Sometimes "the game" is maddening...
May 20, 2019, 12:45 pm
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K (MM), DL, AA, AS, HHonors, SPG, Kimpton, Hyatt, IC PC, Marriott Titanium (LT PLT), Hertz PC
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Sometimes "the game" is maddening...
Flying DEN-ORD-FRA and onward today -- GPUs applied many weeks ago...
- DEN-ORD I start at #3 on the list, a couple of no-shows and top two are upgraded and I'm left at #1 . Oh well...
- ORD-FRA is under a 1.5 hour delay. People start bailing and for a while I'm sitting at #3 with 4 seats available. At approximately 2 hours before scheduled departure, top two are upgraded, and I'm sitting at #1 with two seats still available (in addition to the one blocked for crew rest). At T-90 minutes, inventory opens up in all of the upgrade classes, including PN/PZ. I call in to have UA push the upgrade through and am told it is under gate control ("but it looks good"). Sure enough, 5 minutes later, both of the remaining seats are gone and I'm still sitting at #1 with the cabin booked full.
For those who made it this far, thanks for reading. I realize that this is common and that this shouldn't surprise me, but it is frustrating! My one remaining hope is that so far only 42/50 are checked in at T-45 minutes before originally-scheduled departure, but I'm guessing that doesn't matter since we have a 1.5 hour delay until 4:00 pm CDT.
- DEN-ORD I start at #3 on the list, a couple of no-shows and top two are upgraded and I'm left at #1 . Oh well...
- ORD-FRA is under a 1.5 hour delay. People start bailing and for a while I'm sitting at #3 with 4 seats available. At approximately 2 hours before scheduled departure, top two are upgraded, and I'm sitting at #1 with two seats still available (in addition to the one blocked for crew rest). At T-90 minutes, inventory opens up in all of the upgrade classes, including PN/PZ. I call in to have UA push the upgrade through and am told it is under gate control ("but it looks good"). Sure enough, 5 minutes later, both of the remaining seats are gone and I'm still sitting at #1 with the cabin booked full.
For those who made it this far, thanks for reading. I realize that this is common and that this shouldn't surprise me, but it is frustrating! My one remaining hope is that so far only 42/50 are checked in at T-45 minutes before originally-scheduled departure, but I'm guessing that doesn't matter since we have a 1.5 hour delay until 4:00 pm CDT.
I'm pulling for you!
May 20, 2019, 1:16 pm
#4
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DEN
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May 20, 2019, 1:18 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
Similar situation for me - I've been #1 on the list since check-in IAD-CDG, with 4 then 2 then 1 seat left. When checking my bag United offered to sell me the last seat for $829. Landed after my connecting flight in and it's now booked full.
Hope United likes their $829. (I also realize the flights to CDG are super-full today and it's possible someone else got re-accommodated into that seat.)
Premium Economy does make this slightly less painful than the old W-fare lottery; at least I've failed into a Premium Economy seat.
I did clear the GPU on the way back but feel like I get better real-life value out of business class on the overnights.
Hope United likes their $829. (I also realize the flights to CDG are super-full today and it's possible someone else got re-accommodated into that seat.)
Premium Economy does make this slightly less painful than the old W-fare lottery; at least I've failed into a Premium Economy seat.
I did clear the GPU on the way back but feel like I get better real-life value out of business class on the overnights.
May 20, 2019, 1:31 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,338
Good luck! I was #2 EWR-FRA recently and two people who didn't check in saved me, and I was the last upgraded to J. Refresh that app!! And don't be afraid to board your original seat (I was upgraded on the plane).
May 20, 2019, 1:33 pm
#9
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May 20, 2019, 1:44 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
Aaaaand booked full again. (shakes fist) 4 people still need to check in though.... (or 3 if the blocked seat isn't included in the check-in total.)
May 20, 2019, 1:53 pm
#11
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I think that one pax is the crew rest. The app is showing checked in "full".
Based on what I'm seeing it depends on whether you're looking at the app or the website. On my end website is showing 49/50 checked in, and app is showing "FULL".
Based on what I'm seeing it depends on whether you're looking at the app or the website. On my end website is showing 49/50 checked in, and app is showing "FULL".
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 20, 2019 at 3:44 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
May 20, 2019, 2:16 pm
#13
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