

Any tips for finding a decent One-Way int'l fare?

I'm trying to go to S.E. Asia in May and would like to use a Saver Business award one way, and purchase an Economy ticket home. However, on the best bet I want (on Qatari through Doha), the one-way is 85% of the roundtrip fare, and the round trip was the cheapest!

I am seeing the same thing. One-way ticket comes up in Q class - apparently they are not willing to sell anything lower for O/W. :( Oh well, at least my SWU upgrade chances are going to be above someone on W.

We have an office in SIN so the route is one that gets a lot of our traffic - check the OT departure numbers for the ORD - HKG / HKG - ORD route - it's not pretty and when there is a problem on the 747 it tends to be a big one. That's one advantage for the NRT route. Both options in my experience are about the same when it comes to upgrades.

OK, then, will book UA 882 and keep my fingers crossed....