Originally Posted by
exerda
It's definitely useful--though IME it takes a kiosk to trigger the offer. The online site doesn't seem to do so in those circumstances.
As a side note, I've been waitlisted for upgrade with RPU several times when R has gone positive once within 24 hours, and didn't clear; I had to call an agent. I know there are apologists who say, "Just wait, and it will happen," but given the way R > 0 seems to trigger upsell offers, that's not a chance I'm willing to take. And if in so doing I bypass others waitlisted with instruments, so be it; UA should fix their crappy upgrade system!
At BOS right now waiting for flight to IAH. F space available (A2/R2, booked 6/8 on A319). Check-in at kiosk, offered buy-up for $532 (ticketed K fare). M 1K Instant Upgrade is pricing at $706, so no discounted offer here.
No changes on upgrade list so far that I can fathom, so we'll see what happens.
Upgrade cleared @ T-50 (was #1), and they gave away the last upgrade at T-40.
So, I'm now CPU'ing about 35% this year...woo-hoo!