1kBill

pmUA used to do this, but I think that ended when the CO crew took over.

I have been switched over to OAL (usually AA) during IRROPS when UA had no space up front. In my mind, this had to cost more than whatever UA got from selling upgrades, but then I don't know what all goes on behind the curtain.

CCIE_Flyer

It doesn't require any thought at all - UA has for years been shafting premium-paying pax in favor of elites and, post-merger, ToD. It's infuriating to fly on a $10-15k ticket all the way from the other side of the world, only to find yourself in a middle E- seat for your final transcon or semi-transcon segment due to IRROPS (I have plenty of experience with this IAD->DEN, for example).

The reality, though, is that even UA doesn't think UA has a true domestic F product anymore, and they treat it accordingly.

bldr1k

I think it does make sense and would not cost them anything. Hold back 2 seats until 1 hour before the flight for IRROPS or someone who wants to purchase full fare first. Then upgrade or upsell people those last seats at T-1.

FlytheTail

CPUs are rare for this 1K, and when they clear, it's usually at the gate.

When folks are on the cleared upgrade list, it includes those who used an RPU or GPU -- and finding R>0 is difficult at best. I think most of the seats in the front cabin are now paid F (at ticketing or a TOD/HOD*) or upgraded GS members.

*hundreds of dollars. I've never received an offer <$100.

uanj

I have not seen this either. Another one for the Urban Myth pile.
Infuriating it is. You get booked automatically from F to Y and are told to wait because some of the buy-up offers may be taken up. You try to explain that you have been downgraded and they ask then why are you up on the upgrade list waiting for first? I am on the WL for first because you, dear agent, booked it that way.

I ask her to call someone like a help desk or else it will be her fault when I apply for downgrade compensation. She heard back from the help desk to clear me into first before any more buy-ups or CPUs are processed. She says its not fair, hope you enjoy getting the upgrade for free. I explain one last time, it is not free, I bought a first class ticket. This way you will not have to refund something to me or pay me downgrade compensation..... But she clearly was not believing my words...

cmd320

AA and DL both do this also. They upgrade a bunch of elites and fill the cabin, then when things go wrong, they have no ability to accommodate. With that said, DL is better about it since they tend to be much more reliable to begin with, but AA is absolutely terrible. It started to become a common occurrence for a while that I would be in paid F, flight would get canceled, and then I'd be sitting around a hub airport for up to 12 hours waiting on the next flight with open F seats.

RandomBaritone

FYI, I used to find the TOD acronym a rather silly exaggeration, but as I understand it its meaning has morphed to "time of departure" upgrade. Certainly makes more sense that way.

Absolute

As a former 5-year SE100K, I agree, however there are NOT more seats open because they are holding them for IRROPS, but yes, in the hopes that someone will buy them.

AC is very stingy with upgrades, and in fact their mission over the past 3 years has been to minimize "elites cheapening the cabin" (their quote, posting on here), for which they would rather have a half empty cabin.

Also keep in mind the vast difference between members in the program - AC is a speck on the wall compared to the number of elites capable of CPU/RPU/GPU'ing on United.

EmailKid

First time I've seen "time of departure" used. Probably because offers can pop up anytime.

ToD goes back to time when they would offer kettles literally $40 upgrade opportunity while the elite who was traveling with them would end up in coach after they someone would grab that offer. And elites were never offered that that low price.

Those days (anecdotally) are long gone and offers are much higher, and when posted IMHO simply refer to u/g offers to non elites.

limey1K

I flew 4 segments last week all main line aircraft 737-800 and -900. Two went out with one upgrade, one with a single and the last flight on a Friday had no upgrades. The guy next to me in F told me that he bought the upgrade both ways on his trip last week because it was a no-brainer at $69 and $59. He laughed and told me he can drink that much in booze on each 2.5 hour flight. He had no status on UA and was a Delta FF. He had no idea of his fare code. First time I have been able to verify a TOD firsthand.

DawgmanOH

I'm not sure where people are flying out of that have two F seats available right before departure but this is definitely not happening to me and, if it is a policy, I would be shocked.

All one has to do is look at the upgrade list hours before a flight and see the "Booked - Full" on the app and know that holding two seats is definitely not a policy.

That said, I'm fine it is not a policy. As a 1K, I gladly take any upgrade scraps I can get from the paid F and GS crowd.

EmailKid

OUCH

Maybe ToD are back after all

Curious how long the flights are - I know AUS-DFW and such got u/g offers in that range, but for a hop that short it would not matter, at least not to me. A midcon, OTOH ....

radonc1

A bit misleading, IMO. What probably happened is that the DL flyer purchased very high priced coach tickets, and the difference between the F ticket price and the price they paid was only $59 and $69 per segment.

What he did, in essence was buy an F ticket by paying the difference between his original fare and the actual F fare. What is even better is that UA will give you the EQDs and bonus EQMs when you do this UG during the original purchase.

It's UA's way of selling a passenger an F ticket without actually making you feel as if you purchased one

findark

I've deliberately taken the acronym and tried to push it to mean "time of departure". The problem is that there is a specific pricing model for Premium Cabin Upgrades (this is the term that UA uses on the EDD and receipt), which is only available online, and only (a) during the purchase process, or (b) at or after OLCI. This pricing model is independent of your actual ticket basis, and only loosely correlated to the flight load and premium inventory.

The price offered is roughly constant, and roughly equal to the route fare differential (which would be the actual F/Y price difference in moderate-load conditions). For non-differential routes, there is some fixed amount coded into the system (seems to be 8xx - 12xx or so for long-haul J). Whether or not this offer is a "good deal" (IMO it is almost always not, but it is inflexible enough that you can exploit it to get good steals), is a matter of opinion, but the pricing algorithm is very distinctive and only available at specific times.

This is what I mean when I say "TOD".

silverforumsurf

They probably have zero data on people that would have purchased a walk-up if there was availability. And very limited data on exactly why a full fare customer churned. We often buy F fares on purpose so we can switch flights if meeting ends early etc., moot point with United so if we buy discounted fares or switch to Delta - do they have any idea why? It's called being short sighted, selling stuff now shows up in Revenue today, paid first churn is a slow burn.

If I churn I'd take $50,000 in a handful of international paid first flights. They don't need to lose a lot of paid first passengers to outweigh 2x$100, let alone the walkup purchases lost etc. Heck if they're right there's no demand, maybe it costs them nothing if they reduce advanced R space by 2, still sell the same number of TODs, then upgrade those that would have been upgraded from R