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 17, 2015, 1:26 am
#46
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Port St Lucie, FL, UA1K since 1994 and 3mm, Delta 1mm
Programs: Marriott Titanium Life, Hilton Gold
Posts: 565
OK guys, what do you think:
Mrs. Lex04 and I traveling IAD-DXB 2 April (Thurs), return 12 April (Sun).
Using GPUs, W fare, GS status. R=0 but 9s across the other fare classes on both the outbound and return. 5/40 C seats and 10 E+ seats taken on the outbound; 2/40 C seats and 15 E+ seats taken on the return.
This is obviously a tough route to upgrade- has anyone had success using a GPU?
Mrs. Lex04 and I traveling IAD-DXB 2 April (Thurs), return 12 April (Sun).
Using GPUs, W fare, GS status. R=0 but 9s across the other fare classes on both the outbound and return. 5/40 C seats and 10 E+ seats taken on the outbound; 2/40 C seats and 15 E+ seats taken on the return.
This is obviously a tough route to upgrade- has anyone had success using a GPU?
There were 18 GS on the flight and over 20 1K (according to the purser).
I have had less than 50% hit rate on this route. Best time is summer and miles & co-pay seems to work better than GPU.
My return looks similar. And next DXB flight is in May (with a similar number of booked as you).
Jan 20, 2015, 5:00 pm
#47
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 61
Anyone a regular on the EWR - MCO route (Chances of Upgrade Clearing)?
I am looking at the possibility of buying into silver or gold status via the various promos. I already have a club card so get the baggage. Wondering your success rate for upgrades. TIA
Jan 20, 2015, 5:03 pm
#48
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 26
Not a regular...but got my one and only upgrade as a silver on this route. It was a 6am flight on a Saturday morn.
Jan 20, 2015, 5:16 pm
#49
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,659
One of the easier ones. For this short flight I buy coach and am upgraded almost always. On a break week, though, I missed a few times
Jan 20, 2015, 5:39 pm
#50
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: UA -GS 4.5 MM, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 116
Of course past performance is no indication of future performance - but in general I've had good luck on that route. Usually many tourists and many high level elites.
Jan 20, 2015, 6:38 pm
#51
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 61
Thanks everyone. I know there are often seats as I snag the $99 or $149 upgrades at check in but I didn't know how that would translate to comped upgrades. While as you said, it is a relatively short flight, sometimes the tarmac time out of Newark is a killer. This is always work related for me so often running to and from meetings and paperwork on the plane, so the upgrade is appreciated
Jan 20, 2015, 10:12 pm
#52
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 821
Anyone a regular on the EWR - MCO route (Chances of Upgrade Clearing)?
Easy upgrade!!! TPA and MCO are generally not big elite cities. Give u a decent shot. I'm a 1K so my chances r better. You should aim at taking early AM or late PM flights..
Jan 22, 2015, 6:10 am
#53
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 146
didnt' want to start my own thread on this, but i have a flight coming up, EWR to FLL. Friday morning depature at 645 AM. Upgrade potential?
Jan 22, 2015, 6:20 am
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
I'll be the contrary voice. I go several times a year and before the merger, I would get an upgrade every trip most times in one direction only and every now and again in both.
Since the merger I have received a single upgrade. None. Zero. I watch the flight fairly closely and those saying it's not an elite heavy route are not correct. There are plenty of people on the upgrade list who get it 3 or more days out.
I think on my last trip I ended up being 18 on the waitlist - if I was that high.
If you're going to pay for status, I would save my money and use it for TOD upgrade - because that's the only way I've gotten it.
Since the merger I have received a single upgrade. None. Zero. I watch the flight fairly closely and those saying it's not an elite heavy route are not correct. There are plenty of people on the upgrade list who get it 3 or more days out.
I think on my last trip I ended up being 18 on the waitlist - if I was that high.
If you're going to pay for status, I would save my money and use it for TOD upgrade - because that's the only way I've gotten it.
Jan 22, 2015, 8:27 am
#55
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ICT
Programs: AA EXP, UA Plat, DL G, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,330
Mrs Mbarreto, who's a silver, probably gets upgraded about 70% of the time on this route.
Jan 22, 2015, 8:30 am
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
I must be really unluckly these past couple of years. I havent seen a single one.
Perhaps it's the times I've been flying. I refuse to fly at 6 or 7 am, and have to leave for home mid day usually.
I just looked at my upcoming flight... 12 people upgraded with 5 still available - all before 24 hours so they can't be silver. When I checked in I didn't even get a TOD offer - and I was getting those pretty regularly.
Perhaps it's the times I've been flying. I refuse to fly at 6 or 7 am, and have to leave for home mid day usually.
I just looked at my upcoming flight... 12 people upgraded with 5 still available - all before 24 hours so they can't be silver. When I checked in I didn't even get a TOD offer - and I was getting those pretty regularly.
Jan 22, 2015, 8:34 am
#57
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
Jan 22, 2015, 9:09 am
#58
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,444
I'll echo that I generally get upgraded on EWR-MCO with a companion as a 1K. I've missed on the 5pm Sunday MCO-EWR 752 in the past (some regular commuters), but not usually. Even Silvers often find their way up front on 738/739s and 753s (when they are in the schedule)... heck my Silver mother and GM father scored companion CPUs in September 2014! The outliers can be when someone burns miles and upgrades their entire family... and in those instances sometimes I prefer to be in back! 
Overall, an easy upgrade save for a handful of the school break weeks.
Overall, an easy upgrade save for a handful of the school break weeks.
Jan 22, 2015, 9:11 am
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
Wow... I really must be doing something wrong... As I said, I think I made 4 or 5 round trips last year and not a single upgrade came my way as a silver. I start out highish on the UG list and as time passes I get lower and lower and lower.
I would always get them in the past.
I would always get them in the past.
Jan 22, 2015, 11:14 am
#60
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 33
As a 1K with a J fare for both ORD-FRA (on 2/2 UA944) and FRA-EWR (on 2/6 UA969), do I have a fairly good upgrade chance if space is available? I just booked the tickets but it seems as if that doesn't matter given the J fare. Business class on these these flights doesn't appear very impressive.
Although there are open first seats on the seat map for these flights, I don't think this necessarily equates to the upgrade space available? This is one point I have never been able to understand even after reading all of these threads.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Although there are open first seats on the seat map for these flights, I don't think this necessarily equates to the upgrade space available? This is one point I have never been able to understand even after reading all of these threads.
Thanks in advance for your help!