Consolidated "Are Upgrades Becoming Easier or Harder on UA?" Thread [2012/13]
#151
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
WOW. and I think you and I fly out of same airports and both 1K's. Strange as like I said my upgrades are the ONE thing I have no complaints about. However almost ALL of my domestic flights are P.S. (I'm 16/16) and LGA-IAH which I'm surprised I do do well on 6/6 (FYI. My fares are all over the place from S,T to C, D). The only fare I will never buy is Y as if I'm gonna buy Y I might as well buy Z,A,D etc
#152
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 14
Well, my wife (Premier Platinum) now understands it's the demand side that's limiting her chances with ORD-IAH seat upgrades which came often on CO. The GA told her all the Monday AM flights are filled with M-Th commuters. Likely a lot of 1k'ers in the mix.
Doesn't help that the other majors have backed off direct ORD-IAH connections either, with predictable results on seat availability and fares.
Doesn't help that the other majors have backed off direct ORD-IAH connections either, with predictable results on seat availability and fares.
#154
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: UA 1K, DL Gold, HH Gold, and SPG Gold
Posts: 408
In the new UA's system, on the same itinerary, you could be on the upgrade list for some segments, but not others.
I flew four segments in the past weekend. Two segments cleared to F during my upgrade window, while the other two was in Y one the day of departure.
I only found my name on the upgrade list of one of the two segments, not the other one. When I checked with the customer service desk (airport), an agent said my name is not on the upgrade list because I had an "award ticket." I corrected her, saying that she saw a small amount of money paid because I used a PMUA ecert. She manually added my name to the upgrade list, and said I was the first one on the list, and there is still one F left. When boarding started, GA said F is booked full and checked in full.
This post is not to complain about sitting in Y.
I flew four segments in the past weekend. Two segments cleared to F during my upgrade window, while the other two was in Y one the day of departure.
I only found my name on the upgrade list of one of the two segments, not the other one. When I checked with the customer service desk (airport), an agent said my name is not on the upgrade list because I had an "award ticket." I corrected her, saying that she saw a small amount of money paid because I used a PMUA ecert. She manually added my name to the upgrade list, and said I was the first one on the list, and there is still one F left. When boarding started, GA said F is booked full and checked in full.
This post is not to complain about sitting in Y.
#155
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Radisson Premium
Posts: 6,638
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_1_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9B206 Safari/7534.48.3)
STL-SFO tonight #3 on the UPG list 1K on a W fare. Thanks for rewarding my loyalty with yet another ride in Y
STL-SFO tonight #3 on the UPG list 1K on a W fare. Thanks for rewarding my loyalty with yet another ride in Y
#156
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
My next 3 segments have all cleared into F. My last two segments cleared into F.
I am not doing anything with my reservations (I do not babysit them, I do not check for upgrade inventory, I do not call in to ask about upgrades...)
CPU'd:
Week of 5/7: SFO-LAS, LAS-SFO
This week: SEA-SFO (SFO-SEA is on AS, but as an AA EXP I was able to select preferrred seating)
Upcoming: SFO-IAH, IAH -ABQ
I am not doing anything with my reservations (I do not babysit them, I do not check for upgrade inventory, I do not call in to ask about upgrades...)
CPU'd:
Week of 5/7: SFO-LAS, LAS-SFO
This week: SEA-SFO (SFO-SEA is on AS, but as an AA EXP I was able to select preferrred seating)
Upcoming: SFO-IAH, IAH -ABQ
Last edited by LarkSFO; May 15, 2012 at 6:14 pm
#157
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Illinois-downstate
Programs: UA 1K, UA MM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 955
jacrowe, I actually did speak to someone who answered the phone mentioning 1K. This was in the last day or two. I asked her when R space might open, since there is plenty of C space on both the 2:30 and 6:30 ORD-FRA flights on my day this week. She said "maybe tomorrow..." But 24 hours later... nothing. And today, nothing. I just wish UA would spell out the 'new' rules, if they are going to withhold ALL R/RN space within, say, the last week prior to travel. I got my upgrade 1 1/2 weeks ago... I saw R/RN1 and made the call. There has been no R/RN space since that day! Still watching because I'd love it if my husband could make use of the GPU I gave him. He is a 1K, thanks to my MM status. It's just so frustrating!!! Come on, UA.... give me a reason to remain loyal.
