Domestic CPU clearance rates for 1Ks
Jan 31, 2019, 3:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,161
Domestic CPU clearance rates for 1Ks
Other 1Ks seeing a spike in CPU clearance rates? All of a sudden, I’m seeing 50% of my segments clear in January 2019. I’m talking G, K, L fares with segments clearing days in advance, one even at T96. Routes are SFO/LAX/SAN-ORD + SAN-SFO and vv. I haven’t really seen this since about a year into CO’s takeover of UA. Could it be that GSs’ RPU inventories are drawing down, assuming UA’s PZ inventory supply strategy unchanged?
Jan 31, 2019, 9:21 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
January is historically the worst month for CPUs. You've got more 1K's (and for that matter, GS) than any other month due to people having the higher of their 2017 or 2018 earned statuses, along with some people throwing RPUs and even GPUs on every flight they are on to use them before they expire.
That said, I'm 100% on everything that isn't SFO/SJC-ORD, and 0% on those two routes, where even CPUs weren't enough to get me the upgrades.
That said, I'm 100% on everything that isn't SFO/SJC-ORD, and 0% on those two routes, where even CPUs weren't enough to get me the upgrades.
Feb 1, 2019, 4:23 am
#5
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Short segments CPUs
My high percentage is due to shorter segments (less than 2hrs) such as SLC-LAX, SFO-SLC and ORD-EWR. I missed on IAD-ORF once. The relatively two longer flights were SEA-IAD over Tuesday and Wednesday. There was a last second upgrade on IAD-IAH on B767 and IAD-SLC (with few elites). So, there is no upswing in CPUs, depending on your routing and travel time.
Feb 1, 2019, 4:29 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
United still flies shorter segments on 2 cabin planes? All I ever see are CR2s and E145s...
Kinda forgot CPUs even exist...sorta like RPUs. Wait, are they still around also?
Kinda forgot CPUs even exist...sorta like RPUs. Wait, are they still around also?
Feb 1, 2019, 6:25 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: HH Dia, UA 1K, Marriott Platinum Premier
Posts: 51
Feb 1, 2019, 9:18 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
I feel like a lot of this is small sample sizes, although it's always hard to tell. My general impression versus 1-2 years ago is that more and more people are buying F outright and/or taking the check-in buyup offers, but it's also much harder to tell the difference between 1K CPUs and 3-4 day purchases of F since they don't display the upgrade list anymore. Most recent DCA flight went from J7 to J2 around T-96, but based on the 1Ks in the back and not in the F cabin during preboard, I wouldn't be surprised if that was revenue purchases.
I'm 2-for-2 on CPU thus far (plus a successful RPU), but I don't gamble much and will buy F if I don't know I have a good shot at clearing.
I'm 2-for-2 on CPU thus far (plus a successful RPU), but I don't gamble much and will buy F if I don't know I have a good shot at clearing.
Feb 1, 2019, 9:58 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: BWI
Programs: UA 1MM & 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 255
2/8 so far this year. Position on failed upgrades did not seem unusual compared to the last year. Given the times I was traveling and the low fares I was on, I wasn't expecting the CPUs to clear at all.
Feb 1, 2019, 10:22 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,450
I am running about 10% in the last two years, and surprisingly low on a lot of U/G lists. I fly a lot of hub-hub at prime times, so I don't expect upgrades anymore, but even formerly reliable routes (Florida, for example) have become rare for me. I generally fly on Q,U,W,V fares with some deeper discount mixed in, along with Y/B/M from time to time. Like a lot of others, I'm also a Z/P buyer when the price is right, so there's that, too.
Peak rate for me was about 2010-2014 as a top tier and 80%+, mostly discount fares. It's been steeply downhill from there.
Conversely, I've had exactly one GPU failure in about 5 years (on LH C>F), and end up using all of my RPUs every year, mostly on premium transcons.
Peak rate for me was about 2010-2014 as a top tier and 80%+, mostly discount fares. It's been steeply downhill from there.
Conversely, I've had exactly one GPU failure in about 5 years (on LH C>F), and end up using all of my RPUs every year, mostly on premium transcons.
Feb 1, 2019, 10:23 am
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,200
I am seeing nothing clear - for me, or anyone else - on my flights. F seems to go out full with either paid, awards, or buy-ups.
Feb 1, 2019, 11:39 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SAN
Programs: UA-1K, AA-Gold, HH-Gold, MR - Gold, HY-Explorist
Posts: 222
I was around 25% for CPUs for 2018. For the last two months, while trying to use the leftover GPUs on every flight eligible, also ended around 25% as I'm guessing everyone else was using their leftovers up too. Seemed like I was slightly higher on the upgrade list, but not by much. Mostly mid-cons and transcons for me though.
Feb 1, 2019, 11:55 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: ORD
Programs: United Mileage Plus - 1K
Posts: 113
In 2018 I finished with 15 back to back CPUs, 2019 I'm on a slow start but not bad so far:
Yes: 5
No: 5
N/A: 9
The "N/A" category is either on the RJ200... or the much more pleasant ERJ145.
Yes: 5
No: 5
N/A: 9
The "N/A" category is either on the RJ200... or the much more pleasant ERJ145.
Last edited by rj_flyer; Feb 1, 2019 at 11:56 am Reason: Apparently I cannot copy/paste from my excel tracker.