Star Alliance Upgrade Award on EVA
Mar 25, 2019, 3:28 pm
#136
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 60
Was going to use the chance for upgrade as determining factor for whether to purchase B or V fare, but after look reviewing EVA's new IML program, it may still be worth it to purchase B fare for the seat selection and full mileage earning.
I read somewhere that people often check upgrade availability at T-72/48/24 hours, does that also apply to only IML members? And how would one check upgrade availability?
Mar 25, 2019, 3:58 pm
#137
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
Thanks for the info and not get my hopes up.
Was going to use the chance for upgrade as determining factor for whether to purchase B or V fare, but after look reviewing EVA's new IML program, it may still be worth it to purchase B fare for the seat selection and full mileage earning.
I read somewhere that people often check upgrade availability at T-72/48/24 hours, does that also apply to only IML members? And how would one check upgrade availability?
Was going to use the chance for upgrade as determining factor for whether to purchase B or V fare, but after look reviewing EVA's new IML program, it may still be worth it to purchase B fare for the seat selection and full mileage earning.
I read somewhere that people often check upgrade availability at T-72/48/24 hours, does that also apply to only IML members? And how would one check upgrade availability?
EVA typically has released some award space at 10 days out and 7 days out, and sometimes even closer in than that. So, so long as there are plenty of seats left unsold in the cabin the chances are good that some will be released at some point within 10 days of departure. If you have a flex fare and you find space on a different flight the same day you can change your flight to get the upgrade. Some cities have two flights departing at almost the same time. You may end up finding 2 upgrades on one and 1 upgrade on another within a hour of each other.
Mar 26, 2019, 11:50 pm
#138
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 60
Never done it but here is my take. I would book two separate reservations, 2 on one, 1 person on the other, to maximize upgrade chances. This way you can upgrade 1 person, or 2 people, or 3 people, depending on how much upgrade space becomes available. I would look to book on a day with multiple flights on the one with the lowest amount of Business seats booked. If you have miles in United you can fill out their online SAUA request and see if it goes through (and keep attempting this periodically). You can call EVA to ask how many seats are available for upgrade. Do not mention *A upgrade, either say IML upgrade or ask for how many Z Class seats are available.
EVA typically has released some award space at 10 days out and 7 days out, and sometimes even closer in than that. So, so long as there are plenty of seats left unsold in the cabin the chances are good that some will be released at some point within 10 days of departure. If you have a flex fare and you find space on a different flight the same day you can change your flight to get the upgrade. Some cities have two flights departing at almost the same time. You may end up finding 2 upgrades on one and 1 upgrade on another within a hour of each other.
EVA typically has released some award space at 10 days out and 7 days out, and sometimes even closer in than that. So, so long as there are plenty of seats left unsold in the cabin the chances are good that some will be released at some point within 10 days of departure. If you have a flex fare and you find space on a different flight the same day you can change your flight to get the upgrade. Some cities have two flights departing at almost the same time. You may end up finding 2 upgrades on one and 1 upgrade on another within a hour of each other.
I'll call EVA on the suggested T-X day interval. I'm happy to report back if and when the upgrade goes through and on what fare code inventory, to contribute to the data points on this thread.
Mar 27, 2019, 5:44 pm
#139
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
Thanks for the suggestions. I went ahead and booked the flight with the most open business seats available, but didn't go as far as splitting the reservation. We have a kid so preferred to stay together even if it is in economy.
I'll call EVA on the suggested T-X day interval. I'm happy to report back if and when the upgrade goes through and on what fare code inventory, to contribute to the data points on this thread.
I'll call EVA on the suggested T-X day interval. I'm happy to report back if and when the upgrade goes through and on what fare code inventory, to contribute to the data points on this thread.
I would also keep checking award space on the flights with a united.com search. While award space is not the same as *A upgrade space (many times there is more upgrade than award space) if you see award space that is good indicator that upgrade space may be available.
Another suggestion would be to track for flights a few days before yours what time of day they release award space (united.com award search) at T-10 and T-7 because that may also be an indicator of what time of day they release upgrade space. I believe it is in the late evening / night PDT.
Mar 27, 2019, 9:22 pm
#140
Join Date: May 2015
Location: WAS, SZX, HKG
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, CX Green
Posts: 735
Just a quick question here... Trying to do a SAUA on the TPE-ORD flight this weekends, and it appears that although the flight is C9J9 (D0) and ~half of the RL seats are available, EVA air doesn’t want to release any D/Z/I seats. Both Economy and Premium Economy are zeroed out. I wonder whether there is any events this weekend in Taipei? Is it likely that they would release some more seats between now and flight departure? (Which is about T-72 now)
Mar 27, 2019, 11:05 pm
#141
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
Just a quick question here... Trying to do a SAUA on the TPE-ORD flight this weekends, and it appears that although the flight is C9J9 (D0) and ~half of the RL seats are available, EVA air doesn’t want to release any D/Z/I seats. Both Economy and Premium Economy are zeroed out. I wonder whether there is any events this weekend in Taipei? Is it likely that they would release some more seats between now and flight departure? (Which is about T-72 now)
Mar 28, 2019, 11:51 am
#142
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 60
If you have enough United miles in your account (30k per person per segment you want to upgrade) you can try putting the request through the United SAUA request page as frequently as you want. That way you do not have to call so often. It won't tell you if space opens on a different flight but you can attempt the upgrade on the flight you are on without calling. If you call and find upgrade space on a different flight you can change your flight and then upgrade.
