<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by biship:
The purpose of requesting upgrades months ahead are to try to get them confirmed early. They NEVER confirm them until the day of the flight, even if there is space available. I have done this ~10 times. Upgraded twice.</font>
What routes are you trying to upgrade on? Even months in advance, on some routes (especially international), they waitlist even when 9+ seats show available (ask even 1Ks who fly NRT-BKK about this).
UA will always reserve some seats for last-minute full-fare customers. I imagine on flights served by Airbus planes they may keep (at least) four seats open in case an A320 (with 12 seats) is swapped with an A319 which only has 8. On more than one occasion I have been the #9-12 waitlist on an A320 flight only to see an A319 sitting at the gate and I know it is my original E+ bulkhead seat for me.
I've used miles months in advance and gotten a confirmed seat many times. And there have been many times when I was waitlisted. Most times it clears, but there are times it does not. Just depends on the route.
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I just do not understand why status members should get free upgrades when us using points can't get upgrades.</font>
In cases of
Operational Upgrades (when someone is upgraded one class for free), it is because Economy is overbooked and they have empty seats in First Class
that nobody is waiting for. UA will not deny an upgrade from Economy to First to put an elite into the seat for free, since that upgrade will fill the seat. Has nothing to do with status. I am a mid-tier (Premiere Executive) and I've sat in the middle seat in the back row because that was the only seat available - and I got it because the sucker who had my seat had an upgrade request into First clear.