Trying to upgrade online, lots of seats, non-available
Sep 2, 2014, 11:42 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Columbus, OH
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 192
Trying to upgrade online, lots of seats, non-available
Trying to use miles to upgrade to business class from EWR to LHR on Sept. 14, then FRA to IAD on Sept. 20, but website says none available. The seat map shows 20 available business class seats on each flight, (more than I have ever seen).
What gives? Should I wait to book? Wil I get an offer to buy up when I purchase?
Thanks for your advice.
What gives? Should I wait to book? Wil I get an offer to buy up when I purchase?
Thanks for your advice.
Sep 2, 2014, 11:46 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
UA thinks it can still sell some of those seats and while it shows 20 available seats those could have occupants in them who have not reserved their seat.
Sep 2, 2014, 11:51 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
Trying to use miles to upgrade to business class from EWR to LHR on Sept. 14, then FRA to IAD on Sept. 20, but website says none available. The seat map shows 20 available business class seats on each flight, (more than I have ever seen).
What gives? Should I wait to book? Wil I get an offer to buy up when I purchase?
Thanks for your advice.
What gives? Should I wait to book? Wil I get an offer to buy up when I purchase?
Thanks for your advice.
I looked at the 5 flights on 9/14 and it appears that one has 6 business seats available, and the rest all have fewer. All of them are currently R=0 (no seats available to upgrade) at this time too.
I think your chances are slim for a miles upgrade. You very well may get an offer to upgrade for cash when you book however.
Sep 2, 2014, 11:51 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,648
Trying to use miles to upgrade to business class from EWR to LHR on Sept. 14, then FRA to IAD on Sept. 20, but website says none available. The seat map shows 20 available business class seats on each flight, (more than I have ever seen).
What gives? Should I wait to book? Wil I get an offer to buy up when I purchase?
Thanks for your advice.
What gives? Should I wait to book? Wil I get an offer to buy up when I purchase?
Thanks for your advice.
Sep 2, 2014, 11:58 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
OP - is this the right date? If you provide us with additional information, we may be able to give further advice.
Sep 2, 2014, 1:28 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,082
I was looking for UA R space EWR or IAD to LHR around those dates (and also business for less than $6k) when I was looking some time back and found none. That is why I instead bought AF refundable economy connecting through CDG for a lot less about a month ago and upgraded for miles. Of my next three TATL flights in 2014, two are AF Affaires, and one is UA with paid business out/R upgrade with miles return. I'm still looking for UA R space and discount business for two TATL trips in 2015 and it seems a lot harder to find these days than past years. I wonder if they are really selling those seats at $6-7k a pop. I may check for R just before then out of curiosity.
Sep 2, 2014, 1:41 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
I was looking for UA R space EWR or IAD to LHR around those dates (and also business for less than $6k) when I was looking some time back and found none. That is why I instead bought AF refundable economy connecting through CDG for a lot less about a month ago and upgraded for miles. Of my next three TATL flights in 2014, two are AF Affaires, and one is UA with paid business out/R upgrade with miles return. I'm still looking for UA R space and discount business for two TATL trips in 2015 and it seems a lot harder to find these days than past years. I wonder if they are really selling those seats at $6-7k a pop. I may check for R just before then out of curiosity.
I agree however that R has been more rare than in the past few years.
Sep 2, 2014, 1:44 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,067
Please. Just because you see a condition doesn't mean it's deliberate. UA revenue management could also be screwed up and have no clue what they're doing.
I just flew a TPAC flight last week that had well over 20 empties in BF a week out, 6 open in GF, no one on the upgrade list, and they didn't release R until the gate. We still flew with empty GF and BF seats -- several of them -- after accommodating all non-revs in premium cabins.
Sep 2, 2014, 2:05 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA 1k (12 year fallen GS) 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,275
Please. Just because you see a condition doesn't mean it's deliberate. UA revenue management could also be screwed up and have no clue what they're doing.
I just flew a TPAC flight last week that had well over 20 empties in BF a week out, 6 open in GF, no one on the upgrade list, and they didn't release R until the gate. We still flew with empty GF and BF seats -- several of them -- after accommodating all non-revs in premium cabins.
I just flew a TPAC flight last week that had well over 20 empties in BF a week out, 6 open in GF, no one on the upgrade list, and they didn't release R until the gate. We still flew with empty GF and BF seats -- several of them -- after accommodating all non-revs in premium cabins.
Sep 2, 2014, 2:21 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Columbus, OH
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 192
Sep 2, 2014, 2:30 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
Still no upgrade availability on that flight, but I see the empty seats and the J=9 now. So they're are still quite a few for sale. I wouldn't be surprised to see a few of these open up for upgrades, but of course its always just a guess.
Sep 2, 2014, 4:58 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
Please. Just because you see a condition doesn't mean it's deliberate. UA revenue management could also be screwed up and have no clue what they're doing.
I just flew a TPAC flight last week that had well over 20 empties in BF a week out, 6 open in GF, no one on the upgrade list, and they didn't release R until the gate. We still flew with empty GF and BF seats -- several of them -- after accommodating all non-revs in premium cabins.
I just flew a TPAC flight last week that had well over 20 empties in BF a week out, 6 open in GF, no one on the upgrade list, and they didn't release R until the gate. We still flew with empty GF and BF seats -- several of them -- after accommodating all non-revs in premium cabins.
Sep 2, 2014, 5:32 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
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We've seen several examples of what appears to be inventory mismanagement, where they are dumping large quantities of inventory, whether to mileage or low fare buckets, at the last minute.
If they were on top of their game, we wouldn't see this stuff nearly as much as we do.
If they were on top of their game, we wouldn't see this stuff nearly as much as we do.
Sep 2, 2014, 6:36 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SLC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 493
I've been noticing lots of TATL flights recently that look to have lots of open BF (based on seat maps, I know, but I'm talking on the order of 10-20 unreserved seats) and BF buckets, even the expensive ones sometimes, that are <<9. Makes me wonder if this is part of the new revenue management plan. I'm usually looking a month or so out.
Sep 2, 2014, 7:22 pm
#15
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
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Posts: 35,067
I've been noticing lots of TATL flights recently that look to have lots of open BF (based on seat maps, I know, but I'm talking on the order of 10-20 unreserved seats) and BF buckets, even the expensive ones sometimes, that are <<9. Makes me wonder if this is part of the new revenue management plan. I'm usually looking a month or so out.
It works out sometimes. My companion didn't like the pork chop in BF (it as so dry, she physically couldn't cut through it), when she said something, the FA offered her anything else since they had extras of everything. Flying on empty flights like this can have its advantages.