Just a lowly Gold here but have flight to SYD via IAH on Sunday, Jan 28 and return on Sunday Feb 4. Am already booked in decent E+ seats but am considering upgrading. The base tickets are just V class, no cash upgrades available but if I try to upgrade with miles, it's shown as all waitlist only for all four segments (2 between IAH and SYD and 2 between my home airport and IAH). Is it worth even trying to get on the waitlist or am I just letting United borrow $1200 interest free for a month or so?
I don't really care about the 2.5 hour flights on the ERJ but the flights between IAH and SYD would obviously be nicer in Polaris and so far I see 9 empty seats in front going to SYD and 17 empty in front coming back.