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}
#3811
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: 66,854
I think it will be difficult to identify trends because of the variance in for P+ and R inventory releases. On routes where R is priced close to W, and UA releases lots of R, W will be tough to clear off the waitlist. On routes where P+ fares are significantly costlier, and/or UA doesn't open R, The W may still be a viable upgrade.
#3812
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 52
I'm trying to upgrade my parents - they are flying in a group fare (so I couldn't use a GPU), but decided to try to pay the difference (miles + $$) to see if I could get them an upgrade for at least their overnight. Right now, the flight is showing 3 seats free (while UA will let me book '5 seats at this fare') Chances on my upgrade clearing? (if it matters at all, I'm 1k, they have no status)
(EWR-SNN, 5/24)
(EWR-SNN, 5/24)
#3813
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
That's the Friday night before Memorial Day, and the cabin is nearly booked full six weeks before departure. There are 5 empty seats; 4 A/B are crew rest seats that will become available just prior to departure. (That's where the '5 seats at this fare' is coming from). UA is only selling those seats at full-fare, which means UA doesn't currently think they need to discount the seats.
Couple that with the position on the waitlist (last; your status doesn't carry over), and they're likely to be hoping for several mis-connects.
If it makes you feel any better, miles + copay and GPU have the same priority, so if you'd been able to buy the W fare and apply the GPU, it would likely just have been money down the drain.
#3814
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 52
I kind of figured that - Ah well. I told them it was a crapshoot even if I COULD apply an upgrade (with that few seats open) - at least this way, if by some miracle it clears, I'm happy to pay it, if not, I get my money back. (I didn't even tell them I put in to waitlist the upgrade, and chances are they won't log in to see it either - I'm actually hoping that if by some miracle it clears i can tapdance around the fact that I paid for it (to them)) (I didn't notice the holiday. Jeez folks, if you could book travel that would be easier for me to upgrade that would help....)
(thanks though, I'm still new-ish to having status of my own so I still have no idea of how mine carries over in various situations!)
(thanks though, I'm still new-ish to having status of my own so I still have no idea of how mine carries over in various situations!)
#3815
Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: Various
Posts: 6,526
I kind of figured that - Ah well. I told them it was a crapshoot even if I COULD apply an upgrade (with that few seats open) - at least this way, if by some miracle it clears, I'm happy to pay it, if not, I get my money back. (I didn't even tell them I put in to waitlist the upgrade, and chances are they won't log in to see it either - I'm actually hoping that if by some miracle it clears i can tapdance around the fact that I paid for it (to them)) (I didn't notice the holiday. Jeez folks, if you could book travel that would be easier for me to upgrade that would help....)
(thanks though, I'm still new-ish to having status of my own so I still have no idea of how mine carries over in various situations!)
(thanks though, I'm still new-ish to having status of my own so I still have no idea of how mine carries over in various situations!)
In terms of talking about the co-pay, if your parents are anything like mine (and my in-laws), they are pretty unschooled as to the various ins-and-outs of status and miles, which lets me get away with treating them without them thinking about the money. Given that 1k has some fees waived, they tend to think that I have all fees waived, which helps my gifting! (Except when they purchase basic economy domestically, sigh.)
#3816
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: United
Posts: 84
Upgrade from Premium Plus?
I bought a ticket from LAX to LHR. Its Polaris to LHR and then on the return I bought a Premium Plus and applied a GPU. The flight's in August. The fare class for the return is Premium Plus (A). Any idea on the chances of an upgrade?
I have attached available fare class. Which one needs to open up for me to have a chance for an upgrade?
I have attached available fare class. Which one needs to open up for me to have a chance for an upgrade?
#3817
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA Gold, SPG Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 991
PZ needs to be available.
With an A fare, you're going to be pretty high on the upgrade list within your elite tier status.
With an A fare, you're going to be pretty high on the upgrade list within your elite tier status.
#3819
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
#3821
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
#3822
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA LT GS | UA LT Club | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,250
I know. I'm asking because I've read that UA is severely over pricing PP seats on TATL routes. I also wanted to point out to OP that a deeply discounted economy (no W requirement) can be upgraded to PP with a GPU. Depending on what OP paid for that segment, they could possibly save 1-2K if cert cleared. Finally, I've been surprised to see how easy it is to secure a PP upgrade on SFO-HKG over the past week. That said, I'm not that familiar with LHR routes.
#3823
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Murder Mitten
Posts: 298
What are my chances of an upgrade (CPU) for a Tuesday flight LAX-IAH 787-9 dreamliner flight 08:10AM UA2359 as a 1K? Do upgrades ever clear early for that flight?
Thanks
Thanks
#3824
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA1k; Bonvoy Titanium; Hilton Gold; IHG Gold; AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,794
Additionally with the limited visibility into the waitlist and those that clear (now only those that clear at the gate) there will not be sufficient data to drop any conclusions. And at the gate, once someone clears, the history of where they came from is lost. You could try to capture the two lists and those on top of the business waitlist and not on the PP waitlist are those from PP or those that waitlisted only for business. Parsing all this out with some much missing information is not going to provide clean guidance.
Even a rough idea may be a good start.
I guess another consequence of P+ is that flights with P+ will rarely have PZ availability since UA would like people to book PP rather than W.
A question - is it possible to book a specific fare booking class with Expedia? EDIT: It is not.
Last edited by 1k650; Apr 8, 2019 at 3:00 am
#3825
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 1
Chance of clearing waitlist
My mom and I are waitlisted (miles + copay) both ways of our trip. Only status we have is that we are united explorer credit card holders. Booked flight beg of March, waitlisted end of March for flight mid May. Would like insight on our chances of being upgraded?
Outbound- ORD to FRA
currently 20 of 49 Polaris seats available and here are codes:
Available fare classes: J9 JN9 C7 D5 Z0 ZN0 P0 PN0 PZ0 IN0 I0 Y9 YN9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 HN9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L0 K0 G0 N9 XN0 X0
Return FRA - IAH
current 34 of 49 Polaris seats available and here are codes:
Available fare classes: J9 JN9 C9 D9 Z9 ZN9 P8 PN0 PZ0 IN0 I0 Y9 YN9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 HN9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9 G0 N9 XN9 X9
I'm a newbie here I hope I included everything needed.
Also can anyone tell me if United clears upgrade waitlist more than a few days or day before flight? Like a week or a month?
Thanks in advance!
Outbound- ORD to FRA
currently 20 of 49 Polaris seats available and here are codes:
Available fare classes: J9 JN9 C7 D5 Z0 ZN0 P0 PN0 PZ0 IN0 I0 Y9 YN9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 HN9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L0 K0 G0 N9 XN0 X0
Return FRA - IAH
current 34 of 49 Polaris seats available and here are codes:
Available fare classes: J9 JN9 C9 D9 Z9 ZN9 P8 PN0 PZ0 IN0 I0 Y9 YN9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 HN9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9 G0 N9 XN9 X9
I'm a newbie here I hope I included everything needed.
Also can anyone tell me if United clears upgrade waitlist more than a few days or day before flight? Like a week or a month?
Thanks in advance!