Post 3-Mar-2012:How to find upgrade inventory [+how to see fare bucket availability]
 

There are four different types of upgrade space available in the new United:

• Miles/Instrument Coach->Biz (R/RN)
• Top Elite B/M->One cabin higher (PN)
• All Elite Y->One cabin higher (JN)
• Miles/Instrument Biz->First (ON)

Lots of changes as of 9 September thanks to United screwing customers by removing the easy way to see the fare day. No, I'm not bitter. Why do you ask?

Anyways, I've done what I can to make it slightly easier. Here is the latest iteration of the steps to find upgrade inventory on United:
First choose the Advanced Search option:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan.../09/image5.png

Check the box at the bottom to search for upgrades:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan.../09/image6.png

Select the individual segments:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan.../09/image7.png

Check the results:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan.../09/image8.png

It isn’t much, but the new GreaseMonkey script I’ve got will let you skip that page which asks which segments you’re interested in. I honestly have no idea why United asks anyways rather than just searching for the whole trip from the get-go but they do. Load up this script and after you submit the advanced form it will just jump straight to the search results. Also, if you want to force the site to only show GPU-eligible fare classes as part of the Advanced Search page check out the instructions here.


http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan...rch-a-wee-bit/

While that's a lot to go searching for, the good news is that it can all be found on the same single search results page, and there are no special custom profile settings or parameters that you need to set, though there is one which can help, detailed at the end of this post.

So, here's the drill, and it really is quite simple.

• Do a normal revenue search for the flight you're interested in. One way or round trip doesn't matter. You just need a REVENUE fare search page that shows the results for the flight/date you are interested in.
• On the results page look in the right-most column. The third row should say something like "Fare Class: United Economy (W)" on it. Note that the words Fare Class are a hyperlink.
  http://gallery.millerworks.net/photo...-9cbxzBx-M.jpg
• Click that link and you will see all the inventory buckets for the flight:
  http://gallery.millerworks.net/photo...-KdDcFn7-M.jpg

That's all there is to it. Piece of cake.

If you want to get a bit more fancy and make it even easier - AND if you have a browser which supports GreaseMonkey scripts - I've created a script which causes the inventory to always be displayed for all flights and which highlights the award buckets. The downside is that there is no "X" button to close it and it obscures some other information, but I like the inventory info more so that's how I roll. For more information on that script check out my post here. Version 6.1 of the script is the first to support the new United.com and PSS site in it; older versions need to be upgraded.

This is what the page looks like with the script enabled:
http://gallery.millerworks.net/photo...-6NL5gBX-M.jpg

Note the red/green coloring of the award buckets. Easy, at-a-glance information on upgrades and awards without too much effort at all. :cool:

^^^

Good "How to do" posts. Please do make a single thread of all these tips. It will be useful for everyone.

Very useful - many thanks

int'l 3 class or ps. 3 class

R=1 means NC1 or NF1?

R is used for Coach -> Biz. ON is used for Biz -> First.

I did list those out at the very beginning of the post. ;)

sbm12 - Thank you for posting this helpful information in one place. This may need to be a sticky for a while. Can you clarify: I understand R is coach -> business. This used to be NC, I assume. What is the difference between R and RN? Also if someone could comment on what I and X are, or provide a link, that would be useful :)

Edited to add: This would mean the "ozstamps" thread listing all UA revenue and award booking codes is out of date, as it states (among other things) that R=XF.

But 2 class coach -> First is also ON? :confused:

At least my reservation shows so.

Pretty confusing. :p

2 class Y to F is R/RN. ON is only used on three cabin planes.

So what is FN code and ZN as well?

First class PMCO "Easypass," i.e. Standard Award in PMUA-speak.

But my confirmed 2 class Y-> F reservation is showing ON with 150% EQM.

So ZN is BIZ standard award in PMUA-speak?

This is a known bug for reservations that were migrated over. Don't worry about it.
The _N buckets are for elites. In some cases only some elites get the extra benefit, in others all elites get them.

I=Biz award; X=Coach award.

Yes, that listing is out of date. A current list is here: http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan...he-new-united/.
For non-elites, yes.

Sorry for the simple question, but how I do add the script to Chrome?

Just click the link on the page that says "head here to get the script" and Chrome should prompt you to load it.