Feb 8, 2018, 1:50 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Archive thread
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight {Archive}
Related thread -
Ways to search for upgrade space at booking?
Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
Decoding the alphabet soup - fare buckets for UA
Expert Mode Update: better upgrade visibility and opt-in to see fare bucket data.
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight {Archive}
Related thread -
Ways to search for upgrade space at booking?
Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
Decoding the alphabet soup - fare buckets for UA
Expert Mode Update: better upgrade visibility and opt-in to see fare bucket data.
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight
Jan 15, 2024, 5:18 am
#346
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 38
Here’s a quick test. Try to book 2 J on that flight and see if it tells you that you can. Of course it could mean they’re overselling too so raise the number a bit to be safe if you want.
Jan 15, 2024, 5:20 am
#347
Join Date: Dec 2022
Programs: UA1K
Posts: 463
my flight status page has corrected itself to align with the fare bucket availability in expert mode. not sure when exactly this happened. maybe t-48
Jan 15, 2024, 7:45 am
#348
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriot Gold
Posts: 52
Got it. Maybe the incorrect details shown in "My Flight Status" is a consequence of the hackery needed to see the waitlist
Jan 17, 2024, 4:31 am
#349
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,900
I just quickly checked and it seems like only the middle section of the PY cabin for the inbound still has seats. Doesn't look like I'll be able to sit by the window on my UA862 HKG-SFO flight.
Jan 17, 2024, 7:03 am
#350
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
jsloan
I just quickly checked and it seems like only the middle section of the PY cabin for the inbound still has seats. Doesn't look like I'll be able to sit by the window on my UA862 HKG-SFO flight.
I just quickly checked and it seems like only the middle section of the PY cabin for the inbound still has seats. Doesn't look like I'll be able to sit by the window on my UA862 HKG-SFO flight.
Jan 17, 2024, 8:46 am
#351
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 374
Chance of upgrade to Polaris
I am curious to get the opinions from the experts of this forum on whether my chance to be upgraded to Polaris is optimistic?
January 23 (6 days from today)UA 869 SFO to HKGBoeing 777-200United Polaris business
Available fare classes 9 JN9 C9 D9 Z9 ZN9 P9 PNO PZO INO 10 09 ON9 A9 R9 RNO Y9 YN9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 HN9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9 G9 XN9 X9
Just talked to an agent, I am on 4th of the waitlist, the 3 other passengers in front of me are all using P.P. She said at this moment 21 seats are sold out of 50 Polaris seats.
I am a General Member, booked A fare Premium Plus (currently 5 seats are booked out of 24 seats), a very generous and kind Flyertalk UA 1K member applied PP for me.
With the current scenario do you think they will clear the upgrade list at T48 or T24? Thanks in advance.
January 23 (6 days from today)UA 869 SFO to HKGBoeing 777-200United Polaris business
Available fare classes 9 JN9 C9 D9 Z9 ZN9 P9 PNO PZO INO 10 09 ON9 A9 R9 RNO Y9 YN9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 HN9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9 G9 XN9 X9
Just talked to an agent, I am on 4th of the waitlist, the 3 other passengers in front of me are all using P.P. She said at this moment 21 seats are sold out of 50 Polaris seats.
I am a General Member, booked A fare Premium Plus (currently 5 seats are booked out of 24 seats), a very generous and kind Flyertalk UA 1K member applied PP for me.
With the current scenario do you think they will clear the upgrade list at T48 or T24? Thanks in advance.
Jan 17, 2024, 8:54 am
#352
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,900
What good will checking do for me? Can I manually select the seat or UA's system will automatically put me in an available seat?
Jan 17, 2024, 9:46 am
#353
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Antonio, USA
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 596
Looks like I may be out of luck getting an upgrade on IAH-FRA on the 20th. Waitlisted when I booked, there were a good number of seats open. As typically happens, lots of close in bookings. Stranger things have happened, but I'm not holding my breath this time. The reeurn on the 27th (FRA-IAH) may come through last minute and might have a better chgance of clearing. Maybe.
edit: And IAH-FRA will be my MM flight. As long as the seat next to me stays empty...
edit: And IAH-FRA will be my MM flight. As long as the seat next to me stays empty...
Jan 17, 2024, 11:10 am
#354
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
If you clear the upgrade before the gate, you can select any other seat that is open. If you clear at the gate, you'd have to talk to the gate agent to register a preference.
Jan 17, 2024, 11:14 am
#355
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,405
I am curious to get the opinions from the experts of this forum on whether my chance to be upgraded to Polaris is optimistic?
January 23 (6 days from today)UA 869 SFO to HKGBoeing 777-200United Polaris business
Available fare classes 9 JN9 C9 D9 Z9 ZN9 P9 PNO PZO INO 10 09 ON9 A9 R9 RNO Y9 YN9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 HN9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9 G9 XN9 X9
Just talked to an agent, I am on 4th of the waitlist, the 3 other passengers in front of me are all using P.P. She said at this moment 21 seats are sold out of 50 Polaris seats.
I am a General Member, booked A fare Premium Plus (currently 5 seats are booked out of 24 seats), a very generous and kind Flyertalk UA 1K member applied PP for me.
With the current scenario do you think they will clear the upgrade list at T48 or T24? Thanks in advance.
