CPU Success as a Premier 1K
Feb 11, 2016, 8:59 am
#16
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: UA Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 221
BOS has traditionally been a bit of an AA stronghold, with a high share of elite and high yield travelers based there. As such, it's not surprising that flights to/from AA-centric cities (DFW, BOS, SNA, etc) a UA elite would find it easier-than-average to get UPGs. Same reason its relatively easier for AA elites based out of SFO to get UPGs than UA elites do.
Feb 11, 2016, 9:03 am
#17
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Texas
Programs: UA 1K, AA Platinum, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 327
16/16 out of Iah to sfo, lax and YYC since October. Have another roundtrip to lax in couple of weeks. Hope the trend stays!
All on "N" fares
P.S. SNA to SFO has been s nightmare I changed my routing and it cleared.
All on "N" fares
P.S. SNA to SFO has been s nightmare I changed my routing and it cleared.
Feb 11, 2016, 10:43 am
#18
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MCI
Programs: UA 1K, WN A+
Posts: 54
As a new 1K this year, after platinum and gold before that, this is my third year flying extensively on UA. I have had 19 actual segments this year and am very happy with the upgrade rate so far this year. I buy higher fare classes regularly, so I know that helps. We have also purchased some A and P fares when the difference was reasonable.
I have had 9 flights that were eligible for CPU, and all of them have cleared in advance or at the gate. These were E, M, S and Q fares. The flights were from MCI to connections in hubs at ORD, EWR, IAH, IAD and SFO. Earlier this week I SDC'd twice and still got the upgrade at the gate in ORD and DCA.
While I am sure there are lots of hubs where this is never happening, I have been fortunate this year and am pleasantly surprised based on previous years as Platinum and Gold. As an avid reader of the forum, but not a frequent poster, I wanted to take a minute to provide some positive data as it relates to CPU success rates in 2016.
I have had 9 flights that were eligible for CPU, and all of them have cleared in advance or at the gate. These were E, M, S and Q fares. The flights were from MCI to connections in hubs at ORD, EWR, IAH, IAD and SFO. Earlier this week I SDC'd twice and still got the upgrade at the gate in ORD and DCA.
While I am sure there are lots of hubs where this is never happening, I have been fortunate this year and am pleasantly surprised based on previous years as Platinum and Gold. As an avid reader of the forum, but not a frequent poster, I wanted to take a minute to provide some positive data as it relates to CPU success rates in 2016.
Feb 11, 2016, 10:53 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,222
My CPU rate since they were introduced is 0%. I don't do much domestic flying, so I tend to apply RPUs to the longer flights, but I probably do about 10 segments a year where I don't apply a RPU and not once has a CPU cleared.
Feb 11, 2016, 5:28 pm
#22
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 25
0-5; all IAD-DEN and returns (with one IAD-IAH-DEN thrown in for fun during #Snowzilla). Didnt check fare classes, as the flight is short enough that I am good with E+ and just go with the cheapest ticket.
About to be 0-6 tomorrow - #5 on the list already for a flight that leaves at 7PM...
About to be 0-6 tomorrow - #5 on the list already for a flight that leaves at 7PM...
Apr 7, 2016, 12:58 pm
#24
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Springfield,MO,USA
Programs: UA 1K MM, HH Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,604
24 segments so far this year. I got my first 2 CPU's at 96 hrs in advance today for flights on Monday. I have had other CPU's but all were much closer in or at the gate.
Apr 7, 2016, 1:52 pm
#25
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, UA Gold, Marriott LTT, Avis President's Club
Posts: 1,539
28 segments this year, about 2 CPUs cleared. I apply RPUs to all my SFO-BOS flights and only 2 cleared as well (out of over 10).
The best was ANA upgraded me from Y to C from MNL to HND. Then I connected on UA for HND-SFO with empty C seats, and of course nothing.
I get better treatment as a 1K on ANA.
The best was ANA upgraded me from Y to C from MNL to HND. Then I connected on UA for HND-SFO with empty C seats, and of course nothing.
I get better treatment as a 1K on ANA.
Apr 7, 2016, 2:27 pm
#26
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,321
About 14/20 for me this year. EWR/FLL reliably clears (and sometimes I'll SDC to a flight with more availability to clear); FLL-IAH or ORD usually doesn't. Time of week is a big factor.
Apr 7, 2016, 2:52 pm
#27
Join Date: May 2015
Location: PRG/KTW/SFO
Programs: United
Posts: 2
1K with mostly int'l so far this year, so only 13 segments thus far, but surprisingly good CPU results.
0/4 intra-EU on Lufthansa, so they don't count
4/4 GPU (TATL) cleared at booking
4/5 CPU cleared, all hub-to-hub at reasonable times (SFO, DEN, ORD)
CPUs that cleared were at 72-96 hours, almost exclusively W fares.
I was amused that, on the segment that did not clear (a Friday evening ORD-DEN on an A320), there were *59* people (almost 1/2 of the econ seats) on the upgrade list! (I ended at #9.)
0/4 intra-EU on Lufthansa, so they don't count
4/4 GPU (TATL) cleared at booking
4/5 CPU cleared, all hub-to-hub at reasonable times (SFO, DEN, ORD)
CPUs that cleared were at 72-96 hours, almost exclusively W fares.
I was amused that, on the segment that did not clear (a Friday evening ORD-DEN on an A320), there were *59* people (almost 1/2 of the econ seats) on the upgrade list! (I ended at #9.)
Apr 7, 2016, 10:27 pm
#30
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: BWI
Programs: UA 1MM & 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 255
I'm about 14/22 on domestic flights with a F cabin this year. Actual rate is probably more like 14/18 as that includes some hopeless cases (switching onto a flight where F is already full). Its a mix of cheapo tickets out of DEN and a bunch of B fares between DEN-BWI.