Jul 24, 2016, 4:23 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Operational Upgrades - Op-ups -- are upgrades that occur when there is a need by the airline to move passenger to the higher cabin: could be due to overbooking of the lower cabin, could be a weight and balance issue, could be a broken seat, ....... whatever the reason, it is an airline driven reason, not a customer request.
If the issue still exists after all upgrades have cleared, then the common approach is for passengers to be selected based on status or status/fare but the GA has discretion and may make a selection for other reasons.
Overbooking is the most common reason, as there is no available / allowed seat for all the passengers in the cabin. If the cabin has available seats, there will be no op-ups except for some special corner cases (such as weight & balance).
Asking for an upgrade because of a special occasion or you are dressed especially professional, or you have a suave manner does not work, those often repeated "upgrade secret hints" will just get you a chuckle or a "go away" look.
pmUA FT classic thread on Op-ups - Operational upgrades from a gate agent's perspective
Related threads:
2014 Thread - Are Discretionary Complimentary (Operational) Upgrade Common on UA?
Chances of Operational Upgrade on International Flights (Honeymoon)? ..
Consolidated United Operational Upgrade (OP-UPs) Experiences
If the issue still exists after all upgrades have cleared, then the common approach is for passengers to be selected based on status or status/fare but the GA has discretion and may make a selection for other reasons.
Overbooking is the most common reason, as there is no available / allowed seat for all the passengers in the cabin. If the cabin has available seats, there will be no op-ups except for some special corner cases (such as weight & balance).
Asking for an upgrade because of a special occasion or you are dressed especially professional, or you have a suave manner does not work, those often repeated "upgrade secret hints" will just get you a chuckle or a "go away" look.
pmUA FT classic thread on Op-ups - Operational upgrades from a gate agent's perspective
Related threads:
2014 Thread - Are Discretionary Complimentary (Operational) Upgrade Common on UA?
Chances of Operational Upgrade on International Flights (Honeymoon)? ..
Consolidated United Operational Upgrade (OP-UPs) Experiences
Consolidated - Chance of Operational Upgrade (Op-Up) on my flight?
Jan 7, 2019, 9:39 pm
#421
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,214
I am actually trying to work out if I should checkin at T-24 or wait to physically checkin at T-2 or it makes no difference?
Last edited by Aussienarelle; Jan 7, 2019 at 9:51 pm
Jan 7, 2019, 10:22 pm
#422
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,384
Standard policy is status and fare class (so basically CPUs if the flight were CPU-eligible) once all eligible upgrades are done. GAs have a bit of leeway to do what's convenient, but I wouldn't expect when you check in to make a big difference.
Jan 8, 2019, 7:02 am
#423
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Platinum, Avis President's Circle
Posts: 408
This is not really an "op-up" as you'll see, but had a last-minute upgrade yesterday for family and I...
I'm Platinum, wife is Silver. We're travelling with kids (party of 4) on UA 633 MCO-ORD. F is 11 booked with 8 blocked. I hadn't bothered with splitting the PNR to get on the upgrade list, as it would've been a pain to deal with separate kids' PNRs, etc. Upgrade list only had NRSAs on it.
Right as boarding begins, GA calls me up saying she was going to upgrade the 4 of us to F. Took a few minutes as she had to wrestle with splitting the PNR and a balky computer.
Turns out she upgraded another party of 4 travelling on an award ticket. Guy commented first time it's ever happened to him on an award.
I'm Platinum, wife is Silver. We're travelling with kids (party of 4) on UA 633 MCO-ORD. F is 11 booked with 8 blocked. I hadn't bothered with splitting the PNR to get on the upgrade list, as it would've been a pain to deal with separate kids' PNRs, etc. Upgrade list only had NRSAs on it.
Right as boarding begins, GA calls me up saying she was going to upgrade the 4 of us to F. Took a few minutes as she had to wrestle with splitting the PNR and a balky computer.
Turns out she upgraded another party of 4 travelling on an award ticket. Guy commented first time it's ever happened to him on an award.
Jan 8, 2019, 7:27 am
#425
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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Thank you @findark. Checked in, but moot point now as both J and Y are Full per the Flight Status.
Jan 8, 2019, 7:33 am
#426
Join Date: Sep 2018
Programs: UA 1K, LH FT, Marriott Plat, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PPlus
Posts: 72
Was on UA30 MUC-EWR on 12/31. I was seemingly one of the few elites on the flight. Economy was packed and at the Gate they issued a new BP for J... Original fare class was only K. I chose not to take the offer for 849$ the day before since it was a day flight
Jan 28, 2019, 1:15 pm
#427
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,756
I'm currently booked on EWR-PVG on Feb 14th, which appears a bit odd:
The seatmap appears mostly open, including wide-open E+. Now I know seatmaps are no indication of actual loads, but with only J2, but 29 J seats unassigned, what do the FT sages say about op-up chances here? CNY may have something to do with it..?
J2JN2C1D0Z0ZN0P0PN0PZ0IN0I0Y9YN9B9M9E9U9H8HN8Q5V3W 0S0T0L0K0G0N9XN0X0
Jan 28, 2019, 1:29 pm
#428
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
I'm currently booked on EWR-PVG on Feb 14th, which appears a bit odd:
The seatmap appears mostly open, including wide-open E+. Now I know seatmaps are no indication of actual loads, but with only J2, but 29 J seats unassigned, what do the FT sages say about op-up chances here? CNY may have something to do with it..?
