Upgrades worse in 2016?
Mar 16, 2016, 1:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LA
Posts: 1,281
Upgrades worse in 2016?
I know this is a bit of a rant but come on man....how does one purchase an M fare (booked flight Sunday), flies on what is considered one of the least busiest travel days (Tuesday), travel a somewhat popular but not overly busy hub to hub route (SFO-LAS), on a 737 with descent amount of F seats, applies an RPU instrument (first segment was longer and didn't clear either), be a 1K, and still end up #18 on the upgrade list (note only 2 people cleared).
Mar 16, 2016, 1:14 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,023
I'm not familiar with historical frequencies SFO-LAS, but there might be a reduction in that plus average downsize in a/c maybe? Plus cheap P fares. I booked a red-eye LAS-IAH recently and was surprised to see it's a 320 after being primarily a 753 or 739 for years.
Mar 16, 2016, 1:19 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,452
I think the pendulum on FC pricing has swung a bit too far, as the delta between F and Y fares, in many markets, is $150 or less. This is a hammer blow to elite upgrades for all but GS and the occasional high-fare 1K.
I'd be lying if I said I actually thought United domestic F in most cases is worth that kind of premium (or more) over Y, but it's clear that some people find the value proposition reasonable. I now find myself in Y about 75% of the time I do not book F, and oftentimes, a good way down the upgrade list, in markets and days/times I always cleared in the past, like EWR-Florida.
There has to be some kind of happy medium...
I'd be lying if I said I actually thought United domestic F in most cases is worth that kind of premium (or more) over Y, but it's clear that some people find the value proposition reasonable. I now find myself in Y about 75% of the time I do not book F, and oftentimes, a good way down the upgrade list, in markets and days/times I always cleared in the past, like EWR-Florida.
There has to be some kind of happy medium...
Mar 16, 2016, 1:19 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SEA
Posts: 75
I know this is a bit of a rant but come on man....how does one purchase an M fare (booked flight Sunday), flies on what is considered one of the least busiest travel days (Tuesday), travel a somewhat popular but not overly busy hub to hub route (SFO-LAS), on a 737 with descent amount of F seats, applies an RPU instrument (first segment was longer and didn't clear either), be a 1K, and still end up #18 on the upgrade list (note only 2 people cleared).
Mar 16, 2016, 1:23 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
Must be luck of the draw - I'm seeing the opposite, including a $749 upgrade offer for ORD-AUS!!
Mar 16, 2016, 1:31 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K 1.45MM, Marriott+SPG Plat, Clear, Nexus, Global Entry and MEX Viajero Confiable
Posts: 1,777
I have a suspicion this will be the norm for awhile. UA has priced Dom F that it is more "affordable" (subjective term) and with the increased PQM schema more people are buying. All you have to do is look at the milestone roll call thread to see elites achieving status thresholds faster than before.
Mar 16, 2016, 1:32 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
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Posts: 12,521
Far too anecdotal. As my signature noted, I stopped tracking CPUs in February (was way less than 30%). However, my last four trips, I'm at 80%+.
Mar 16, 2016, 1:34 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: BWI<MCI< PHL<DEN<SCL<EZE<CHO<PHL<ABE
Programs: UA Silver / FA
Posts: 939
Mar 16, 2016, 1:36 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Million Miler, 1K - Basically spend a lot of time on planes
Posts: 2,202
Have a look for R Class seats on EWR-LAX-EWR for the next 330 days and you'll find somewhere around zero available seats.
People seem to be excusing this as the new norm (which is fine), but then you also need to ask what you want in return for the loyalty you give each airline.
Upgrades are certainly not what they used to be. They are the main perk for me, so I reward United's loyalty by flying whomever works better for me on the day.
It's amazing how often United come up on the losing end of that choice. That said, they'll still get flown enough to reach 1K
People seem to be excusing this as the new norm (which is fine), but then you also need to ask what you want in return for the loyalty you give each airline.
Upgrades are certainly not what they used to be. They are the main perk for me, so I reward United's loyalty by flying whomever works better for me on the day.
It's amazing how often United come up on the losing end of that choice. That said, they'll still get flown enough to reach 1K
Mar 16, 2016, 1:54 pm
#11
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
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First off, SFO-LAS is not hub-to-hub, unless I missed something where UA turned this into a hub.
Second, I feel like LAS is a place that's either really busy (when there are conferences, etc.), or really not (if there's not). Lots of $$$ going into Vegas during busy business times, so probably a lot of F sales.
If there were only 2 upgrades, obviously, lots of people bought F. So no room for upgrades. If UA can sell those - that's good for them.
That's also, what, an hour, maybe hour and a half flight. Is it really that big a deal to sit in Y for a short flight like that?
Second, I feel like LAS is a place that's either really busy (when there are conferences, etc.), or really not (if there's not). Lots of $$$ going into Vegas during busy business times, so probably a lot of F sales.
If there were only 2 upgrades, obviously, lots of people bought F. So no room for upgrades. If UA can sell those - that's good for them.
That's also, what, an hour, maybe hour and a half flight. Is it really that big a deal to sit in Y for a short flight like that?
Mar 16, 2016, 1:58 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
I know this is a bit of a rant but come on man....how does one purchase an M fare (booked flight Sunday), flies on what is considered one of the least busiest travel days (Tuesday), travel a somewhat popular but not overly busy hub to hub route (SFO-LAS), on a 737 with decent amount of F seats, applies an RPU instrument (first segment was longer and didn't clear either), be a 1K, and still end up #18 on the upgrade list (note only 2 people cleared).
Mar 16, 2016, 2:01 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K and MM, Marriot, Hilton
Posts: 804
I know this is a bit of a rant but come on man....how does one purchase an M fare (booked flight Sunday), flies on what is considered one of the least busiest travel days (Tuesday), travel a somewhat popular but not overly busy hub to hub route (SFO-LAS), on a 737 with descent amount of F seats, applies an RPU instrument (first segment was longer and didn't clear either), be a 1K, and still end up #18 on the upgrade list (note only 2 people cleared).
Mar 16, 2016, 2:05 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,023
Mar 16, 2016, 2:32 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LA
Posts: 1,281
First off, SFO-LAS is not hub-to-hub, unless I missed something where UA turned this into a hub.
Second, I feel like LAS is a place that's either really busy (when there are conferences, etc.), or really not (if there's not). Lots of $$$ going into Vegas during busy business times, so probably a lot of F sales.
If there were only 2 upgrades, obviously, lots of people bought F. So no room for upgrades. If UA can sell those - that's good for them.
That's also, what, an hour, maybe hour and a half flight. Is it really that big a deal to sit in Y for a short flight like that?
Second, I feel like LAS is a place that's either really busy (when there are conferences, etc.), or really not (if there's not). Lots of $$$ going into Vegas during busy business times, so probably a lot of F sales.
If there were only 2 upgrades, obviously, lots of people bought F. So no room for upgrades. If UA can sell those - that's good for them.
That's also, what, an hour, maybe hour and a half flight. Is it really that big a deal to sit in Y for a short flight like that?
The first part of the line ties in to the next part of the line