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Where is R (Confirmed Upgrade to Business/Domestic F Availability in 2014)?

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Where is R (Confirmed Upgrade to Business/Domestic F Availability in 2014)?

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Old Sep 16, 2014, 8:24 am
  #31  
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Originally Posted by restlessinRNO
PV_Premier - Thank you for taking the time to document this lack of upgrade availability. Unfortunately I think UA leaves us two unpleasant alternatives:

      Good luck. I recently booked NRT-LAX 10/27. R0 at time of booking. Cleared WL last week. R remains 0. Of course this is a gamble.
      Originally Posted by cesco.g
      Better yet, look for P=9.
      this is really the only strategy, coupled with listening to wives' tales on FT about route that are typically easier to clear than others. i don't really care about W, i'll book Q/H/U/E if needed, but i want R open when i do it.

      i don't like using the current data to predict the future, flight loads are dynamic over the season and past performance isn't always an indicator of future success.

      this morning i did find new outbound R via KIX, which is about as useful as the possible outbound R via LHR. i think i am just going to cut my losses and book CX premium economy. the devil you know (CX) vs the one you don't (UA waitlist)...
      PV_Premier is offline  
      Old Sep 16, 2014, 8:33 am
        #32  
       
      Join Date: Jan 2013
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      Originally Posted by bseller
      Since 3/2012, at the time of the CO takeover, sorry - MERGER, this might have started to be the case.

      I can assure you that UA did NOT have such a policy in place prior to that.

      Since you're relatively new here, and in order to confirm this for yourself and not rely on others I would merely challenge you to find a thread, any thread at all in the (pre-consolidated) UA FT forum that suggested so.

      IMO, absence of this would be tantamount to proof positive that UA has changed it's way of doing business.

      Dave
      Why does everyone here continue the UA vs CO game, seriously, people need to get over that. Focus on the future and not trying to change the past to get back to the "good old days."

      I've been on this forum for nearly 4 years, and truly joined nearly 2 years ago - yes, I know many members have been here much longer, but to say I don't have a clue about what UA may have been like before is a load of crap. This is what is wrong sometimes with this forum is those who have been here for 10+ years don't ever allow new people to join....now I understand why some new posters are always afraid to make a jump and post that first time question or comment.
      dank0014 is offline  
      Old Sep 16, 2014, 9:09 am
        #33  
       
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      Originally Posted by dank0014
      Why does everyone here continue the UA vs CO game, seriously, people need to get over that. Focus on the future and not trying to change the past to get back to the "good old days."

      I've been on this forum for nearly 4 years, and truly joined nearly 2 years ago - yes, I know many members have been here much longer, but to say I don't have a clue about what UA may have been like before is a load of crap. This is what is wrong sometimes with this forum is those who have been here for 10+ years don't ever allow new people to join....now I understand why some new posters are always afraid to make a jump and post that first time question or comment.
      Hint...an ignore list of about 10-12 people makes this forum great!

      Have a good day!!
      LaserSailor is offline  
      Old Sep 16, 2014, 9:13 am
        #34  
       
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      I'm on ORD-LAX-SYD-MEL MEL-(787)-LAX-ORD in late October.

      My 757 ORD-LAX flight has only two seats in the front cabin taken and no R

      I'm expecting upgrade at the gate or not at all..
      cyclogenesis is offline  
      Old Sep 16, 2014, 9:41 am
        #35  
       
      Join Date: Jun 2005
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      Originally Posted by dank0014
      It's all discussed in the 2Q thread on inventory management.

      But UA has always had the practice of not opening up all the R space for upgrades. That is nothing new
      Thanks for the pointer. I will look at the thread. Would be helpful to know, simply, what SMI J presumably said in regards specifically to the R space issue being discussed here.

      The second statement, that "UA" has "always" had the practice of not opening up R space, is completely false.

      UA was very generous in releasing R space before it was taken over by CO.

      "The practice of not opening up" R space for upgrades was introduced by the CO managers after they took control of UA.

      As a further clarification, OP did not start this thread to discuss why "all" R space isn't open. OP started this thread to discuss the observation the no R space is available on any of the wide range of flights that were searched.

