Jan 6, 2017, 12:08 pm
Last edit by: FlytheTail
Consider posting:
1. Route
2. Date
3. Fare class
4. Y-C or C-F
5. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased
6. How many days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear
For reference:GPU upgrade SUCCESS 2016, GPU upgrade SUCCESS 2015 & GPU upgrade "SUCCESS" 2014
1. Route
2. Date
3. Fare class
4. Y-C or C-F
5. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased
6. How many days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear
For reference:GPU upgrade SUCCESS 2016, GPU upgrade SUCCESS 2015 & GPU upgrade "SUCCESS" 2014
GPU upgrade SUCCESS 2017
Apr 9, 2017, 2:22 pm
#166
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,956
You could be a little bit more patient. That is, waited until the last possible minutes to SDC to another flight if 77W update would not clear. Have a good flight.
1. SFO-EWR
2. 4/10/17
3. S
4. Y-C
5. purchased 2/28/17
6. Showing R8 upgrades available within 24 hrs of departure, as were various flights this day. I was on 77W ten minutes later, 19 available out of 60, but R0 while they try to sell upgrades for much less than I've invested in 1K. This was one of my last chances to clear a 2016 GPU about to expire (already extended). While I prefer the 77W, I'd be risking coach to wait out the game till the gate. So I took the safe play and switched flights.
2. 4/10/17
3. S
4. Y-C
5. purchased 2/28/17
6. Showing R8 upgrades available within 24 hrs of departure, as were various flights this day. I was on 77W ten minutes later, 19 available out of 60, but R0 while they try to sell upgrades for much less than I've invested in 1K. This was one of my last chances to clear a 2016 GPU about to expire (already extended). While I prefer the 77W, I'd be risking coach to wait out the game till the gate. So I took the safe play and switched flights.
Apr 10, 2017, 8:30 am
#167
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
1. SFO-EWR
2. 4/10/17
3. S
4. Y-C
5. purchased 2/28/17
6. Showing R8 upgrades available within 24 hrs of departure, as were various flights this day. I was on 77W ten minutes later, 19 available out of 60, but R0 while they try to sell upgrades for much less than I've invested in 1K. This was one of my last chances to clear a 2016 GPU about to expire (already extended). While I prefer the 77W, I'd be risking coach to wait out the game till the gate. So I took the safe play and switched flights.
2. 4/10/17
3. S
4. Y-C
5. purchased 2/28/17
6. Showing R8 upgrades available within 24 hrs of departure, as were various flights this day. I was on 77W ten minutes later, 19 available out of 60, but R0 while they try to sell upgrades for much less than I've invested in 1K. This was one of my last chances to clear a 2016 GPU about to expire (already extended). While I prefer the 77W, I'd be risking coach to wait out the game till the gate. So I took the safe play and switched flights.
Last edited by PaulInTheSky; Apr 13, 2017 at 3:33 pm
Apr 13, 2017, 9:08 am
#169
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NYC and SFO
Programs: UA 1MM (former 1K, Delta Platinum))
Posts: 1,244
I didn't clear at T-24, 1K on an S fare. My understanding was that I wouldn't clear until possibly at the gate, and the risk of coach was unacceptable if there were other options. In fact, a handful of people did clear but the majority of the 19 (!) seats available at T-24 were sold. I'm guessing my chances were 50:50 at best. I took a sure thing.
I've bought various P fares on the 77W, and the main upside is privacy. I enjoyed the company around me on my 757 ps.
My real debate is whether United has a sophisticated model for me or not, keeping me on hook to spend the last $5K I don't have to for 1K status, buying P fares and using (some) GPU, RPU certificates. At the prices they sell upgrades to others rather than cashing in my GPU, RPUs, they don't appear to be worried about me. Perhaps this is like POTS (plain old telephone service) where people too stupid to react to market conditions are a cash cow that determines pricing policy. Is that me?
Apr 13, 2017, 10:14 am
#170
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
IMO that is far and away the correct call.
Really doubtful.
Really doubtful.
Apr 13, 2017, 3:37 pm
#171
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
In hindsight I'm comfortable with my decision, though this was a close call. I'd just as soon sit in coach as in old-style Barca-lounger first, but a bed is a bed.
I didn't clear at T-24, 1K on an S fare. My understanding was that I wouldn't clear until possibly at the gate, and the risk of coach was unacceptable if there were other options. In fact, a handful of people did clear but the majority of the 19 (!) seats available at T-24 were sold. I'm guessing my chances were 50:50 at best. I took a sure thing.
