24% 1K CPU rate (SFO-based) typical?
#35
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Houston / Philadelphia
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 276
I am running a rate of around 95% each week or every other week from IAH-PHL-IAH.....usually Thursday or Friday late flight from IAH and 545 am on Monday morning from PHL.
To me, CPU is just a marketing tool to fill seats when there are empty ones up front to make those who really arent entitled to it cause not paying the BF ticket, feel special and continue to fly to keep status to get more CPU's. Does not really cost the airline anything I dont think except the cost of that "awesome" meal that is provided.
So with that, if you book times in which flights are usually full up front your chances of CPU clearing are smaller.
To me, CPU is just a marketing tool to fill seats when there are empty ones up front to make those who really arent entitled to it cause not paying the BF ticket, feel special and continue to fly to keep status to get more CPU's. Does not really cost the airline anything I dont think except the cost of that "awesome" meal that is provided.
So with that, if you book times in which flights are usually full up front your chances of CPU clearing are smaller.
#36
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,250
I don't know, but what I do know is that my CPU success rate IAD-SFO before the merger was around 65-70%. It is now 0%. The only way I get upgrades on my quarterly IAD-SFO r/t is to use instruments or miles.
#37
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Premier Platinum (and falling fast)
Posts: 566
Absolutely! Even within my own stats, there's no such thing as typical (different fare classes, different days of the week, times, equipment types, etc.)
FWIW.......
Of my non instrument supported, CPU eligible flights that touch SFO (in or out):
2014
CPU success: 45% (9 out of 20).....
Average segment length: 585 miles
Average CPM: 28.16c
2013
CPU success: 47.5% (28 out of 59).....
Average segment length: 974 miles
Average CPM: 30.4c
FWIW.......
Of my non instrument supported, CPU eligible flights that touch SFO (in or out):
2014
CPU success: 45% (9 out of 20).....
Average segment length: 585 miles
Average CPM: 28.16c
2013
CPU success: 47.5% (28 out of 59).....
Average segment length: 974 miles
Average CPM: 30.4c
#38
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA 1k/1mm+, National EE, IC Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,605
If you fly in and out of EWR, your CPU rates may be even worse. I am at 45% for the year (see sig). Better than OP, but still not near my 25/25 on AA this year.
#39
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
Yes sir. I'm missing on leisure routes with regularity out of EWR this year. Maybe weekend mileage runners have better luck but business has been jammed out of EWR on most of my flights. Good for UA, I guess.
#41
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,842
It's mostly the UA upgrade scheme, any silver on a Y (even Govt Y) fare is ahead of you, as is some GS's girlfriend travelling on miles. With these policies your upgrade rates are bound to be higher at AA. The takeaway is that UA just doesn't value high freq business travelers as much as the other legacies, we've known this for several years now.
#42
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: IAD
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,937
The only routes where I've gotten successful CPUs this year were short haul flights such as IAD-MCI or IAD-MSY. Since UA isn't releasing R space on international flights, I'm burning my GPUs on transcons.
#43
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: UA GS, UA 2MM, HH LT Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,773
It's mostly the UA upgrade scheme, any silver on a Y (even Govt Y) fare is ahead of you, as is some GS's girlfriend travelling on miles. With these policies your upgrade rates are bound to be higher at AA. The takeaway is that UA just doesn't value high freq business travelers as much as the other legacies, we've known this for several years now.
#44
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,299
Ugh. Sorry to hear about that. The upgrade gods are not being kind to you. Hope the luck turns.
#45
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
The person with the odd travel pattern is you, and that you can't see that is mindboggling to me.
My.Upgrades.In.And.Out.Of.SFO.Are.80+%. That is not relevant? Gee.
I think I took out everything else. What brings me down are the occasional non-CPUs between IAH and SFO. Again, routes and timing affect upgrade percentages, leading to different results for different people in/out of SFO. The differences between your CPU success and mine (both restricted to SFO flights) is a testament to that.
If you want to sit there and speak for most 1Ks and tell them that their CPU success rate is about 25%, that's pretty imperial of you.
Again, please post the data (besides yours) that support your assertion that most 1Ks have a 25% CPU success rate in/out SFO.
I think I took out everything else. What brings me down are the occasional non-CPUs between IAH and SFO. Again, routes and timing affect upgrade percentages, leading to different results for different people in/out of SFO. The differences between your CPU success and mine (both restricted to SFO flights) is a testament to that.
If you want to sit there and speak for most 1Ks and tell them that their CPU success rate is about 25%, that's pretty imperial of you.
Again, please post the data (besides yours) that support your assertion that most 1Ks have a 25% CPU success rate in/out SFO.
As a GS out of LAX, I am only 8 of 23 (~35%)...most of these are LAX-IAD or LAX-BOS. With AA, I am 19 out of 20 to ORD, BOS and NYC (I missed one because of a broken seat...AA in BOS gave me a whole row for myself and fed and watered me...well, maybe something a little stronger...the whole flight!...I did not miss F!!)
All I can say is for this GS, the difference has been dramatic!
All I can say is for this GS, the difference has been dramatic!
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).