Glad I didn't succumb to plane envy!
Jun 18, 2017, 8:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: UA GS & Million Miler, AA Lifetime Gold (MM)
Posts: 206
Glad I didn't succumb to plane envy!
I'm flying SFO-EWR early morning tomorrow. About a month ago, they swapped a new Polaris 777 configuration in, and I seriously thought about dropping the buy-up dollars to get a chance to try the new hard product. It was expensive, but I could afford it.
I finally decided it was just a little too extravagant, and resigned myself to coach, but as late as this morning just before checkin, I was seriously thinking about it.
Come to find out now (T-12 or so) they've swapped to a HNL-configured 772! My exit row turned into standard economy plus, but I would have been REALLY frosted had I spent the significant money only to end up in seats I've flown probably a million miles in!
Caveat emptor, for sure!
I finally decided it was just a little too extravagant, and resigned myself to coach, but as late as this morning just before checkin, I was seriously thinking about it.
Come to find out now (T-12 or so) they've swapped to a HNL-configured 772! My exit row turned into standard economy plus, but I would have been REALLY frosted had I spent the significant money only to end up in seats I've flown probably a million miles in!
Caveat emptor, for sure!
Jun 18, 2017, 8:46 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,337
Come to find out now (T-12 or so) they've swapped to a HNL-configured 772! My exit row turned into standard economy plus, but I would have been REALLY frosted had I spent the significant money only to end up in seats I've flown probably a million miles in!
Caveat emptor, for sure!
Caveat emptor, for sure!
Jun 19, 2017, 12:29 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
Jun 19, 2017, 5:38 am
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: 1K---2,909,450 BIS miles
Posts: 214
What this means is that UAL wants to sell those seats and make MONEY, not sell G-K-T seats and let pax ride up front without paying a higher price!
Of the 6 morning flights from SFO to EWR today, which is when the OP is flying, there is ONLY ONE upgrade and that is on flight #535 (Duf,A.-9G), with 48 folks also standing-by for an upgrade, on just that flight alone. Every flight mentioned above are booked full, in First, by people that didn't have their RPU's honored, because they weren't upgraded, but instead paid for those front seats.. So just to clarify, UAL is very stingy about handing out seats upfront with the use of an RPU in advance, and if one does snag one it's probably going to be at the gate.
My post above was to mention that it is not as easy as just applying an RPU, and picking your seat, as those days are loooooooooong gone.
So when you posted above--- flyerbaby19, "Why not use an RPU?" ----- THAT'S WHY!!!
Of the 6 morning flights from SFO to EWR today, which is when the OP is flying, there is ONLY ONE upgrade and that is on flight #535 (Duf,A.-9G), with 48 folks also standing-by for an upgrade, on just that flight alone. Every flight mentioned above are booked full, in First, by people that didn't have their RPU's honored, because they weren't upgraded, but instead paid for those front seats.. So just to clarify, UAL is very stingy about handing out seats upfront with the use of an RPU in advance, and if one does snag one it's probably going to be at the gate.
My post above was to mention that it is not as easy as just applying an RPU, and picking your seat, as those days are loooooooooong gone.
So when you posted above--- flyerbaby19, "Why not use an RPU?" ----- THAT'S WHY!!!
Jun 19, 2017, 6:19 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
You're incorrect. You're going off the 'upgrade tab' on the app and that doesn't show all upgrades. I (and many others on these forums) fly PS monthly or more and we use RPU's To sit in the front cabin.
We don't clear into the upgrade list that you're judging based based on your metrics and neither do tons of other people. I clear in advance. T-24,T-96, sometimes T-7 days out. I buy the cheapest economy fare so I'm not buying Y,B,M.
Go read the RPU thread. It'll clarify that everything I said as fact. Many of us are happy with our success with RPU's and have yet to miss an upgrade all year.
We don't clear into the upgrade list that you're judging based based on your metrics and neither do tons of other people. I clear in advance. T-24,T-96, sometimes T-7 days out. I buy the cheapest economy fare so I'm not buying Y,B,M.
Go read the RPU thread. It'll clarify that everything I said as fact. Many of us are happy with our success with RPU's and have yet to miss an upgrade all year.
What this means is that UAL wants to sell those seats and make MONEY, not sell G-K-T seats and let pax ride up front without paying a higher price!
Of the 6 morning flights from SFO to EWR today, which is when the OP is flying, there is ONLY ONE upgrade and that is on flight #535 (Duf,A.-9G), with 48 folks also standing-by for an upgrade, on just that flight alone. Every flight mentioned above are booked full, in First, by people that didn't have their RPU's honored, because they weren't upgraded, but instead paid for those front seats.. So just to clarify, UAL is very stingy about handing out seats upfront with the use of an RPU in advance, and if one does snag one it's probably going to be at the gate.