I've bought various P fares on the 77W, and the main upside is privacy. I enjoyed the company around me on my 757 ps.
My real debate is whether United has a sophisticated model for me or not, keeping me on hook to spend the last $5K I don't have to for 1K status, buying P fares and using (some) GPU, RPU certificates. At the prices they sell upgrades to others rather than cashing in my GPU, RPUs, they don't appear to be worried about me. Perhaps this is like POTS (plain old telephone service) where people too stupid to react to market conditions are a cash cow that determines pricing policy. Is that me?
I didn't clear at T-24, 1K on an S fare. My understanding was that I wouldn't clear until possibly at the gate, and the risk of coach was unacceptable if there were other options. In fact, a handful of people did clear but the majority of the 19 (!) seats available at T-24 were sold. I'm guessing my chances were 50:50 at best. I took a sure thing.
I've bought various P fares on the 77W, and the main upside is privacy. I enjoyed the company around me on my 757 ps.
My real debate is whether United has a sophisticated model for me or not, keeping me on hook to spend the last $5K I don't have to for 1K status, buying P fares and using (some) GPU, RPU certificates. At the prices they sell upgrades to others rather than cashing in my GPU, RPUs, they don't appear to be worried about me. Perhaps this is like POTS (plain old telephone service) where people too stupid to react to market conditions are a cash cow that determines pricing policy. Is that me?
You might have a better shot at the upgrades after the debacle of UA3411.
Apr 16, 2017, 4:32 pm
#173
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,552
HKG-SFO
7/3/17
W
Y->C
Cleared at booking, 11 weeks before departure. Had been checking weekly for R space for about 6 weeks and recently went from R0 to R9. Will be my first 773 Polaris experience.
7/3/17
W
Y->C
Cleared at booking, 11 weeks before departure. Had been checking weekly for R space for about 6 weeks and recently went from R0 to R9. Will be my first 773 Polaris experience.
Apr 16, 2017, 5:23 pm
#174
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,026
Apr 23, 2017, 5:59 pm
#176
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,956
1. IAD-ZRH
2. 4/24/2017
3. Y
4. Y-C
5. 10 days
6. T-23h
There were eight seats available until T-30 for this flight. Four seats disappeared around T-24; two went to pax on upgrade waitlist (I am one of these two); and two seats are still available at T-21h.
2. 4/24/2017
3. Y
4. Y-C
5. 10 days
6. T-23h
There were eight seats available until T-30 for this flight. Four seats disappeared around T-24; two went to pax on upgrade waitlist (I am one of these two); and two seats are still available at T-21h.
Apr 24, 2017, 10:34 am
#177
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,617
Apr 26, 2017, 1:45 pm
#178
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA Global Services 3.2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 2,503
GIG-IAH May 21
Saver Y award
Booked April 21
Cleared to C at booking
IAH-ORD-HKG May 14
Saver C award
Booked April 19
Cleared to F at booking
Saver Y award
Booked April 21
Cleared to C at booking
IAH-ORD-HKG May 14
Saver C award
Booked April 19
Cleared to F at booking
Last edited by st530; Apr 28, 2017 at 10:42 am
Apr 26, 2017, 6:59 pm
#179
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 29
1. FRA-DEN (on LH)
2. May 6
3. H
4. Y-C
5. Booked a week and a half in advance
6. Requested GPU at booking. Saver award search showed I availability but the GPU did not initially clear so I was waitlisted. However, it then cleared about 8 hours laters.
2. May 6
3. H
4. Y-C
5. Booked a week and a half in advance
6. Requested GPU at booking. Saver award search showed I availability but the GPU did not initially clear so I was waitlisted. However, it then cleared about 8 hours laters.
Apr 26, 2017, 11:54 pm
#180
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NBO/ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 188
1. CZM-IAH-ORD-AMS
2. 5/29 (CZM-IAH-ORD) and 5/30 (ORD-AMS)
3. W
4. Y-C
5. 89–90 days
6. CZM-IAH T-41 days, ORD-AMS T-38 days,
IAH-ORD looking unlikely (though battlefield always possible), F7 A6 JN7 C7 D6 Z0 ZN0 P0 PN0 R0 RN0, not that I'm complaining.
2. 5/29 (CZM-IAH-ORD) and 5/30 (ORD-AMS)
3. W
4. Y-C
5. 89–90 days
6. CZM-IAH T-41 days, ORD-AMS T-38 days,
IAH-ORD looking unlikely (though battlefield always possible), F7 A6 JN7 C7 D6 Z0 ZN0 P0 PN0 R0 RN0, not that I'm complaining.