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[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight {Archive}

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Old Feb 9, 2019, 8:39 pm
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[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight {Archive}

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Old Jan 18, 2022 | 10:12 am
  #5776  
marks88
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Originally Posted by jjmoore
I flew UA1649 IAH-DEN on a 772 today. Incredibly, I was the only person showing cleared upgrade today (paid $100 for a DoD upgrade because I didn't want to be back in row 50 on a last-minute ticket). Pretty insane that at the 24 hour mark, this flight had 14 open seats in the front, and they dwindled down to 2, and with PP's applied, I was #7 on the list that was 77 deep. I have not been able to clear upgrades with PPs or complimentary upgrades for some time now. A lot of paid first class fares these days, especially last minute tickets apparently. I didn't see any cancelled flights on the IAH-DEN routing today that would explain how all those seats disappeared so quickly. Thought I was a shoo-in for the upgrade today, but then at check-in this morning, I was clearly not.
Fare difference on IAH-DEN is often $100 or less. Plenty of $199 oneway P fares on Polaris 777s. I'm seeing tons of cheap J fares - people are probably buying up.
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Old Jan 18, 2022 | 12:43 pm
  #5777  
jjmoore
 
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Originally Posted by marks88
Fare difference on IAH-DEN is often $100 or less. Plenty of $199 oneway P fares on Polaris 777s. I'm seeing tons of cheap J fares - people are probably buying up.
Looking across multiple dates, I am seeing what you see too... my flight was a Monday afternoon flight... not sure if peak business travel dates are showing different fares. I just peeked at next Monday and am seeing tickets just shy of $600 o.w. in first on that same flight / same aircraft. Other dates are considerably cheaper. I also bought 2 days in advance, but it appears Monday fares are more expensive.

In yesterday's case, it appears people were ponying up a good chunk of change to sit up front before the 24 hour mark. Once I checked in, I grabbed the last DoD buy-up available, and the last seat either sold or went to someone who had irrops.
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Old Jan 22, 2022 | 10:30 am
  #5778  
4BandE
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Has anyone here had success on a PlusPoints upgrade on the SFO-BOS route? Doing a trip in May with my elderly parents for my son's graduation at Boston University. Seats wide open now but I'm sure that will change. Got a decent fare and the upgrade cost is currently about $650 each way/person. Just wondering if I should just pay the upgrade fare and be done with it. They are willing to pay for the upgrade since this will probably be their last trip across country.

Thanks in advance for the advice/success rate!
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Old Jan 22, 2022 | 10:59 am
  #5779  
UAFAM
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Originally Posted by 4BandE
Thanks in advance for the advice/success rate!
By May more people will travel, fares will go up and upgrades become even more difficult, just buy it and dont worry about the upgrades close to your travel date.
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Old Jan 22, 2022 | 11:01 am
  #5780  
spartacusmcfly
 
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Originally Posted by 4BandE
Has anyone here had success on a PlusPoints upgrade on the SFO-BOS route? Doing a trip in May with my elderly parents for my son's graduation at Boston University. Seats wide open now but I'm sure that will change. Got a decent fare and the upgrade cost is currently about $650 each way/person. Just wondering if I should just pay the upgrade fare and be done with it. They are willing to pay for the upgrade since this will probably be their last trip across country.

Thanks in advance for the advice/success rate!
If the upgrade is a must, pay for it. Chances of PP clearing on that route are low, especially around May, when there is heavy graduation traffic. Additionally, paying now, guarantees them seats together.
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Old Jan 22, 2022 | 11:39 am
  #5781  
Kmxu
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Originally Posted by spartacusmcfly
If the upgrade is a must, pay for it. Chances of PP clearing on that route are low, especially around May, when there is heavy graduation traffic. Additionally, paying now, guarantees them seats together.
It does not hurt to check lie-flat bed on this route offered by other airlines.
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Old Jan 22, 2022 | 11:54 am
  #5782  
nomad420
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Originally Posted by 4BandE
Has anyone here had success on a PlusPoints upgrade on the SFO-BOS route? Doing a trip in May with my elderly parents for my son's graduation at Boston University. Seats wide open now but I'm sure that will change. Got a decent fare and the upgrade cost is currently about $650 each way/person. Just wondering if I should just pay the upgrade fare and be done with it. They are willing to pay for the upgrade since this will probably be their last trip across country.

