TheFlyingMan

Interesting to read the thread. I recently as a Silver just did a TC PHL-LAX RT. I was not expecting upgrades as it is elite-heavy. I took the first AM flight on a Saturday and got the upgrade right at the Silver window. On my red-eye back, no upgrade could be confirmed, at 23:59 I checked in online and put myself on the waitlist. At about 12hrs before the flight, I do a dummy book and see that I could buy a non-refundable F, so I went back into OLCI and checked in (again) but changed my seat to which it offered me a Preferred First Class Upgrade.

More proof that the UG system doesn't work... theoretically, I suppose I should have been auto-upgraded from the waitlist. F was full, I'm pretty sure I was the only Silver (saw the manifest) in F.

Still disappointing to see that the PDB on the East-operated flight westbound still consisted of water or water

pbuntrock

This is not correct. Just because there are open F seats it does not mean that they have been opened into the (O) upgrade inventory. Seats are often held back for revenue right up to T-24 and sometimes beyond. It is against the rules for the CSR's to take a call and do an upgrade. By the CSR doing the upgrade they are pontentialy jumping over someone else in the queue. This is supposed to be a 100% automated process. There are many issues with US, but I've always found that the upgrade process to be very accurate and straight forward.

apeortdz

Interesting. I did not know you could change your seat after checking-in. Is that really the case?

ellinj

This is possible now with the new OLCI.

burlax

I believe that with the new OLCI you can change your seats at check-in, but not after.

This is absolutely right. US sometimes would hold F seats on high-demand routes for IRROPs protection or in attempt to sell the seat in F fare class. They don't have to upgrade SP just because some seats in F are open. They do have to upgrade SP before offering upgrades to O class to non-preferreds though.

ellinj

I believe that is not correct. when I check in for Monday's flight I will try and go back and change my seat and verify.

JohnDCA

You can change seats after check in now. Go through the process again and there's something like a "just change seats" option that allows you to switch seats and get a new BP.

TPJ

I am relatively new to US (BD refuge), but I am really impressed with US upgrade process. My work does not require me to fly on Friday afternoons & Monday mornings (but I do travel on Sunday afternoons) and as a PLAT I am 100% upgraded in my window (when I was Silver my upgrade cleared 20% in the window plus 30% at the gate, for Gold the numbers were 40%/40%, respectively, and now it is 100% in window - not even a single airport stand-by).

Another thing... Do you think that maybe UA elites really started abandoning UA to move to US? Could it be the case? Talking to my co-workers (I am not from the States, but I am on a temporary assignment here) US has a terrible reputation... But, if you look at UA forum there quite a few unhappy folks over there...

burlax

You are right. I was able to change my seats after checking-in. Very neat.

Biggie Fries

Almost by definition, reputations have a tendency to lag reality.

So you want to profit from what's around you while a good reputation is being made, and jump ship before it is fully squandered.