Wow - selling the upgrades at the gate so explicitly.
May 18, 2017, 9:32 am
#286
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, MP Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 124
I agree with this assessment. A clear explanation of the paid upgrade policy vs. elite upgrades is definitely in the offing. I do hold that UA is a business first and foremost and as such should take all actions to maximize shareholder interests. It's debatable which option best accomplishes that goal. They are much closer to the numbers that we are......maybe we all need to seriously consider purchasing the upgrades that we truly want versus hoping for a complimentary upgrade.
May 18, 2017, 10:50 am
#287
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: UA 1K 2MM
Posts: 86
DEL > EWR on 5/16,
-96 hrs, 19 seats available, GPU does not clear
-72 hrs, 19 seats available, GPU does not clear
-48 hrs, 16 seats available, GPU does not clear
-24 hrs, 16 seats available, GPU does not clear
TOD available for $989
-12 hrs, 6 seats available, GPU finally clears (4 upgrades cleared + 6 TOD)
Emphasis is clearly on TOD (near-term revenue). GPU are being treated like CPU despite cash value - they show up on the balance sheet as a liability but the policy is clearly to make them so un-usable they expire.
-96 hrs, 19 seats available, GPU does not clear
-72 hrs, 19 seats available, GPU does not clear
-48 hrs, 16 seats available, GPU does not clear
-24 hrs, 16 seats available, GPU does not clear
TOD available for $989
-12 hrs, 6 seats available, GPU finally clears (4 upgrades cleared + 6 TOD)
Emphasis is clearly on TOD (near-term revenue). GPU are being treated like CPU despite cash value - they show up on the balance sheet as a liability but the policy is clearly to make them so un-usable they expire.
May 18, 2017, 11:58 am
#288
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: 3,621
DEL > EWR on 5/16,
-96 hrs, 19 seats available, GPU does not clear
-72 hrs, 19 seats available, GPU does not clear
-48 hrs, 16 seats available, GPU does not clear
-24 hrs, 16 seats available, GPU does not clear
TOD available for $989
-12 hrs, 6 seats available, GPU finally clears (4 upgrades cleared + 6 TOD)
Emphasis is clearly on TOD (near-term revenue). GPU are being treated like CPU despite cash value - they show up on the balance sheet as a liability but the policy is clearly to make them so un-usable they expire.
-96 hrs, 19 seats available, GPU does not clear
-72 hrs, 19 seats available, GPU does not clear
-48 hrs, 16 seats available, GPU does not clear
-24 hrs, 16 seats available, GPU does not clear
TOD available for $989
-12 hrs, 6 seats available, GPU finally clears (4 upgrades cleared + 6 TOD)
Emphasis is clearly on TOD (near-term revenue). GPU are being treated like CPU despite cash value - they show up on the balance sheet as a liability but the policy is clearly to make them so un-usable they expire.
Clearly UA wants the revenue from TOD's. I don't even blame them for that. What I have a problem with is why even give this false pretense to their elites FFs that these instruments have value, for the most part they clearly don't.
May 18, 2017, 12:43 pm
#289
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
May 18, 2017, 12:53 pm
#290
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
DEL > EWR on 5/16,
-12 hrs, 6 seats available, GPU finally clears (4 upgrades cleared + 6 TOD)
Emphasis is clearly on TOD (near-term revenue). GPU are being treated like CPU despite cash value - they show up on the balance sheet as a liability but the policy is clearly to make them so un-usable they expire.
-12 hrs, 6 seats available, GPU finally clears (4 upgrades cleared + 6 TOD)
Emphasis is clearly on TOD (near-term revenue). GPU are being treated like CPU despite cash value - they show up on the balance sheet as a liability but the policy is clearly to make them so un-usable they expire.
May 18, 2017, 1:55 pm
#291
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 362
I am currently sitting on a waitlisted GPU for TLV-EWR in a few days. Seatmap shows BF as half empty. It's just so obnoxious that they won't clear the GPU at this stage.
May 18, 2017, 2:56 pm
#292
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: United Mileage Plus Premier
Posts: 782
Best way to know is to look for the smug smiles in row 5....happened to me on the last few trips. Tried to use MUAs, made it to number 1 and 2 on the list for wife and I with at least 2 seats open at T-2 only to see those seats vanish while sitting at the gate. The most recent flight, LAS to EWR on Tuesday, wife got upgraded (she was 2 on the list) at T-12 leaving 3 empty seats that were there until boarding started. The guy who had been in front of me in 8B was very happy with his $100 upgrade. I was not so happy to see my 20K miles degraded in value to about $.005. Currently wait listed for MUA on BCN to EWR this Sept, only 4 seats filled so far but the continue to sit on $1100 and 60K miles of ours. Oh well. More and more I am thinking it is time to just use the miles for tickets to see the grand kids and be done with UA and the ever changing games.
May 18, 2017, 4:34 pm
#293
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: 3,621
Tired of it as well. I am on a redeye SFO -CLE next week and seatmap shows 8 seats in F. Tried to buyup as per usual my RPU hasn't and I am sure won't clear. They won't even list me a price on line?! This seems new as well. Went to change seats and I get "online upgrade not available"??!!
May 18, 2017, 6:09 pm
#295
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: United Mileage Plus Premier
Posts: 782
Been there and done that too Nomand420. We did get our MUA's from EWR to VCE for Sept but coming back from BCN, still waiting and wondering. EWR to LAS and back (the grand children run) they rarely clear and yes, we have used those cheap A and P fares over the past 5 years when they show up. Now with homes in both places bags and weight are not an issue and I want to use up the miles and get back and forth as cheap as I can.
Jan 13, 2018, 7:44 pm
#297
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 257
First for sale at gate despite 15 people on upgrade list
Flying DEN to ORD today, the gate agent announced that the 1 available first class seat was available for purchase, despite 15 people on upgrade waitlist. Is this new for 2018?
Jan 13, 2018, 7:46 pm
#298
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: 66,856
Jan 13, 2018, 7:48 pm
#299
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,024
While it’s rare for UA to publicly announce it, UA’s been selling ToD upgrades up to and including some of the time when gate staffed for years now. I think GAs have some flexibility as when to start the CPUs.