Originally Posted by
as219
Not sure I agree.
PPs may not be as useable now, but they were a big improvement over the CR1/SWU regime. As a primarily domestic flyer, it was complicated to get decent value out of SWUs. With PPs at least we have more flexibility. They're going unused because of reduced capacity and people paying for F. Some of that is revenge travel, some of that is due to more attractive pricing, and some is due to new travel habits learned during COVID (i.e., people who didn't used to pay for F wanted less crowding during COVID then stuck with the habit when the masks came off). Revenge travel will likely dissipate, but unless and until (a) capacity increases, which isn't likely in the near future; and/or (b) some kind of recession occurs, things aren't likely to change.
Back OT, I'm guardedly optimistic that things will get a little - not a lot - easier with all these expiring PPs. I think the number of GS/1K who reflexively apply PP to every itin is going to go down, if only a little. On my last transcon I died at #3 on the list...a family of 8 (!) all cleared ahead of me. I've never seen that before. Yikes.
I loved the old CR1/RPU/SWU/GPU system. My UG rate internationally was 100% in those days. Domestic was not as good, but certainly much higher than where I am now. I haven't gotten a CPU in over 2 years, and only a few PP UGs have come through.
I don't believe that UG rates are going to improve significantly because there is just too much focus on monetizing the front cabin (I don't begrudge UA doing this, I just don't like the over-hyping of the value of PPs in their marketing). There are lots of reasonable buy-ups being offered, and people are taking them. It's a no-brainer if you are #5 on the UG list with 3 seats left. I do it regularly when I see my position on the list gives me no hope of an UG.