Sigh - How much is the W Upgrade Lottery worth?
Jan 10, 2018, 1:05 pm
#76
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Post 3-Mar-2012:How to find upgrade inventory [+how to see fare bucket availability]
Or this thread, might be better:
Browser extensions/scripts for United.com
Jan 10, 2018, 1:29 pm
#77
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Me! 
Link to the latest version is here: https://blog.wandr.me/2015/08/united...-new-features/.
I believe v7.4.0 is the most current.
Link to the latest version is here: https://blog.wandr.me/2015/08/united...-new-features/.
I believe v7.4.0 is the most current.
Jan 10, 2018, 2:37 pm
#78
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
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Me!
Link to the latest version is here: https://blog.wandr.me/2015/08/united...-new-features/.
I believe v7.4.0 is the most current.
Link to the latest version is here: https://blog.wandr.me/2015/08/united...-new-features/.
I believe v7.4.0 is the most current.
Jan 10, 2018, 4:06 pm
#79
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Me!
Link to the latest version is here: https://blog.wandr.me/2015/08/united...-new-features/.
I believe v7.4.0 is the most current.
Link to the latest version is here: https://blog.wandr.me/2015/08/united...-new-features/.
I believe v7.4.0 is the most current.
Thanks! Is there a way to get the script to re-run after having either displayed all flights or re-sorting the list of flights?
David
Oct 25, 2018, 5:55 pm
#80
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: United
Posts: 2
GPU SFO to London on United
Hello,
Just got 1k and I want to apply my GPUs to a specific flight to London from SFO. The lowest fare is "K" and United said I cant apply my GPU for a flight from SFO to LHR. It will be at least another 500 bucks to upgrade to "W" to be considered which I rather not do. There are plenty of first class seats available. Does anyone have insights/hacks on what to do? II need to book this flight in the next 2-3 weeks and there is only one suitable option for me to take because of work. thanks!
Just got 1k and I want to apply my GPUs to a specific flight to London from SFO. The lowest fare is "K" and United said I cant apply my GPU for a flight from SFO to LHR. It will be at least another 500 bucks to upgrade to "W" to be considered which I rather not do. There are plenty of first class seats available. Does anyone have insights/hacks on what to do? II need to book this flight in the next 2-3 weeks and there is only one suitable option for me to take because of work. thanks!
Oct 25, 2018, 6:00 pm
#81
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Welcome to FT, uconnfan2019!
This is what is known as the "GPU lottery". You have to decide if it's worth playing.
This is what is known as the "GPU lottery". You have to decide if it's worth playing.
Oct 25, 2018, 6:18 pm
#83
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 553
If you want to use the GPU on the flight, you will have to buy a W fare or higher. There isn’t a way around that.
Is the upgrade confirmable at booking, or would you be waitlisted? That’s another factor to consider. The other options are to buy the business fare outright or upgrade using miles and a co-pay. To Europe it’s 20,000 miles plus a $550 co-pay (though the latter can be less with higher fare classes). However, if waitlisted, you will get your money or miles if your upgrade doesn’t clear. If your GPU upgrade is waitlisted, you will get your GPU back if it doesn’t clear, but UA will keep the money you spent to buy the W fare.
Oct 25, 2018, 6:22 pm
#85
Moderator: United Airlines
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.... Just got 1k and I want to apply my GPUs to a specific flight to London from SFO. The lowest fare is "K" and United said I cant apply my GPU for a flight from SFO to LHR. It will be at least another 500 bucks to upgrade to "W" to be considered which I rather not do. There are plenty of first class seats available. Does anyone have insights/hacks on what to do? ....
Many will not play the "GPU lottery" but if you do -- try to pick a flight with the fewest elites -- such as mid-week. See https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...ht-2018-a.html for more strategies.
Miles plus copay is another option, good for any fare and the miles/copay are refunded if the refund fails. The copy is not much more than the "W" fare difference. But the copay may need to come out of your pocket.
Oct 25, 2018, 6:34 pm
#86
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You would definitely be rolling the dice. The SFO departure is booked 13/48 (Z4 P0). The LHR departure is booked 19/48 (P7). Friday is an especially difficult upgrade. LAX is generally easier, and Wednesday is also usually better, but 19/48 is not great.
Do you feel lucky? I probably wouldn't do it unless I needed the PQD.
Do you feel lucky? I probably wouldn't do it unless I needed the PQD.
Oct 25, 2018, 9:25 pm
#87
Join Date: Jan 2017
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Apart from 2014 when Smisek & Co. were selling TODs to kettles and pulling the rug from underneath the GPU waitlist I’ve had 100% success on GPUs to LHR (from anywhere).
That said for my most recent flights, plus my upcoming Christmas trip to see family, I’ve been buying P fares. $2500 RT for PDX-SFO-LHR (744 upper deck) in May 2017 and $2009 this May for the same route (77W Polaris). For Christmas I got $3300 for SFO outbound (772 with seat now 1K) and return via ORD (2 Class 763 which I’m hoping gets switched to Polaris).
At 19/48 I’d say your chances are good, though you may have to wait close in for it to clear including at check in, and if it’s a 772 expect to be assigned one of the middle two in the 2-4-2, which isn’t necessarily a disaster. I’ve had very pleasant flights there and it beats the cramped window seats.
That said for my most recent flights, plus my upcoming Christmas trip to see family, I’ve been buying P fares. $2500 RT for PDX-SFO-LHR (744 upper deck) in May 2017 and $2009 this May for the same route (77W Polaris). For Christmas I got $3300 for SFO outbound (772 with seat now 1K) and return via ORD (2 Class 763 which I’m hoping gets switched to Polaris).
At 19/48 I’d say your chances are good, though you may have to wait close in for it to clear including at check in, and if it’s a 772 expect to be assigned one of the middle two in the 2-4-2, which isn’t necessarily a disaster. I’ve had very pleasant flights there and it beats the cramped window seats.
Dec 23, 2018, 8:17 pm
#88
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 55
GPU - worth it to pay up for upgrade eligible fare?
Hi all, I'm 1K, based in NYC and trying to decide if there is any point in paying 70% more for a W class ticket (vs the lowest non basic economy ticket) to be eligible for a potential GPU upgrade. I'm looking to travel EWR-EDI Friday 7/26/2019 and return on LHR-EWR Monday 8/5/2019. Neither leg has PZ availability and neither offers premium economy.
From the thread of GPU success stories, it seems many folks got upgraded immediately after booking, even when booking well in advance of the travel date. I've been looking at PZ availability for some other upcoming trips, and I don't see any inventory for flights originating from NYC.
Thanks.
From the thread of GPU success stories, it seems many folks got upgraded immediately after booking, even when booking well in advance of the travel date. I've been looking at PZ availability for some other upcoming trips, and I don't see any inventory for flights originating from NYC.
Thanks.
Dec 24, 2018, 12:11 am
#90
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Hi all, I'm 1K, based in NYC and trying to decide if there is any point in paying 70% more for a W class ticket (vs the lowest non basic economy ticket) to be eligible for a potential GPU upgrade. I'm looking to travel EWR-EDI Friday 7/26/2019 and return on LHR-EWR Monday 8/5/2019. Neither leg has PZ availability and neither offers premium economy.