The seatmap appears mostly open, including wide-open E+. Now I know seatmaps are no indication of actual loads, but with only J2, but 29 J seats unassigned, what do the FT sages say about op-up chances here? CNY may have something to do with it..?
I noticed that for flights to Asia, a lot of passengers don't choose their seat until check-in and a lot of them check-in at the airport about 2 hours before the flight (and sometimes less than 2 hours).
Jan 28, 2019, 1:34 pm
#429
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,446
I'm currently booked on EWR-PVG on Feb 14th, which appears a bit odd:
The seatmap appears mostly open, including wide-open E+. Now I know seatmaps are no indication of actual loads, but with only J2, but 29 J seats unassigned, what do the FT sages say about op-up chances here? CNY may have something to do with it..?
The seatmap appears mostly open, including wide-open E+. Now I know seatmaps are no indication of actual loads, but with only J2, but 29 J seats unassigned, what do the FT sages say about op-up chances here? CNY may have something to do with it..?
However, with V3, I would say the odds are nonzero but not high. They are maybe blocking J as they expect more Y demand, but I don't think Y is over by much yet.
Jan 28, 2019, 1:44 pm
#430
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Is the 47/50 count inclusive of blocks? The website will not tell you how many seats are blocked; the large number of 'sold' but unassigned suggests many seats blocked. Changing the date on your phone and using the app to check status may reveal the blocked count.
However, with V3, I would say the odds are nonzero but not high. They are maybe blocking J as they expect more Y demand, but I don't think Y is over by much yet.
However, with V3, I would say the odds are nonzero but not high. They are maybe blocking J as they expect more Y demand, but I don't think Y is over by much yet.
Jan 28, 2019, 1:49 pm
#431
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,756
Just maybe not this time...
Jan 28, 2019, 2:15 pm
#432
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
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Posts: 14,384
I'm currently booked on EWR-PVG on Feb 14th, which appears a bit odd:
The seatmap appears mostly open, including wide-open E+. Now I know seatmaps are no indication of actual loads, but with only J2, but 29 J seats unassigned, what do the FT sages say about op-up chances here? CNY may have something to do with it..?
The seatmap appears mostly open, including wide-open E+. Now I know seatmaps are no indication of actual loads, but with only J2, but 29 J seats unassigned, what do the FT sages say about op-up chances here? CNY may have something to do with it..?
Feb 1, 2019, 9:06 am
#433
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 812
SFO-CTU, Feb 2.
Premier desk said economy's overbooked by 3, which matches the app upgrade display: capacity 36, booked 26(+3 blocked)
Interestingly enough, UA is still willing to sell economy seats, in as low of a fare class as L.
Available fare classes: J7 JN7 C7 D7 Z7 ZN7 P7 PN7 PZ0 IN0 I0 Y4 YN4 B4 M4 E4 U3 H2 HN2 Q2 V2 W2 S1 T1 L1 K0 G0 N4 XN0 X0
Chances of an op-up as a plat? I assume it's quite low due to only being overbooked by 3, plus bad SFO weather this weekend?
Premier desk said economy's overbooked by 3, which matches the app upgrade display: capacity 36, booked 26(+3 blocked)
Interestingly enough, UA is still willing to sell economy seats, in as low of a fare class as L.
Available fare classes: J7 JN7 C7 D7 Z7 ZN7 P7 PN7 PZ0 IN0 I0 Y4 YN4 B4 M4 E4 U3 H2 HN2 Q2 V2 W2 S1 T1 L1 K0 G0 N4 XN0 X0
Chances of an op-up as a plat? I assume it's quite low due to only being overbooked by 3, plus bad SFO weather this weekend?
Feb 1, 2019, 9:11 am
#434
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,413
Interesting UA clearly doesn't think it will fill the J cabin with last minute purchased J, even with only 7 open seats.
Feb 1, 2019, 2:25 pm
#435
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,760
SFO-CTU, Feb 2.
Premier desk said economy's overbooked by 3, which matches the app upgrade display: capacity 36, booked 26(+3 blocked)
Interestingly enough, UA is still willing to sell economy seats, in as low of a fare class as L.
Available fare classes: J7 JN7 C7 D7 Z7 ZN7 P7 PN7 PZ0 IN0 I0 Y4 YN4 B4 M4 E4 U3 H2 HN2 Q2 V2 W2 S1 T1 L1 K0 G0 N4 XN0 X0
Chances of an op-up as a plat? I assume it's quite low due to only being overbooked by 3, plus bad SFO weather this weekend?
Premier desk said economy's overbooked by 3, which matches the app upgrade display: capacity 36, booked 26(+3 blocked)
Interestingly enough, UA is still willing to sell economy seats, in as low of a fare class as L.
Available fare classes: J7 JN7 C7 D7 Z7 ZN7 P7 PN7 PZ0 IN0 I0 Y4 YN4 B4 M4 E4 U3 H2 HN2 Q2 V2 W2 S1 T1 L1 K0 G0 N4 XN0 X0
Chances of an op-up as a plat? I assume it's quite low due to only being overbooked by 3, plus bad SFO weather this weekend?
And very doubtful you can purchase a new ticket below Q or V or even higher. To purchase a new ticket you need fare class inventory and a fare rule for which you meet all the conditions. Advance Purchase required will generally eliminate the lower fares. You can potentially SDC ( or irrops rebookings) onto the flight at a lower fare class, but you are not going purchase a new ticket for those fare classes.
