Best day of the week to score business upgrade
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 65
Best day of the week to score business upgrade
I frequent SFO - FRA and always apply a GPU; my chances of upgrade have been hit or miss as a premier1k. I'm curious to hear about the experiences of other flyers on this route or other long haul routes when it comes to specific days of the week with a higher chance of getting upgraded - all things being equal. Friday and Sunday seem very steep and I'm now leaning twords flying Saturdays (I only fly weekends.) Thoughts anyone?
#2
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,581
SFO-FRA? midweek is best,
stay away from Thursday, Friday (those returning to FRA / Europe), some return on Saturday
stay away from Saturday, Sunday (those going to FRA / Europe), Monday still a problem,
Tuesday / Wednesday avoids the bulk of business travel
What is your UA status level?
tought upgrade for 1Ks, impossible for lower
August and holidays can be easier weeks
stay away from Thursday, Friday (those returning to FRA / Europe), some return on Saturday
stay away from Saturday, Sunday (those going to FRA / Europe), Monday still a problem,
Tuesday / Wednesday avoids the bulk of business travel
What is your UA status level?
tought upgrade for 1Ks, impossible for lower
August and holidays can be easier weeks
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 11, 2019 at 1:00 am Reason: formatting
#9
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: In between IAD and DCA
Programs: UA Plat 1.1MM , Marriott Gold Elite, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,262
Definitely Tue/Wed. There's plenty of PZ space (for us lowly platinums and below :P) out of IAD and ORD (and even SFO and EWR on some routes) for most flights to Europe on those two days.
#12
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,581
To go back to the OPs question, Saturday is probably the worst day for SFO-FRA, as if you want to be in the office on Monday in Europe, whether going there or returning there, you need to leave Saturday or earlier. the value of lie-flat seat is to address the time zone shift issue and allow people to leave SFO on Saturday, arrive mid-day Sunday and go to work on Monday.
Those going Sunday will, at a minimum, miss part of the Monday workday and have an even more challenging time-zone shift, so do that but many people the local nights sleep that Saturday departure allows in SFO-FRA. Saturday departure for SFO-FRA/MUC was always my choice with driven by work requirements.
Those going Sunday will, at a minimum, miss part of the Monday workday and have an even more challenging time-zone shift, so do that but many people the local nights sleep that Saturday departure allows in SFO-FRA. Saturday departure for SFO-FRA/MUC was always my choice with driven by work requirements.
#13
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,606
To go back to the OPs question, Saturday is probably the worst day for SFO-FRA, as if you want to be in the office on Monday in Europe, whether going there or returning there, you need to leave Saturday or earlier. the value of lie-flat seat is to address the time zone shift issue and allow people to leave SFO on Saturday, arrive mid-day Sunday and go to work on Monday.
Those going Sunday will, at a minimum, miss part of the Monday workday and have an even more challenging time-zone shift, so do that but many people the local nights sleep that Saturday departure allows in SFO-FRA. Saturday departure for SFO-FRA/MUC was always my choice with driven by work requirements.
Those going Sunday will, at a minimum, miss part of the Monday workday and have an even more challenging time-zone shift, so do that but many people the local nights sleep that Saturday departure allows in SFO-FRA. Saturday departure for SFO-FRA/MUC was always my choice with driven by work requirements.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,325
Those going Sunday will, at a minimum, miss part of the Monday workday and have an even more challenging time-zone shift, so do that but many people the local nights sleep that Saturday departure allows in SFO-FRA. Saturday departure for SFO-FRA/MUC was always my choice with driven by work requirements.