#158
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,133
jacrowe, I actually did speak to someone who answered the phone mentioning 1K. This was in the last day or two. I asked her when R space might open, since there is plenty of C space on both the 2:30 and 6:30 ORD-FRA flights on my day this week. She said "maybe tomorrow..." But 24 hours later... nothing. And today, nothing. I just wish UA would spell out the 'new' rules, if they are going to withhold ALL R/RN space within, say, the last week prior to travel. I got my upgrade 1 1/2 weeks ago... I saw R/RN1 and made the call. There has been no R/RN space since that day! Still watching because I'd love it if my husband could make use of the GPU I gave him. He is a 1K, thanks to my MM status. It's just so frustrating!!! Come on, UA.... give me a reason to remain loyal.
COdbaUA has the issue of not clearing waitlisted upgrades when R opens up--but the other aspects are nothing new.
#159
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: UAL 1K, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 348
jacrowe, I actually did speak to someone who answered the phone mentioning 1K. This was in the last day or two. I asked her when R space might open, since there is plenty of C space on both the 2:30 and 6:30 ORD-FRA flights on my day this week. She said "maybe tomorrow..." But 24 hours later... nothing. And today, nothing. I just wish UA would spell out the 'new' rules, if they are going to withhold ALL R/RN space within, say, the last week prior to travel. I got my upgrade 1 1/2 weeks ago... I saw R/RN1 and made the call. There has been no R/RN space since that day! Still watching because I'd love it if my husband could make use of the GPU I gave him. He is a 1K, thanks to my MM status. It's just so frustrating!!! Come on, UA.... give me a reason to remain loyal.
I asked her about 1k line...she told me it was gone...i actually wanted to have her adjust an existing reservation, but she said she couldn't....would have to be transferred to reservations. That didn't occur on the 1K line...hence 1 call!
#160
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: GSP
Programs: DL DM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 52
As a platinum (originating and returning to MSY), I have been upgraded on the last 13 mainline flights and I just changed my return on my current trip from Thursday to tomorrow and I was just upgraded IAH-MSY which is pretty last minute. The flights have been at various times and days, cities, aircraft (including a few 737-500s) and fare classes (including 4 segments on an "L" fare). It seems to vary based on one's experience, but I have no complaints.
#161
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 37
1258 Today
I am on 1258 tomorrow. Put in for an R-up weeks ago (I am a plat only).
Now I am on a waitlist and can't check in--and it looks like 13 people upgraded ahead of me.
Did I screw myself by asking for the R-up?
Now I am on a waitlist and can't check in--and it looks like 13 people upgraded ahead of me.
Did I screw myself by asking for the R-up?
Last edited by jjardin; May 17, 2012 at 5:15 am Reason: temporally challenged
#162
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
What's a R UP. Didn't you just count on Automatic UDU's or did you apply an instrument. At T-24 if you don't check in ASAP chances are you scr**ed yourself out of an upgrade but there is still hope
#163
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
This is the Friday morning EWR-LAX - it's booked full already, with 16 on the waitlist. There was nobody upgraded it seems via EUA.
#164
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
Again, looking at the facts helps.
This is the Friday morning EWR-LAX - it's booked full already, with 16 on the waitlist. There was nobody upgraded it seems via EUA.
This is the Friday morning EWR-LAX - it's booked full already, with 16 on the waitlist. There was nobody upgraded it seems via EUA.
#165
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Washington DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott PP (LT Pt)
Posts: 236
R is the bucket that shows how many upgrade-eligible seats there are.. so its like saying F-UP (er.. F the booking code/cabin) to designate your destination rather than Y-UP using your origin code.