Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archived thread, the active thread is UA Upsell Offers to Business/First/PP at Purchase and Day of Departure (TOD)
UA Upsell Offers to Business/First at Purchase and Day of Departure (TOD) [Archive]
#4141
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: DFW or Somewhere Else
Programs: UA Plt /Delta DM/ Marriott Platinum Prem./Hilton Diamond / Hyatt Globalist /Hertz PS / National EE
Posts: 1,107
I've flown every week for the past month. 1K on basically bottom-of-the-barrel fares (L, K, etc). I've been around #5-10 for upgrades on most flights. But also, I've seen *no one* getting upgraded on any of these. Granted, I was flying mainline routes between SFO, IAH, EWR, BOS, but still I was surprised to see no checkmarked people on any of the lists.
Do buy-ups show up as upgraded on the list? Or is the reason that no one is "upgraded" because United has found the sweet spot in pricing to get people to bite?
Do buy-ups show up as upgraded on the list? Or is the reason that no one is "upgraded" because United has found the sweet spot in pricing to get people to bite?
FLL-IAH E Fare #1 for 5 open seats 3 hours before . No known offer - Did not clear
IAH-ABQ E Fare #1 for 0 seats Did not clear
ABQ-ORD E Fare #1 for 1 seats T-2 Hours Did not clear
ORD - IAH M Fare #1 for 2 seats at booking that morning - Did not clear
IAH - FLL M Fare #1 for 4 seats at booking that morning - Did not cleat
FLL-SLC (Delta Diamond Did not clear) #3 for 0 seats at booking
SLC - IAH E Fare #1 for 0 seats - Did not clear
IAH - ORD E Fare #1 for 0 seats m the 3 seats opened up, all got sold within 2 hours of the flight! Did not clear
All travel is on Wednesdays except the SLC-IAH-ORD was Nov 16th, Friday
I called the 1K desk and was given a $200 voucher due to my high spend and low upgrade percentage after I complained.
My total since status matching from DL - 3 upgrades out of 37 legs. One MCO-SFO one SFO-FLL and one SFO - SMF
The United Comp upgrade program is useless. DL is a little better but I am enjoying much easier access to Economy Plus Seats so Id still pick UA over DL.
#4142
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
#4143
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Bergen County NJ
Programs: AA EXP, UA1K B6 Mosaic 1, Amtrak Select, Marriott Plat , AMEX Plat (noted for club access reference)
Posts: 785
I haven't done a buy up this year (so maybe it has changed) but last year at least 4 times I did a buy up (Between T-24 and T-0) I got the check mark next to my name in the upgraded standby list, my girlfriend as well ... IF I did a Buy Up outside of OLCI then I didn't get a checkmark
#4144
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: DFW or Somewhere Else
Programs: UA Plt /Delta DM/ Marriott Platinum Prem./Hilton Diamond / Hyatt Globalist /Hertz PS / National EE
Posts: 1,107
#4145
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Yes (sometimes). 1Ks may be cleared as early as T-96, and in most instances that's when you have best chance of clearing. If you buy inside T-48, when UA may have already cleared 1K, Plats, and Gold, your odds drop precipitously.
Aircraft also matters quite a bit. 319/320 are nearly impossible due to small F cabins.
My "sit in back" experiences this year were all last minute purchases.
#4146
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: DFW or Somewhere Else
Programs: UA Plt /Delta DM/ Marriott Platinum Prem./Hilton Diamond / Hyatt Globalist /Hertz PS / National EE
Posts: 1,107
Yes (sometimes). 1Ks may be cleared as early as T-96, and in most instances that's when you have best chance of clearing. If you buy inside T-48, when UA may have already cleared 1K, Plats, and Gold, your odds drop precipitously.
Aircraft also matters quite a bit. 319/320 are nearly impossible due to small F cabins.
My "sit in back" experiences this year were all last minute purchases.
#4147
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
I see open seats all the time within a few hours and I am always #1 on the list. why is it they care nothing for those who are spending the most?
There's an acronym from the DL forum that sometimes is applicable here as well . . . it's "WFBF" (want first, buy first).
