Value of 1K when GPUs don't clear despite 20+ open seats?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NYC-area
Programs: UA-1K
Posts: 16
Value of 1K when GPUs don't clear despite 20+ open seats?
I am 1K, flying paid business class EWR-SFO-AKL today, while my son (silver) is on the upgrade waitlist for the same flights. I saw that there were 20+ open seats on SFO-AKL just 24 hours before departure (and a phone agent told me that too) but the waitlist still isn't clearing.
And now slowly the number of open business class seats is whittling down each hour, starting 12 hours before departure. It must be that united is selling those seats making last minute cheaper offers to economy passengers as they check in. Implications of united employing this strategy :
1. The value of getting 1K status is being whittled down. GPUs are not that useful if they don't clear even when there are 20+ open seats. Are there other airlines /alliances that are better in this dimension? Or is it now better to just chase the cheapest fares, and not worry about "loyalty", because the perks of loyalty are disappearing as united employs such last minute ticket selling strategy?
2. We have not received any last minute $ offer to upgrade, presumably because I already put in that GPU for my son months ago. United's policy of last minute offers to only some passengers seems to be creating a strange situation where "loyal passengers" (the ones with GPUs) become least able to upgrade.
[complicating the situation for us is that united 's system incorrectly thinks that my son is a child traveling alone so he can't check in until we get to airport to figure out where he stands on the waitlist.]
And now slowly the number of open business class seats is whittling down each hour, starting 12 hours before departure. It must be that united is selling those seats making last minute cheaper offers to economy passengers as they check in. Implications of united employing this strategy :
1. The value of getting 1K status is being whittled down. GPUs are not that useful if they don't clear even when there are 20+ open seats. Are there other airlines /alliances that are better in this dimension? Or is it now better to just chase the cheapest fares, and not worry about "loyalty", because the perks of loyalty are disappearing as united employs such last minute ticket selling strategy?
2. We have not received any last minute $ offer to upgrade, presumably because I already put in that GPU for my son months ago. United's policy of last minute offers to only some passengers seems to be creating a strange situation where "loyal passengers" (the ones with GPUs) become least able to upgrade.
[complicating the situation for us is that united 's system incorrectly thinks that my son is a child traveling alone so he can't check in until we get to airport to figure out where he stands on the waitlist.]
#2
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
And now slowly the number of open business class seats is whittling down each hour, starting 12 hours before departure. It must be that united is selling those seats making last minute cheaper offers to economy passengers as they check in.
[complicating the situation for us is that united 's system incorrectly thinks that my son is a child traveling alone so he can't check in until we get to airport to figure out where he stands on the waitlist.]
And your son has a lower priority because he’s only silver while most people using GPUs will be GS or 1K?
Why is it a ‘must’ that’s UA is selling those seats. Probable, yes. But also probable that they’re clearing upgrades.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,309
Or it could be that they’re clearing the waitlist....
And your son has a lower priority because he’s only silver while most people using GPUs will be GS or 1K?
Why is it a ‘must’ that’s UA is selling those seats. Probable, yes. But also probable that they’re clearing upgrades.
Isn't this a well known issue. If you don't clear until 24hrs, you won't clear until the gate?
In the meantime, R opens, and people applying fresh GPUs will jump the queue.
Aren't you glad you paid extra for a W fare for your son!
Next time, have your employer purchase the ticket with a different airline if you don't feel your loyalty is being appreciated. United knows that won't happen, so they can do whatever they please.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NYC-area
Programs: UA-1K
Posts: 16
Your commenteads to another unrelated question - does the waitlist clear according to my status or his, given that my GPU was used to request?
I happen to be "my employer" in decisions on ticket purchases, so I could switch. Which is why I asked the question above, "are other airlines better in this dimension?" I can fly paid business myself, so I do care a lot about the ability to use the upgrades they give me for my family traveling with me
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 3, 2019 at 10:45 am Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Clearance priority changed several years ago. The GPU is based on his status, not yours.
On the broader point, there is no reason for UA to clear last minute wait lists until the gate. When it does so relatively last minute, the people with the highest priority on the flight get the seats that remain.
