I still want to know where these routes are that people speak of with whole empty rows of E- in the back, and empty E+ in the front. In my experience, I have not seen an empty seat go out (That I have been aware of) in 2+ years. In fact, almost every flight I am on is oversold.

Since this started, I tried to move up to E+ at my various upgrade windows, but no luck. And unfortunately, UDU has not helped me much at all. Most of my routes are on A119's or CRJ700s with 8 and 6 F seats respectively, so even as 1K, I am not getting UDUs. Even on my 757 flights (Rare but nice) I have still not been UDUd. I keep seeing upgrade lists with over 50 people on them when I am on the mainline flights, I'm always near the top on the little flights, but still no luck yet.

So I guess it is all about location, and I am just on crappy routes to be an elite.

I am hoping that what WineCountryUA said will be true for my routes, and I will try and hold out.

F9 does have an E+ similar product, and they have always gone everywhere I go, however I have held out repeatedly out of loyalty to UA. I've seen a few colleagues switch, and haven't done so yet. But I have also almost never been stuck in E- until this month of this year.

And when I say no E-+, I mean seat map totally full, not even a middle seat.
So yes, good for UA as people are paying, it just sucks that it then
negatively impacts the loyal week traveler.