GPU Failure Report
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: SPI
Programs: AA Gold, UA LT Plat, Mar LTT
Posts: 18,147
#17
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: WAS-ish
Programs: UA 1K-MM + UC, Marriott Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,341
I just missed my first GPU of the year (I'm batting 5/6 so far).
It was on the 6/10 (Friday) 9am AMS-EWR on a 764 (M fare). I booked about 5 weeks out, figured I had a decent chance, but watched the cabin slowly fill up. At 2am the night before, I was #2 on the list with 2 seats open, but at 7:30am those seats were gone.
I have to admit, I didn't really mind that much. I had 16L (bulkhead, good leg room, window seat in the 2-3-2). I consumed whatever packaged goop they put in front of me, slept for about 4.5 hours of the 7.5 hour flight, watched half a movie, and read for a while. Meh.
I care a lot more about the eastbound overnight TATLs.
It was on the 6/10 (Friday) 9am AMS-EWR on a 764 (M fare). I booked about 5 weeks out, figured I had a decent chance, but watched the cabin slowly fill up. At 2am the night before, I was #2 on the list with 2 seats open, but at 7:30am those seats were gone.
I have to admit, I didn't really mind that much. I had 16L (bulkhead, good leg room, window seat in the 2-3-2). I consumed whatever packaged goop they put in front of me, slept for about 4.5 hours of the 7.5 hour flight, watched half a movie, and read for a while. Meh.
I care a lot more about the eastbound overnight TATLs.
#18
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,061
I've been looking for this thread.
SFO-TPE
V fare.
5/21/16.
Booked about a month prior.
This is a 13 hour flight on a B787, with seating in Y 3-3-3. Both Y and C were full. So I am now 5/6 for GPU upgrades so far this year. (Previously this flight was a B777.)
SFO-TPE
V fare.
5/21/16.
Booked about a month prior.
This is a 13 hour flight on a B787, with seating in Y 3-3-3. Both Y and C were full. So I am now 5/6 for GPU upgrades so far this year. (Previously this flight was a B777.)
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,448
* (well actually changed out of it before departure b/c was obviously going to miss)
#20
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PBI / FLL / YUL
Programs: UA 1K, Delta Plat, AA Plat, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Courtesy Card
Posts: 1,983
EWR-ATH
W Fare.
6/17/2016.
Booked in January 2016
Booked full.
ATH-EWR
W Fare.
6/26/2016
Booked in January 2016
Not happening.
Good start to my holiday. I'm now 0/4 this year on GPUs, should be 0/6 after DUB fails as well in a few weeks.
W Fare.
6/17/2016.
Booked in January 2016
Booked full.
ATH-EWR
W Fare.
6/26/2016
Booked in January 2016
Not happening.
Good start to my holiday. I'm now 0/4 this year on GPUs, should be 0/6 after DUB fails as well in a few weeks.
#21
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,952
#23
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
Makes me to seriously reconsider my position of either waitlisting the SFO-KIX and HKG-SFO/EWR or pick another date to immediately confirm it. At some point UA's customer service would pick up, and I think the TODs, and 1K members would come back.
Strategies may be very different this year.
#24
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
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I missed in December due to carelessness. The flight was sold only half full in BF 3 weeks out, so I viewed it as close to a sure thing, but UA was only selling down to D . . . clearly revenue management knew something about demand for the fight that I did not, and I failed to heed the warning sign.
#25
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: UAL 1k
Posts: 23
I fly EWR - TLV usually on W fares about every 4 weeks (1k, 1.4 million miler). I've cleared once in the last year. My worst one was TLV-EWR with 16 open seats, top of the list with one hour to boarding. Didn't clear due to buy-ups. Ouch.
The other one that was frustrating was last months EWR-TLV. Top of the list, one open seat at boarding time. According to the boarding agent, the seat was given to an employee... don't know if he/she was uniformed or not.
Since American pulled out of TLV, the load factors are high, and I think it's a super-hard route to upgrade on.
The other one that was frustrating was last months EWR-TLV. Top of the list, one open seat at boarding time. According to the boarding agent, the seat was given to an employee... don't know if he/she was uniformed or not.
Since American pulled out of TLV, the load factors are high, and I think it's a super-hard route to upgrade on.
#26
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Houston, TX USA
Programs: UA - GS/1MM, Marriott- PT, SPG-Gold/Fairmont Presidents
Posts: 204
Batting 0/4 so far this year with GPU/RPU's. United seems to have forgotten "LOYALTY" is a two way street. I am giving up, and have diverted about $50K this year to LH, TK and BA.
#27
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kirkland, WA
Programs: AS 75K,UA Gold 1.6MM, Hilton Dia, Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Glb, Natl Exec, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,657
I will re-iterate a suggestion I have made in the past. Document the spread between the W fare you pay and the best economy fare available by taking screenshots when you book. If/when you don't clear, request the difference from UA. If you do not get it, issue an FTC complaint based on the various justifications made in the "GPU lottery" debate. (opinions vary on likelihood of success - but I have not seen anyone try)
I did the above a few years ago and got certs for the difference which cut off my complaint route. Not likely you will get the same results today though....
I don't take my chances anymore, I only book when R available.
I did the above a few years ago and got certs for the difference which cut off my complaint route. Not likely you will get the same results today though....
I don't take my chances anymore, I only book when R available.
#28
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,448
Why would you complain to the FTC? They have no jurisdiction over airlines. That's exclusively DOT's arena.
#30
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
1. It's Sunday, so all the business travelers headed to the US.
2. It's a ridiculously lucrative route. Governmental agencies between Japan and US can all occupy the BF and GF, similar to the ANA flight. I met so many federal agencies when traveling this route.
3. There can be a lot of full fare passengers because of that.
Maybe I shouldn't trust UA too much. Really should be just switching my dates to confirm the GPU outright. This is getting ridiculous!
SFO-ICN remains one of the easiest GPUs in the system. Definitely easier than HKG. (We had about 15 op-ups on SFO-ICN today).
I missed in December due to carelessness. The flight was sold only half full in BF 3 weeks out, so I viewed it as close to a sure thing, but UA was only selling down to D . . . clearly revenue management knew something about demand for the fight that I did not, and I failed to heed the warning sign.
I missed in December due to carelessness. The flight was sold only half full in BF 3 weeks out, so I viewed it as close to a sure thing, but UA was only selling down to D . . . clearly revenue management knew something about demand for the fight that I did not, and I failed to heed the warning sign.
I do love to try to stay with 747 UD as long as they live coz they won't live long. Yes, I do try to look at how many P/PN fares are available before ticketing the flights. Thank you for the reminder!
Last edited by PaulInTheSky; Jun 19, 2016 at 2:59 am