Originally Posted by
AZjohns
This is a flight I take a lot. Wednesday is probably the best when I use a SWU. The fact is IM only gives NC=1 330 days out and that goes fast. I guess I have been lucky as I'm still at 100% UG rate for the past 2 years doing this RT 9 times a year.
But within the last 9 months or so It always is coming down for the UG to clear at gate or a couple hours before. And also I was told at ZRH they are offering upsales before clearing SWU's in hope for additional rev (understand but sucks sometimes).
I would go with W fare and wish you good luck.
Thanks for the very useful feedback on UG rate. I pulled the trigger for a W fare and have SWUs waitlisted. I will report back on success/failure.
I hope that upsales are offered only at ZRH and not IAD, as I care more about the outbound (night) flight than the inbound. I also understand the motivation, but clearing them before SWUs/miles UG still appears to be against the officially disclosed UA policy (see e.g. the SYD/MEL-SFO/LAX UG thread in this forum).