Upgrade BS: Did CPUs get cleared ahead of miles' upgrade?
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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#17
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
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Posts: 5,220
Are you talking about the CO that didn't have RPU's, GPU's, 1K's (which you are now)? Well, other then E+ & more ways to upgrade you still have your old CO. There is plenty left of CO, UA, not so much
#18
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: MHT/BOS
Programs: Airline FF: UA 1K, DL, US, AA, NW,
Posts: 219
A few days ago out of SEA ,I had one of those non-upgrade experience.
48 hrs prior to the flight I applied a/n RPU to no avail. I got the "your being rolled to the airport list" at about the T-26 mark. I went to bed with 4 open FC seats on an A-320. The next morning 4 seats still showing open. On the drive to the airport 2 of them disappeared and I can only assume it was due to TOD upgrades. I figured being a 1k and number 1 one the list and on a Saturday I had a good shot at 1 of the 2 seats. Wrong. At about T-1 another one of the seat disappered. Now here comes the weird part. About 45 minds prior to departure the last seat disappears and the guy that got it was not on the upgrade waitlist list at all but showed as an "upgrade cleared" on the web site. Hmmm strange.
Tis is the second time in 30 days I have some weirdness like this happen. So far this year my domestic CPUs are near zero.
48 hrs prior to the flight I applied a/n RPU to no avail. I got the "your being rolled to the airport list" at about the T-26 mark. I went to bed with 4 open FC seats on an A-320. The next morning 4 seats still showing open. On the drive to the airport 2 of them disappeared and I can only assume it was due to TOD upgrades. I figured being a 1k and number 1 one the list and on a Saturday I had a good shot at 1 of the 2 seats. Wrong. At about T-1 another one of the seat disappered. Now here comes the weird part. About 45 minds prior to departure the last seat disappears and the guy that got it was not on the upgrade waitlist list at all but showed as an "upgrade cleared" on the web site. Hmmm strange.
Tis is the second time in 30 days I have some weirdness like this happen. So far this year my domestic CPUs are near zero.
Obviously TOD's change the dynamic and these can occur very close to departure.
Late checkins (again very close to departure) of any 1) Premier members on eligible Y- and B-class fares, as well as 2) Premier 1K members on M-class fares will jump immediately to the Upgrade Cleared space if R>0 and you'll never see a Waitlist Entry for these people.
At least that's what I believe might happen - "not transparent to you or I, but someone at UA could see it"
#19
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
Not sure it's so weird.
Obviously TOD's change the dynamic and these can occur very close to departure.
Late checkins (again very close to departure) of any 1) Premier members on eligible Y- and B-class fares, as well as 2) Premier 1K members on M-class fares will jump immediately to the Upgrade Cleared space if R>0 and you'll never see a Waitlist Entry for these people.
At least that's what I believe might happen - "not transparent to you or I, but someone at UA could see it"
Obviously TOD's change the dynamic and these can occur very close to departure.
Late checkins (again very close to departure) of any 1) Premier members on eligible Y- and B-class fares, as well as 2) Premier 1K members on M-class fares will jump immediately to the Upgrade Cleared space if R>0 and you'll never see a Waitlist Entry for these people.
At least that's what I believe might happen - "not transparent to you or I, but someone at UA could see it"
In my case, there were five people who appeared on the upgrade list after OLCI when F was 0 the whole time. If anybody wants to know which flight, it was UA 555 SFO-IAH last Sunday.
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 189
Not sure it's so weird.
Obviously TOD's change the dynamic and these can occur very close to departure.
Late checkins (again very close to departure) of any 1) Premier members on eligible Y- and B-class fares, as well as 2) Premier 1K members on M-class fares will jump immediately to the Upgrade Cleared space if R>0 and you'll never see a Waitlist Entry for these people.
At least that's what I believe might happen - "not transparent to you or I, but someone at UA could see it"
Obviously TOD's change the dynamic and these can occur very close to departure.
Late checkins (again very close to departure) of any 1) Premier members on eligible Y- and B-class fares, as well as 2) Premier 1K members on M-class fares will jump immediately to the Upgrade Cleared space if R>0 and you'll never see a Waitlist Entry for these people.
At least that's what I believe might happen - "not transparent to you or I, but someone at UA could see it"
Last edited by iluv2fly; Nov 7, 2012 at 11:29 pm Reason: merge
#21
Suspended
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#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 189
#23
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: IAH & HOU
Programs: UA GS & Marriott Titanium
Posts: 443
More weirdness: I am a GS and applied an RPU waitlist on Monday for an IAH-ORD (R=0) flight for tomorrow (the onward connecting flight cleared RPU into the last R spot immediately). I received a CPU for IAH-ORD before the RPU cleared. I know because a) I received an elite upgrade e-mail at time of upgrade and b) I also received a "sorry your upgrade didn't clear, but rest assured you're on the waitlist" e-mail at 24 hours pre-departure. Strange.
#24
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
More weirdness: I am a GS and applied an RPU waitlist on Monday for an IAH-ORD (R=0) flight for tomorrow (the onward connecting flight cleared RPU into the last R spot immediately). I received a CPU for IAH-ORD before the RPU cleared. I know because a) I received an elite upgrade e-mail at time of upgrade and b) I also received a "sorry your upgrade didn't clear, but rest assured you're on the waitlist" e-mail at 24 hours pre-departure. Strange.
