What's the longest first class upgrade standby list / waitlist that you've ever seen?
Nov 7, 2018, 9:26 pm
#196
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,900
I knew this would be about ORD-SFO. That route has always been my hardest upgrade. Almost totally high level pax, just watch the group 1 line. It’s the route that I always buy up if I can. Upgrades are futile.
Nov 7, 2018, 9:54 pm
#198
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,171
Theres arguments for and against the EU model. On a flight of say 2hrs I can get a hot meal and drinks as opposed to A cookie or packet of crisps (chips). An EU airline would depart with empty seats rather than upgrade an elite for the sake of it. Upgrades are always nice but I like my loyalty rewarded with dedicated ch3ck in areas, private priority security and access to a lounge with a restaurant service and self service buffet and unlimited complimentary drinks from the bar because even if I had paid for thst expensive first class ticket I wouldn’t get lounge access.
Nov 7, 2018, 10:17 pm
#199
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E50K
Posts: 132
Google also was hosting a pretty big tech conference this week (Android Dev Summit) so there were likely quite a few people travelling out there too. I know my coworkers who write Android code were going to that and at least one was on that flight.
Nov 8, 2018, 4:45 am
#201
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,784
I game out best possible seat against possible UG.
Nov 8, 2018, 10:09 am
#202
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,443
One issue is that more people are flying and over time more people are earning elite status and Lifetime elite status, but the size of the aircraft used are smaller. In days bygone, UA would have been flying a DC10 on this route, and there would be fewer Elites, and F fares would be much higher.
Boeing made a blunder by discontinuing the 757 with no follow on. At lease UA does have (from CO) some 753s which have 24 F seats.
Boeing made a blunder by discontinuing the 757 with no follow on. At lease UA does have (from CO) some 753s which have 24 F seats.
It's true that more people fly, and more people fly more often, than ever before, so elite ranks have certainly swelled among the fewer airlines left standing post-consolidation. This is also a result of the proliferation of inexpensive advance-purchase F fares (especially in connecting markets over ORD), and cabins filling much earlier, with those erstwhile-empty seats that were allocated to elites closer to departure now occupied by passengers willing to pay the smaller premium over Y.
Nov 8, 2018, 6:43 pm
#203
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 16
Most business negotiate the rates for high volume routes and get a modest blanket discount on all other routes.
I’ve been 30 deep on the upgrade list for EWR-SFO on a Monday as 1K and that is a route that requires an RPU.
This just sounds like a normal flight to SFO in this tech market.
Nov 8, 2018, 8:11 pm
#204
Join Date: May 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: UA Mileage Plus
Posts: 160
Just got silver
Just got silver. Hadnt had any status in a few years. I told my wife dont expect to see any upgrades. Havent yet even on flights IAH_DSM. Not really expecting much. dont fly on business. Most of the miles were accumulated on a trip to the Phillipines on EVA.
Nov 19, 2018, 6:09 am
#206
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ORD | LGA | 2E
Programs: UA GS 1.6MM UC | AA CK 0.7MM AC | Bonvoy Ambassador | Hyatt Globalist | Hertz PC
Posts: 1,052
The relatively modest snow storm that hit the NYC area on the 15th messed up the 16th worse than I can recall seeing in similar situations. I was flying out of LGA that Friday and ended up on a 6 hour delayed 9AM flight where my 2PM went out at 8PM. EWR was similar. Lots of people sleeping on the floor the night before who then caught massive delays the next day. Not a great start for Ops to the winter weather season.
Nov 19, 2018, 6:35 am
#208
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
Google’s discount for ORD-SFO isn’t actually that great because ORD isn’t a very large remote office.
Most business negotiate the rates for high volume routes and get a modest blanket discount on all other routes.
I’ve been 30 deep on the upgrade list for EWR-SFO on a Monday as 1K and that is a route that requires an RPU.
This just sounds like a normal flight to SFO in this tech market.
Android fragmentation joke.
Nov 19, 2018, 8:30 am
#210
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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