Aug 14, 2019, 2:51 pm
Should I switch to UA from AA? What differences to expect?
Sep 2, 2021, 6:40 am
#136
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Miami & Leon, MX
Programs: UA 1K, DL GOLD, IHG LIFE PLAT, BONVOY'ED GOLD
Posts: 552
Just don't expect to catch CPUs on UA for hub-to-hub routes. They are non-existent. Even using PlusPoints on transcon routes is impossible. I imagine that the same is true at AA, so likely no difference between them in that regard. Sometimes, I think those leaving other carriers believe that they will be treated better as a 1K on UA than as a ExecPlat or Diamond Medallion. This is not the case.
Haha yeah, United's program is def not my favorite, but I'd rather deal with that than the "500 mile upgrades", or even the very often case of AA gate agents skipping the upgrade list to upgrade non revs into first class, let alone... Oasis...
Sep 3, 2021, 12:26 pm
#138
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Chicago
Programs: AAdvantage EXP | United Silver | HH Diamond | Bonvoy Platinum | Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 718
Oh no even better, I underestimated how elite heavy Miami is for United. Upgrade lists are usually 10-30 people, with a few of my 1K friends even agreeing that receiving an upgrade is almost nonexistent... but hey, I don't blame them for avoiding american haha.
Haha yeah, United's program is def not my favorite, but I'd rather deal with that than the "500 mile upgrades", or even the very often case of AA gate agents skipping the upgrade list to upgrade non revs into first class, let alone... Oasis...
Haha yeah, United's program is def not my favorite, but I'd rather deal with that than the "500 mile upgrades", or even the very often case of AA gate agents skipping the upgrade list to upgrade non revs into first class, let alone... Oasis...
Oct 30, 2021, 9:06 am
#139
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Programs: American Executive Platinum
Posts: 368
Upgrade potential: DEN vs IAH
Researching switching my flying to UA and wondering if anyone sees a difference in upgrades between DEN and IAH. I live in a smaller city (ABQ) and would be primarily connecting through those two.
Also, does anyone notice any differences between the two cities with time of day, day of week, or inbound/outbound? For example, does IAH tend to have more commuter traffic and therefore fewer upgrades during rush hour?
Also, does anyone notice any differences between the two cities with time of day, day of week, or inbound/outbound? For example, does IAH tend to have more commuter traffic and therefore fewer upgrades during rush hour?
Oct 30, 2021, 9:09 am
#140
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Programs: American Executive Platinum
Posts: 368
DFW (AA) vs IAH (UA): Upgrades
Looking at switching status pursuit and UA/AA are my main two options out of my home airport (ABQ). Wondering if anyone out there happens to have recent experience (or heard of anything on this forum) about upgrade potential with equivalent elite status when connecting through DFW on American vs IAH on United. Also, if there are any intermediary variables (eg rush hour in DFW is much lower odds than IAH but midday is much better).
Thanks folks
Thanks folks
Oct 30, 2021, 9:19 am
#141
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Researching switching my flying to UA and wondering if anyone sees a difference in upgrades between DEN and IAH. I live in a smaller city (ABQ) and would be primarily connecting through those two.
Also, does anyone notice any differences between the two cities with time of day, day of week, or inbound/outbound? For example, does IAH tend to have more commuter traffic and therefore fewer upgrades during rush hour?
Also, does anyone notice any differences between the two cities with time of day, day of week, or inbound/outbound? For example, does IAH tend to have more commuter traffic and therefore fewer upgrades during rush hour?
From someone who connects through the two, DEN's terminal system has worked better for me as a connector historically since UA's flights were principally out of Terminal/Concourse B but that is changing with flights out of A. IAH can be a pain to navigate given the sheer number of terminals and where they put big planes vs. smaller UX planes so my longest runs between terminals and connections have been at IAH.
Additionally right now, from a club perspective DEN has only one UC for the next 12 months. IAH has multiple UCs that are finally reopening.
I would say upgrades are driven by when you fly and the sizes of aircraft as well as which cities you fly to. If you decide to go toe-to-toe with other UA elites during the AM and PM flight banks, you're going to have challenges.
