Why is there no/extremely limited upgrade availability on PS routes?
Jan 12, 2016, 4:30 pm
#76
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Took a look at all 10 SFO-EWR flights today:
+ 244 front cabin seats
+ 3 upgrades cleared so far
+ remaining flights booked full
Tomorrow's 10 flights:
+ 244 front cabin seats
+ 0 cleared upgrades
+ all booked full
Midweek looks terrible.
Yesterday (Monday) was sort of OK:
+ 288 front cabin seats
+ 18 cleared upgrades (before 1p)
+ 0 cleared upgrades (after 1p)
+ 244 front cabin seats
+ 3 upgrades cleared so far
+ remaining flights booked full
Tomorrow's 10 flights:
+ 244 front cabin seats
+ 0 cleared upgrades
+ all booked full
Midweek looks terrible.
Yesterday (Monday) was sort of OK:
+ 288 front cabin seats
+ 18 cleared upgrades (before 1p)
+ 0 cleared upgrades (after 1p)
Unless you have access to internal UA data, not sure how you can know that paid BF loads are higher than normal this week.
Jan 12, 2016, 4:45 pm
#77
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
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I do *know*, however, that a larger number than is typical of people in my world who consistently purchase transcon revenue BF seats are traveling from the NYC area to SF this week for the conference.
What I don't *know* is whether the normal revenue BF load (ex-Life Science Big Wigs) is lower. I guess it's possible.
My point/suggestion is that the potential effects of the conference on what is actually a relatively small number of BF seats between EWR and SFO this week are actually real effects.
Greg
Jan 12, 2016, 5:02 pm
#78
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For ps, the flight status only shows upgrades that occur after check-in opens. Just like on long-haul international. So you really can't tell how many seats were actually filled by upgrades prior to T-24. (Though it's fair to assume the number is relatively low, and that it's mostly GS clearing into PN since R is always scarce on this route now.)
Jan 12, 2016, 5:07 pm
#79
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By the way, semi-related -- a DL ff friend was mentioning that some of DL's ATL-SFO transcons have upgauged to A333 right around Superbowl. Maybe to increase capacity / give premium fliers a better taste of their service?
I wonder if UA has considered this?
I wonder if UA has considered this?
Jan 12, 2016, 5:09 pm
#80
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
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Posts: 9,005
Took a look at all 10 SFO-EWR flights today:
+ 244 front cabin seats
+ 3 upgrades cleared so far
+ remaining flights booked full
Tomorrow's 10 flights:
+ 244 front cabin seats
+ 0 cleared upgrades
+ all booked full
Midweek looks terrible.
Yesterday (Monday) was sort of OK:
+ 288 front cabin seats
+ 18 cleared upgrades (before 1p)
+ 0 cleared upgrades (after 1p)
+ 244 front cabin seats
+ 3 upgrades cleared so far
+ remaining flights booked full
Tomorrow's 10 flights:
+ 244 front cabin seats
+ 0 cleared upgrades
+ all booked full
Midweek looks terrible.
Yesterday (Monday) was sort of OK:
+ 288 front cabin seats
+ 18 cleared upgrades (before 1p)
+ 0 cleared upgrades (after 1p)
Jan 12, 2016, 5:10 pm
#81
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Beyond that, for some reason, ps flights do not always reliably show upgrade data on the flight status page. Last time I SDC'ed into open R my name did not show on the list as "upgraded."
If we're now regularly at only ten per day, that's like a 50% capacity cut SFO-NYC nonstop.
Jan 12, 2016, 5:16 pm
#82
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Jan 12, 2016, 5:20 pm
#84
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I guess it makes sense that they'd have one upgrade process on their mainframe (I feel like it really is a mainframe) for CPU/RPU-eligible flights and another for GPU-only flights.
Jan 12, 2016, 5:26 pm
#86
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There's a thread over at the DL forum about 124 folks on the ug list for the A333 ATL-SFO on Sunday; think it is really a demand driven shift rather than the latter explanation.
Jan 12, 2016, 5:35 pm
#87
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: UA SP, DL SM MM, AS 75K, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond.
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I think it's based on whether the route is CPU eligible.
Beyond that, for some reason, ps flights do not always reliably show upgrade data on the flight status page. Last time I SDC'ed into open R my name did not show on the list as "upgraded."
Wasn't ps typically nine daily to JFK?
If we're now regularly at only ten per day, that's like a 50% capacity cut SFO-NYC nonstop.
Beyond that, for some reason, ps flights do not always reliably show upgrade data on the flight status page. Last time I SDC'ed into open R my name did not show on the list as "upgraded."
Wasn't ps typically nine daily to JFK?
If we're now regularly at only ten per day, that's like a 50% capacity cut SFO-NYC nonstop.
Jan 12, 2016, 5:39 pm
#88
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edit2: now that I think some more, I really can't remember confidently. So I actually have nothing to say.
Jan 12, 2016, 6:02 pm
#89
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 449
I've found that P.S. seats are booked and paid for by the Film/TV studios for producers/execs/actors on the LAX-EWR route. I remember the only two times I was able to upgrade, I was sitting next to Jonathan Nolan (TV Producer - Person of Interest) and some TV actress, whose name escapes me. It seems like some of the studios do business with United and buy tickets on the P.S. Flights for the staff and talent.
But as for me, recently, I've tried booking business class flights out of, LAX, JFK and Newark, and except for the redeye flights and early AM flights, there's never a seat to use my RPU's with.
But as for me, recently, I've tried booking business class flights out of, LAX, JFK and Newark, and except for the redeye flights and early AM flights, there's never a seat to use my RPU's with.
Jan 12, 2016, 7:16 pm
#90
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It was never clear to me if "17 flights a day" meant in each direction, or total. Does anyone know?