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}
#466
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 208
Hi,
Ewr lax is on 25 May
Lax Ewr is on 29 May
Anyone can put out the inventory? If the upgrade is almost to none then ld rather cancel it
Ewr lax is on 25 May
Lax Ewr is on 29 May
Anyone can put out the inventory? If the upgrade is almost to none then ld rather cancel it
#467
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,300
#468
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,012
Any Hawaii flights used to be gimmies for CPU for 1Ks. As would off-days like Wednesday.
However, in my anecdotal experience (and not just on Hawaii flights--this observation is system-wide), UA also makes upgrades and outright F purchases much more affordable and enticing on those days & flights, which makes them harder to achieve via CPU.
My murky crystal ball is hence saying 20%...
However, in my anecdotal experience (and not just on Hawaii flights--this observation is system-wide), UA also makes upgrades and outright F purchases much more affordable and enticing on those days & flights, which makes them harder to achieve via CPU.
My murky crystal ball is hence saying 20%...
#469
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 31,840
Mid week EWR-LAX on 5/25 I think you also have a shot.
#471
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 160
Is there any way to get waitlisted for an upgrade using cash only for an international flight? Using miles + copay got us through, but just wondering if we could have done better next time.
Business class was sold out on Friday, 3/18 from LHR -> SFO. My husband's company approved business class ticket purchases, but work never found an open seat for him, so he had an economy ticket. At 6 hours before departure, I saw one first class seat still available for purchase, so I called to put my husband on the waitlist for business class using 20,000 miles + ~$300 USD copay from economy, with zero status. I saw on my phone there were about 13 people on the waitlist for business class and thought he had no chance.
He was lucky - I suppose the people on the waitlist were using upgrade instruments instead, and the agents at the check-in counter were able to upgrade him using miles + copay. When he asked if he could pay instead of using the miles, they said they could only cancel the economy ticket and purchase a business class seat, which was then, at less than 2 hours before departure... 7000 pounds!
Did we do the best we could? The phone agent could only quote me the miles + copay option to get onto the waitlist (when that option was grayed out online). 20,000 miles isn't that much, but it's not reimbursable.
Business class was sold out on Friday, 3/18 from LHR -> SFO. My husband's company approved business class ticket purchases, but work never found an open seat for him, so he had an economy ticket. At 6 hours before departure, I saw one first class seat still available for purchase, so I called to put my husband on the waitlist for business class using 20,000 miles + ~$300 USD copay from economy, with zero status. I saw on my phone there were about 13 people on the waitlist for business class and thought he had no chance.
He was lucky - I suppose the people on the waitlist were using upgrade instruments instead, and the agents at the check-in counter were able to upgrade him using miles + copay. When he asked if he could pay instead of using the miles, they said they could only cancel the economy ticket and purchase a business class seat, which was then, at less than 2 hours before departure... 7000 pounds!
Did we do the best we could? The phone agent could only quote me the miles + copay option to get onto the waitlist (when that option was grayed out online). 20,000 miles isn't that much, but it's not reimbursable.
#472
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,067
I don't think you can waitlist with cash only. Waitlisting with miles and copay usually seems to be available (whether it clears is risky, though), while upgrade offers for cash only seem to be available for immediate upgrades - and is often not available on the website (though OLCI offers are another thing entirely).
#473
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 160
Thanks for confirming, Artpen. I knew the OLCI offers existed with cash only, so that's why I hoped they could be available over phone or website. But that seemed riskier to wait for OLCI (not even sure if always an option for international check-in) than to just try miles + copay option.
It seemed strange that no upgrades with instruments were processed at 24 hours before the flight, but it worked out in our favor this case.
It seemed strange that no upgrades with instruments were processed at 24 hours before the flight, but it worked out in our favor this case.
#474
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,213
So very confused by this situation. I am booked on flights in July SAN-LAX-PVG-LAX-SAN. V class and requested upgrades using GPUs. Used the united.com website and requested tickets that were eligible for upgrades and, with the exception of SAN-LAX, each leg is waitlisted. That seemed normal to me as only a few R class seats are released at a time, so booked the flights. There is no one, and I mean no one in BF, and there are only two other Y seats sold on the LAX-PVG-LAX flights. I have never before experienced that no R class was available when no seats have been sold. Is this normal? I am used to not getting my GPUs, but thought it was because the R class seats had been allocated, not because they were never allocated. Thank you for any insight that can be provided.
#475
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,300
You should consider the empty cabin a positive sign that your upgrade may clear. They can open R space any time between now and departure.
That's really not how UA manages inventory. There's not some automatic initial allocation of upgrade space. They may never open R, they may open R one seat at a time, or it may suddenly go R9 60, 30, or 5 days prior to departure (or at any other time).
#476
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,324
#477
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,300
#478
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: United 1k
Posts: 3
GPU upgrade chances - way out
Hello everyone -
I have a question... my girlfriend and I are headed to Europe in September, and I'm trying to figure out my chances of an upgrade from coach to business using GPUs.
I bought upgrade-eligible fares (W) and applied GPUs, but was waitlisted. The person I spoke to on the 1k line said there were no instant upgrades available.
There are plenty of business/first class seats currently (only a few are shown as occupied). My question is, when do they typically start opening these up and clearing upgrades? Will I not know until close to the flight?
Thank you for any guidance you may have!
Flight details:
Flying there
SFO to LHR
Sun, 04SEP16 UA901
Returning
MUC to SFO via ORD
Sun, 18SEP16 UA953
Sun, 18SEP16 UA1847
I have a question... my girlfriend and I are headed to Europe in September, and I'm trying to figure out my chances of an upgrade from coach to business using GPUs.
I bought upgrade-eligible fares (W) and applied GPUs, but was waitlisted. The person I spoke to on the 1k line said there were no instant upgrades available.
There are plenty of business/first class seats currently (only a few are shown as occupied). My question is, when do they typically start opening these up and clearing upgrades? Will I not know until close to the flight?
Thank you for any guidance you may have!
Flight details:
Flying there
SFO to LHR
Sun, 04SEP16 UA901
Returning
MUC to SFO via ORD
Sun, 18SEP16 UA953
Sun, 18SEP16 UA1847
#479
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K and MM, Marriot, Hilton
Posts: 804
SFO-LHR is very tough, especially in the summer months
#480
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LAX / TPE / NYC
Programs: UA Gold/*G, Marriott/SPG Gold Elite
Posts: 164
I did not get upgraded with GPU at all during my time as 1K (long-haul to both Asia and Europe from LAX and SFO). Also tried on LH for several occasions but to no avail. Used the GPU's as RPU's for P.S. flights instead in the end.