EUA Not Running At All on a Flight?
Sep 15, 2006 | 8:30 am
#1
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 47,233
EUA Not Running At All on a Flight?
I noticed this happens from time to time...it seems EUA does not run at all on a flight even with A9D9 and more than half the FC cabin showing empty. No seat map changes at the 6 day, 5, day or 3 day marks and no change to inventory either.
This is not a flight that usually sells out FC (EWR/FLL) on a late Sunday night - do others see this happening on their flights?
This is not a flight that usually sells out FC (EWR/FLL) on a late Sunday night - do others see this happening on their flights?
Sep 15, 2006 | 8:59 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: IAH
Programs: CO Plat(soon Premier Gold) PC lifetime(UC Life?) SPG Plat(Soon Gold)
Posts: 895
Full of plats on the same airfare purchased on the same time, so system can't decide. 
Sep 15, 2006 | 9:42 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,926
It means the R seats have not been released. CO releases and disables R inventory frequently. Best way to check for R inventory is to start a booking process on the same flights and check the box for mileage upgrade and see if R is available. You need to do this after 5-6pm, as R might be available in the day - then disabled in the evening for the EUA run. If the mileage upgrade is available just before say 9-10pm, then some upgrades will clear.
Say 2 seats in R inventory - then top 2 Plat fares categories get the upgrade. You need to monitor the seat map and see Elite coach seats vacate as then are moved to F. You can tell if others got the EUA and you did not if folks are moved up front. Check the seatmaps again at say 11pm EST to see the upgrade.
Say 2 seats in R inventory - then top 2 Plat fares categories get the upgrade. You need to monitor the seat map and see Elite coach seats vacate as then are moved to F. You can tell if others got the EUA and you did not if folks are moved up front. Check the seatmaps again at say 11pm EST to see the upgrade.
Sep 15, 2006 | 10:02 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Grazie Gold Lounge
Programs: UA-2MM; GalacticXpress-Irridium
Posts: 10,332
channa has posted before about how a glitch in one's itinerary caused the EUA to stop running or something like that.
Sep 15, 2006 | 10:44 am
#5
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 47,233
Originally Posted by cova
It means the R seats have not been released. ...
Not one single upgrade processed, or seats going to R while the cabin remains A9D9 and the seat map remains fixed. Usually by now the cabin is full as generally speaking it's a Plat/Gold only show on this flight.
So my question is...why the holdback? Is it a system glitch? I can't see them holding more than 1/2 the cabin for sale, given the historical propensity of this flight to either sell out FC a week before departure or not even come close to selling out at all.
It wouldn't be a glitch in my itinerary because I verified it was properly synched...and EUA didn't run for anyone else either.
Sep 15, 2006 | 10:55 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: Kommissar Giga-Posting Direktor, PWP; Fasano Nouveau Aristocrat; CO Platinum; BD Gold; MR Gold
Posts: 18,733
Originally Posted by bocastephen
That's just it - no R inventory was released on this flight since prior to, and subsequent to the first EUA window opening. It doesn't happen too often, but I have seen it on this particular flight from time to time as well as a couple of others.
Not one single upgrade processed, or seats going to R while the cabin remains A9D9 and the seat map remains fixed. Usually by now the cabin is full as generally speaking it's a Plat/Gold only show on this flight.
So my question is...why the holdback? Is it a system glitch? I can't see them holding more than 1/2 the cabin for sale, given the historical propensity of this flight to either sell out FC a week before departure or not even come close to selling out at all.
It wouldn't be a glitch in my itinerary because I verified it was properly synched...and EUA didn't run for anyone else either.
Not one single upgrade processed, or seats going to R while the cabin remains A9D9 and the seat map remains fixed. Usually by now the cabin is full as generally speaking it's a Plat/Gold only show on this flight.
So my question is...why the holdback? Is it a system glitch? I can't see them holding more than 1/2 the cabin for sale, given the historical propensity of this flight to either sell out FC a week before departure or not even come close to selling out at all.
It wouldn't be a glitch in my itinerary because I verified it was properly synched...and EUA didn't run for anyone else either.
Holding back EUA is also incredibly common on transcons. CO essentially bets that by holding back EUA, people will buy the F seats last-minute if they're available. If no one buys the seats, they upgrade elites. That way, it's a win-win for CO.
Sep 15, 2006 | 11:04 am
#7
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 47,233
Originally Posted by CO 1E
This has been happening for at least the last two years and is a well-know facet of the CO EUA system. CO always holds back EUA on flights that attract a lot of paid F customers. ....
Why I am questioning this situation is due to the flight being wide open in FC on a leisure route which rarely sells out FC or even close...so it appears odd that EUA is being held back.
My question: is this on purpose? (unlikely due to FC being wide open) or a system glitch that just skipped over this flight. It's not big deal...I'm just curious what powers are at play here.
Sep 15, 2006 | 11:11 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: Kommissar Giga-Posting Direktor, PWP; Fasano Nouveau Aristocrat; CO Platinum; BD Gold; MR Gold
Posts: 18,733
Originally Posted by bocastephen
My question: is this on purpose? (unlikely due to FC being wide open) or a system glitch that just skipped over this flight. It's not big deal...I'm just curious what powers are at play here.