On the broader point, there is no reason for UA to clear last minute wait lists until the gate. When it does so relatively last minute, the people with the highest priority on the flight get the seats that remain.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,464
I am 1K, flying paid business class EWR-SFO-AKL today, while my son (silver) is on the upgrade waitlist for the same flights. I saw that there were 20+ open seats on SFO-AKL just 24 hours before departure (and a phone agent told me that too) but the waitlist still isn't clearing.
And now slowly the number of open business class seats is whittling down each hour, starting 12 hours before departure. It must be that united is selling those seats making last minute cheaper offers to economy passengers as they check in. Implications of united employing this strategy :
1. The value of getting 1K status is being whittled down. GPUs are not that useful if they don't clear even when there are 20+ open seats. Are there other airlines /alliances that are better in this dimension? Or is it now better to just chase the cheapest fares, and not worry about "loyalty", because the perks of loyalty are disappearing as united employs such last minute ticket selling strategy?
2. We have not received any last minute $ offer to upgrade, presumably because I already put in that GPU for my son months ago. United's policy of last minute offers to only some passengers seems to be creating a strange situation where "loyal passengers" (the ones with GPUs) become least able to upgrade.
[complicating the situation for us is that united 's system incorrectly thinks that my son is a child traveling alone so he can't check in until we get to airport to figure out where he stands on the waitlist.]
And now slowly the number of open business class seats is whittling down each hour, starting 12 hours before departure. It must be that united is selling those seats making last minute cheaper offers to economy passengers as they check in. Implications of united employing this strategy :
1. The value of getting 1K status is being whittled down. GPUs are not that useful if they don't clear even when there are 20+ open seats. Are there other airlines /alliances that are better in this dimension? Or is it now better to just chase the cheapest fares, and not worry about "loyalty", because the perks of loyalty are disappearing as united employs such last minute ticket selling strategy?
2. We have not received any last minute $ offer to upgrade, presumably because I already put in that GPU for my son months ago. United's policy of last minute offers to only some passengers seems to be creating a strange situation where "loyal passengers" (the ones with GPUs) become least able to upgrade.
[complicating the situation for us is that united 's system incorrectly thinks that my son is a child traveling alone so he can't check in until we get to airport to figure out where he stands on the waitlist.]
That one is currently booked 43/60 and it appears only non-rev passengers are waitlisting for Polaris currently. So it could have been four on the waitlist when you called and three have cleared between then and now. With these counts your son should upgrade no problem once cleared to check in.
The flight tomorrow (4-Mar) looks more challenging.
(Standard footnote that unassigned seats aren't the same as available capacity.)
edit add:
Because the phone agent told me yesterday that there were only 4 people on the upgrade waitlist. I can also see the upgrade list under "flight status" for those who are checked in, and they've only upgraded one person from that list .
Your commenteads to another unrelated question - does the waitlist clear according to my status or his, given that my GPU was used to request?
Your commenteads to another unrelated question - does the waitlist clear according to my status or his, given that my GPU was used to request?
A sponsored waitlist request is supposed to clear according to the passenger's own status.
Last edited by fumje; Mar 3, 2019 at 6:48 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: United GS, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 109
Looks like there are 7 non rev on the upgrade list right now with >15 seats still open in Polaris. I’d say your chances of your son being upgraded are pretty high still. If I were you I’d check the fare buckets every hour or more to see if PZ (I think that’s the new R ?) opens up and if it does - jump on it and resubmit your son’s GPU. Right now everything is at 9 except PN, I, IN, and PZ. Sounds like a relatively light passenger load.
#8
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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It would be more accurate to say UA may or may not clear the upgrades prior to the gate. There's certainly no categorical rule that they won't clear between T-24 and the gate.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NYC-area
Programs: UA-1K
Posts: 16
Looks like there are 7 non rev on the upgrade list right now with >15 seats still open in Polaris. I’d say your chances of your son being upgraded are pretty high still. If I were you I’d check the fare buckets every hour or more to see if PZ (I think that’s the new R ?) opens up and if it does - jump on it and resubmit your son’s GPU. Right now everything is at 9 except PN, I, IN, and PZ. Sounds like a relatively light passenger load.
Sorry for the additional questions; I'm not an expert flyer, and I clearly have a lot to learn from you!
My son did get upgraded just now, so my immediate problem has been solved. But the broader quesion remains as to how United trades off "the value of loyalty" against "additional revenue" it can generate with the last-minute offers. It's of course perfectly reasonable for United to prioritize that additional revenue over whatever future revenues they would get from my loyalty, but then it becomes reasonable for frequent flyers to investigate other airlines where that loyalty may be rewarded with better perks (such as upgrades that are more likely to clear).