#4148
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: DFW or Somewhere Else
Programs: UA Plt /Delta DM/ Marriott Platinum Prem./Hilton Diamond / Hyatt Globalist /Hertz PS / National EE
Posts: 1,107
#4149
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: WN A-list., Marriott Plat, National EX, UA Silver
Posts: 289
I am striking out completely! Here is where I have stand since Oct 1
FLL-IAH E Fare #1 for 5 open seats 3 hours before . No known offer - Did not clear
IAH-ABQ E Fare #1 for 0 seats Did not clear
ABQ-ORD E Fare #1 for 1 seats T-2 Hours Did not clear
ORD - IAH M Fare #1 for 2 seats at booking that morning - Did not clear
IAH - FLL M Fare #1 for 4 seats at booking that morning - Did not cleat
FLL-SLC (Delta Diamond Did not clear) #3 for 0 seats at booking
SLC - IAH E Fare #1 for 0 seats - Did not clear
IAH - ORD E Fare #1 for 0 seats m the 3 seats opened up, all got sold within 2 hours of the flight! Did not clear
All travel is on Wednesdays except the SLC-IAH-ORD was Nov 16th, Friday
I called the 1K desk and was given a $200 voucher due to my high spend and low upgrade percentage after I complained.
My total since status matching from DL - 3 upgrades out of 37 legs. One MCO-SFO one SFO-FLL and one SFO - SMF
The United Comp upgrade program is useless. DL is a little better but I am enjoying much easier access to Economy Plus Seats so Id still pick UA over DL.
FLL-IAH E Fare #1 for 5 open seats 3 hours before . No known offer - Did not clear
IAH-ABQ E Fare #1 for 0 seats Did not clear
ABQ-ORD E Fare #1 for 1 seats T-2 Hours Did not clear
ORD - IAH M Fare #1 for 2 seats at booking that morning - Did not clear
IAH - FLL M Fare #1 for 4 seats at booking that morning - Did not cleat
FLL-SLC (Delta Diamond Did not clear) #3 for 0 seats at booking
SLC - IAH E Fare #1 for 0 seats - Did not clear
IAH - ORD E Fare #1 for 0 seats m the 3 seats opened up, all got sold within 2 hours of the flight! Did not clear
All travel is on Wednesdays except the SLC-IAH-ORD was Nov 16th, Friday
I called the 1K desk and was given a $200 voucher due to my high spend and low upgrade percentage after I complained.
My total since status matching from DL - 3 upgrades out of 37 legs. One MCO-SFO one SFO-FLL and one SFO - SMF
The United Comp upgrade program is useless. DL is a little better but I am enjoying much easier access to Economy Plus Seats so Id still pick UA over DL.
Just got screwed on the upgrade list today. There was 1 seat left in first and I was number 1 on the list. Then someone with higher status came in 15 mins before boarding and took it.
#4150
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,844
I could have been Global Services, what the different. They leave the entire upgrade list not upgraded. I was #1 , I couldn't have had more priority.
So yes, GS have a higher priority than you -- but you just don't see it.
#4151
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
When it's waiting for an upgrade at the gate and I'm number 1 on the list, it gets sold out under me or somebody from another flight decides to switch to my flight. Coming back from DCA in August, I was number 1 but somebody appeared on the waitlist ahead of me 5 minutes before boarding. To the point that the Gate Agent did not even realize that that person had appeared on the list and asked me to wait while boarding (when I scanned my boarding pass). That person got the upgrade.
#4152
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
I'm sure someone thinks they've been cheated out of an upgrade.
I could have been Global Services, what the different. They leave the entire upgrade list not upgraded. I was #1 , I couldn't have had more priority.
CPUs can be difficult these days, but they definitely happen.
#4153
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
The good news is that I know how the system works so I don't think that I'm cheated out of the upgrade, even when it happens 5 minutes before boarding. The reality is that, if I did not have to pay so much out of my pocket for the upfares/upgrades on international long hauls, I would purchase the TODs on domestic flights if my RPU or CPU did not clear at T-96. Priorities.....
#4154
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: DFW or Somewhere Else
Programs: UA Plt /Delta DM/ Marriott Platinum Prem./Hilton Diamond / Hyatt Globalist /Hertz PS / National EE
Posts: 1,107
If people stop purchasing the TODs, then we can go back to getting free upgrades. First Class is worth free and not much more...who pays $150 for 2 hours in a domestic first seat?
#4155