Feb 9, 2019, 8:39 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the active thread is
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight
Related thread - Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight
Related thread - Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight {Archive}
Jan 5, 2016, 11:33 am
#376
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
1) These flights get a lot of last minute business -- not uncommon to see many empty seats a couple weeks out and have them fill up by flight time. Given that UA is release few if any upgrades if UA thinks the flight will sell out.
2) Avoid peak road warrior times or red-eyes. 6AM and middle of the day in the middle of week are your best chances.
There is no CPU so everyone hoping for an upgrade is using certs or miles.
Given the limited availability, low status folks should try to find upgrade space at booking.
Jan 5, 2016, 2:29 pm
#377
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
Looking at a SFO-TPE roundtrip before the end of the month, to use some expiring GPUs. W fares are reasonable at $1,117 round-trip and available for most date ranges.
However, R space seems tight on the return. I'm looking to return 26 or 27th or so, and while I swear when I looked yesterday I thought it was R9, today it stands at R0. A 25th return only gives me 4 days in TPE, which is a little tighter than I'd like, and it's showing R2 today. What do y'all thing is the best move here; any chance of the upgrade clearing if I chance it on a 26 or 27 return?
However, R space seems tight on the return. I'm looking to return 26 or 27th or so, and while I swear when I looked yesterday I thought it was R9, today it stands at R0. A 25th return only gives me 4 days in TPE, which is a little tighter than I'd like, and it's showing R2 today. What do y'all thing is the best move here; any chance of the upgrade clearing if I chance it on a 26 or 27 return?
Jan 5, 2016, 2:46 pm
#378
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Charlottesville
Programs: UA Gold, VX Gold, AA PLT, DL Gold, MR Gold, HH Diamond, Hertz 5* Gold
Posts: 469
I am going from Platinum to nothing in 26 days, so that's what I will be doing. UA has competitive premium fares domestically, if you buy in advance, and the 2xPQM promo that UA is running in 2016 only makes the pot sweeter.
I just bought my first A tickets for February. I don't know if this is the behavior UA is trying to entice, but if it is, whatever they are doing is working.
Jan 5, 2016, 6:51 pm
#379
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,478
Have you considered an OJ back via NRT, HND, or ICN? R all over the place. Ex-NRT or ICN you can fly the 744.
Jan 6, 2016, 10:13 am
#380
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
[What is an "OJ?"]
Jan 6, 2016, 10:27 am
#381
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,478
Jan 7, 2016, 7:19 am
#382
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: PHL
Posts: 26
Does anyone know what kind of success rate there is for upgrades clearing on TLV-EWR? I've heard that it is a hard route to clear. I bought the ticket about a month ago on a W fare and applied a GPU at booking. The flight I'm on specifically is UA85 on 2/1. Thanks!
Jan 7, 2016, 7:28 am
#383
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
Or just buy F/A/J/C/D/P/Z tickets straight up.
I am going from Platinum to nothing in 26 days, so that's what I will be doing. UA has competitive premium fares domestically, if you buy in advance, and the 2xPQM promo that UA is running in 2016 only makes the pot sweeter.
I just bought my first A tickets for February. I don't know if this is the behavior UA is trying to entice, but if it is, whatever they are doing is working.
I am going from Platinum to nothing in 26 days, so that's what I will be doing. UA has competitive premium fares domestically, if you buy in advance, and the 2xPQM promo that UA is running in 2016 only makes the pot sweeter.
I just bought my first A tickets for February. I don't know if this is the behavior UA is trying to entice, but if it is, whatever they are doing is working.
Jan 7, 2016, 9:13 am
#384
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
I've never been able to clear that route. I hear it's incredibly tough.
Jan 25, 2016, 12:15 pm
#385
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: New York
Programs: EK Plat, UA GS, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Amex Centurion
Posts: 514
Chance of GPU clearing
Don't know if this is the right place to post this but did a search and couldn't find any other thread or anything for 2016.
Flying ORD-NRT in mid May. What is the chance of 4 GPU's clearing from BF to GF?
Thanks!
Flying ORD-NRT in mid May. What is the chance of 4 GPU's clearing from BF to GF?
Thanks!
Jan 27, 2016, 12:43 am
#386
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
I'd guess, clearing one would seem likely. I don't know about 4, though; that's 33% of the entire cabin.
Jan 29, 2016, 11:32 am
#387
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,039
I have a flight tomorrow SFO-CDG and I'm going to book into V or W, depending on the price difference, and am a 1K ... there is currently no R availability, but there is J2. Do I have any shot at clearing one GPU for myself?
Jan 29, 2016, 3:20 pm
#388
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: UA-1K
Posts: 308
Would you consider going via ORD, EWR or IAD? You can confirm an upgrade on the ORD/IAD/EWR to CDG leg now. I get it isn't as ideal as the non-stop, and the domestic leg is likely in Y, but it is better than 11 hours in Y annoyed that your GPU didn't clear. And then tomorrow if you see R has opened up and hasn't been grabbed, you can try to SDC.
Jan 29, 2016, 4:10 pm
#389
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,039
Depends how many are ahead of you in the queue.
Would you consider going via ORD, EWR or IAD? You can confirm an upgrade on the ORD/IAD/EWR to CDG leg now. I get it isn't as ideal as the non-stop, and the domestic leg is likely in Y, but it is better than 11 hours in Y annoyed that your GPU didn't clear. And then tomorrow if you see R has opened up and hasn't been grabbed, you can try to SDC.
Would you consider going via ORD, EWR or IAD? You can confirm an upgrade on the ORD/IAD/EWR to CDG leg now. I get it isn't as ideal as the non-stop, and the domestic leg is likely in Y, but it is better than 11 hours in Y annoyed that your GPU didn't clear. And then tomorrow if you see R has opened up and hasn't been grabbed, you can try to SDC.
Jan 30, 2016, 9:38 am
#390
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Our nation's capital
Programs: UA 1K & 0.6 MM
Posts: 781
upgrade success
I am Platinum, was ticketed 1/28 on a B fare from IAD-PEK.
Phoned in that evening to inquire about a buy-up to Z. Was quoted >$4k. Put in a request to upgrade with miles, R was 0 at the time.
Woke up today, 1/30 and checked my itin, showing the upgrade cleared. No e-mail, nothing. It's 21 days before I fly that this cleared. I love not having to bite my nails over whether I'm going to be in J or stuck in Y!!
Phoned in that evening to inquire about a buy-up to Z. Was quoted >$4k. Put in a request to upgrade with miles, R was 0 at the time.
Woke up today, 1/30 and checked my itin, showing the upgrade cleared. No e-mail, nothing. It's 21 days before I fly that this cleared. I love not having to bite my nails over whether I'm going to be in J or stuck in Y!!