IN class vs R class - priority or inventory difference?
 

I'm GS and I have itinerary for 3 passengers booked on UA flight in couple of weeks as Standard Coach award (HN class) using my miles. Pax are GS as well.

I have wait listed this for Saver Business Award (IN class), but could also use a GPUs to upgrade (R class). Upgrade is not available to confirm yet, but chances look decent (over dozen open seats and good revenue inventory still left).

I was told by GS agent that both IN and R come from same inventory, and thus there would be no advantage in likelihood of clearing if I changed from Saver Business Award to GPU. Can anyone here verify if this is accurate?

Looking to maximize the upgrade chance, less concerned about optimizing mileage use or instrument value.

I don't think this is true - many times I have found R inventory but not I inventory, very rarely the other way around. What flight are you on?

Well they both get you into the same cabin but I regularly see RN#IN and have seen RN>0 while IN=0 (can not swear that there may be cases the other way).

Can you use a GPU to upgrade coach award tickets? I thought GPUs were only available for paid ($) tickets?

Global Services members can use GPUs to upgrade coach award tickets. It's one of the perks of the program.

They will be on UA927 FRA-SFO on 8/13. Currently showing I0 IN0 RN0 R0 C9 D9 Z9.

Two GS agents did claim that although IN and R (or RN) appear as separate fare classes they behind the curtain come from same inventory bucket. Anyone with definitive info on this?

It depends on what you mean by the "same inventory bucket". But it is clearly observable the RN can be > IN, so if you are reading the statement as meaning the chances are equal for either RN or IN, that is clearly false from the observable data.

Isn't there an option for GS passengers to convert upgrade space to award space? (haven't tried this recently so I am not sure of that benefit still exists or not) If so, then the likelihood of the two methods of getting into Business would be the same as they would come from the same inventory. The published inventory available to the general public could look different but for GS members only it would be equivalent.

Ahh thanks for clarifying. I've never had a shot at GS and probably never will, so never looked into the perks.

"Currently showing I0 IN0 RN0 R0 C9 D9 Z9."


Hi - I have a side question, don't want to derail the conversation - but how do you see the class inventory above. I'm quite new to this sort of thing and wouldn't have the first clue what link to click etc.

thanks in advance.

So can they also bypass the W fare requirement?

You have to enable (and agree to T&Cs) of Expert Mode. Then on flight searches the Fare Class line becomes a hyperlink to the data

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...cket-data.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ilability.html

Thank you very much ! tried Expert Mode and it works for me. this is most helpful

Not for paid tickets - GS cannot upgrade paid tickets cheaper than W. X or XN are not actually deeply discounted coach fares (which are restricted from GPU use).

Note that on 3 cabin GS can also upgrade from I(N) to ON using a GPU

Others have spoken to the inventory differences, however 1 major difference is that as a GS you normally cannot waitlist the use of a GPU on a reward tickets (though some agents have allowed from time to time). You CAN, however waitlist for I from your X ticket.

^ Thanks, forgot that one.