Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the active thread is
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight
Related thread - Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight
Related thread - Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight {Archive}
#106
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 307
as Kacee mentions, LH does fly SFO-MUC, but IIRC it's on the old slanty-flat J seat A340. if you can get LAX-FRA, that's the way to go...with SEA-FRA being a very reasonable alternative.
MUC is "easier" to transit, but if you can get an upgrade on LH from LAX-FRA on your desired date of travel, i'd definitely take it versus going SFO-ORD-MUC. the MUC *G lounge is also very nice IMHO.
much is made on FT about how bad it is to transit FRA. i've never had any huge issues there (including navigating separate tickets from LH to DL on a 3 hour "connection"), though the UA boarding process there is even more of an enormous charlie foxtrot than anywhere else, IMO. the FRA airport app for iPhone is abundantly useful.
MUC is "easier" to transit, but if you can get an upgrade on LH from LAX-FRA on your desired date of travel, i'd definitely take it versus going SFO-ORD-MUC. the MUC *G lounge is also very nice IMHO.
much is made on FT about how bad it is to transit FRA. i've never had any huge issues there (including navigating separate tickets from LH to DL on a 3 hour "connection"), though the UA boarding process there is even more of an enormous charlie foxtrot than anywhere else, IMO. the FRA airport app for iPhone is abundantly useful.
If I see J avail that means I can confirm? Would it be easier to call the 1k line or do this on my own via website?
#107
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#108
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 307
This is what I see
It's 340...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...psjjnp2tfk.png
No chance of upgrade?
It's 340...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...psjjnp2tfk.png
No chance of upgrade?
#109
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This is what I see
It's 340...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...psjjnp2tfk.png
No chance of upgrade?
It's 340...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...psjjnp2tfk.png
No chance of upgrade?
You need to do an award search on united.com (or NH or AC) to find out if there is saver award inventory. Award Search
ps. On May 24 there is none on that flight.
Last edited by Kacee; Mar 31, 2015 at 12:56 pm
#110
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 307
You are searching revenue flights. That tells you nothing about award inventory on an LH flight.
You need to do an award search on united.com (or NH or AC) to find out if there is saver award inventory. Award Search
ps. On May 24 there is none on that flight.
You need to do an award search on united.com (or NH or AC) to find out if there is saver award inventory. Award Search
ps. On May 24 there is none on that flight.
Doesn't matter if it's saver or standard award? Sfo-FRA is avai- does that mean I should be able o confirm the upgrade if I booke q class or higher?
I would still book sfo- vie and select the corresponding flights, not multiple and selecting legs myself right?
Sorry for the crazy questions.
#111
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Gotcha-
Doesn't matter if it's saver or standard award? Sfo-FRA is avai- does that mean I should be able o confirm the upgrade if I booke q class or higher?
I would still book sfo- vie and select the corresponding flights, not multiple and selecting legs myself right?
Sorry for the crazy questions.
Doesn't matter if it's saver or standard award? Sfo-FRA is avai- does that mean I should be able o confirm the upgrade if I booke q class or higher?
I would still book sfo- vie and select the corresponding flights, not multiple and selecting legs myself right?
Sorry for the crazy questions.
UA operated flight. Purchased fare class must be W or higher. For the GPU to clear at booking, there must be R available. You can check for R using expert mode. If R is not available, you can waitlist the GPU. Very much a gamble, especially on routes such as SFO-FRA.
LH operated flight. Purchased fare class must be Q or higher. If there is business saver (not standard) award inventory, the upgrade should clear at booking. You can check for business saver award inventory by doing an award search on united.com. You can also waitlist the GPU. A flight such as SFO-FRA on the LH A380, with something like 96 J seats, is generally a better waitlist gamble than the UA flight (with 52 J seats).
#112
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: SLC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 235
DEN-NRT-SIN Battlefield or SDC
Any regulars on DEN-NRT? Headed SLC-DEN-NRT-SIN Monday and wondering whether to SDC through SFO (747 with better inventory) or wait 'er out. 4 open DEN-NRT (dropped from 14 on Friday).
