UA pushing upgrade by RPU instead of upselling?
Feb 23, 2017, 12:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: United 1K 3MM
Posts: 387
UA pushing upgrade by RPU instead of upselling?
Just received an odd email from UA urging me to apply RPUs to flights 2 weeks from now. Is this a first? One of the two relevant segments does show R2 at this moment. Interesting that UA is not saving the FC seats for TOD upgrades. I did not think RPUs represent "debt" in UA's books, unlike award miles. My wife on the same itinerary is 1K also but does not have RPUs in her bank - she did not get the email.
Feb 23, 2017, 1:09 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Former 1KMM now free as UA Gold MM, former HH D, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,121
Every time I get some email like this advertising upgrade space it basically means my CPU will clear as a 1K.
But then, that's pretty much all RPUs are good for: confirming upgrade space you'd likely get via CPU anyway.
But then, that's pretty much all RPUs are good for: confirming upgrade space you'd likely get via CPU anyway.
Feb 23, 2017, 2:08 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,023
I don't think UA purposely "saves" seats for TOD upgrades. Every mileage, RPU/GPU, and YBM-up upgrade is UA "not saving the FC seats for TOD upgrades".
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Feb 23, 2017 at 2:29 pm
Feb 23, 2017, 2:35 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,417
I've gotten that e-mail in the past for flights that were R0. I think they just send them if you're booked in Y and have unused RPUs.
Feb 24, 2017, 11:51 am
#8
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
Feb 24, 2017, 2:07 pm
#9
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: 3,620
I had the opposite happen to me today. I applied an RPU on my SFO-KOA flight for tomorrow and they sent me a TOD offer at T-24. From what I could tell they had 1 F seat that they really want to sell.
Feb 24, 2017, 5:32 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Feb 24, 2017, 5:45 pm
#11
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: 3,620
I want to say $309 and not sure if it sold. Strange that it showed only one seat in F but two people apparently higher on the list than I got upgraded immediately at T-24. I know that the seat availability that we see isn't always what is actually there.
Feb 24, 2017, 9:04 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,161
Feb 24, 2017, 9:12 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
Feb 25, 2017, 1:45 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Chicago
Programs: United 1K MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 725
How Many Empty Seats Does It Take To Clear A RPU?
Just one data point but consider the following:
Flying ORD-LAX this coming MON - 2/27 on UA 169 departing 0644 on 757-300. Applied a RPU on 2/20 (on Q fare) at which time it appeared that there were 9 of 24 seats available up front. Purchase UGs were available but RPUs/Mileage UGs were waitlist only.
Flight status now available for the flight and shows 16 of 24 seats booked with 5 customers upgraded -- both First and Economy seats are available for sale.
Flight opens for checkin in 16 hrs. Guess their expecting very high demand for TODs
Probably should just cancel the RPU and count on a CPU but will stay the course to see just how valuable my RPUs are (or aren't).
Flying ORD-LAX this coming MON - 2/27 on UA 169 departing 0644 on 757-300. Applied a RPU on 2/20 (on Q fare) at which time it appeared that there were 9 of 24 seats available up front. Purchase UGs were available but RPUs/Mileage UGs were waitlist only.
Flight status now available for the flight and shows 16 of 24 seats booked with 5 customers upgraded -- both First and Economy seats are available for sale.
Flight opens for checkin in 16 hrs. Guess their expecting very high demand for TODs
Probably should just cancel the RPU and count on a CPU but will stay the course to see just how valuable my RPUs are (or aren't).