Feb 9, 2019, 8:39 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the active thread is
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight
Related thread - Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight
Related thread - Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight {Archive}
Aug 29, 2018, 2:38 pm
#3091
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
ooh - thanks! So does my status not help her chances at all? She doesn't have any status yet, and I just double checked and her economy ticket is V class. Will look into upgrading her to E+ right now...
Right now PN and R are both at 0, but our flight isn't until October
Right now PN and R are both at 0, but our flight isn't until October
Aug 29, 2018, 2:42 pm
#3092
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 17
I bought my ticket, and then hers on a separate reservation. I was planning to call to see if the two itineraries could be linked (which I think I read somewhere was a thing that could be done)
Aug 29, 2018, 2:49 pm
#3093
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
What day of the week? Mid-week, upgrades are easier. Week-ends are more difficult. Some routes are more difficult too.
Aug 29, 2018, 2:57 pm
#3094
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,393
E+ at check-in would be against policy because you are not in the same cabin. An accommodating agent might waive this. You cannot "link" PNRs in any meaningful way.
Aug 29, 2018, 5:54 pm
#3095
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,420
Aug 30, 2018, 11:10 am
#3096
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 22
Might be too early to ask but... two of us traveling on UA909 2 April 2019 ORD-AMS with K fares. We are waitlisted for Polaris using miles + copay. I might be Silver by the time we fly but I don't have any status beyond 'member' at the moment. Should I be optimistic?
Also, to clarify - if I purchase E+ seats with cash today, those fees will get refunded if my upgrades clear? I know this was just spelled out above but it's the first I've heard of that. Similarly, if I paid cash for E+ and then upgraded my seat to First with cash, can the E+ fees be reimbursed? This is for UA698, SFO-ORD.
Also, to clarify - if I purchase E+ seats with cash today, those fees will get refunded if my upgrades clear? I know this was just spelled out above but it's the first I've heard of that. Similarly, if I paid cash for E+ and then upgraded my seat to First with cash, can the E+ fees be reimbursed? This is for UA698, SFO-ORD.
Aug 30, 2018, 1:06 pm
#3098
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriot LT Titanium/Hertz PC/UA 1MM 1K
Posts: 131
Slightly worse than that; you'd be behind any revenue passenger upgrading using a GS instrument (or GS miles). Flying XN, you have the lowest priority among GS instruments. (Then again: if you were a 1K, you couldn't upgrade economy award tickets with a GPU, so...)
Inventory on your flight is J9 C2 D0. That's a strong indication that UA believes it can sell the rest of the business inventory. It makes some sense, too; you're likely to get slightly more business travel than average that week, because some percentage of trips that otherwise would have been the previous week will get pushed back due to the holiday.
Also, I'm afraid you're committing a classic blunder. (Not quite as bad as getting involved in a land war in Asia, or going in against a Sicilian when death is on the line, but...) The seat map isn't a reliable indicator of load. Your flight's status page indicates that 50 seats are currently booked (look at the upgrade tab).
Inventory on your flight is J9 C2 D0. That's a strong indication that UA believes it can sell the rest of the business inventory. It makes some sense, too; you're likely to get slightly more business travel than average that week, because some percentage of trips that otherwise would have been the previous week will get pushed back due to the holiday.
Also, I'm afraid you're committing a classic blunder. (Not quite as bad as getting involved in a land war in Asia, or going in against a Sicilian when death is on the line, but...) The seat map isn't a reliable indicator of load. Your flight's status page indicates that 50 seats are currently booked (look at the upgrade tab).
Yeah it’s dropping like a rock on the flight on the 8th. I’m now almost convinced to go on the 9th since that’s fairly wide open on Expert Flyer. Looks like plenty of T availability as well to make the change as needed. Got the seat alerts on both flights active should j9 and c2 drop as well as T and J on the 9th.
Would work anyways going on the 9th as we’re flexible .
Aug 30, 2018, 1:16 pm
#3099
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,364
Aug 30, 2018, 1:51 pm
#3100
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,420
Might be too early to ask but... two of us traveling on UA909 2 April 2019 ORD-AMS with K fares. We are waitlisted for Polaris using miles + copay. I might be Silver by the time we fly but I don't have any status beyond 'member' at the moment. Should I be optimistic?
More than a month out? No status? 8th is zero percent, 9th is only slightly better. I like to see booked 15/60 or less six weeks out.
Aug 30, 2018, 1:53 pm
#3101
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriot LT Titanium/Hertz PC/UA 1MM 1K
Posts: 131
Aug 30, 2018, 1:57 pm
#3102
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,420
Aug 30, 2018, 2:05 pm
#3103
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriot LT Titanium/Hertz PC/UA 1MM 1K
Posts: 131
yeah the 9th being next sat and trying to push at t-72 look far more promising for next Sunday 9/9. Thanks!
Aug 30, 2018, 3:38 pm
#3104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,393
Also, to clarify - if I purchase E+ seats with cash today, those fees will get refunded if my upgrades clear? I know this was just spelled out above but it's the first I've heard of that. Similarly, if I paid cash for E+ and then upgraded my seat to First with cash, can the E+ fees be reimbursed? This is for UA698, SFO-ORD.
Aug 31, 2018, 8:26 am
#3105
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 22
I take it 6-8 weeks out is a better point to really start thinking about it? In the meantime, I can otherwise monitor for R>0 via ExpertFlyer and then remove and immediately re-apply the upgrade request, correct?