Sep 15, 2006 | 11:45 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: CoUniHound 1K 1MM, AA EXP 2MM, DL Plat, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,680
I've noticed a number of times this year that a flight had inventory in the R bucket but EAU was not run. I haven't been able to figure out why revenue management would release seats to R but not allow them to be given out as upgrades. The only thing I can think of is that they are holding the seats for mileage upgrades.
Sep 15, 2006 | 11:50 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,859
Holding back EUA is also incredibly common on transcons. CO essentially bets that by holding back EUA, people will buy the F seats last-minute if they're available. If no one buys the seats, they upgrade elites. That way, it's a win-win for CO.
Sep 15, 2006 | 12:20 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: UAL 1K MM, AA Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hertz President's Circle, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 563
I think this is happening with my flight PHX-EWR Sun. night as well - 6 seats in FC cabin and no EUA (and no change in FC cabin all week)...
Sep 15, 2006 | 1:05 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,926
Originally Posted by Catbert10
I've noticed a number of times this year that a flight had inventory in the R bucket but EAU was not run. I haven't been able to figure out why revenue management would release seats to R but not allow them to be given out as upgrades. The only thing I can think of is that they are holding the seats for mileage upgrades.
On the IAH-DCA R was available over 7 days before, then comes EUA time - it was 0, then available during the day, then off again at night. I believe CO is trying to get folks to burn miles, when there was lots of availability. On the IAH-DCA - 2 out of 12 sold 2 days before then EUA run of 2 days out and many moved up - both Gold and Plat.
I have seen EWR-DEN flights 2 out of 18 held until gate time - then say 14 people get gate upgrade as the boarding process is underway - then lots of confusion.
Sep 15, 2006 | 1:17 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: Kommissar Giga-Posting Direktor, PWP; Fasano Nouveau Aristocrat; CO Platinum; BD Gold; MR Gold
Posts: 18,733
Originally Posted by entropy
People DO buy out the F cabin on transcons especially SFO, so its not holding back EUA, they just will sell all the seats.
Sep 15, 2006 | 1:21 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: Kommissar Giga-Posting Direktor, PWP; Fasano Nouveau Aristocrat; CO Platinum; BD Gold; MR Gold
Posts: 18,733
Originally Posted by cova
It is not that EUA is not run, it is that R bucket gets changed to 0 just before the EUA time. I tracked some recent flights DCA-IAH-DEN-IAH-DCA. The DEN-IAH was held back after normal 5 day EUA and released about 3 days out - even though only 2 out of 18 seats were sold. R was available during the day - for mileage upgrade - then R was not available late in the evening before EUA.
Sep 15, 2006 | 5:56 pm
#15
Company Representative, United Airlines
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chicago, Houston, or somewhere in between
Posts: 2,176
Let me see if I can add some clarifications.
1. EUA is the name of the system that wants to upgrade you, not the upgrade itself. It looks like the term "EUA" is being used a couple different ways. In some posts, it's the system that runs and automatically upgrades Elite customers in ranking order. In other posts, it's the upgrade inventory itself (R class through 19-Sep 2006 / F class 20-Sep onward). To be clear, it's the first one - EUA's the name of the system. So, while it's true we might hold back some upgrade inventory in advance because we're really hoping someone might still buy a First Class fare, we'll never hold back EUA from running on any upgrade-eligible flight. If you ever think that EUA didn't run on your flight (meaning there are upgrade seats available after EUA should've run), please send me a PM, and we'll definitely research it.
2. EUA doesn't run in real-time. Currently, EUA runs at specific intervals during the week before departure: nightly up to the departure day (depending on your Elite status) and one last time at 3 hours before scheduled departure. In most cases, it's well-timed with when we release the upgrade inventory, but there's always rare exceptions.
3. Upgrade inventory sometimes disappears before the nightly EUA run. EUA doesn't run right at midnight on the calendar day intervals. It actually starts running 1-2 hours before, which may explain why it looks like the upgrade inventory vanished. I'm willing to bet that when upgrade inventory vanishes instantly, it's because EUA just ran or because someone just made a significant contribution toward my profit sharing. If you ever suspect that something else happened, please send me a PM and we'll check it out.
Hope this helps.
2. EUA doesn't run in real-time. Currently, EUA runs at specific intervals during the week before departure: nightly up to the departure day (depending on your Elite status) and one last time at 3 hours before scheduled departure. In most cases, it's well-timed with when we release the upgrade inventory, but there's always rare exceptions.
3. Upgrade inventory sometimes disappears before the nightly EUA run. EUA doesn't run right at midnight on the calendar day intervals. It actually starts running 1-2 hours before, which may explain why it looks like the upgrade inventory vanished. I'm willing to bet that when upgrade inventory vanishes instantly, it's because EUA just ran or because someone just made a significant contribution toward my profit sharing. If you ever suspect that something else happened, please send me a PM and we'll check it out.