So long as EUA has the sort of opaqueness and mystery that it currently has, we're going to continue to see posters confused like the poster to which you replied. It's actually going to get worse when we move to CO's systems and the EUA methodology takes precedence if they don't fix it ahead of time. The UA upgrade system is simpler and has more visibility into it, and it does not have the same sort of caveats and nuances.

The sweep mechanism creates this sort of anomaly where you could be inside your window, with upgrade space available, yet not be upgraded. If you understand a little about this stuff, but don't understand the design of the system end to end, that is going to be confusing. Another part that will be confusing is the multiple upgrade lists (e.g., B-Up is available but my V fare is not clearing).

Yet another part that's going to be confusing is the competing upgrade lists, with the airport upgrade list being visible but EUA using a different ordering scheme even while at the gate is going to ruffle some feathers when people see #2 get upgraded above #1. UA's gate displays may provide more visibility into this nuance and draw attention to it.

This all assumes they use EUA as we know it and don't fix these issues before they move the UA folks over. I wonder how much CO spends in calls each year with Elite customers calling in inside their window about upgrade space being open but their upgrade not clearing.

CO could clear the confusion with two changes. One would be to remove the "window" terminology in the elite benefits descriptions. Your upgrade comes when revenue management says so with ranking in order: displaced etc, instruments, YBM, elite status, ticket price, and time of purchase.

The other would be to use time of purchase in the gate list instead of time of check in. Then the ranking would not be different in those instances when an upgrade is based on the final tie-breaker.

But they won't do that. CO will continue to over-market and under-deliver like they like to do.


Or just put in a 4-hour EUA cutoff rule like UA has (or a 3-hour EUA cutoff rule like CO used to). Then the airport standby list becomes authoritative at that point.

completely agree, that CO's EUA process might be confusing for UA folks as UA's process is a bit confusing for me.
Me, personally look at at the COs system, that upgrade will not be processed >24 hours before the scheduled departure, and with my routes and luck :) my upgrade will not be processed at all...

OK - I am even more confused now! I've checked in for my flight but it doesn't that I have been upgraded on the LAX-IAH flight (which usually does if you are on EUA) on the flight status page and it doesn't show that I am on the upgrade standby list on the IAH-SJO sector! :mad:

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Same deal on my EWR-CLT flight tomorrow, got 5-day EUA, but the app's flight status has 13/16 booked with no one upgraded. My BP is correct so I'm not sweating it, but interesting to see. Those on the upgrade standby list appear to be as before.

Similar for IAH-MSY tomorrow - 20 seats, 0 booked or c/i, couple dozen folks on the standby list. Curious if this is a system issue or a bid to drive upgrade purchases. Either way, tad annoying.

not working on flight to SEA today
 

IAH to SEA at 2:35p. 16 seats, 8 booked, and 8 checked in.

Dozen people on upgrade list, but hey, maybe 8 people will buy FC seats in the next two hours.

IAH-PHL @ 7:41pm. 20 seats, 7 booked, 6 checked in. 24 on waitlist. 13 will buy-up, according to Elite Desk rep :( I guess he is giving a standard answer the $mi$ek told them to.

This started happening this weekend as my Friday's upgrade happened last Sunday. Probably some kind of system glitch between UA and CO trying to merge some functions. Coincidentally I was dropping off my parents yesterday pm and their flight had 12 empty FC seats. Saw GA at the last moment holding a handfull of BP and calling all 12 pax and exchanging their BPs.

Annoying.

EUA
 

Sorry just have to ask. What is EUA...

Electronic Upgrade Application?
End of United?
Elephant Under Airplane?
Ear Under A**


>>Same deal on my EWR-CLT flight tomorrow, got 5-day EUA, but the app's flight status has 13/16 booked with no one upgraded. My BP is correct so I'm not sweating it, but interesting to see. Those on the upgrade standby list appear to be as before. <<

How do we know this? is this the new United Cell Phone APP?

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^ yes, well the redesigned CO app. The recipients of the last three seats showed as UG.

Elite Upgrade Automation.

Those of us without iphones can see the upgrade list at: pda.continental.com

It will show you how full F is booked (13 out of 16 for instance), how many people have been upgraded (although this was flaky yesterday for my 4 segment MR) and who is standing by for an upgrading (which is supposed to show your name once you're checked in).

I am on a flight tomorrow that has 8 seats up front. None booked (that's right, not one F seat sold) and no one upgraded. Agents and supervisor can't explain it. There is an upgrade standby list now that we're within 24 hours, but it's still open up front.

I did get upgraded on the second segment, so I know the computers are working, at least part time.

It's not a long flight, but something is not quite right.


fp

Unless someone in rev mgt goes and opens up seats in R/RN, no one will get upgraded. Frustrating, I know.

Totally normal and does not signify any EUA problem.

I'm betting that at around the 3 hour mark before the flight 6 to 8 of those remaining FC seats were given out to upgrades and the upgrade list got a lot shorter. I've seen it happen MANY times and it's the norm for CO.

-RM