CappuccinoAddict

This is why if you have flexible travel plans you should only book flights with open R! There is no way to know if or when your GPUs will clear... the only thing to do is wait it out.

Syzygies

Count yourself lucky if those cleared.

If I could use my ten RPU, GPU certs over the course of a year, flying enough p.s. service laps to remake 1K, then I'd bother requalifying. It looks like I'll manage 6 or 7 out of 10, and even that feels lucky.

sfnerd

Thanks for the info everyone. I appreciate the responses. Unfortunately, my travel plans were pretty inflexible... also, as I searched around, I couldn't seem to find any flights with R space... it was all wait-listed.

Does anyone know if they open up R space as time goes on (obviously they do on the day of departure, but I'm curious if they open x seats every month or something)?

findark

Loosely speaking, they will open R if they feel like sales are lagging behind expectations and Revenue Management expects there to be many empty seats at departure otherwise. But the J cabin usually sells most of its seats relatively close-in, so it's not too likely to see releases of R this far out.

Bottom line, though, is that R is very unpredictable. Certainly no schedule like one seat a month.

EmailKid

Out of SFO I've been upgraded with a GPU at the gate numerous times - including "safe" upgrade to ICN. Seatmap showed half full about six weeks before departure, but I know some pax didn't clear and flew in back.

It's a dynamic thing: in last three days I went up and down severat times from #1 to #3 and R showed 0 the whole time, while J also changed from 0 to 2 and finally to 1 day of departure.

And since no one mentioned it so far, seatmaps are no indication of loads.

And part 2, Expert Mode is broken right now (along with other things) on .bomb, so you cannot check for R space anyway

Kacee

They may or may not open R in advance. It's just not predictable.

SFO to Europe in September can be a real challenge. Fingers crossed and good luck!

PsiFighter37

In-laws cleared PVG-ORD at T-24hrs (they are kettles). Unfortunately all the upper-deck seats with seats together are taken, and they are in the middle of the 4 seats in the 2-4-2 config, but that's still going to be way ahead of sitting in Y- for 13+ hours.

Now, as long as the plane gets there (it is leaving ORD one hour late due to MX...)

sfnerd

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the knowledge!

gcashin

So, I'm guessing that flights to/from Australia are probably some of the toughest upgrades, but just looking for experiences on the chances of these clearing:
SFO-SYD November 5 (W fare)
SYD-SFO November 13 (W fare)
MEL-LAX January 8 (V fare)

GPU's would be applied now (~6+ months in advance). Cabins are wide open on most flights, given that it's so far out.

Any experience on whether GPU's to Australia have a decent chance of clearing in advance, or just chances in general? Thx.

PsiFighter37

I got a Wednesday (first week of January) SYD-LAX cleared one month prior to departure - and I had applied upgrade instrument 8+ months prior to flying. If I had to guess, your SFO-SYD probably has the best shot. I wouldn't even bother with MEL-LAX.

anandrag

Understand that seat map not fully accurate but if only 1 seat taken in J on EWR-BOM with a large cabin, probably still LOT of open seats.
Any rough views on when R class gets released?

jgsx

No. No idea.

drtoddchang

Hi everyone. Prior Exec Premier in a different life, then stopped flying, then all of a sudden work is making me fly a lot more and United is a different beast than I was used to. Currently Premier Silver, back up to Gold likely this Fall.

Q: What are the current upgrade waitlist clearance chances for:
LAX - LHR (UA metal)
Currently purchased at L class from long long ago
On wait list using Miles + Cash attempting to get to BusinessFirst.
It is T-17 from date of flight.
and in Expert mode there is R0 and RN0 listed.

It has been a while so I think I have all the predictive info needed; apologies for bad abbreviations. My guess is that it is now close to 0 and should consider just upgrading using $ after T-14. Any thoughts would be very appreciated. Safe travels!

-T

foppishbum

Unfortunately, your chance is super slim to none using GPU or miles+copay. Have had several 1K's using either GPUs or miles+copay for upgrades on that route for various dates but were still #8~#15 on the upgrade standby list at gate. I think it's very difficult to secure the upgrade on LAX-LHR using GPU and/or miles+copay. If cash upgrade is available and the price is right, I'd say go for it. Just my two cents...

EmailKid

Ya, from what I read West Coast - LHR are some of the hardest u/g to clear.