Jul 24, 2016, 4:23 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Operational Upgrades - Op-ups -- are upgrades that occur when there is a need by the airline to move passenger to the higher cabin: could be due to overbooking of the lower cabin, could be a weight and balance issue, could be a broken seat, ....... whatever the reason, it is an airline driven reason, not a customer request.
If the issue still exists after all upgrades have cleared, then the common approach is for passengers to be selected based on status or status/fare but the GA has discretion and may make a selection for other reasons.
Overbooking is the most common reason, as there is no available / allowed seat for all the passengers in the cabin. If the cabin has available seats, there will be no op-ups except for some special corner cases (such as weight & balance).
Asking for an upgrade because of a special occasion or you are dressed especially professional, or you have a suave manner does not work, those often repeated "upgrade secret hints" will just get you a chuckle or a "go away" look.
pmUA FT classic thread on Op-ups - Operational upgrades from a gate agent's perspective
Related threads:
2014 Thread - Are Discretionary Complimentary (Operational) Upgrade Common on UA?
Chances of Operational Upgrade on International Flights (Honeymoon)? ..
Consolidated United Operational Upgrade (OP-UPs) Experiences
If the issue still exists after all upgrades have cleared, then the common approach is for passengers to be selected based on status or status/fare but the GA has discretion and may make a selection for other reasons.
Overbooking is the most common reason, as there is no available / allowed seat for all the passengers in the cabin. If the cabin has available seats, there will be no op-ups except for some special corner cases (such as weight & balance).
Asking for an upgrade because of a special occasion or you are dressed especially professional, or you have a suave manner does not work, those often repeated "upgrade secret hints" will just get you a chuckle or a "go away" look.
pmUA FT classic thread on Op-ups - Operational upgrades from a gate agent's perspective
Related threads:
2014 Thread - Are Discretionary Complimentary (Operational) Upgrade Common on UA?
Chances of Operational Upgrade on International Flights (Honeymoon)? ..
Consolidated United Operational Upgrade (OP-UPs) Experiences
Consolidated - Chance of Operational Upgrade (Op-Up) on my flight?
Mar 18, 2017, 7:42 am
#198
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,352
Not even sure this is that uncommon.
Op-up J to F makes sense, as UA can fairly easily "sell" Y to J upgrades. If they have those empty F seats it makes sense to move some from J to F.
Also happens when Y is oversold, some get Y to J op-up, then others J to F.
Probably one of the reasons they decided to get rid of F in the first place.
Op-up J to F makes sense, as UA can fairly easily "sell" Y to J upgrades. If they have those empty F seats it makes sense to move some from J to F.
Also happens when Y is oversold, some get Y to J op-up, then others J to F.
Probably one of the reasons they decided to get rid of F in the first place.
Mar 18, 2017, 8:04 am
#199
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,157
Of probably the most common option, when J is simply oversold, and nobody is attempting to upgrade J->F.
Mar 18, 2017, 8:19 am
#200
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,352
Oh? I was under the impression that is exactly what happened to me several times, although I admit I didn't pay that close attention to what happened "downstream".
Last op-up was PEK-SFO J-->F....and I was initially a little disappointed then as I had 14A in UD booked. Was nice in 1K though, so no complaints!
Last op-up was PEK-SFO J-->F....and I was initially a little disappointed then as I had 14A in UD booked. Was nice in 1K though, so no complaints!
Mar 18, 2017, 9:14 am
#203
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: United 100K, Etihad Gold, Marriot Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 578
Last year I got an operational upgrade Beijing to Chicago, even got on the 747 upper deck for one last time, this was as a platinum.
Back around 2009 - 2010 I used to fly on full fare tickets to India and the Middle East, and I would get pissed if I didn't get oped into global first - it happened quite a bit.
Back around 2009 - 2010 I used to fly on full fare tickets to India and the Middle East, and I would get pissed if I didn't get oped into global first - it happened quite a bit.
Mar 18, 2017, 9:55 am
#204
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
Our best op-up was SFO-HKG. Booked Y, used SWU to C, then got op-up to F. At first, they only offered F to my wife, but gave it to me as well to avoid splitting us up.
Mar 18, 2017, 10:08 am
#205
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 102
A couple years ago I was on a non-upgradeable economy ticket from DEN-NRT and was moved up to business class last minute to allow someone else in the oversold economy cabin. I was 1k but on a super cheap ticket so I was presently surprised. My boss was pissed (he as on the same ticket but I got the bump up).
Mar 30, 2017, 12:43 am
#206
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,352
Gamble for Op-Up or not?
How many have done this sort of thing (and been successful?).
Looking at a one-way PEK-EWR right now. Just booked a V fare with a GPU applied which is waitlisted.
When checking load, it says E is full J has 15 unbooked. I know this to have happened before: E was completely full, and I scored an Op-Up to J.
I am considering booking another ticket in an S fare or V fare and dropping the GPU, and canceling the current ticket. And then hoping for the Op-Up. Unfortunately, I may end up with a middle seat in E, which won't be fun!
How many take such gambles, and have you been successful in the past?
Looking at a one-way PEK-EWR right now. Just booked a V fare with a GPU applied which is waitlisted.
When checking load, it says E is full J has 15 unbooked. I know this to have happened before: E was completely full, and I scored an Op-Up to J.
I am considering booking another ticket in an S fare or V fare and dropping the GPU, and canceling the current ticket. And then hoping for the Op-Up. Unfortunately, I may end up with a middle seat in E, which won't be fun!
How many take such gambles, and have you been successful in the past?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 30, 2017 at 1:42 am Reason: per OP request, changed title
Mar 30, 2017, 1:07 am
#207
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,415
What's your general usage rate of GPUs? Don't forget that they are instruments which expire at the end of the year and are literally only good for this.
Mar 30, 2017, 1:44 am
#208
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,352
* I believe United didn't re-deposit one when canceling a flight.
Mar 30, 2017, 6:36 am
#209
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Last month I got an op-up from a V-fare to Polaris Business on a ORD-CDG flight. I was already sitting in a bulkhead seat in E+ when they asked me to move. And to make it better, they gave me a good seat: 6J on a 772.
Mar 30, 2017, 8:38 am
#210
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Do it!
If you have a better usage of your GPU, you should gamble with PEK-EWR. If there are GSs on the flight, they will have priority over you. You should know the results of your gambling once you check in over the counter (do not check in online or App). If the gamble fails, you can call 1K line to upfare and apply your GPU at that time. I had trouble to do this once because a 1K agent claimed that there was a cutoff time (2 h before departure).
Good luck.
Good luck.
How many have done this sort of thing (and been successful?).
Looking at a one-way PEK-EWR right now. Just booked a V fare with a GPU applied which is waitlisted.
When checking load, it says E is full J has 15 unbooked. I know this to have happened before: E was completely full, and I scored an Op-Up to J.
I am considering booking another ticket in an S fare or V fare and dropping the GPU, and canceling the current ticket. And then hoping for the Op-Up. Unfortunately, I may end up with a middle seat in E, which won't be fun!
How many take such gambles, and have you been successful in the past?
Looking at a one-way PEK-EWR right now. Just booked a V fare with a GPU applied which is waitlisted.
When checking load, it says E is full J has 15 unbooked. I know this to have happened before: E was completely full, and I scored an Op-Up to J.
I am considering booking another ticket in an S fare or V fare and dropping the GPU, and canceling the current ticket. And then hoping for the Op-Up. Unfortunately, I may end up with a middle seat in E, which won't be fun!
How many take such gambles, and have you been successful in the past?