Award/Upgrade Algorithm Characteristics
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Gold MM, UA Club Lifer, MC Lifetime Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 325
Award/Upgrade Algorithm Characteristics
I've been checking upgrade seats for my daughter's trip to/from FRA. It appears to me that the award seats (XC & NC) increase dramatically at about 60 days out. For the last few days I've seen NC go from "0" to "9" on successive days--today (12/17) NC is at "9" for UA 917 on 02/14/05 (FRA-IAD); yesterday it was at "0".
Over the last several days award/upgrade seats have increased from "0" or "1" to "9" on a progressively daily basis. This may be useless knowledge for many folks, but some of the hardcore among us may find it interesting. It may give a clue on when an upgrade may clear, at least for European markets.
Over the last several days award/upgrade seats have increased from "0" or "1" to "9" on a progressively daily basis. This may be useless knowledge for many folks, but some of the hardcore among us may find it interesting. It may give a clue on when an upgrade may clear, at least for European markets.
#2
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Rockville MD USA
Programs: UA former 1K MM
Posts: 2,184
Is the behavior different for a 747 vs. a 777?
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Gold MM, UA Club Lifer, MC Lifetime Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 325
Originally Posted by redburgundy
Is the behavior different for a 747 vs. a 777?
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SF CA USA. I love large faceless corporations. And they cherish me in return (sometimes). ;)
Programs: UA Premier Gold/disappointed 1MM, HH Gold, IHG Plat, MB Gold, BW Diam Sel
Posts: 17,575
It may be using a pretty complex yield-management algorithm, not one that can be cracked by looking only at a specific flight on a specific date.
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 17,769
Originally Posted by tomwht
I've been checking upgrade seats for my daughter's trip to/from FRA. It appears to me that the award seats (XC & NC) increase dramatically at about 60 days out. For the last few days I've seen NC go from "0" to "9" on successive days--today (12/17) NC is at "9" for UA 917 on 02/14/05 (FRA-IAD); yesterday it was at "0".
Over the last several days award/upgrade seats have increased from "0" or "1" to "9" on a progressively daily basis. This may be useless knowledge for many folks, but some of the hardcore among us may find it interesting. It may give a clue on when an upgrade may clear, at least for European markets.
Over the last several days award/upgrade seats have increased from "0" or "1" to "9" on a progressively daily basis. This may be useless knowledge for many folks, but some of the hardcore among us may find it interesting. It may give a clue on when an upgrade may clear, at least for European markets.
#6
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SFO/OAK
Posts: 144
Originally Posted by BenjaminNYC
How do you see NC,XC,NF,XF availability. The availability tool does not show those fare buckets.
Read the UA sticky at the top of this forum, and locate ozstamps' excellent " Thread listing all known UA revenue and award booking codes and a summary of each one"
For the lazy, it's here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=113792
It tells you what everything means, and how to see it as well.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Gold MM, UA Club Lifer, MC Lifetime Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 325
Originally Posted by KathyWdrf
It may be using a pretty complex yield-management algorithm, not one that can be cracked by looking only at a specific flight on a specific date.