January 23 (6 days from today)UA 869 SFO to HKGBoeing 777-200United Polaris business
Available fare classes 9 JN9 C9 D9 Z9 ZN9 P9 PNO PZO INO 10 09 ON9 A9 R9 RNO Y9 YN9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 HN9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9 G9 XN9 X9
Just talked to an agent, I am on 4th of the waitlist, the 3 other passengers in front of me are all using P.P. She said at this moment 21 seats are sold out of 50 Polaris seats.
I am a General Member, booked A fare Premium Plus (currently 5 seats are booked out of 24 seats), a very generous and kind Flyertalk UA 1K member applied PP for me.
With the current scenario do you think they will clear the upgrade list at T48 or T24? Thanks in advance.
For a long time, I refused to waitlist any long-haul flights. I softened my stance late last year when it became clear that UA had mostly (not entirely) stopped opening upgrade space more than a couple of weeks ahead of travel, even on flights that I knew had a very good chance to clear. So far, the flights that I’ve chosen to waitlist have cleared 2-4 weeks in advance, but others have reported UA holding upgrades to the gate even when it’s obvious many will clear.
Jan 17, 2024, 6:25 pm
#356
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: 66,851
I have had good success with EF seat alerts in improving PremPlus seating.
Jan 17, 2024, 9:10 pm
#357
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
I am on the last EWR-FLL flight tonight. I thought my upgrade chances were zero because F on the 752 was fully booked and I would go out #1 on the upgrade list. As I am on the AirTrain, I notice there are now open seats in F - but I also notice that my outbound flight has disappeared entirely…apparently my corporate travel agency, in rebooking me to an earlier flight in a couple days, canceled my outbound reservation entirely! I call the 1K hotline with only 25 minutes to spare before boarding and manage to not only get rebooked on what is already an overbooked flight, but get my PlusPoints to clear automatically into F with 5 minutes to spare!
I thought this was a great upgrade story - like hitting a half court shot off the backboard. Alas, our first plane had to be taken out of service, and we are sitting on the second plane because they cannot get the bags out of the cargo hold of the broken plane. We are 2.5 hours past the original departure time, and I fear it’s only a matter of time until the crew times out. So this upgrade may not even count at all!
I thought this was a great upgrade story - like hitting a half court shot off the backboard. Alas, our first plane had to be taken out of service, and we are sitting on the second plane because they cannot get the bags out of the cargo hold of the broken plane. We are 2.5 hours past the original departure time, and I fear it’s only a matter of time until the crew times out. So this upgrade may not even count at all!
Jan 17, 2024, 10:50 pm
#359
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: 66,851
Jan 18, 2024, 8:14 am
#360
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 374
Update: Got a confirmation that I am upgraded! 5 days prior to departure date
Just received a confirmation that I am upgraded. Thanks again!!
With that inventory, I’d expect you to clear. The timing is entirely at UA’s whim, however.
For a long time, I refused to waitlist any long-haul flights. I softened my stance late last year when it became clear that UA had mostly (not entirely) stopped opening upgrade space more than a couple of weeks ahead of travel, even on flights that I knew had a very good chance to clear. So far, the flights that I’ve chosen to waitlist have cleared 2-4 weeks in advance, but others have reported UA holding upgrades to the gate even when it’s obvious many will clear.
Originally Posted by So Pang
I am curious to get the opinions from the experts of this forum on whether my chance to be upgraded to Polaris is optimistic?
January 23 (6 days from today)UA 869 SFO to HKGBoeing 777-200United Polaris business
Available fare classes 9 JN9 C9 D9 Z9 ZN9 P9 PNO PZO INO 10 09 ON9 A9 R9 RNO Y9 YN9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 HN9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9 G9 XN9 X9
Just talked to an agent, I am on 4th of the waitlist, the 3 other passengers in front of me are all using P.P. She said at this moment 21 seats are sold out of 50 Polaris seats.
I am a General Member, booked A fare Premium Plus (currently 5 seats are booked out of 24 seats), a very generous and kind Flyertalk UA 1K member applied PP for me.
With the current scenario do you think they will clear the upgrade list at T48 or T24? Thanks in advance.
For a long time, I refused to waitlist any long-haul flights. I softened my stance late last year when it became clear that UA had mostly (not entirely) stopped opening upgrade space more than a couple of weeks ahead of travel, even on flights that I knew had a very good chance to clear. So far, the flights that I’ve chosen to waitlist have cleared 2-4 weeks in advance, but others have reported UA holding upgrades to the gate even when it’s obvious many will clear.
Originally Posted by So Pang
I am curious to get the opinions from the experts of this forum on whether my chance to be upgraded to Polaris is optimistic?
January 23 (6 days from today)UA 869 SFO to HKGBoeing 777-200United Polaris business
Available fare classes 9 JN9 C9 D9 Z9 ZN9 P9 PNO PZO INO 10 09 ON9 A9 R9 RNO Y9 YN9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 HN9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9 G9 XN9 X9
Just talked to an agent, I am on 4th of the waitlist, the 3 other passengers in front of me are all using P.P. She said at this moment 21 seats are sold out of 50 Polaris seats.
I am a General Member, booked A fare Premium Plus (currently 5 seats are booked out of 24 seats), a very generous and kind Flyertalk UA 1K member applied PP for me.
With the current scenario do you think they will clear the upgrade list at T48 or T24? Thanks in advance.