saFlyTalk

$269 IAD-SAN with F 18/20 at the time. Declined. It was tempting, but without extra PQD and RDM, it was not worth the upgrade over a nice E+ seat. 2 hours later F was full.

Kacee

$99 SFO-SAN. 1K on a U.

Not even tempted. CPU cleared at the gate. Debated keeping 7A, which I actually prefer in some ways to the 738 F seat. Row 7 went out completely empty A-F.

mymilesandpoints

I'm currently at EWR waiting for my flight to NRT on UA79. It's two hours before take off, and the OLCI offer is at $1,969 for the EWRNRT leg. I'm obviously not going to take that offer but I have a couple questions for the experts here!

1) there are still 16 out of 50 BusinessFirst seats open on the seat map. Does UA try to Lower the OLCI prices as the flight comes closer to boarding?

2) there are currently 11 people on the "Upgrade Waitlist". Who are these people? I'm a United noob so I read the website and it says for global routes you need a Global Premier Upgrade certificate. Are these 11 people all United 1Ks that have GPU that haven't cleared despite there being 16 open seats in BusinessFirst?

3) I'm a United Gold. What are my chances of getting a better OLCI offer this close to boarding, and I'm sure there is no chance of a operational upgrade right? Despite there being so many open seats?

PsiFighter37

2) Would be NRSAs (you can tell if they are on standby list as well) and folks of any status that have applied an instrument upgrade but has not cleared due to R=0 (and, if there are GS on the waitlist, PN=0).

mymilesandpoints

Got it that's very helpful. And by the way, just to clarify, UA Premier 1Ks don't even get wait listed or put on the upgrade list UNLESS they apply for a GPU certificate right?

mario02423

Correct. If you're looking at the standby/upgrade list now, you'll see REY, M is first on standby but fifth on the upgrade list. To me, it would reason that REY, M is the first non-revenue space-available passenger and that numbers 1-4 on the upgrade list are applying GPUs. With < T-3, the gate agent would be processing these upgrades.

Kmxu

EWR-pek, $739, from Irrops rebooked Y class. It is a good deal, but I still hesitate to take it. Advice?

mymilesandpoints

Got it. So wow, they got 7 staff flying on business to Japan? Not too shab to be an employee!

iluv2fly

A bargain for such a long flight. Take it.

My SFO-HKG was $1079 the other day, by comparison.

mario02423

Likely employees (other airline employees are eligible but with quirks) taking a short trip or quick vacation, but yeah! Very common to see. The prices for UA employees vary, but economy domestic seats are usually free (sometimes there might be a weird tax) -- higher cabins are super cheap but not free. I regularly flew as NRSA on UA to Amsterdam in business class and was shocked at sticker price. Surprised my grandmother for dinner one night... that was a treat. Enjoy your travels!

findark

There's no data I'm aware of to dictate trends. The offer may or may not change, but I don't think it's been demonstrated to move in any known direction (like lower if there are more unsold seats).

It's a common misconception, but your op-up chances are not really dictated by the number of open J seats. Op-ups are not "gifts" to elites made from abundant inventory. They occur when a lower cabin doesn't have enough seats and they need to hand out the op-ups to give everyone a seat on the plane.

fly747first

I'm surprised UA permitted it and didn't tell the person no sorry, mistake and we will not honor it.

mymilesandpoints

Thanks this is very helpful. But I guess that begs the question how useful status are even if you go for premier 1K. Yes you get some GPU and RPU certs, but I guess that's about it if you run out of them. Alas, I guess that just means we have to get to a point in life where we can afford Biz fare all the time!

WineCountryUA

On internationally (outside of North America and other CPU routes) there are no comp upgrades but there on all CPU routes. Also there is much more to status than just upgrades (a key element for many). There are no change fees for award for higher elites (Plats a re being dinged in the up coming change), there is improved handing in irrops, free food / drink if not upgraded, there is E+ access for up to 8 (great for families), higher RDM earnings, higher bag allowance, .... But this is the perennial discussion topic for FT --
but as this is the UFC/PCU thread, the status issue is better discussed in other threads, such as http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-platinum.html

FlyMan

Offered $1249 for HKG-SFO C to F. C and Y are full...