24% 1K CPU rate (SFO-based) typical?
Jun 27, 2014, 8:26 am
#46
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA 1k/1mm+, National EE, IC Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,605
I don't think I have cleared even an expensive Q/V/W fare out of IAH in months...most of what I clear is AUS-IAH-AUS and occasionally on a cheap fare when demand is really low or I can SDC to different flights...
Jun 27, 2014, 8:59 am
#47
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: near to SFO and LHR
Programs: BA Gold, B6 Mosiac, VS, AA, DL (and a legacy UA 2MM)
Posts: 2,274
Although OT a bit, since you mentioned international: I've found TATL upgrades quite easy from SFO and ORD (18 out of the last 21) - waiting for R space could be futile, since they release so little. Depending on what day of the week you fly, you often have to buy a higher than minimum fare however (it's not that much $$ for TATL). I usually buy Q - about $200-$400 more than S/T - even adding the co-pay, well worth it to be able to upgrade to a lie-flat seat, and way lower than buying P.
Jun 27, 2014, 9:12 am
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,648
This surprises me - a lot. I go to PHL a lot, and have looked at the IAH connections to avoid the impossible upgrades on SFO-PHL (on the A319). yet, R never shows on those flights, and I have been stuck in Y on the IAH-PHL or PHL-IAH leg on the late flight. Perhaps my experience is different as you are doing the opposite trip than I am (you are going IAH-PHL, rather than the other way for me).
now that ORD-PHL is frequently RJ and IAH-PHL is 738, the party has most certainly ended. fortunately, SEA-PHL on AS regularly has U1 for advanced bookings with MVP Guest upgrades.
Jun 27, 2014, 9:14 am
#49
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
How will the OP be better off on an airline that does not even fly the route he is taking?
Just take your 1K reserved seat in the bulkhead or exit row...
Jun 27, 2014, 9:20 am
#50
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
I can't believe no one has yet pointed out that you are flying (per your own post) out of Hawaii (I assume OGG). They you attack people flying ex-SFO for generalizing? I just have to point out that OGG-SFO is an easy upgrade. Might be the easiest in the system. its flown by a UA 757 at this point (no more widebodies) and has almost no business traffic. R is routinely open, and I have never not had a CPU clear on that route.
The person with the odd travel pattern is you, and that you can't see that is mindboggling to me
The person with the odd travel pattern is you, and that you can't see that is mindboggling to me
Jun 27, 2014, 9:35 am
#51
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 640
Instead of arguing about individuals' upgrade experiences being typical or not, we can measure this quantitatively using UA's mobile app. For any flight to/from SFO simply divide the number of F seats by the sum of the F seats and uncleared wait list size:
u/g percent = 100 * numF / (numF + waitlist size)
just prior to take off. Of course this measures across all elites, so a fudge factor for 1Ks would need to be applied depending on what portion of the elite population they comprise. Anyways, perform the above measurement over a bunch of different flights, times, and cities to yield a statistically significant result.
u/g percent = 100 * numF / (numF + waitlist size)
just prior to take off. Of course this measures across all elites, so a fudge factor for 1Ks would need to be applied depending on what portion of the elite population they comprise. Anyways, perform the above measurement over a bunch of different flights, times, and cities to yield a statistically significant result.
Jun 27, 2014, 9:42 am
#52
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Instead of arguing about individuals' upgrade experiences being typical or not, we can measure this quantitatively using UA's mobile app. For any flight to/from SFO simply divide the number of F seats by the sum of the F seats and uncleared wait list size:
u/g percent = 100 * numF / (numF + waitlist size)
just prior to take off. Of course this measures across all elites, so a fudge factor for 1Ks would need to be applied depending on what portion of the elite population they comprise. Anyways, perform the above measurement over a bunch of different flights, times, and cities to yield a statistically significant result.
u/g percent = 100 * numF / (numF + waitlist size)
just prior to take off. Of course this measures across all elites, so a fudge factor for 1Ks would need to be applied depending on what portion of the elite population they comprise. Anyways, perform the above measurement over a bunch of different flights, times, and cities to yield a statistically significant result.
Jun 27, 2014, 9:42 am
#53
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AMEX Plat, Marriot Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 117
i am 0/5 this year but i am just a lowly silver. i was gold 3 years before that and had very low cpu too. but i am based out of sfo though and there are just so many elites on every darn flight! the upgrade list is always 25+ names.
my friend gave me her 4 gpu for my flights later this year and 2/4 cleared. fingers crossed that my sfo-tpe clears! life must be nice as a platinum or 1k :P
my friend gave me her 4 gpu for my flights later this year and 2/4 cleared. fingers crossed that my sfo-tpe clears! life must be nice as a platinum or 1k :P
Jun 27, 2014, 9:56 am
#54
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
i am 0/5 this year but i am just a lowly silver. i was gold 3 years before that and had very low cpu too. but i am based out of sfo though and there are just so many elites on every darn flight! the upgrade list is always 25+ names.
my friend gave me her 4 gpu for my flights later this year and 2/4 cleared. fingers crossed that my sfo-tpe clears! life must be nice as a platinum or 1k :P
my friend gave me her 4 gpu for my flights later this year and 2/4 cleared. fingers crossed that my sfo-tpe clears! life must be nice as a platinum or 1k :P
Life sucks as a 1K, let alone a PLT on United. GS on United is good, although much worse than it was pre-merger.
Jun 27, 2014, 10:00 am
#55
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
Jun 27, 2014, 10:52 am
#56
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
Jun 27, 2014, 11:05 am
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,029
Oops. Another upgrade out of SFO for this 1K (well, for a friend on an award ticket out of my account). Monday night SFO-OGG on a 738, no less. 96 hours out. I like my typical <25% upgrade success (sarcasm).
"Average" and "Typical" are completely different things.
"Average" and "Typical" are completely different things.
Jun 27, 2014, 11:27 am
#59
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
Although OT a bit, since you mentioned international: I've found TATL upgrades quite easy from SFO and ORD (18 out of the last 21) - waiting for R space could be futile, since they release so little. Depending on what day of the week you fly, you often have to buy a higher than minimum fare however (it's not that much $$ for TATL). I usually buy Q - about $200-$400 more than S/T - even adding the co-pay, well worth it to be able to upgrade to a lie-flat seat, and way lower than buying P.
Jun 27, 2014, 11:28 am
#60
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
I wouldn't mix instrument and CPU together, they are completely different.