United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Advice sought: better chance of SWU clearing on LHR-SFO or LHR-LAX?

Hi. This would likely be a mid-September flight. Not date- or day-specific. I like LHR-LAX as it's direct, but OTOH SFO has 2 flights/day (but also more elites and *G passengers).

Thoughts? Also, I know it's still a gamble but which route do you think gives me the best chance at the reconfigured 777 seats?

Thanks!

To clarify, I'm hoping to upgrade from Y to C using a SWU. Wondering if the chances of SWU clearance are greater if I go via SFO rather than direct LHR-LAX. If via SFO, which flight should I choose, the 10:35 am or the 2:10 pm?

Thanks again!

I have been on the LHR-SFO flight a few times already this year and it is packed every time. I don't know if this helps but it is my observation. Good luck

I took LHR-SFO-LHR about two weeks ago, and was upgraded on both segs. Booked the ticket in December, and the u/gs confirmed in January and April, although the April one took some finagling by the 1K Desk to clear.

I did have my 777 to SFO swapped to the old version, which was disappointing, but that meant more seats available for upgrade to C.

How far out are you going to book, and what type of fare are you going to get? Naturally, the higher, the better.

To clarify, I'm hoping to upgrade from Y to C using a SWU. Wondering if the chances of SWU clearance are greater if I go via SFO rather than direct LHR-LAX. If via SFO, which flight should I choose, the 10:35 am or the 2:10 pm?
Thanks again!

Just a theory - but, the 1035am flight arrives early in the morning, which means you can make connections. The 230pm flight arrives late in the day, meaning few connections. A flight with more connections will be more valuable to more people = more competition. Therefore, I'd think that the later flight would be better.

Good point, mitchmu. Friendlyskies, I'm flying in mid-September and will prolly ticket tomorrow. Not sure which fare class but will make sure it's upgrade-eligible.

Are you saying that your dates are flexible or that you don't yet know the specific date you'll have to fly?

If the former, I just did a quick check for 9/12-9/18 and expertflyer.com indicates there are upgrades available all the way from LHR to LAX via ORD or IAD on 9/12 and just via IAD on 9/17. You could grab those if they suit your schedule or join EF and set up email alerts for upgrade availability opening up between now and whenever you must book.

If at all possible, go for the upgrades available at time of ticketing even if it means a connection or (as a second choice) even if what turns out to be available for upgrading just gets you across the Atlantic and you must wait list the rest. Buying a ticket on UA with the hopes of securing an upgrade all the way later is even more of a gamble than ever, especially but not only because the system goes haywire 24 hours before the flight and you lose your place on the waiting/standy list.

Are you saying that your dates are flexible or that you don't yet know the specific date you'll have to fly?

If the former, I just did a quick check for 9/12-9/18 and expertflyer.com indicates there are upgrades available all the way from LHR to LAX via ORD or IAD on 9/12 and just via IAD on 9/17. You could grab those if they suit your schedule or join EF and set up email alerts for upgrade availability opening up between now and whenever you must book.

If at all possible, go for the upgrades available at time of ticketing even if it means a connection or (as a second choice) even if what turns out to be available for upgrading just gets you across the Atlantic and you must wait list the rest. Buying a ticket on UA with the hopes of securing an upgrade all the way later is even more of a gamble than ever, especially but not only because the system goes haywire 24 hours before the flight and you lose your place on the waiting/standy list.

I could go via ORD or IAD and have done so before; I guess I was hoping to go direct or via SFO as it meant more hours in lie-flat seating. :)

I could go via ORD or IAD and have done so before; I guess I was hoping to go direct or via SFO as it meant more hours in lie-flat seating. :)

I'd feel the same way, but a bird in hand... ;)

I could go via ORD or IAD and have done so before; I guess I was hoping to go direct or via SFO as it meant more hours in lie-flat seating. :)

There are countless reasons why direct is better - but then you need to make the tradeoff between R available now vs. prayer of R opening later. If you don't clear at before T-24, you're most likely screwed with the new CO system.

If you book and waitlist, make sure you sign up for EF and get alerts when R opens. You can't trust the CO system to UG you automatically. Flying on this airline has now become a full time job in its own right.

By the way, if it were me, I'd also book as late as possible in September. The farther you go, the more you're clearing away from the summer travel season and entering the shoulder/low season and remember the mid-week travel rule - I think it's Tue/Thu are best days?

There are countless reasons why direct is better - but then you need to make the tradeoff between R available now vs. prayer of R opening later. If you don't clear at before T-24, you're most likely screwed with the new CO system.

If you book and waitlist, make sure you sign up for EF and get alerts when R opens. You can't trust the CO system to UG you automatically. Flying on this airline has now become a full time job in its own right.


I can testify to this good advice, which is why I also recommend EF. The EF alert just helped me bag an upgrade (BKK-NRT) that I most likely would not have gotten otherwise. I was waitlisted using a GPU on that flight when two R seats opened up about 36 hours in advance. No automatic upgrade from UA. I had to call in to grab the upgrade...and even then, I got charged an additional GPU, but think and hope I'll be able to get it back when I have time to call (and wait on hold for) MP to straighten it out.

Hi. This would likely be a mid-September flight. Not date- or day-specific. I like LHR-LAX as it's direct, but OTOH SFO has 2 flights/day (but also more elites and *G passengers).

Thoughts? Also, I know it's still a gamble but which route do you think gives me the best chance at the reconfigured 777 seats?

Thanks!

Here is what I am showing for september based on a new database I am working off of (Check before you book because I just wrote this tonight):

DATE ORGIN DESTINATION FLIGHTNUMBER AIRCRAFT RINVENTORY
2012-09-05 LHR LAX UA935 Boeing 777-200 9
2012-09-17 LHR LAX UA935 Boeing 777-200 1
2012-09-19 LHR LAX UA935 Boeing 777-200 6
2012-09-26 LHR SFO UA955 Boeing 777-200 2

Here is what I am showing for september based on a new database I am working off of (Check before you book because I just wrote this tonight):

DATE ORGIN DESTINATION FLIGHTNUMBER AIRCRAFT RINVENTORY
2012-09-05 LHR LAX UA935 Boeing 777-200 9
2012-09-17 LHR LAX UA935 Boeing 777-200 1
2012-09-19 LHR LAX UA935 Boeing 777-200 6
2012-09-26 LHR SFO UA955 Boeing 777-200 2


Awesome, thanks. I just signed for EF.

Semi-related question for anyone in the know: I like the reconfigured 777s for C and F, but not for Y. In particular, I remember the tray tables in row 20 to be really flimsy. They literally rest on your lap and don't extend out very far (so I can't rest my head on them). Am wondering if this changed (as I'm guessing most pax hated them also) and they used the bulkhead tray tables similar to what they have on the reconfigured 767 rows 19 and 20. Any ideas?

IME there is a lot more advance upgrade availability on the LAX route. The day of upgrades seem to be a crapshoot, although I'd still say LAX is a bit easier.

Isn't the earlier UA flight the old barcalounger type seats...I believe the afternoon flight is the lie flat...

Isn't the earlier UA flight the old barcalounger type seats...I believe the afternoon flight is the lie flat...

That's how it's in the system, but the two flights, in practice, have nearly equal incidences of old and new configurations.

I would suggest the LAX route as well. SFO is very difficult unless you get something when you book. I have given up on SWUs from SFO, and just buy Z tickets.