I rarely fly domestically at Thanksgiving, but I'm doing it this year. Even as a 1K, my upgrade percentage on cheap-bucket tickets is pretty pitiful this year: maybe 35%, and probably less out of IAH. Logic would suggest my odds should improve around the Holidays because there would be fewer 1Ks with biz-like fares in front of me. Is that wishful thinking, and are there other Holiday travellers likely to step in front of me (like using miles to upgrade)?
BTW, at Xmas time, I have a transcon booked on a coach award ticket (heading overseas from there). They're using an A319 with 8 seats. I don't think that's likely to work!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iahphx
I rarely fly domestically at Thanksgiving, but I'm doing it this year. Even as a 1K, my upgrade percentage on cheap-bucket tickets is pretty pitiful this year: maybe 35%, and probably less out of IAH. Logic would suggest my odds should improve around the Holidays because there would be fewer 1Ks with biz-like fares in front of me. Is that wishful thinking, and are there other Holiday travellers likely to step in front of me (like using miles to upgrade)?
BTW, at Xmas time, I have a transcon booked on a coach award ticket (heading overseas from there). They're using an A319 with 8 seats. I don't think that's likely to work!
The logic is that there are fewer business travelers at that time, and of the ones who are traveling personally, families traveling at Christmas don't tend to spend money on high economy fares.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aacharya
The logic is that there are fewer business travelers at that time, and of the ones who are traveling personally, families traveling at Christmas don't tend to spend money on high economy fares.
However, given the trend of continuing to drop F fares to V-up levels (and offering that pricing all the way through OLCI), fair (or fare) to say that there are going to be a lot fewer F seats around for upgrades.
My 1/1 DEN-LGA flight is almost already sold out in F, and that's on a 757. $400 one-way V-up will do that.
Logic would suggest my odds should improve around the Holidays because there would be fewer 1Ks with biz-like fares in front of me.
With this being the first year of TODs in full swing for the combined carrier, I would think all of the conventional wisdom about F-class availability on UA for holiday flights is out the window, unless there's some L-CO experience to pull from.
Quote:
Originally Posted by aacharya
families traveling at Christmas don't tend to spend money on high economy fares.
No offense to families intended, but I sure would nab any reasonable TOD offer as a single traveler or couple during the holidays, especially on popular days. That's the time to treat oneself to something special and get out of any possible crowds packing the main cabin. The only time I've seen any room in Coach during the holidays was when DL subbed in a 767 for a 757 on CVG-PDX a couple of days prior to Thanksgiving 2006 that turned to fly the PDX-ATL red-eye.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AeroWesty
With this being the first year of TODs in full swing for the combined carrier, I would think all of the conventional wisdom about F-class availability on UA for holiday flights is out the window, unless there's some L-CO experience to pull from.
No offense to families intended, but I sure would nab any reasonable TOD offer as a single traveler or couple during the holidays, especially on popular days. That's the time to treat oneself to something special and get out of any possible crowds packing the main cabin. The only time I've seen any room in Coach during the holidays was when DL subbed in a 767 for a 757 on CVG-PDX a couple of days prior to Thanksgiving 2006 that turned to fly the PDX-ATL red-eye.
Not seeing the "TODs" in 'full swing' anymore, as per the TOD thread.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aacharya
Not seeing the "TODs" in 'full swing' anymore, as per the TOD thread.
It's just accepted principle now it seems like - dirt cheap V-ups which cause the TODs inside T-24 are likely here to stay. Less important to have loyalty now.
Of course, maybe when the next regime comes in they'll re-think some of these anti-loyalty policies. We'll see.
In addition, my meaning was that this is the first holiday season that TODs may possibly show up for any domestic UA flight. Am I wrong in this assumption?
In addition, my meaning was that this is the first holiday season that TODs may possibly show up for any domestic UA flight. Am I wrong in this assumption?
Umm, $379 buy-ups are not TODs.
You are right in your assumption that TODs may possibly show up. To say they're in full swing - let's look at the last posts, excluding the "X" fare discussion:
T fare: $159
unknown fare: $65
V fare: $89
Q fare: $45
J fare: $379
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I'm on a YYZ->IAD CRJ700 (6 FC) seats on Wednesday. Right now its show no one booked into FC as expert mode shows F6, surprisingly R6 is also shown, but when I check the upgrade availability on the flight via my reservation, it shows waitlist only. I'm pretty sure that I'll be one of the few 1K's on the flight, so I figure on getting a CPU out of it.
You are right in your assumption that TODs may possibly show up. To say they're in full swing - let's look at the last posts, excluding the "X" fare discussion:
You may also read "full swing" as "fully implemented across the entire UA network of domestic flights as they see fit, whether offered or not" if it would clarify the meaning of my post for you and others. Whether UA is selling more seats in advance through V-UPs and similar initiatives or not, still doesn't make my statement invalid.
I've learned to type as concisely as possible for those who read posts and e-mail on portable devices, while still using proper English instead of text-speak, so I can understand how sometimes intent may be misinterpreted.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drowelf
I'm on a YYZ->IAD CRJ700 (6 FC) seats on Wednesday. Right now its show no one booked into FC as expert mode shows F6, surprisingly R6 is also shown, but when I check the upgrade availability on the flight via my reservation, it shows waitlist only. I'm pretty sure that I'll be one of the few 1K's on the flight, so I figure on getting a CPU out of it.
Since Canada's Thanksgiving is not that week, I've found upgrades to be plentiful to and from Canada.
I would think the biggest competition for F Seats outside of V-UP or TOD would be award tickets. Given the amount of FF miles floating around on a combined carrier, I wouldn't be surprised if people are spending their points to ride up front.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AeroWesty
You may also read "full swing" as "fully implemented across the entire UA network of domestic flights as they see fit, whether offered or not" if it would clarify the meaning of my post for you and others. Whether UA is selling more seats in advance through V-UPs and similar initiatives or not, still doesn't make my statement invalid.
I've learned to type as concisely as possible for those who read posts and e-mail on portable devices, while still using proper English instead of text-speak, so I can understand how sometimes intent may be misinterpreted.
An idiomatic phrase such as "in full swing" has a pretty clear meaning. It means that it is a very high-level of activity, not that it is merely implemented, and possibly dormant at times. One does not say that "E+ installation is in full swing" if it's not actively happening.
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An idiomatic phrase such as "in full swing" has a pretty clear meaning.
Agreed! One clear definition is of a program "moving along efficiently", which I'd bet real dollars on that that's how UA HQ views it, based upon nothing other than their excitement over the income derived from TOD sales during their earnings calls. YMMV from the consumer's side.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fieldeng
Since Canada's Thanksgiving is not that week, I've found upgrades to be plentiful to and from Canada.
I would think the biggest competition for F Seats outside of V-UP or TOD would be award tickets. Given the amount of FF miles floating around on a combined carrier, I wouldn't be surprised if people are spending their points to ride up front.
The point I was trying to make is that with F6 and R6 shown in Expert Mode on a plane with only 6 FC seats, its seems a little strange that I'm when I check into using Miles/RPU/GPU to upgrade, it would only let me wait list and thats at 5 days out. My return trip on Saturday night has F4/R4 (2 seats taken) and the upgrade view shows 4 seats (all) available.
As I just burned my last GPU's on a (hopefully) 787 IAH->EWR and EWR->IAH Segments, I'm going to gamble on a CPU for these flights. Would not use miles in any event and would only use instruments, if they were about to expire (like the GPU's above).
Yep and Canadian T-Day was way back in October (Columbus Day).
