Help booking a flight
Nov 30, 2016 | 5:33 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 12
Help booking a flight
Miles experts help please! I'm trying to fly from DEN to LIH September 30th (economy) and out of OGG October 14th (first). I need 3 tickets, have two regional upgrades available, $600 in vouchers, and points. What's the best way to go about this and ensure I get first class on the way home? R class tickets appear available for that fight home but how can I be sure there are two? And should I buy the third one first with points/cash or buy it after I use my upgrades? Thanks in advance for helping!
Nov 30, 2016 | 5:52 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 2MM 1K
Posts: 16,591
Miles experts help please! I'm trying to fly from DEN to LIH September 30th (economy) and out of OGG October 14th (first). I need 3 tickets, have two regional upgrades available, $600 in vouchers, and points. What's the best way to go about this and ensure I get first class on the way home? R class tickets appear available for that fight home but how can I be sure there are two? And should I buy the third one first with points/cash or buy it after I use my upgrades? Thanks in advance for helping!
I'd use RPUs first just in case can't find a use for them later, unless vouchers expire soon.
I'm not seeing R availability out or back on your dates. Saturdays are peak travel days, so I doubt you're going to have an easy time getting 3 seats on same plane(s) - frankly almost a zero chance of even one on the OGG-DEN non-stop on a Saturday. What flight(s) do you think you see availability?
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Nov 30, 2016 at 6:35 pm
Dec 1, 2016 | 8:04 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,318
It's so far away that speculating is a bit of a fool's errand.
That being said you want to look for flights that have the highest "P" remaining. This is the lowest First class fare bucket and a higher "P" means UA thinks they need to sell more discounted F tickets on the flight which means higher chance that some will ultimately become R.
That being said you want to look for flights that have the highest "P" remaining. This is the lowest First class fare bucket and a higher "P" means UA thinks they need to sell more discounted F tickets on the flight which means higher chance that some will ultimately become R.
Dec 1, 2016 | 9:42 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 2MM 1K
Posts: 16,591
0 means zero. You are looking for R to be greater than zero to use RPUs or miles for an upgrade. RO means there zero seats available for upgrade, R1 means there's one seat available, R2, two seats, etc. Likelihood of 3 R seats opening on the Saturday OGG-DEN lie-flat non-stop are unfortunately just about zero. A lot of people like to begin and end their trip to Hawaii on a Saturday.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Dec 1, 2016 at 10:26 am