United is using analytics to continuously adjust fare prices and it has gotten to the point where it is completely ridiculous.

Yesterday I booked a one-way ticket to the east coast. It was $973 for a refundable B fare in coach. There were 3 first class tickets for $1797 (given this was UX - that is kind of a joke).

Today refundable coach is $725 and full F is $925 (3 seats still left). When I go into my reservation it wants $457 to upgrade to first.

I called GS and they see $1797 as the price of first. Then she goes and checks a different way and says refundable first is $800. So instead of giving me an instant upgrade and collecting more money, they rebook the ticket in first and give me a $200 refund.

If United thinks this policy is sustainable they are nuts. People who buy expensive refundable tickets do not want to get screwed like this and have to check every day to see if the fare dropped.

This is now the 4th time in 3 weeks I have done this. In all cases the upgrade didn't go through and I switched to first and got a refund.

I am so frustrated about this I am going to email Oscar.