Apr 27, 2020, 1:00 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Types of Upgrades
UA's Upgrades overview
UA has multiple methods for upgrading to a higher cabin. Examples include: Economy to Domestic First, Economy to International Business or Business (ex-p.s. flights) or Economy to Premium Economy ("Premium Plus").
In this regard, seating in Economy Plus is considered Economy.
Not all upgrade methods are available on all flights (see table).
Paid/cash upgrades are a different mechanism and are only available if confirmable -- no waitlisting. Depending on methods, paid upgrades can clear into almost any fare class. If the class would otherwise be used for upgrades, the cash upsell can show up on the cleared upgrade list.
Plus Points and MUA (also called "miles+cash upgrades") are collectively referred to as instrument-supported upgrades, as they are considered with equal priority once applied. They may also be used on Copa (CM), Lufthansa (LH), and ANA (NH) flights.
Waitlisting for a premium cabin award and all forms of Economy Plus are not considered upgrades.
Upgrade Priority and Required Inventory
All upgrades other than CPU may clear immediately if the required inventory class is available. If you request an upgrade when there is not inventory to confirm your upgrade immediately, you will be added to the upgrade waitlist. The required inventory classes are as follows:
RN class is required for all upgrades to Premium Economy (United Premium Plus)
PN class is required for Instant Upgrades to Business/First from Y, B, and M fares for Premier 1K members, and for all upgrades to Business/First of any type for Global Services members.
PZ class is required for all other upgrades to Business/First except CPUs.
Note: The display of the upgrade lists is rather complicated at the moment. There seems to be more information available than usual, but its accuracy is disputed. The following is how it has historically functioned in terms of public visibility.
Passengers with unconfirmed upgrade requests will be added to the upgrade waitlist. This is not the same as the upgrade standby list which you can see on the Flight Status page. You cannot see this list by any means. The ordering of the upgrade waitlist is as follows:
Recent announced modification
United will periodically run sweeps from this list. The required inventory class for your upgrade does not need to be available in order to be upgraded from the standby list; passengers on the list will be upgraded at the discretion of United's systems. (You can also think of it as space was opened and then you immediately took it.)
Once check-in starts a new waitlist will be generated for use at the gate. The pre-gate list will continue to process until the flight goes to the gate, typically one to three hours prior to departure. This new list is the visible one on the Flight Status page. Generally they will have the same order, but there can be some differences in priority ordering of the two lists -- usually due to the time tiebreaker -- which is time of request for the pre-gate list and time of check-in (sequence number) for gate list. The visible (upgrade standby) list has only checked-in passengers and is not used until the flight is under gate control and the gate agent manually processes an upgrade.
The upgrade list sometimes also shows passengers who have been upgraded. Advance-cleared upgrades will not show on the gate list as cleared -- only passengers who clear after they check in will display with a green checkmark. Some paid Premium Economy fares may show as a confirmed upgrade to Premium Economy.
For both cases, display cleared upgrades will appear in alphabetic order and regardless if checked-in (as long as a seat has been assigned). Uncleared, waitlisted requests will appear, once checked in, in priority order. But until all have checked in, the visible gate waitlist is incomplete.
Upgrades and Companions
Main article: Comprehensive Companion Upgrade Questions
The following applies ONLY to the invisible upgrade list.
Up to one companion on the same PNR as you is entitled to a CPU based on your status. However, because PNRs must consist only of passengers with the same itinerary, you will only be eligible for an upgrade if all passengers on your PNR have the same upgrade eligibility. For CPUs, you may extend your CPU status to one companion, and then the system will take the status of the lowest passenger on the reservation.
This is a little complicated. Here are some example PNRs:
1K and non-status companion: both are eligible to CPU as 1Ks
1K and two non-status companions: no one is eligible to CPU
1K, Gold, and non-status companion: the companion gets "1K CPU status" but the Gold cannot, so all three pax have Gold priority
The situation for instrument supported upgrades is slightly different. Waitlisting an instrument is also all-or-nothing on the PNR. Either all pax must have a waitlisted upgrade, or none may. If you have a waitlisted upgrade for a multiple passenger PNR, it will have the priority of the highest Premier status on the reservation. Thus:
1K and non-status companion, 2x GPU applied: both are eligible as 1Ks with GPU
1K and three non-status companions, 4x GPU applied: all four are eligible as 1Ks with GPU
Multi-pax PNR upgrades are all or nothing - you may (or may not) be skipped over if there are fewer available seats than members in your party. If you do not like the treatment of your PNR, you may split it into smaller pieces at any time and be treated as smaller groups or individuals.
Now, what happens if you haven't cleared by check-in?
Multiple pax PNRs are not eligible for the (visible) upgrade standby list. If you wish to be added to the list, you must split the PNR at check-in. This often happens even if you didn't intend to. Note, however, that the hidden list is active until 3 hours before departure and splitting your PNR changes it. Therefore, you may wish to delay check-in until the airport. On the other hand, the tiebreak for the gate list is time of check-in, so you may wish to do so immediately. It depends on your situation.