I would also keep checking award space on the flights with a united.com search. While award space is not the same as *A upgrade space (many times there is more upgrade than award space) if you see award space that is good indicator that upgrade space may be available.
Another suggestion would be to track for flights a few days before yours what time of day they release award space (united.com award search) at T-10 and T-7 because that may also be an indicator of what time of day they release upgrade space. I believe it is in the late evening / night PDT.
I would also keep checking award space on the flights with a united.com search. While award space is not the same as *A upgrade space (many times there is more upgrade than award space) if you see award space that is good indicator that upgrade space may be available.
Another suggestion would be to track for flights a few days before yours what time of day they release award space (united.com award search) at T-10 and T-7 because that may also be an indicator of what time of day they release upgrade space. I believe it is in the late evening / night PDT.
I did get some data on the one flight on which the upgrade is available. As for last night (3/27):
- BR 8 departing on 4/18 has 27 RL seats available (31% occupied)
- EVA agents confirmed there are 8 upgrade seats available
- EF showed upgrade award I is not available
- EF showed D9 in fare availability
Mar 28, 2019, 12:14 pm
#143
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Bay Area
Programs: UA 1k now; AA (no status); HY Diamond; SPG Platinum
Posts: 707
Consensus on FT is actually that SAUA availability is most likely linked to 'Z' class availability, not 'I' class. 'Z' class is not available on EF; you must call in to EVA to inquire. I have no experience with Z space opening up. If your travel dates are flexible, I would definitely seek to rebook to dates where you can confirm the upgrade now. There's little point IMO to paying a premium for B class and not confirming the upgrade immediately. Hopefully you are still within the refund window.
Mar 28, 2019, 12:16 pm
#144
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Bay Area
Programs: UA 1k now; AA (no status); HY Diamond; SPG Platinum
Posts: 707
Don't have enough miles in my account right now, but I'll probably transfer enough miles for the departure flight then if the upgrade clears, transfer another batch for the return trip. Called EVA last night it's still all waitlist for my flights.
I did get some data on the one flight on which the upgrade is available. As for last night (3/27):
I did get some data on the one flight on which the upgrade is available. As for last night (3/27):
- BR 8 departing on 4/18 has 27 RL seats available (31% occupied)
- EVA agents confirmed there are 8 upgrade seats available
- EF showed upgrade award I is not available
- EF showed D9 in fare availability
It didn’t clear.
Mar 28, 2019, 12:59 pm
#145
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 60
I should probably clarify that BR 8 is NOT my targeted flight. I'm looking for BR 18/28 upgrade availability, but the only flight that has upgrade availability that day is BR 8. So there is no such thing as "It didn't clear" as I'm not trying to upgrade on that flight. But according to the EVA agent upgrade would not be an issue on BR 8 since there are 8 available.
Mar 28, 2019, 1:23 pm
#146
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
Mar 28, 2019, 1:27 pm
#147
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
I should probably clarify that BR 8 is NOT my targeted flight. I'm looking for BR 18/28 upgrade availability, but the only flight that has upgrade availability that day is BR 8. So there is no such thing as "It didn't clear" as I'm not trying to upgrade on that flight. But according to the EVA agent upgrade would not be an issue on BR 8 since there are 8 available.
Mar 28, 2019, 2:38 pm
#148
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 60
Maybe I misunderstood your original post. I thought your outbound was SFO-TPE but the flights you mention BR8/18/28 are TPE-SFO flights, are you originating in TPE and you are looking for upgrades on BR18/28 on 4/17 which are not available but BR8 on 4/18 upgrades are available?
I was hoping that by providing the data on what IS available, and perhaps as more seats are sold and the upgrade availability dwindles, we can deduce when upgrade availability disappears. I am a researcher so my professional tendency is to plot the upgrade availability against 1) days to departure, 2) number of open seats available, and 3) Z or I availability (but this is not entirely visible to us) and see if there is an intersection of these factors where upgrade would or would not be available, even if it's anecdotal evidence. Okay enough nerd talk from me.
Last edited by XFer2; Mar 28, 2019 at 3:32 pm
Mar 28, 2019, 6:12 pm
#149
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 10
My outbound flight is on 4/11 SFO-TPE, 3 flights that day and all of them have a wait list for upgrade. Return flight is on 4/18 TPE-SFO. BR 8 has upgrade availability, but unfortunately that is the only flight I cannot take as it is on the morning of my grandmother's birthday lunch. The two evening flights also have a wait list for upgrade.
I was hoping that by providing the data on what IS available, and perhaps as more seats are sold and the upgrade availability dwindles, we can deduce when upgrade availability disappears. I am a researcher so my professional tendency is to plot the upgrade availability against 1) days to departure, 2) number of open seats available, and 3) Z or I availability (but this is not entirely visible to us) and see if there is an intersection of these factors where upgrade would or would not be available, even if it's anecdotal evidence. Okay enough nerd talk from me.
I was hoping that by providing the data on what IS available, and perhaps as more seats are sold and the upgrade availability dwindles, we can deduce when upgrade availability disappears. I am a researcher so my professional tendency is to plot the upgrade availability against 1) days to departure, 2) number of open seats available, and 3) Z or I availability (but this is not entirely visible to us) and see if there is an intersection of these factors where upgrade would or would not be available, even if it's anecdotal evidence. Okay enough nerd talk from me.