My post above was to mention that it is not as easy as just applying an RPU, and picking your seat, as those days are loooooooooong gone.
So when you posted above--- flyerbaby19, "Why not use an RPU?" ----- THAT'S WHY!!!
Of the 6 morning flights from SFO to EWR today, which is when the OP is flying, there is ONLY ONE upgrade and that is on flight #535 (Duf,A.-9G), with 48 folks also standing-by for an upgrade, on just that flight alone. Every flight mentioned above are booked full, in First, by people that didn't have their RPU's honored, because they weren't upgraded, but instead paid for those front seats.. So just to clarify, UAL is very stingy about handing out seats upfront with the use of an RPU in advance, and if one does snag one it's probably going to be at the gate.
My post above was to mention that it is not as easy as just applying an RPU, and picking your seat, as those days are loooooooooong gone.
So when you posted above--- flyerbaby19, "Why not use an RPU?" ----- THAT'S WHY!!!
Jun 19, 2017, 6:27 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, UA Gold, Marriott LTT, Avis President's Club
Posts: 1,539
I apply RPUs to all my flights and wind up between 15-20 on the UG list as well. GS or bust 
I totally get that CPUs are basically dead. However, airlines give out these upgrade coupons as benefits then they don't clear, then expire.
I totally get that CPUs are basically dead. However, airlines give out these upgrade coupons as benefits then they don't clear, then expire.
Jun 19, 2017, 7:00 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA 1.6MM EXP; UA GS; SPG LTG,Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,477
They aren't easy to clear on SFOEWR for sure; in my days before GS I haven't been able to clear into R ever (I usually book 2 weeks out max due to schedule uncertainty, usually too close in to stand a chance) ... these days those clear into PN for me which is usually less rare. But even so this involves careful flight selection.
When ten plus pax step forward at GS pre-boarding for a 752; yeah, the odds of anyone else clearing are thin.
Can I ask if your PS flights are SFO or LAX (guessing the latter based on your handle)? From what I've seen SFO tends to have a higher GS load just because of the volume UA funnels through there. I've seen 20+ GS on TATL more than once (I really doubt 5% of the MP base (or even 2%) - or 20 pax on a 744, give or take - are GS).
Obviously, a higher GS concentration (if such is the case in SFO, which I believe it is) will affect the ability of others to clear, particularly on business-heavy routes like EWR or IAD.
I guess what I'm saying is YMMV. Obviously some routes are less easy than others.
When ten plus pax step forward at GS pre-boarding for a 752; yeah, the odds of anyone else clearing are thin.
You're incorrect. You're going off the 'upgrade tab' on the app and that doesn't show all upgrades. I (and many others on these forums) fly PS monthly or more and we use RPU's To sit in the front cabin.
We don't clear into the upgrade list that you're judging based based on your metrics and neither do tons of other people. I clear in advance. T-24,T-96, sometimes T-7 days out. I buy the cheapest economy fare so I'm not buying Y,B,M.
Go read the RPU thread. It'll clarify that everything I said as fact. Many of us are happy with our success with RPU's and have yet to miss an upgrade all year.
We don't clear into the upgrade list that you're judging based based on your metrics and neither do tons of other people. I clear in advance. T-24,T-96, sometimes T-7 days out. I buy the cheapest economy fare so I'm not buying Y,B,M.
Go read the RPU thread. It'll clarify that everything I said as fact. Many of us are happy with our success with RPU's and have yet to miss an upgrade all year.
Obviously, a higher GS concentration (if such is the case in SFO, which I believe it is) will affect the ability of others to clear, particularly on business-heavy routes like EWR or IAD.
I guess what I'm saying is YMMV. Obviously some routes are less easy than others.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 19, 2017 at 8:51 pm
Jun 19, 2017, 7:14 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
Can I ask if your PS flights are SFO or LAX (guessing the latter based on your handle)? From what I've seen SFO tends to have a higher GS load just because of the volume UA funnels through there. I've seen 20+ GS on TATL more than once (I really doubt 5% of the MP base (or even 2%) - or 20 pax on a 744, give or take - are GS).
Obviously, a higher GS concentration (if such is the case in SFO, which I believe it is) will affect the ability of others to clear, particularly on business-heavy routes like EWR or IAD.
I guess what I'm saying is YMMV. Obviously some routes are less easy than others.
Obviously, a higher GS concentration (if such is the case in SFO, which I believe it is) will affect the ability of others to clear, particularly on business-heavy routes like EWR or IAD.
I guess what I'm saying is YMMV. Obviously some routes are less easy than others.
That also being said, I always always fly on the 28J seaters rather than the 16J seater flights.
