Originally Posted by WayMaker
1. So called "reserved" status. This means that one cannot hold an upgraded seat without having an SWU in one's account or sponsored from another account. This doesn't benefit UA in any way that I can see. It's just a hassle. I can't see why someone would upgrade themselves and then risk being forced to a middle seat in the back when they check in without being able to support the upgrade.
I think oftentimes, right or wrong, the GA would expedite the process by just asking you for RDMs to support the upgrade if you didn't have the cert. This could lead to abuse: request the upgrade with a non-existent SWU on a W fare, then switch to miles at the gate (even tho miles require H or higher).
2. Capacity controls reducing the number of available upgrades early on. There seems to be a few NC or NF seats available on all flights at 330 days out. But in the past three years, there have definitely been fewer upgrade seats available early on. It's very common now to have many upgrades clear a week, a day or a half-hour before departure.
I think this is UA's way of trying to maximize revenue: if they upgrade all 1Ks in advance and then turn away paid-F and paid-C due to no seats, they are losing money.
Sure it causes heartache for waitlisted 1Ks wondering if the UG will clear, but beyond that, why does it matter when the UG clears?
(Ok, I do know some 1Ks who will waitlist until close to departure and then upfare if the UG fails to clear...)
Conventional wisdom is that UA will continue the SWU program as long as AA issues the comparable VIPOW upgrades to their Exec Plats. If AA stops it's program, we could see SWUs disappear. Another scenario is that the refurbished premium cabins which have been promised for 2008 or so will suddenly be filled with far more paid C and F passengers. If this happens, UA would have less reason to offer SWUs as an incentive to frequent flyers.
I think the backlash of pulling the SWUs would be too great. Instead I'd just expect to see fewer NC/NF seats offered, more waitlisting, and more 1Ks not clearing due to more premium cabins filled with paying pax.
Then we'll see more "I didn't clear my UG" threads here on FT, and perhaps eventually 1Ks will decide to go elsewhere or fly UA less. But I doubt UA would pull the SWU perk.