#10
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
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Also, I thought one couldn't remove an instrument within 24hrs, so one is effectively stuck on the waitlist?
I 've removed my upgrades shortly before check-in at T-24:10, and reapplied 15 minutes later for immediate clearance.
#11
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,464
Thank you for for this very helpful response. How do i "resubmit the GPU"? and is a GPU-based upgrade considered a "non rev upgrade"? What falls under each category of rev and non rev upgrades?
Sorry for the additional questions; I'm not an expert flyer, and I clearly have a lot to learn from you!
My son did get upgraded just now, so my immediate problem has been solved. But the broader quesion remains as to how United trades off "the value of loyalty" against "additional revenue" it can generate with the last-minute offers. It's of course perfectly reasonable for United to prioritize that additional revenue over whatever future revenues they would get from my loyalty, but then it becomes reasonable for frequent flyers to investigate other airlines where that loyalty may be rewarded with better perks (such as upgrades that are more likely to clear).
Sorry for the additional questions; I'm not an expert flyer, and I clearly have a lot to learn from you!
My son did get upgraded just now, so my immediate problem has been solved. But the broader quesion remains as to how United trades off "the value of loyalty" against "additional revenue" it can generate with the last-minute offers. It's of course perfectly reasonable for United to prioritize that additional revenue over whatever future revenues they would get from my loyalty, but then it becomes reasonable for frequent flyers to investigate other airlines where that loyalty may be rewarded with better perks (such as upgrades that are more likely to clear).
To resubmit the GPU you'd have to have an agent pull it and reapply it. Within 24 hours of departure that can become a little tricky.
#12
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Note though that this flight is PN0, PZ0, despite being booked only 43/60 in J. So no one's jumping the queue.
I'll add also this is an example of a flight where the seat map count matches exactly with bookings (17 empty seats).
That was entirely predictable.
#14
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Thank you for for this very helpful response. How do i "resubmit the GPU"? and is a GPU-based upgrade considered a "non rev upgrade"? What falls under each category of rev and non rev upgrades?
Sorry for the additional questions; I'm not an expert flyer, and I clearly have a lot to learn from you!
My son did get upgraded just now, so my immediate problem has been solved. But the broader quesion remains as to how United trades off "the value of loyalty" against "additional revenue" it can generate with the last-minute offers. It's of course perfectly reasonable for United to prioritize that additional revenue over whatever future revenues they would get from my loyalty, but then it becomes reasonable for frequent flyers to investigate other airlines where that loyalty may be rewarded with better perks (such as upgrades that are more likely to clear).
Sorry for the additional questions; I'm not an expert flyer, and I clearly have a lot to learn from you!
My son did get upgraded just now, so my immediate problem has been solved. But the broader quesion remains as to how United trades off "the value of loyalty" against "additional revenue" it can generate with the last-minute offers. It's of course perfectly reasonable for United to prioritize that additional revenue over whatever future revenues they would get from my loyalty, but then it becomes reasonable for frequent flyers to investigate other airlines where that loyalty may be rewarded with better perks (such as upgrades that are more likely to clear).
For a period of time, GPU's applied to a third person kept the original passenger's status. Thus, your son, even though Silver, would have had the UG priority of a 1K for purposes of the GPU. That was fine for some people, yet it worked to the disadvantage of many others. Imagine that as a 1K, you sought to use a GUC to UG yourself and were beat out by a non-status passenger who applied a GUC he obtained from a GS.
No matter how you cut it, UA is a for-profit business. Selling seats is its business. If UA believed that it could have sold all remaining seats in the cabin, it would have held all UG's until just before departure. There are bits and pieces of differences between how UA vs. AA/DL treat UG's, but the bottom line is that they are not so significant. Cash is king.
#15
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
Because the phone agent told me yesterday that there were only 4 people on the upgrade waitlist. I can also see the upgrade list under "flight status" for those who are checked in, and they've only upgraded one person from that list .
Your commenteads to another unrelated question - does the waitlist clear according to my status or his, given that my GPU was used to request?
Your commenteads to another unrelated question - does the waitlist clear according to my status or his, given that my GPU was used to request?