jsloan

Friday and Sunday upgrades to/from HNL are almost nonexistent. I'd fly through TPE; TPE-MNL is a quick two-hour flight.

Jamester

Generally speaking, is SFO-MUC much easier to clear upgrade than SFO-FRA (as a 1K MM and a 2P companion using GPUs)? We're talking something like Dec 21 (the last weekend before Christmas). How about FRA-SFO or MUC-SFO on Dec 31 (which I could also select something like AMS-IAH-SFO or LHR-SFO)? Any other creative routing ideas with easier chance to upgrade (without making more than 1-2 stops that is)? Background: ultimate destination is ZRH - but I can get intra-European tickets separately for cheap. I think I'm stuck with UA metal if I'm using GPUs (unless I want to gamble with LH availability).

I understand there are TONS of factors involved, just looking for some kind of generalization, and I understand SFO-FRA-SFO are the only ones with real Polaris seats). Much thanks!

Kacee

You're more likely to clear on an LH operated flight.

The days around Christmas and New Years are often very good for TATL upgrades, however December 21 could be a tough one as that's the last weekend before the Christmas holiday.

united 1k flyer

we are both in a w fare class with gpu supported upgrades departing on august 5th on the 6:45 am flight seat map is showing 15 first class seats left companion is not a 1k

jsloan

Close to zero, sorry. The first flight of the day on a Monday, hub-to-hub, is likely to have 40+ people on the upgrade list, none of whom may clear. (Today's flight had one person clear at the gate). The flight is J9 C6 D0, meaning UA thinks they can sell the seats at a premium.

Kacee

SFO-ORD is one of the toughest upgrades in the entire system. Basically no chance for 1K at business convenient flight times.

simonoaks

Flying tomorrow PBI-EWR-LAS UA 1298 and 1794. I applied MUA for 15k (figured I would try using miles for this as my miles are now next to useless for ectual travel now ) a few days ago (never use MUAs before). I just thought of a couple of things:
1. What rank is MUA compared to RPUs and GPUs , which I have used in past?
2. If PBI - EWR clears but not EWR-LAS do I lose all the miles? If so, I should call desk and get it changed to just EWR-LAS leg as PBI-EWR not worth it.
3. I am showing no.1 on list , but only 2 seats left on each flight, what are chances of either clearing? If I call the desk, would they be able to tell me where I would be on each list if I removed the MUA ?

thx

jsloan

1 - The same
2 - Yes
3 - Low; they probably won't clear any upgrades for anybody. No, they likely won't be able to tell you where you would be on the list if you removed the MUA, and, even if they could, it wouldn't mean anything because it could change at any time.

simonoaks

Ok, Thx ! I will call the desk now and get the MUA removed.

united 1k flyer

i see their is a 787 with lie flats that leaves the night before do you think we would be better off sdc to that flight PN has already opened up

findark

When you are able to SDC, you can transfer the upgrade request if and only if it will be confirmed immediately, so I would check the PZ count when the SDC window opens. Since you are SDCing from a later flight you won't be able to change until after T-24 which means your odds of success would be very poor.

united 1k flyer

ok bummer will probably just stick to the first flight thanks for the help

united 1k flyer

me and 1 companion are flying from old-sfo on the 6:45 am flight currently the flight looks like this J9 and not using the seat map but the future flight status tool in shows booked 12 of 24 we are using gpus sponsored by a premier 1k
so some flyer talkers have told me that are odds are very low so we were thinking about switching to the flight the night before on a 787 where PN has already opened up i would be appreciative of what you guys think about the 2 of us clearing are upgrades

ryman554

odds are low unless you are on a high fare and booked early.

Assuming you really are coming from ORD, it makes it even harder... why use a GPU instead of an RPU?

The bigger question is: what tool are you using to tell that 12/24 are already upgrades? I know of no public data out there to show this...

jsloan

Your chances remain basically zero on the morning flight. The inventory has gotten even more constricted since you posted it, and they still have nearly two weeks to sell tickets. It is very unlikely that they upgrade anyone.

I don't see a flight the night before on a 787. I do see one on a 777-200. It is showing PN3 -- but you clear into PZ, not PN. Your odds are undoubtedly better on this plane, assuming that they don't swap it out, because they're using an international configuration, not the high-density domestic configuration.

Personally, I would never pay a change fee in order to waitlist an upgrade. If you see PZ2 or greater, then I might be tempted to call and change.