Wow, they're sure selling a lot of upgrades
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: USA
Programs: Alaska MVP, Marriott Lifetime Titanium (United Silver), Hilton Gold
Posts: 779
Wow, they're sure selling a lot of upgrades
I'm flying SEA-IAD today on a 757. Checked in at T-24 and noticed that only 13 seats had been booked. Was offered to buy an upgrade for $99. As departure approaches, 21 seats are how booked, 5 people show as cleared (who were never on the waitlist...not sure where they came from) and I'm starting to drop down the waitlist. I don't think I missed an upgrade on a 757 on PMUA (certainly not one is >10 seats available at T-24) as a 1K.
Is this a cutover waitlist problem? Or is the new United really going to try to squeeze every last drop out of the front cabin? If they're selling upgrades to GMs for $99 on a transcon (and for all I know, maybe they're charging them more), I think elite upgrades are going to be few and far between...
Is this a cutover waitlist problem? Or is the new United really going to try to squeeze every last drop out of the front cabin? If they're selling upgrades to GMs for $99 on a transcon (and for all I know, maybe they're charging them more), I think elite upgrades are going to be few and far between...
#2
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 8
Same thing happening bos to ord today. 5fc seats open 4 hours ago get to airport and all sold out. No upgrades for Anyone. When I checked last night fc offered for 700 extra. This morning it was 200. Reverse auction equals no free upgrades.
#3
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Radisson Premium
Posts: 6,635
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)
Ridiculous....
Ridiculous....
#4
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: HHonors Gold, National Exec, Marriott Silver
Posts: 267
Ahhh, gotta love reduced competition!
#5
Join Date: May 2004
Location: OAK
Programs: UA Gold MM / AS MVP Gold
Posts: 2,504
This is typical PMCO policy. Money talks, status walks when it comes to CPU/UDU/EUA. I'm researching alternate airlines for my domestic travel needs out of SFO.
#6
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: MEL
Programs: VAG
Posts: 1,865
How dare they sell something for $99 when they could have given it to me for free?
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Los Angeles & Orange County, CA
Programs: Wouldn't you like to know?!
Posts: 23,822
Shocker How about $69 ONT-IAH? If a non-elite has to check bags, it's a no brainer
$99 upgrade purchasers' names will show up on the cleared list.
Welcome to the new Gondinendal Erlines!!
Couldn't be happier about my brand new non-elite status!
Couldn't be happier about my brand new non-elite status!
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
I fully expected this.
After 3/3, UDU success rate will go down pretty ugly.
A GM who is supported by upgrade instruments (CR-1, miles) will jump ahead of 1Ks Plats Golds on the T-24 waitlist unless they pay Y/B/M fares. This, actually I can understand.
Instant Y/B/M fares.
Tens of dollars upgrade offered to anyone on the street as SMI/J is trying to squeeze the last cent before the door closes.
The good days of 1Ks, Plats or even 1Ps who got decent UDU are over.
After 3/3, UDU success rate will go down pretty ugly.
A GM who is supported by upgrade instruments (CR-1, miles) will jump ahead of 1Ks Plats Golds on the T-24 waitlist unless they pay Y/B/M fares. This, actually I can understand.
Instant Y/B/M fares.
Tens of dollars upgrade offered to anyone on the street as SMI/J is trying to squeeze the last cent before the door closes.
The good days of 1Ks, Plats or even 1Ps who got decent UDU are over.
#9
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
I'm flying SEA-IAD today on a 757. Checked in at T-24 and noticed that only 13 seats had been booked. Was offered to buy an upgrade for $99. As departure approaches, 21 seats are how booked, 5 people show as cleared (who were never on the waitlist...not sure where they came from) and I'm starting to drop down the waitlist. I don't think I missed an upgrade on a 757 on PMUA (certainly not one is >10 seats available at T-24) as a 1K.
Is this a cutover waitlist problem? Or is the new United really going to try to squeeze every last drop out of the front cabin? If they're selling upgrades to GMs for $99 on a transcon (and for all I know, maybe they're charging them more), I think elite upgrades are going to be few and far between...
Is this a cutover waitlist problem? Or is the new United really going to try to squeeze every last drop out of the front cabin? If they're selling upgrades to GMs for $99 on a transcon (and for all I know, maybe they're charging them more), I think elite upgrades are going to be few and far between...
I've also never not cleared SEA-IAD on a 757! If the $99 upgrade is still available I'd take it.. I doubt this is going to be fixed in time for your flight.
#10
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
ORD-IAH. F9 when I looked ~30 hours before departure. When I got to the gate, there was only one F seat left and I was 11th on the list as a 1K. Ultimately only 1 upgrade clears off list according to flight status and by the time flight checks in full I am down to 12th, so I guess I was really 13th in line competing for that one seat.
This was the first time I missed UDU/EUA on a plane with more than 8 seats and wasn't an equipment swap down. I guess this is the new United I get to look forward to?
This was the first time I missed UDU/EUA on a plane with more than 8 seats and wasn't an equipment swap down. I guess this is the new United I get to look forward to?
#11
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: UA-1K, Hertz-Gold, Marriott-Gold, PC-Platinum, SPG
Posts: 2,777
I'm flying SEA-IAD today on a 757. Checked in at T-24 and noticed that only 13 seats had been booked. Was offered to buy an upgrade for $99. As departure approaches, 21 seats are how booked, 5 people show as cleared (who were never on the waitlist...not sure where they came from) and I'm starting to drop down the waitlist. I don't think I missed an upgrade on a 757 on PMUA (certainly not one is >10 seats available at T-24) as a 1K.
Is this a cutover waitlist problem? Or is the new United really going to try to squeeze every last drop out of the front cabin? If they're selling upgrades to GMs for $99 on a transcon (and for all I know, maybe they're charging them more), I think elite upgrades are going to be few and far between...
Is this a cutover waitlist problem? Or is the new United really going to try to squeeze every last drop out of the front cabin? If they're selling upgrades to GMs for $99 on a transcon (and for all I know, maybe they're charging them more), I think elite upgrades are going to be few and far between...
#12
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Honolulu, HI
Programs: Ovaltine secret decoder club, Hilton Diamond, United 1K, Hawaiian air Gold, Starwood Gold
Posts: 281
I'm noticing the same thing.
Yesterday i flew LAx-HNL and have had a 98% UDU clearance over 20+ flights in the last 6 months. I sat in the back. My seat mates were two 1K's, a CO Plat and three golds. We were stunned by how we kept dropping on the list even when we were waiting at the gate. Especially since 48 hours prior there were 18 seats open up front.
I'm hoping that this is a glitch as the poster above stated. Otherwise we here will be quickly evaluating the drive to stay brand loyal to the new UA.
Yesterday i flew LAx-HNL and have had a 98% UDU clearance over 20+ flights in the last 6 months. I sat in the back. My seat mates were two 1K's, a CO Plat and three golds. We were stunned by how we kept dropping on the list even when we were waiting at the gate. Especially since 48 hours prior there were 18 seats open up front.
I'm hoping that this is a glitch as the poster above stated. Otherwise we here will be quickly evaluating the drive to stay brand loyal to the new UA.
Last edited by thehoax; Mar 5, 2012 at 11:49 am Reason: apparently stated wrong info
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
1Ks: you can walk away with your thousands of dollars or tens of thousands of dollars annual spending on UA.
SMI/J doesn't care. He is only happy to collect his TOD upgrade revenue per flight.
That's small company mentality; vision or basic business sense is in extremely short supply here.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
Please don't state erroneous facts. All Golds who flew above 75K last year are now Premier Plat.