United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Op-Up experiences on UA930

I'm flying to London tomorrow for the Olympics (yay!) and was wondering what people's experiences with op-ups have been recently on SFO-LHR flights. I'm on an S fare currently, but this is my first flight as a GS...

Load factor is currently full in Y and showing C6 and F5. I'm flying with a family member (also GS) flying in paid F. Any shot at either an upgrade to C or the double bump to join my relative up front?

IME op-ups are rare and completely unpredictable. Having said that, I've only ever had them (4 in 6 years of very regular TATL flying) in the dog days of summer, so that's in your favor. However, all four have been flying west on the day flight rather than east on the night flight. Perhaps people use their SWUs more on overnight flights?

Let us know your experience.

I'm flying to London tomorrow for the Olympics (yay!) and was wondering what people's experiences with op-ups have been recently on SFO-LHR flights. I'm on an S fare currently, but this is my first flight as a GS...

Load factor is currently full in Y and showing C6 and F5. I'm flying with a family member (also GS) flying in paid F. Any shot at either an upgrade to C or the double bump to join my relative up front?

If you’re talking about UA 930 on the 31st of July, coach is not full, they are still selling Y7, YN7, B7, M6, E6, U6, H6, HN6, Q4, V4, W3, S3. Chances are you won't get an op-up!
Additionally, getting to sit with your relative can be accomplished by you getting an op-up, (small chance) and then your relative swapping seats with the person next to you in business class.

I'm flying to London tomorrow for the Olympics (yay!) and was wondering what people's experiences with op-ups have been recently on SFO-LHR flights. I'm on an S fare currently, but this is my first flight as a GS...

Load factor is currently full in Y and showing C6 and F5. I'm flying with a family member (also GS) flying in paid F. Any shot at either an upgrade to C or the double bump to join my relative up front?

As a GS you'd be first in line for an op-up. How it looks so far:

The flight is not sold out in economy.. it's Y7....S3... the seat map shows a couple of regular economy seats available and TONS of E+ seats available (most of which will be taken by people who don't have seat assignments already). That doesn't mean that the flight is not already oversold..it could be, but it's not a slam dunk. I'd like your chances a lot more if it were Y0.

The good news is the flight is showing R2 which means there's no one waiting for an upgrade..those people would be upgraded before any op-ups are done. So if the flight is indeed oversold you'd have a decent shot.

Double upgrades are not permitted so it's very unlikely you'd make it all the way to F..but they do happen on rare occasions. I assume you'll be joining your family member at the IFL at SFO? You might have them check with the agents in there and see how the flight looks so you'll have an idea if you should go to the gate early or not.

Thanks for the insight and info everyone. I'll hope for the best tomorrow, I guess. A final question, has united shown flexibility on using a GPU (despite the S fare) either in the IfL or at the gate?

Thanks for the insight and info everyone. I'll hope for the best tomorrow, I guess. A final question, has united shown flexibility on using a GPU (despite the S fare) either in the IfL or at the gate?

Not in my experience, and certainly not since the CO takeover.

Thanks for the insight and info everyone. I'll hope for the best tomorrow, I guess. A final question, has united shown flexibility on using a GPU (despite the S fare) either in the IfL or at the gate?

Why not buy-up to a W and use a GPU? It's R2 so will clear right away. Current fare diff is only $100 o/w from what I can see.

Why not buy-up to a W and use a GPU? It's R2 so will clear right away. Current fare diff is only $100 o/w from what I can see.

It's not that simple...buying up to W on the first flight of an itinerary will force the entire ticket to be re-priced and there will be a change fee assessed (probably $250). It'll cost way more than $100. I would guess the OP would have bought W to begin with if they had a GPU to burn on it...

Sadly, I didn't book the flight nor am I paying for it so I got stuck with the S fare. I'll ask about the up-fare at checkin tomorrow.

Sorry to deviate...but, your title got me thinking. I thought it was interesting that you asked about Op-Up experiences on "UA930" instead of "on SFO-LHR".

Do most people on here know that UA930 is SFO-LHR just like they know ORD = Chicago O'Hare Airport? I can't imagine memorizing flight numbers....but, maybe some people do.

I just found it interesting....

Sadly, I didn't book the flight nor am I paying for it so I got stuck with the S fare. I'll ask about the up-fare at checkin tomorrow.

They may have more latitude on the up-fare tomorrow, too. Another option would be to do a miles + copay upgrade, which you could do right now and confirm the seat given the R2 availability.

I know the number because I do that flight a lot, if I didn't I wouldn't know it at all.

Anyway, upgrades are notoriously harder to come by after 3/3, and especially on the SFO-LHR route. Just look at the upgrade waiting list on the screen when you are waiting there and the amount of seats available.

Sorry to deviate...but, your title got me thinking. I thought it was interesting that you asked about Op-Up experiences on "UA930" instead of "on SFO-LHR".

Do most people on here know that UA930 is SFO-LHR just like they know ORD = Chicago O'Hare Airport? I can't imagine memorizing flight numbers....but, maybe some people do.

I just found it interesting....

PMUA defined TATL flights as 9nn (even eastbound, odd westbound), and TPAC flights as 8nn (8 is considered a lucky number in some Asian cultures).

For example, 930/931 to/from LHR, 900/901 to/from FRA, etc.

Olympics??? Get me out of here! When leaving London earlier this month for the duration of the "Games", I was given an unexpected Op-Up E+ to C on UA931 LHR-SFO. For the return flight UA 930 on August 16th I was upgraded several weeks ago (GPU with W fare). I always use GPU travelling from SFO/LAX back to LHR: so far 100% success for 5 flights in 2012.

I have had op-ups on this flight in the past, but not since 01MAR. It seems to me that CO doesn't overbook as much as UA used to - not only have I not had an op-up since 01MAR, but I've not even had one flight ask for VDBs.

Anyway, upgrades are notoriously harder to come by after 3/3, and especially on the SFO-LHR route. Just look at the upgrade waiting list on the screen when you are waiting there and the amount of seats available.

It hasn't been very difficult for me, a 1K traveling generally mid-week (I'm 7/8 on this route in both directions) - I think it's infinitely more difficult to upgrade SFO-IAD for example.

It hasn't been very difficult for me, a 1K traveling generally mid-week (I'm 7/8 on this route in both directions) - I think it's infinitely more difficult to upgrade SFO-IAD for example.

I am the same. No idea what fare classes though which will naturally play a part.

Just wwnted to mention that I ended up snagging the op up to C and enjoyed a very comfortable flight with a great LHR-based crew!