NomadicHawkeye1972

Long time, first time. I usually fly southwest, but have recently obtained status on UA due to some international travel. Is there a route that you frequently get upgraded on. Golds and Platinums, I'm looking at you in particular.


If there's a better thread for this already open, let me know.

rittenhousesq

Traveling to leisure destinations such as Las Vegas offer good chances for an upgrade.

JBord

I'm not sure I've ever gotten a CPU from ORD-LAS, even as a 1k. But I agree conceptually. Florida usually seems easier.

dinoscool3

Even as a gold I don't think I've ever missed an upgrade to ALB.

Phorever

Gold currently

ORD-FLL, TPA, MCO, GSP

These seem to be my best four odds... I go mostly SE with some Midwest sprinkled in.

rowenb

As a Platinum, I'm 10-for-13 so far this year on getting CPUs on the ORD-MSP leg. Not glamorous, but since I fly it a lot it's a useful perk to me!

MBS MillionMiler

LAS has been a tough, tough upgrade. I fly ORD-LAS-ORD 4-5X a year. Twice this year, I've had RPUs fail (RPUs applied 3-4 months ahead). Last month, on a 20-seat 737-900, I was the only person upgraded, and that was because of an RPU. Was sort of weird seeing only my name and seat with a checkmark on the upgrade list. Went out with about 25 people on the list.

They tend to sell F seats to/from LAS very inexpensively. I've been buying more and more of them...Usually just a $120-ish premium each way over the lowest economy, 3-4 month ahead.

The only 'easy' one is the very late ORD-LAS departure--usually leaves around 10:30PM.

That being said, I was checking the United app for anecdotal evidence, and this week seems a little more of an anomaly--lots of people upgraded on today's and tomorrow's ORD-LAS flights.

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The easier upgrades seem to be the smaller-market short hops like GRR, BNA, OMA, STL, etc. And, as mentioned, Florida runs.

steveo

Platinum here, I always get one going to Canada, we're talking YYC, YVR, YEG (when we had it), and even YUL and YYZ. The ones to the east coast cities don't matter much but the flights out west can get pretty long.

I've also had really good luck with LAX for some reason, El Paso, and Dallas. Florida can be good too, my friend got upgraded as a silver to FLL.

Ones not so good: Any UA hub! I also got one on my way back from Beijing but I think that was just ridiculous luck since its not a CPU route.

aacharya

1K here. I connect via ORD frequently. PDX, PHL, and DFW are pretty easy.

mvitale

So far this year, I'm 19-for-66 in getting CPU'd doing mostly ORD-IAD and back. Sometimes, since I'm a leg-runner, I might do a quick layover on the return in CMH or DAY or something like that, and I've sometimes been upgraded on those regional jets...

PV_Premier

i used to get upgraded all the time ORD-PHL back in the premier exec days.

conceptually, destinations such as Florida and smaller southeast cities where DL is the stronger player are probably the most likely bets.

ORD-STL used to be pretty kind to me as well

if you expect ORD-west coast upgrades, you're gonna be disappointed.

COSPILOT

COS and MSP are easy upgrades for me, but DEN is a very rare upgrade.

nova08

It's been almost a year since I flew PHL-ORD and more than that since I flew it weekly so I thought I would look at today's flights for kicks. Obviously CPUs depend on travel patterns because today's 5pm PHL-ORD flight has 3 people upgraded with F full and 73 on the wait list. Same for the 815pm PHL-ORD with 4 people upgraded and 28 on the wait list.

StringerBellBivDeVoe

1K here. I fly ORD to SFO/SEA/LAX/PDX quite a bit. PDX is the most likely, followed by LAX. SFO almost never happens.

PVDProf

TED would like to point out that there is no premium market for ORD-LAS, or for Florida. Drink your lemonade. RAR!