Upgrade Question on CO
Jul 18, 2011 | 3:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Houston
Programs: CO Silver
Posts: 79
Upgrade Question on CO
Hi Gurus,
I know I am interpreting this incorrectly but I cannot figure out what the flaw is in my interpretation. I am reading the Upgrade Priority paragraph on
https://www.continental.com/web/en-U.../upgrades.aspx
After reading that I do not see how barring no-shows "battlefield upgrades" can even exist...especially on busy weekends. I mean presumably everything should be over by T-24 most of the times given that I fly out of IAH.
To clarify, I took a trip during memorial day on one of the busy routes and found myself 9th on the list of upgrades with 2 seats. Needless to say I did no get it. My question ...barring no shows is there any reason for those 2 upgrades to exist?
I know I am interpreting this incorrectly but I cannot figure out what the flaw is in my interpretation. I am reading the Upgrade Priority paragraph on
https://www.continental.com/web/en-U.../upgrades.aspx
After reading that I do not see how barring no-shows "battlefield upgrades" can even exist...especially on busy weekends. I mean presumably everything should be over by T-24 most of the times given that I fly out of IAH.
To clarify, I took a trip during memorial day on one of the busy routes and found myself 9th on the list of upgrades with 2 seats. Needless to say I did no get it. My question ...barring no shows is there any reason for those 2 upgrades to exist?
Jul 18, 2011 | 3:38 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Austin Texas USA
Programs: UA Gold MM
Posts: 158
Yes, they are hoping someone will walk-up and buy two full-fare, F tickets. Or they are keeping some flexibility for full fare F misconnects.
Jul 18, 2011 | 3:44 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Houston
Programs: CO Silver
Posts: 79
Jul 18, 2011 | 4:10 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,529
Jul 18, 2011 | 4:10 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,830
from what I have learned from FT I dont think even the airlines know what the secret number is for holding back F seats until the last moment.
Jul 18, 2011 | 4:28 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Houston
Programs: CO Silver
Posts: 79
Thanks all for the education.
For us lowly silvers, OLCI would obviously work in our favor. At least we would not have to fight the spouses of plats and golds like on battlefield.
For us lowly silvers, OLCI would obviously work in our favor. At least we would not have to fight the spouses of plats and golds like on battlefield.
Jul 18, 2011 | 4:36 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,815
ah, if we all knew what hocus-pocus and necromancer the airlines used in what they call "revenue management" (the unit that decides when to release seats) then we wouldnt be so greedy for those seats.
from what I have learned from FT I dont think even the airlines know what the secret number is for holding back F seats until the last moment.
from what I have learned from FT I dont think even the airlines know what the secret number is for holding back F seats until the last moment.
That's also a reason why some CO people debate whether you should check-in at the 24 mark (to go on the battlefield list) or wait for your EUA to clear.
Jul 18, 2011 | 4:46 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Houston
Programs: CO Silver
Posts: 79
That's also a reason why some CO people debate whether you should check-in at the 24 mark (to go on the battlefield list) or wait for your EUA to clear.
Jul 18, 2011 | 4:53 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,815
I generally check-in @ the 24 hour mark and have been upgraded via Battlefield probably 4 out of 12 times (as a silver). That's now changed as I'm a gold. Thats all route dependent too. IAH is a hub though (kinda hard to get an upgrade out of a hub as a silver).
Jul 18, 2011 | 5:00 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Houston
Programs: CO Silver
Posts: 79
I have no idea -- The faster you check-in, the closer to the top you are on the battlefield (in your elite group).
I generally check-in @ the 24 hour mark and have been upgraded via Battlefield probably 4 out of 12 times (as a silver). That's now changed as I'm a gold. Thats all route dependent too. IAH is a hub though (kinda hard to get an upgrade out of a hub as a silver).
I generally check-in @ the 24 hour mark and have been upgraded via Battlefield probably 4 out of 12 times (as a silver). That's now changed as I'm a gold. Thats all route dependent too. IAH is a hub though (kinda hard to get an upgrade out of a hub as a silver).
Jul 18, 2011 | 5:05 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,815
This is listed in the FAQ:
Upgrade Hierarchy for Battle Field Upgrades
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...ml#post7354206
What is the upgrade hierarchy for EUAs?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/6719620-post18.html
Upgrade Hierarchy for Battle Field Upgrades
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...ml#post7354206
What is the upgrade hierarchy for EUAs?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/6719620-post18.html
Jul 18, 2011 | 5:15 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Houston
Programs: CO Silver
Posts: 79
This is listed in the FAQ:
Upgrade Hierarchy for Battle Field Upgrades
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...ml#post7354206
What is the upgrade hierarchy for EUAs?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/6719620-post18.html
Upgrade Hierarchy for Battle Field Upgrades
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...ml#post7354206
What is the upgrade hierarchy for EUAs?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/6719620-post18.html
Jul 19, 2011 | 9:39 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Houston
Programs: CO Silver
Posts: 79
Jul 19, 2011 | 10:05 am
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,253
It's based on highly sophisticated software which takes into account every possible factor about every flight. On one day, the "magic number" could be 2 and the same flight the next day could be 10. Because CO can always UG at the gate, there is a positive incentive to withold seats until the gate if there is any chance they can be sold (or used for misconnection paid F pax).