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[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight

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[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight {Archive}

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Mar 15, 2019, 4:48 am

#3766

Kacee

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Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

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Quote:

Originally Posted by gradsflyer

Thanks. I did notice the Polaris cabin has a lot of empty space, so would the chances perhaps improve if more PE passengers get upgraded to J first?

Yes. We don't know how many of those PE pax are also waitlisted for the J upgrade.

Mar 15, 2019, 7:26 am

#3767

jjmoore

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: LBB

Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓

Posts: 2,820

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

Yes. We don't know how many of those PE pax are also waitlisted for the J upgrade.

I couldn't help noticing that some PE fares are very attractive (pretty much what a W fare would have costed in the past). I'm assuming that all PE fares are upgrade-eligible for Polaris, correct? If yes, I would bet that many will buy PE (especially if booking well ahead of the departure date) to put in upgrades for Polaris..... based on what I have seen, I would do it, especially knowing that if I didn't clear, I would have a decent seat for a long flight.

Will be interesting to see how many of these people upgrade out of PE and open seats up.

Mar 15, 2019, 8:27 am

#3768

jsloan

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Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,393

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjmoore

I couldn't help noticing that some PE fares are very attractive (pretty much what a W fare would have costed in the past). I'm assuming that all PE fares are upgrade-eligible for Polaris, correct?.

Surprisingly, yes, all PE fares are eligible for a GPU (or a miles + copay upgrade). I expected UA to match LH and exclude deep discount PE (R class), but they did not.

Mar 16, 2019, 9:28 pm

#3769

getagb

Join Date: Apr 2014

Programs: DL Gold, UA nothing (ex-GS), Marriott lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist

Posts: 920

I have 2 pax, one on a paid W fare (me) and other on an award fare on ORD-NRT (3/30; UA881) and NRT-ORD (4/13; UA882). Both have GS GPUs waitlisted.

Both flights have the weird hybrid 772 seat map which might have premium economy seats in row 20–22. Outbound inventory is C7D3ZN1P0; return is P9PN0.

This is my first time ever to Japan so I have no experience with the Saturday loads. Looks like I have better odds on the return, but maybe that’s just because it’s farther away.

What are the odds of my upgrade clearing? And what are the odds of getting a Polaris / Premium economy bird? I still have never gotten to try a Polaris seat 😀

Mar 19, 2019, 9:27 pm

#3770

ttyl

Join Date: Oct 2016

Location: YUL

Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Honors Diamond

Posts: 77

Hi all,

I wanted to ask for advice on using GPUs for my upcoming business trips between YUL and MUC/FRA.

For my first trip I'm looking for Friday Apr 6th or Sat Apr 7th from YUL to MUC, and return FRA-YUL Apr 24 (Wed) or 25 (Thu). I looked with the Advanced page (expert mode) on United and selected upgrade type (GPU) and found some instant upgrades earliest Apr 5th (Thur). But all these routes are through the US hubs and a bit too early. Also doesn't include direct YUL-MUC LH options.

Few questions:

Any idea how to find availability for instant upgrades on LH flights?
For the UA US hubs GPU wait-list, how can I tell my chances of having availability for travel. If it doesn't clear a day in advance, would the 1K desk help me move it on another segment hopefully with upgrade space? Any advice how to choose a waitlist that hopefully would open up?

Thanks for the help.

Mar 19, 2019, 9:35 pm

#3771

findark

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Location: MSP

Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found

Posts: 14,410

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttyl

Any idea how to find availability for instant upgrades on LH flights?

You can't. Anything with I space is a very likely bet though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttyl

For the UA US hubs GPU wait-list, how can I tell my chances of having availability for travel. If it doesn't clear a day in advance, would the 1K desk help me move it on another segment hopefully with upgrade space? Any advice how to choose a waitlist that hopefully would open up?Thanks for the help.

General a holistic approach combining day, route, and inventory: PN9 is going to be the next best thing to a confirmable upgrade. You can certainly change to a different routing, but expect to pay the change fee unless the change is eligible for SDC.

Mar 19, 2019, 9:53 pm

#3772

WineCountryUA

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: 66,837

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttyl

.... Any idea how to find availability for instant upgrades on LH flights?.....

There is a focused thread discussing Lufthansa GPUs Go Electronic (How to use, will it clear?, issues w/flight credit,...)
and the thread's wiki is a good place to start.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttyl

.... For the UA US hubs GPU wait-list, how can I tell my chances of having availability for travel. If it doesn't clear a day in advance, would the 1K desk help me move it on another segment hopefully with upgrade space? Any advice how to choose a waitlist that hopefully would open up?.....

You will need to do most of the work and use SDC to avoid change fees. In reality, move about only make sense if there is conformable space. Otherwise, you are likely to end up in a worst seat and still not upgraded. Upgrades are very depended on have a lot of flexibility, pick off peak times and are far from a certainty on most routes.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 19, 2019 at 10:02 pm

Mar 19, 2019, 9:54 pm

#3773

jsloan

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Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,393

Quote:

Originally Posted by findark

You can certainly change to a different routing, but expect to pay the change fee unless the change is eligible for SDC.