      Last edited by FlyWorld; Sep 16, 2014 at 9:52 am
      FlyWorld is offline  
      Old Sep 16, 2014, 10:08 am
        #36  
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      Another tool is to set an alert on EF for "P" class. This prevents from having check availability constantly, as "R" typically does not show, if P=0.
      cesco.g is offline  
      Old Sep 16, 2014, 10:29 am
        #37  
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      It's dynamic. R availability was quite good to Asia over the summer. It's also open closer in. My suspicion is it will open again, particularly on the NRT/HND flights. Not much good if you're looking to book right now though.
      Kacee is offline  
      Old Sep 16, 2014, 10:41 am
        #38  
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      Originally Posted by txflyer77
      When you searched, did you search segment by segment? Sometimes R space won't show up if one segment of an itinerary is R0. Especially annoying when it's some CR7 route with R0 tricking you into thinking SFO-NRT or whatever has no R space.
      You need to check both due to married segment availability.
      mduell is offline  
      Old Sep 16, 2014, 12:09 pm
        #39  
       
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      Originally Posted by Col Ronson
      i've noticed that on UA839 LAX-SYD, any open C seats correspond to open R availability on the day of departure. Just checked UA839 for today (Jan 22) and its showing RN2

      Funny how the waiting list for upgrades is long. Anyone smart would call in and snipe the remaining R seats ASAP.
      Not on 22 March where I am wait listed. C9 R0 RN0
      zebranz is offline  
      Old Sep 16, 2014, 1:31 pm
        #40  
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      Originally Posted by dank0014
      to say I don't have a clue about what UA may have been like before is a load of crap.
      Your statement about UA doing this for a LONG while was false. Pure and simple.

      Why not just take up my upthread challenge to find a post - ANY POST - that supports your assertion, rather than complaining that you've been unfairly treated??

      Dave
      bseller is offline  
      Old Sep 16, 2014, 1:52 pm
        #41  
       
      Join Date: Jun 2005
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      Originally Posted by bseller
      Your statement about UA doing this for a LONG while was false. Pure and simple.
      His or her claim was not that UA has done this for a LONG while but that UA has "always" restricted R inventory as they are restricting it now.

      That statement could not possibly be more false.
      FlyWorld is offline  
      Old Sep 16, 2014, 1:57 pm
        #42  
       
      Join Date: Sep 2009
      Location: SF Bay Area
      Programs: UA 1K MM, MR Gold (lifetime)
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      Originally Posted by PV_Premier
      i'm looking at booking an upcoming trip. on 3 possible outbound travel dates in October, i have looked at all of the following:
      • All possible routes US->FRA
      • All possible routes US->NRT
      • All possible routes US->HKG
      • All possible routes to TPE, CTU, MUC, DXB, KWI, BOM, and DEL

      In all of the above, over the 3 day period, R=0.

      In fact the only place I found R was to LHR (not even AMS or BRU had it!!).

      On the return trip, which has a two day window of possibility, I have checked:
      • NRT
      • TPE
      • CTU
      • HKG
      • HND
      • KIX

      And again, the big nada.

      This is possibly the worst I have ever seen it. Always I can find at least one R seat to FRA at 30 days out. Maybe I should buy the K fares and wait for the TOD?
      I am seeing R space on SFO to KIX in October. For example depart Oct 9 and return Oct 16. So, this is a route you might want to explore
      bkjohnso is offline  
      Old Sep 16, 2014, 3:10 pm
        #43  
       
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      I'm looking for IAH-FCO for anytime in April or May and trying to find any flight with R availability. So far nothing. I called and asked my GS rep and she said UA has not released any upgrade seats for that time period and I should just wait a month and call back and she could check.
      thptrek is offline  
      Old Sep 16, 2014, 3:16 pm
        #44  
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      Originally Posted by thptrek
      I'm looking for IAH-FCO for anytime in April or May and trying to find any flight with R availability. So far nothing. I called and asked my GS rep and she said UA has not released any upgrade seats for that time period and I should just wait a month and call back and she could check.
      Don't search IAH-FCO. Search EWR-FCO or IAD-FCO and then look for the connecting flight to IAH.

      If you are a GS, your upgrade clears into PN, not R.
      Kacee is offline  
      Old Sep 16, 2014, 6:45 pm
        #45  
       
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      Originally Posted by cyclogenesis
      I'm on ORD-LAX-SYD-MEL MEL-(787)-LAX-ORD in late October.

      My 757 ORD-LAX flight has only two seats in the front cabin taken and no R

      I'm expecting upgrade at the gate or not at all..
      Very funny.. After posting this the upgrade for that segment cleared.. 1/4 down.. 3 more to go!
      cyclogenesis is offline  


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