Originally Posted by
Phil Level
Can't say about SFO <-> JFK, or if it's anything like LAX <-> JFK which is always oversold on flights I take. Might be because people know they have a good chance of getting an op-up? I'm happy to spend a few extra $ and buy 500 milers, which has worked well, especially from west to east. From east to west, I have been upgraded all 4 times this year, but once it didn't happen until boarding actually started.
Both these routes are generally pretty full and they do a pretty good job of holding upgrades til the elite windows and then at the gate.
I've not seen op-ups, but as a 1k i've generally cleared.
I'm not thinking of gambling on an op-up anytime soon. United seems to be doing goofy things with the fare buckets on the website so it would be tough to tell.