Upgrade question
 

Normally I don't try to figure this stuff out because this new upgrade process makes no sense to me.

I am flying on Thursday on Flight 409. According to the webpage it says the people on this list are people that are checked in already which is how they are on the list. According to what I see there are 6 open seats for sale/upgrade because I have not been upgraded in the 96 hour window or whatever it is for 1k.

Are these people on the list because their upgrade already cleared and they are checked in? Or one or both?

Getting to the end of my United rope....thinking AA may be in my future.


First Class Upgrade List

United Flight 409
Chicago, IL (ORD) to
Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
Thu., Jul. 5, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Aircraft Type : Boeing 757-200
Capacity : 24
Booked : 17
Checked In : 0
United First®
Name Seat List Total: 9
Customers Upgraded into United First®
flightstatus BOL , M 2B
flightstatus DEN , C 2A
flightstatus NAG , J 1E
flightstatus PER , R 6A
flightstatus PET , H 2F
flightstatus PET , M 2E
flightstatus RUD , R 6F
flightstatus SMO , L 3E
flightstatus SWA , T 6B

Both.

How did they check in? A return is the only way I can figure. Also, with that said it sounds like someone get's an upgrade faster if they are on a return auto check in vs. the start of a trip?

Does anyone really understand the upgrade process because I am completely confused!

I don't think it is 'Both' as checked in shows 0. These cleared due to their status and higher fare. Perhaps they are GS or 1K with higher fare than yours. Or they used some kind of instrument as RPU or miles. For example, 2E/F looks like a good case instrument upgrade.

The post-merger "upgrade list" is particularly confusing to us PMUA types because it looks a lot like the PMUA upgrade list, but it's not quite the same.

The current upgrade list shows two kinds of people:

1. Pax who have been upgraded already for whatever reason (e.g., CPU at their window).
2. Pax who are checked in and on the upgrade list (but not yet upgraded).

Your flight is far enough in the future (48+ hours) that almost certainly nobody is checked in yet. All 9 pax on the list were upgraded, either with miles/instruments or Y/B/M-up, or CPU at their window. 8 more F seats have been sold, and 7 are left for upgrades/sale.

While there are some issues with the upgrade process these days (e.g., lack of transparency), I don't think it deserves as much worry as you may be giving it. You're almost certainly on the "behind the scenes" upgrade list, and you'll appear on the visible one as soon as you check in. Your checkin time has almost no effect on your upgrade priority (it does break ties, but AFAICT that's all -- if you check in 2 hours before the flight, you'll immediately float above all the pax with lower status on the visible upgrade list).

I do tend to check in early these days if my upgrades haven't cleared in advance, but that's just because I can't obsessively check my position on the list until I've checked in. :)

Actually it says nobody has checked in already.

Yes, agree with this. There appear to be 7 seats available for sale in F at this time. So, I would say, as a 1K traveling on a mid-day flight, you have a good shot. Your place in line depends on (a) how many GS there are on the waitlist, (b) how many people take the buy-up offer that may be offered at check-in, and (c) what fare you paid - a higher than minimum fare will help seal the deal.

It helps to know in your mind how much you'd pay for an upgrade to first so if you see a reasonable offer at check-in, you can jump at it then. Hopefully the TOD (tens-of-dollar) upgrades won't happen as they are clearly unfair to people on the waitlist, but almost certainly something like $150-$250 may be offered.

By the way, on this flight, there appears to be a number of exit row seats available, so get yourself into one now if you haven't already!

Even though there might be 7 seats available, at current moment, there are no R/RN class seats so none of these are upgradable (either complimentary or instrument). If not sold, the fair class should open up in a day or so.

I also believe the list before the 24 hr mark only includes upgraded passengers that have seat assignments. I've been upgraded plenty of times without getting a seat assignment and not been on the list. As soon as I select a seat for my reservation, I appear in the list.