David
Oct 30, 2021, 9:22 am
#142
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Looking at switching status pursuit and UA/AA are my main two options out of my home airport (ABQ). Wondering if anyone out there happens to have recent experience (or heard of anything on this forum) about upgrade potential with equivalent elite status when connecting through DFW on American vs IAH on United. Also, if there are any intermediary variables (eg rush hour in DFW is much lower odds than IAH but midday is much better).
Thanks folks
Thanks folks
David
Oct 30, 2021, 10:59 am
#143
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 19
For those that got successfully upgraded on Germany to SFO routes jasonp622 kittiyut (FRA-SFO, MUC-SFO) how did the available fare classes look like at booking time? I'm flying to SFO one-way soon (big move) and would really like that flight to be in Polaris... I have 40 PP that'll expire EOY that would be nice to use. Had good success in the past pre-pandemic but that's a long time ago... wondering what numbers one should look for atm to get great chances for an upgrade. And maybe what day of the week is best, if you have past experiences too. I see some available flights with comfirmed upgrades next week (before the grand reopen on November 8) but only waitlists after. No sure if that has to do with it just being more than a week out, or with the US border reopening on November 8 to Europe.
I was booking the flight in the middle of september and I never seen any PZ space on any of the trans-atlantic flights.
Oct 30, 2021, 12:22 pm
#144
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
I'm taking a guess - but I suspect you would be competing with more AA flyers out of ABQ than UA flyers. DFW is the second highest destination out of ABQ while IAH does not even make the top 10.
Oct 30, 2021, 12:41 pm
#145
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,020
One of the biggest difference between UA and AA's program is that only CK, EXP, and PPro have unlimited free upgrades - all other elites need to use stickers to upgrade.
Oct 30, 2021, 1:00 pm
#146
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
I flew FRA-SFO on Oct 24th and few days before the flight it was 45/60 booked and I was 20th in the upgrade list (as a 1K with the cheapest booked fare). Something must have happened but 10 more people behind me in the list (everyone) ended up upgraded and I believe there were even couple of seats empty both in Polaris and Premium Economy Plus.
I was booking the flight in the middle of september and I never seen any PZ space on any of the trans-atlantic flights.
I was booking the flight in the middle of september and I never seen any PZ space on any of the trans-atlantic flights.
Aside: 20th as 1K even on a cheap fare is kind of surprising.
Oct 30, 2021, 2:04 pm
#147
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Programs: American Executive Platinum
Posts: 368
This was my initial guess.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 30, 2021 at 2:49 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Oct 30, 2021, 2:10 pm
#148
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Programs: American Executive Platinum
Posts: 368
Both airports are seeing larger volumes of passengers vs. other hubs in United's network. From a time of day perspective, busyness will be driven by which banks of flights you are seeking to connect into from ABQ and to where.
From someone who connects through the two, DEN's terminal system has worked better for me as a connector historically since UA's flights were principally out of Terminal/Concourse B but that is changing with flights out of A. IAH can be a pain to navigate given the sheer number of terminals and where they put big planes vs. smaller UX planes so my longest runs between terminals and connections have been at IAH.
Additionally right now, from a club perspective DEN has only one UC for the next 12 months. IAH has multiple UCs that are finally reopening.
I would say upgrades are driven by when you fly and the sizes of aircraft as well as which cities you fly to. If you decide to go toe-to-toe with other UA elites during the AM and PM flight banks, you're going to have challenges.
David
From someone who connects through the two, DEN's terminal system has worked better for me as a connector historically since UA's flights were principally out of Terminal/Concourse B but that is changing with flights out of A. IAH can be a pain to navigate given the sheer number of terminals and where they put big planes vs. smaller UX planes so my longest runs between terminals and connections have been at IAH.
Additionally right now, from a club perspective DEN has only one UC for the next 12 months. IAH has multiple UCs that are finally reopening.
I would say upgrades are driven by when you fly and the sizes of aircraft as well as which cities you fly to. If you decide to go toe-to-toe with other UA elites during the AM and PM flight banks, you're going to have challenges.
David
Oct 30, 2021, 3:50 pm
#149
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Oct 30, 2021, 4:13 pm
#150
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Programs: American Executive Platinum
Posts: 368
It does look like American has more flights to DFW than UA does to IAH, but this doesn’t say anything about load. For example, if the United flights were always full, but AA flights were at 85% capacity, that would theoretically be more advantageous for upgrades. Also, more flights midday from American may mean more flights where there are fewer business class folks.