And any difference in fare, which could be considerable, especially on the outbound, because it will reprice the ticket using a no-advance-purchase fare.

Flights operated by LH are not eligible for SDC, although some agents may do it anyway when moving to UA-operated flights.

If there is LH I space, I'd probably book the LH flight and then hold my breath. If not, I'd probably bite the bullet and transit the US if there are confirmable upgrades in advance.

Mar 19, 2019, 10:34 pm

#3774

ttyl

Join Date: Oct 2016

Location: YUL

Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Honors Diamond

Posts: 77

Thanks all for quick feedback.

Quote:

Originally Posted by findark

You can't. Anything with I space is a very likely bet though.

General a holistic approach combining day, route, and inventory: PN9 is going to be the next best thing to a confirmable upgrade.

I did a quick search, and unfortunately none of them have PN inventory for 06 or 07 Apr

Mar 26, 2019, 8:15 pm

#3775

catahoulafriend

Join Date: Jan 2017

Programs: United

Posts: 73

Quote:

Originally Posted by catahoulafriend

Folks, quick question: I’m considering booking UA 8 (CTU - Chengdu, China - to SFO) on May 8 (Wednesday). I’m curious is anyone has any experience on upgrades clearing for this flight, in particular, midweek, when one could expect a business light flight. Downside is that it’s a 787-8 with only 36 Polaris seats. I’m considering booking V class for added padding. Thoughts? Experiences? Thank you for your feedback!!

This worked out, I was notified over the weekend (I’ll post details in the appropriate thread). I’ve been tracking this route and it’s loads rigorously. It seems as though it could be the easiest upgrade in the system! In fact I’m nervous UA could abandon CTU as a nonstop destination. There does not seem to be a lot of demand in either Polaris or economy cabins.

Mar 26, 2019, 8:25 pm

#3776

Kacee

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Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

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Posts: 56,450

Quote:

Originally Posted by catahoulafriend

It seems as though it could be the easiest upgrade in the system!

It may well be. Probably easiest SFO route (ahead of KIX, HND, and ICN).

Mar 28, 2019, 12:59 pm

#3777

hagan73

Join Date: Aug 2013

Location: YYZ

Programs: United 1K,CX GOLD,SPG GOLD, Club Carlson GOLD, Accor PLAT, Amex PLAT

Posts: 219

Looking for some advice, as I’m unable to see the best option.

Flying CUN>IAH>LHR on Saturday (March 30th) IAH>LHR UA5 is showing J1 T-55 and I have myself and a companion waitlisted with a GPU on a W fare. (I’m 1K, they are GM).

Pretty much know this is a lost cause, and I’m not really interested in only one of us being upgraded and losing the GPU. The girlfriend will obviously get the seat, but now I have uneven amount of GPUs and we can’t use a GPU for a trip and enjoy the seat together (she isn’t as frequent a flyer and 1 or 2 trips a year in Polaris is something we both really enjoy).

I can find PZ out of EWR and IAD that evening, but all the flights from CUN have no W, and are generally sold in Y with J open.

Will a sympathetic phone agent ever clear us right up front on the CUN>EWR/IAD flight even if our W isn’t available?

Are there any options I may have missed?

Am I best to just cancel the GPU ahead of T-24, keep the current routing and hope the CPU clears on the CUN>IAH flight which is currently upgraded via GPU?

Any thoughts appreciated!

Mar 28, 2019, 1:09 pm

#3778

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,393

Quote:

Originally Posted by hagan73

Will a sympathetic phone agent ever clear us right up front on the CUN>EWR/IAD flight even if our W isn’t available?

If there is PZ space, maybe, although the agent would be breaking the rules to do so. If there is no PZ space, almost certainly not, but that same rule-breaking agent could potentially put you into Y on the CUN-EWR or CUN-IAD flight. (Note that what you really need is W space on CUN-LHR; due to married segment availability, this may be different than W space on CUN-EWR or CUN-IAD by itself).

It's worth calling to ask, but I wouldn't get my hopes up. I'd just keep monitoring the inventory to see if things improve.

Mar 28, 2019, 3:09 pm

#3779

Rumples

Join Date: Dec 2016

Programs: Mileage Plus 1K \\ ConciergeKey

Posts: 531

Hi FT Gurus,

Kind of stuck here -

SFO - TPE - SFO - Looks like P9 PN0 PZ0 on 4/21 and same on 4/26 coming back. Have 2 GPUs applied - non flexible booking days unfortunately (might be able to move to 4/25), but can't do 4/27 as leaving LAX - NRT that day.

How does the space look for those who know how to read the tea leaves! Thank you in advance!

Mar 28, 2019, 3:36 pm

#3780

nomad420

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

OK, so not great at this and other may correct me but here is my 2 cents. With P9 they are reducing pricing on Biz tickets. That is a popular route AND out of SFO so that works against you. The flight is less than a month out but will sell down (probably people grabbing the cheaper P fares). I am going to say a 33% chance. Open to correction so let see what the real gurus have to say.