Thanks in advance for the advice/success rate!
Fly this route often and have just under a 50% success rate. Much of that was when it was still classified as a "Premium route", that has since been dropped. I agree with Spartacus that is a tough time of year. Also, make sure you on lie flat equipment from your seat chart before you pay for that upgrade. If not then $1300 seem high to me but that is my subjective opinion. The fact that it is not a Premium route now allows CPUs but you would trump those of course using PPs.
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Old Jan 22, 2022 | 2:44 pm
  #5783  
Kacee
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Originally Posted by Kmxu
It does not hurt to check lie-flat bed on this route offered by other airlines.
Yeah I see zero reason to fly UA over B6 Mint if paying for F.
Originally Posted by nomad420
Also, make sure you on lie flat equipment from your seat chart before you pay for that upgrade. .
Never guaranteed with UA and subject to swap.
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Old Jan 22, 2022 | 5:55 pm
  #5784  
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I'll check other airlines.

Right now it's an lie-flat, but I have seen it change in the fall.

Thanks!
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Old Jan 29, 2022 | 3:28 pm
  #5785  
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Anyone have insight into why the SFO-EWR premium transcon polaris is so hard to get? You can't even buy an upgrade on my flight next weekend, yet there are still 26 polaris seats open. Hoping for a PPs upgrade. I understand waitlist, but they really don't even want to sell the upgrade? Are they just holding out for full fare paid last minute folks?
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Old Jan 29, 2022 | 3:36 pm
  #5786  
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Originally Posted by aaronc84
Anyone have insight into why the SFO-EWR premium transcon polaris is so hard to get? You can't even buy an upgrade on my flight next weekend, yet there are still 26 polaris seats open. Hoping for a PPs upgrade. I understand waitlist, but they really don't even want to sell the upgrade? Are they just holding out for full fare paid last minute folks?
Of course you can pay for an upgrade and you can always upfare as well. UA wants your money!

Now, with PPs waitlisted you can no longer do that online. If you call an agent can process the upgrade for you.
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Old Jan 29, 2022 | 5:39 pm
  #5787  
WineCountryUA
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Originally Posted by cfischer
.... Now, with PPs waitlisted you can no longer do that online. ...
i think that has been fixed recently. I did it last week, was surprised it work but it did.
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Old Jan 29, 2022 | 10:55 pm
  #5788  
DELee
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Originally Posted by aaronc84
Anyone have insight into why the SFO-EWR premium transcon polaris is so hard to get? You can't even buy an upgrade on my flight next weekend, yet there are still 26 polaris seats open. Hoping for a PPs upgrade. I understand waitlist, but they really don't even want to sell the upgrade? Are they just holding out for full fare paid last minute folks?
Just trying to understand: you're booked to fly SFO-EWR p.t.s. next weekend and you aren't offered the opportunity to upgrade in either the app or online - whether cash, miles or PPs?

David
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Old Jan 31, 2022 | 1:58 pm
  #5789  
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Originally Posted by marks88
Fare difference on IAH-DEN is often $100 or less. Plenty of $199 oneway P fares on Polaris 777s. I'm seeing tons of cheap J fares - people are probably buying up.
For next Monday's IAH-DEN, I am seeing tons of $204 o.w. P fares. Nice! Unless you are hoping for an upgrade. I am going to probably buy up once again at the cheap price!
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Old Jan 31, 2022 | 4:01 pm
  #5790  
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Originally Posted by DELee
Just trying to understand: you're booked to fly SFO-EWR p.t.s. next weekend and you aren't offered the opportunity to upgrade in either the app or online - whether cash, miles or PPs?

David
Correct. 29 open Polaris seats on the seat map and no way to pay up to polaris, with cash or miles. Currently waitlisted with PP as a 1K.
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