4/6 DENNRT UA139 W
4/7 NRTSIN UA803 W --> snowball's chance from what I can see
Diditclear hasn't got much to go by. Insight always appreciated!
4/6 DENNRT UA139 W
4/7 NRTSIN UA803 W --> snowball's chance from what I can see
Diditclear hasn't got much to go by. Insight always appreciated!
#113
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Any regulars on DEN-NRT? Headed SLC-DEN-NRT-SIN Monday and wondering whether to SDC through SFO (747 with better inventory) or wait 'er out. 4 open DEN-NRT (dropped from 14 on Friday).
4/6 DENNRT UA139 W
4/7 NRTSIN UA803 W --> snowball's chance from what I can see
Diditclear hasn't got much to go by. Insight always appreciated!
4/6 DENNRT UA139 W
4/7 NRTSIN UA803 W --> snowball's chance from what I can see
Diditclear hasn't got much to go by. Insight always appreciated!
#114
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considering that if you are traveling Monday as it sounds, you cannot SDC until Sunday, a LOT will change between now and then. i'd keep the SFO option in mind, and don't forget about LAX if the schedule can be made to work...but realistically you can't predict much of anything until 24 hours before the flight, and even then with aggressive upselling, it's an educated guess.
1. SFO
2. LAX
3. DEN
I'm not sure that upsells are such an issue on long-haul international. If UA ever sells that buy-up for under $500, it's an IT mistake.
Looking at next Monday, my guess is that SFO-HND is the only flight with a reasonable chance for a 1K on a W.
#115
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: SLC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 235
considering that if you are traveling Monday as it sounds, you cannot SDC until Sunday, a LOT will change between now and then. i'd keep the SFO option in mind, and don't forget about LAX if the schedule can be made to work...but realistically you can't predict much of anything until 24 hours before the flight, and even then with aggressive upselling, it's an educated guess.
Rank in likelihood of R being available:
1. SFO
2. LAX
3. DEN
I'm not sure that upsells are such an issue on long-haul international. If UA ever sells that buy-up for under $500, it's an IT mistake.
Looking at next Monday, my guess is that SFO-HND is the only flight with a reasonable chance for a 1K on a W.
1. SFO
2. LAX
3. DEN
I'm not sure that upsells are such an issue on long-haul international. If UA ever sells that buy-up for under $500, it's an IT mistake.
Looking at next Monday, my guess is that SFO-HND is the only flight with a reasonable chance for a 1K on a W.
#116
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pretty sure you can't SDC via HND anyways, because that would put you onto NH metal for HND-SIN and typically SDC only works for itineraries w/ 100% UA metal, IIRC. so you are probably stuck with NRT and HKG as options...
#117
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 307
One last question- I looked from SFO-MUC/SFO-FRA/SFO-LHR, none has saver business award or R seats available.
I think I am going to give up and just book it. Seems like there are 2 flights from SFO-FRA, would it be a bit easier to upgrade through FRA?
I think I am going to give up and just book it. Seems like there are 2 flights from SFO-FRA, would it be a bit easier to upgrade through FRA?
#118
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#119
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It's really impossible to predict odds in the abstract, flight loads change from day to day. But in general, the UA flight SFO-FRA is a very difficult upgrade. The LH flight has almost twice as many business class seats (but requires a higher fare class).
If the upgrade is really important to you, the advice upthread is to look for a connecting flight (i.e., IAH-MUC, ORD-MUC, etc.) with R available at booking.
#120
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Platinum Elite, National Executive, United Gold
Posts: 1,181
Silver on the first LGA-IAH this upcoming Saturday morning... any shot?
Additional deets: G fare, 11 open F seats, 7 E+ seats taken, 2 non-elites on the same itinerary.
Additional deets: G fare, 11 open F seats, 7 E+ seats taken, 2 non-elites on the same itinerary.