Keep checking until your day of departure. I'm sure R inventory will open up/
You can always apply the RPU/GPU and waitlist and they SHOULD clear automatically and if they don't, call when you R>0.

R space disappeared while processing upgrades, did I trigger some sort of change?
 

Will do

Got an email and a call from UA.... Upgrades cleared

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I had something similar happen with a saver first award. Tried to book online, got an error, and called in. Agent told me the IN space was now gone on that segment, so waitlisted it. About 5 minutes later got an email that it'd cleared.

I suspect that it is possible to put the booking process into a state where more than one seat is being held (for example, if you attempt to book and then go back a step or error). After a few minutes the uncompleted bookings expire and the availability goes back to normal.

New data point (:mad::mad:) for this thread.

I'm flying to LHR in early March. Spent a while searching for flights with R>0, found an IAD-LHR flight with R2. Booked yesterday through my corporate travel agent, and paid roughly $140 extra out of pocket for a W fare on the outbound.

Then I sat and waited for the reservation to ticket. Tick. Tock. I check fare classes again last night; still R2. Go to bed. Get up this morning at 6am. Reservation still hasn't ticketed. Availability is still R2.

Finally, at 11am today I get a confirmation email from the travel agent. I check the reservation -- yay, ticketed! Click on "upgrade". And... yep, R0.

So, after several days of R>0 for this flight, between 6am and 11am this morning:
(1) My reservation ticketed, and
(2) R2 went to R0.
Waitlist, here I come.

Obviously, it's possible that somebody just grabbed both seats this morning. But it's also tempting to believe that there was some causal connection between my booking and the disappearing R.

Thanks United. (Sarcasm)
 

Went to check in for my flight which is tomorrow. Was offered an upgrade to first class for me and my fiancee. (Flying DTW-HNL for our wedding Tuesday!), Clicked on it, called an agent. Was offered the upgrade for (twice the price)... Still bit and said yes. Agent (from India) was going to "conference" me in with the upgrade specialist... put on hold and then... bam! new agent with no idea what i was talking about. He, again "held" the seats, and while buying them, a premier was upgraded and only one seat was available. Nothing they could do. Really a bummer on the service end. Couldn't even speak with someone in the states.

Thanks United. (Sarcasm)
 

Thanks United (NO Sarcasm)!^

jerk ;)

THIS

Hey, hey name calling is strictly verboten and subject to being sent to the rear lav for the duration of the flight.

Seriously, status has its privileges and with that comes upgrades (and we really don't know if the person that got the seat that you wanted didn't use miles or an RPU or a GPU) and first come first served. With status comes a direct line to a res agent in The States and would prevent the hassle that you received.

Fly over 2 1/2 million miles and see if you have any sympathy for a GM complaining that a premier member got upgraded ahead of you, especially if UA DID IT on their own!

UAL upgrades people when they want (and they make the rules) and offers upgrades to others for a fee as departure time nears. It's pull the trigger as fast as you can sometimes even when purchasing low fare tickets. Don't shoot the messenger and purchase your future wife an E+ seat and spend the money you saved on booze while relaxing under a palm tree!!!

Congrats on your wedding, and remember everything happens for a reason!!!^

We have E+. If only that came with free booze like Delta... I would be all set. ;)

You're "ALL SET" because you're starting a new life together and I wish you both the best!^^

I wonder if the premier level flyer also had to pay for his upgrade.

You're right, we are all set!

Dont know, and I don't mind someone else getting it. If I didn't pull the trigger, but I did and while giving the credit card info it sold. Thats a lot like someone pulling their card out faster at a store and buying something you have at the counter.

Oh well, I'll make my money back with my chase miles and a first class ticket on United's tab.

And as the previous poster said, I can save some dough!

:) 4 U 2!!