At least, it is good to know that your upgrade priority is not being watered down when you apply an RPU.
#25
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: IAD
Programs: United, AA, Hilton
Posts: 340
As to upgrade seats disappearing at the last minute. I am a silver and was 20th on the CPU waitlist from IAH to BWI and at checkin a buy up offer appeared for $109(at first I declined) then I saw I was 20th on the waitlist, since I was 20th on the waitlist and wanted to sleep at t-minus 40 minutes I went back to the kiosk(as it was evident I wasn't get a CPU) and bought it. Jumping over the 1k in the upgrade cue, who was huffing and puffing about being 1st on the waitlist and why can't he have his ticket now. Then when I appeared as "upgrade cleared" and I walked past him with my ticket already he was fuming. I loved every minute of it It showed that DYKIA to sit his butt back in coach.
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,513
A few days ago out of SEA ,I had one of those non-upgrade experience.
48 hrs prior to the flight I applied a/n RPU to no avail. I got the "your being rolled to the airport list" at about the T-26 mark. I went to bed with 4 open FC seats on an A-320. The next morning 4 seats still showing open. On the drive to the airport 2 of them disappeared and I can only assume it was due to TOD upgrades. I figured being a 1k and number 1 one the list and on a Saturday I had a good shot at 1 of the 2 seats. Wrong. At about T-1 another one of the seat disappered. Now here comes the weird part. About 45 minds prior to departure the last seat disappears and the guy that got it was not on the upgrade waitlist list at all but showed as an "upgrade cleared" on the web site. Hmmm strange.
Tis is the second time in 30 days I have some weirdness like this happen. So far this year my domestic CPUs are near zero.
48 hrs prior to the flight I applied a/n RPU to no avail. I got the "your being rolled to the airport list" at about the T-26 mark. I went to bed with 4 open FC seats on an A-320. The next morning 4 seats still showing open. On the drive to the airport 2 of them disappeared and I can only assume it was due to TOD upgrades. I figured being a 1k and number 1 one the list and on a Saturday I had a good shot at 1 of the 2 seats. Wrong. At about T-1 another one of the seat disappered. Now here comes the weird part. About 45 minds prior to departure the last seat disappears and the guy that got it was not on the upgrade waitlist list at all but showed as an "upgrade cleared" on the web site. Hmmm strange.
Tis is the second time in 30 days I have some weirdness like this happen. So far this year my domestic CPUs are near zero.
- JN - Premier (Y fare)
- PN - GS (any fare)
- PN - 1K (B and M fares)
- PN - Premier (B fares)
- R - Instrument-supported upgrades
- R - Remainder of CPUs
Last edited by Ari; Nov 7, 2012 at 3:02 pm Reason: Correct YN to JN.
#27
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
OP did you ask #s 1 & 2 what their status was and if they were using miles as well? or any instrument? as well as their fare basis paid
Once we know the story with # 1 & 2 then and only then can it be determined what took place. Since I doubt the OP has that info, its no different then Romneys people who didnt rely on each States pollings but a Nationwide one, w/o the proper facts you cant make a proper educated determination
Once we know the story with # 1 & 2 then and only then can it be determined what took place. Since I doubt the OP has that info, its no different then Romneys people who didnt rely on each States pollings but a Nationwide one, w/o the proper facts you cant make a proper educated determination
#28
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Near SEA
Programs: UA MM, AS MVPG75K, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,969
Only outside of 24hrs are instrument and miles-supported upgrades prioritized over CPUs.
Inside 24hrs they are all the same and it's sorted by status and fare class after GS/YBMs.
Sounds like the system worked as it was supposed to. Which may stink that there weren't more upgrades released prior to 24hrs so she could've gotten the upgrade, but it worked.
#29
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: AA Plat, IHG Plat, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,933
He upgraded them because they were #1 and #2 on the list and your wife was #3. He likely didn't check why they were #1 or #2 (the system sorts it automatically according to the upgrade priority). And if he did say it was complimentary, he probably assumed that it was CPU without bothering to check just to shut you up, or he thinks that all upgrades are complimentary because he hasn't bothered to learn the rules because he doesn't really need to as long as he processes the list as it's presented to him, or he has a funny understanding of what "complimentary" means and lumps instrument/mileage upgrades as "complimentary" because they're "free." He may have said the wrong thing to you, but there's no reason to believe there was any BS involved in the actual order people were upgraded.
#30
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
Nope.
Only outside of 24hrs are instrument and miles-supported upgrades prioritized over CPUs.
Inside 24hrs they are all the same and it's sorted by status and fare class after GS/YBMs.
Sounds like the system worked as it was supposed to. Which may stink that there weren't more upgrades released prior to 24hrs so she could've gotten the upgrade, but it worked.
Only outside of 24hrs are instrument and miles-supported upgrades prioritized over CPUs.
Inside 24hrs they are all the same and it's sorted by status and fare class after GS/YBMs.
Sounds like the system worked as it was supposed to. Which may stink that there weren't more upgrades released prior to 24hrs so she could've gotten the upgrade, but it worked.