short notice booking - upgrade strategy
As a new AS flyer i want to make sure i understand the right strategy.
There's a chance I need to make a short notice booking xxx-yyy. On the date in question the flight is F3/Y7. Currently U = 0.
The difference between the lowest available fare and the MVP Gold upgrade fare (instant UP) is only ~$50 higher.
My understanding is that if I buy the "instant UP" fare, if/when U opens up, I'll be at (or fairly close) to the top of the list even with a short notice purchase date, surely ahead of all non-instant-UP fare classes. It's a leisure route where xxx and yyy do not equal either SEA or PDX, so my expectation is that as an MVPG I would be basically at or very near the top with an instant UP fare.
So, strategy: Buy the instant UP, or buy the cheapest?