orff

I think you could actually buy her a W class if you are buying a Business/First class fare on the same flights, and use a GPU at booking to upgrade.

ajhun9

Yes, this works. I've done this to Hawaii with an RPU and have also had luck pushing a lower 48 complimentary companion CPU through inside the 5 day window on a new booking when I've booked myself into F.

uanj

Yes! Arm pump!

When I checked in at PVG I was on the EWR flight, the first to leave of the bunch, and it was not crowded so I did not notice if the GS emblem had been put back up. I will be able to check again in another two weeks, hopefully will remember to check carefully this time.

kj5hp

Has anybody had luck with upgrading the PS flights recently as a GS. In the last month I've flow 1x RT SFO-BOS and 2x RT SFO-EWR and applied GPUs to every flight... I've had zero clear. Bad luck? Are they changing inventory? Would love some input.

I few on Monday and was #7 on the upgrade list....

findark

Many reports of GS instruments clearing rapidly when flights are PN0. No real way to know, however, if there is an algorithm which will proactively clear them even without PN space.

bluedemon211

Departed PVG last Thursday and they had the GS check in desk designated.

RobOnLI

Yeah, but how else can you clear when the GPU/RPU was *just* applied and you haven't gotten off the phone with the agent who applied them? There has to be something automated in the background.

But it does mean PN is being hidden. It also means there's an algorithm that runs whenever an RPU/GPU request is made to see if this hidden bucket is greater than 0.

The reasons I believe it's a hidden bucket:
1. It clears immediately upon RPU/GPU application, even before you're off the phone with the agent who processed the instrument because he/she is able to book you seats in the upgraded cabin;
2. It doesn't happen on all flights. I currently have a flight waitlisted that is J9 Z0 P0 PN0 and I've been waitlisted for over two months. The flight I just booked and cleared was F8 P4 PN0 and went to F6 P4 PN0. P didn't even change when the two seats cleared.

The only reason I can think UA actually hides the PN bucket for RPU/GPU for GS is so that 1Ks don't pull the inventory on a YBM fare immediate upgrade. They wouldn't have access to the hidden PN bucket. Only someone applying an instrument would.

It is frustrating to spend a lot of time searching for flights that have PN so you can book and clear immediately when not all flights show PN but an upgrade would clear anyway. I wish UA would make it fully transparent. Or show their "PNN" class.

Thanks,
RM

Chukiechz

I’m waitlisted on an award flight that I applied GPUs (4) to next summer. Rome to ORD cleared with PN inventory. ORD to SNA still waitlisted. I need another 26 segments to get another 2 GPUs to apply to our outbound flight to BCN. PN0 on that flight, so not in any rush.

I’ve never had any hidden inventory clear shortly after booking

greenpau

It's all controlled by Inventory Management algorithms - I've long used P fare bucket availability as a proxy for PN likelihood of clearing. In every single case when P has been available my instrument upgrade has cleared into PN within 7 days, and on Domestic itineraries it is often instant as you describe. I have not yet missed an upgrade when P available at booking.

I don't think there is a "hidden PN bucket" as such ... in a prior discussion during a UA Willis Tower tour event, they explained to me it effectively is a product of adding to the waitlist, the waitlist system hitting inventory management, checking who else is on the waitlist, deciding based on rules, and then converting inventory from F/J to PN and clearing ... but who knows?

flyerbaby19

This explanation makes sense and is logical with one slight change. that the "hitting IM" is actually automated and the "deciding based on rules" is an algorithm, not a human. I also wonder if there is more in the algorithm than just "GS is on waitlist." such as, oh it's a more profitable GS, let's open up PN immediately versus a less profitable GS lets keep it on the waitlist.

That's the only way i can think of that logically makes sense given the cases of "instant" clearing.

I just waitlisted a flight for 2 today with P9 PN0 and is international. I will wait 7 days per your rule to see if it clears. if not, I will split the res and cross my fingers

greenpau

Sorry ... I wasn't clear ... we are saying same thing - I think there is limited human intervention in this cycle - I was referring to system to system interactions ... Inventory Management a process being supported by a system overseen by the Revenue Management (RM). RM Analysts are assigned individual flights to monitor/manage to targets, however, so there is definitely an element of manual intervention/approval but as the algorithms and data sets become more refined I imagine that is less and less so.

Interested to see what happens in your case ... good luck!

cesco.g

So, best time to call during CST business hours ?

greenpau

More than likely! I have this feeling that a waitlist on a busy flight seems to clear Friday morning (treat for weekend!) or a Monday morning (eh, it's Monday), but probably imaginary

flyerbaby19

Waitlisted and still waitlisted

roxie

There were two GS designated desks at PVG last week for check in to ORD. They have also swapped the premier check-in desks with the non-premier. The premier desks are now the ones closer to the security entrance. That means that you now don't have to walk through all the people checking in at non-premier desks.

There was also a GS agent with a gold scarf standing at the entrance to the lines.