FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - [Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight {Archive}
Old Oct 19, 2017, 2:04 am
  #1001  
sfo789
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: EWR/LHR/SFO
Programs: UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 574
Originally Posted by gadgetfreaky
weird since usually airlines maximize revenue per seat mile. If it doesn't clear and they give it to an upgrade it will be less revenue since it will refund. if a gpu doesnt clear there is no revenue impact.
What? GPUs presumably are encoded with some value to UA. A waitlister who fails on the list nets UA 1) a redeposited GPU, which represents another opportunity for you to get a pricey J seat later, and 2) the delta between whatever discount fare was on sale when you bought the fare and W, which is the price to play the 'GPU lottery'. I can certainly imagine the combination of those two -- even excluding elite loyalty value -- being worth more to UA than 27,500 miles.
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