Originally Posted by
IAH-OIL-TRASH
Looks like the “revenge” travel trend has abated to/from Hawaii. Upgrades between West Coast and Hawaii look much easier this year than last two years. Hotels and UA were (and still are) extracting higher-than-inflation booking costs and the declining traffic this year are making more F seats available for upgrades.
As a 1K, I was buying F tickets for most of last two years on most flights as the most popular day/times were almost selling out. Seemed like only GS were getting upgrades, and even then, some were still in back. Different story this year. My 753 to LAX Sunday morning has 10 seats open and my 773 SFO-HNL the following Sunday has 19 open - both flights during weekends in summer. Hotels and UA got greedy and now the bad taste they left is hurting. Maybe F fares will drift down. Coach prices still remain reasonable.
This is what my experience for last flight and next. Last week June 5 flight HNL-LAX on 777/200 using plus points died at #1 on upgrade list. Return flight June 11 LAX-HNL 777/200 using plus points got upgraded by gate agent right before door was closed. Thought I would die as #1 on upgrade list again.
This coming Thursday flight HNL-SFO on 777/300 am on CPU list as #13 & #14 with 14 seats in Polaris available. Used PP and moved up to #2 and #3 on list.