<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by avek00:
H+ fare upgraders will have an easier (or worst case, no more difficult) time upgrading their tickets, ESPECIALLY if those tickets are bought closer to the departure date. Under the current system, loss-leader W-fare travelers can take all of the allotted UG seats months in advance, forcing loyal UA FFers who paid a breakeven or money-making fare to sit in the back. That is a backwards way of doing business, and United has rightfully decided to end this practice.
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I'm sorry
avek00, but your statement shows how little you understand how SWUs/upgrading, Inventory Management, and status on United actually works.
If upgrades were not managed, you'd be close to being right. But anyone that's actually flown the airline for any length of time, used an SWU/HK-49/mileage upgrade, and understands anything about UA's Inventory/Departure Management, knows how it really works.
Upgrading isn't a free for all. High fare late arrivers typically have more mojo than people on discount tickets (see the 500 mile cert upgrde rules). IM is an evil thing, especially in the tightly managed Asian/Oz, and US mid/transcon markets. Anyone who's actually been at the gate sweating an upgrade from SYD-SFO/LAX, NRT-BKK, ORD-LHR, LAS-ORD, SEA-ORD, LAX-LGA, can actually attest.
Theory and study of situations are a good start. Actual experience and practice are better though. That's why doctors spend more time in hospitals doing internship and residency than they do in medical school.
[This message has been edited by skofarrell (edited 01-25-2003).]