Companions may be eligible for the upgrade standby list even after splitting the PNR, if it is split at check-in. The behavior of your companion(s) depends on whether the reservation had instruments applied. You may have one CPU companion, who will be waitlisted with your Premier priority but with an effective fare class below X (namely, last). If your companion was on a different PNR originally, or you want to designate a different companion, an airport agent can do that for you. Therefore, the list of 1Ks might be:
1) 1K on an S fare (you)
2) 1K on a K fare
3) Your no-status companion
4) Plat on a B fare
If your reservation had instruments applied, however, this process is different. In this case, if the reservation is auto-split at check-in, all travelers will have your Premier priority with their fare class. Say you are a 1K with three non-status companions, all with GPUs applied. Then you have
1) 1K on a V fare, GPU applied
2..5) you (1K) and your three companions on W fares, ordered by sequence number
6) Plat on a Q fare, miles+cash applied
Frequently Asked Questions
I was #1 on the upgrade list, but someone else got the upgrade instead. What happened?
The most likely answer is that the upgraded passenger was not checked in. Remember that the upgrade standby list (the visible list) only shows passengers who have checked in.
I'm #1 on the upgrade list but seats in the forward cabin keep disappearing. No one is being upgraded. What's going on?
There are two major sources of this. First, once your flight is within 24 hours of departure, it is eligible for SDC. Passengers with paid premium tickets can change to your flight and take seats. Many experienced flyers, especially FT members, underestimate the volatility of flight loads on the day of departure. Additionally, United usually makes a time-of-departure upsell offer available at check-in. Purchasers of this upgrade may often appear similar to last-minute revenue bookings.
I was waitlisted for I (or IN) class and did not clear. Am I now eligible for an upgrade?
"Upgrade" is the wrong terminology. You should be automatically placed on the standy list for business or first (whichever applies). Historically there have been problems with this occurring automatically, but that seems to have mostly been fixed. The exact priority compared to passengers who are waitlisted for an upgrade is unclear and a matter of some dispute. See discussion of GG ONESTANDBY lines 32-55.
Who are these people who are on standby lists for both Business and First?
These are non-revs (i.e., UA employees and family members) - either NRPS (non-rev positive space) or NRSA (non-rev standby). Non-revs can list for any cabin. NRPS are traveling on company business (e.g., deadheading pilots) and will clear into open space ahead of upgraders. NRSA travel standby and will be last in priority after all paid passengers. Why would someone be listed on both standby & upgrade list(s)?
Can you have one companion on a different PNR?
Yes, but only at the airport/gate and some agents are not familiar with the process. They are at the bottom of your status group.
Related threads
Ever see (+X blocked) in booked column on upgrade list?
Consolidated "Waitlist for Award Seats Questions/Issues"
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight
Decoding the alphabet soup - fare buckets for UA
Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively [Archive]
UA's Upgrades overview
UA has multiple methods for upgrading to a higher cabin. Examples include: Economy to Domestic First, Economy to International Business or Business (ex-p.s. flights) or Economy to Premium Economy ("Premium Plus").
In this regard, seating in Economy Plus is considered Economy.
Not all upgrade methods are available on all flights (see table).
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPU) are available for most North American flights, Central America flights, and some select Oceania flights.
"ex-PS" flights (EWR-SFO/LAX, BOS-SFO and v.v.) and Hawaii-EWR, IAD, ORD, IAH, DEN, GUM, MAJ and v.v. are not CPU eligible. CPUs are available for all paid fares and in some cases on award tickets with certain credit cards. A CPU is requested automatically for all elites as long as there is a maximum of one non-Premier as only one companion on the same PNR is also eligible for CPU. CPUs cannot be confirmed until inside the particular window:Global Services: 120 hours
Premier 1K: 96 hours
Premier Platinum: 72 hours
Premier Gold: 48 hours
Premier Silver: 24 hours- Plus Points (provided to Plats and above) are the upgrade currency of United elites. This wiki of this thread has more details about pricing of various Plus Points upgrades.
- Mileage Upgrade Awards (MUA) can be requested for all UA flights with a higher cabin on all paid fares. This a varying amount of miles and a $ copay (elites are exempt from the co-pay for CPU eligible flights) -- see UA award chart for details Note the miles and copay are due at time of the request and will be returned if unsuccessful.
- Instant Upgrades are space available for all elites on Y & B fares for CPU-eligible flights at booking. For Plats and below these require PZ space. For 1Ks and GS, this can be done on Y, B & M fares and requires PN space. 1K & GS, if not cleared at booking, will be waitlisted.
- Plus Points (provided to Plats and above) are the upgrade currency of United elites. This wiki of this thread has more details about pricing of various Plus Points upgrades.
Paid/cash upgrades are a different mechanism and are only available if confirmable -- no waitlisting. Depending on methods, paid upgrades can clear into almost any fare class. If the class would otherwise be used for upgrades, the cash upsell can show up on the cleared upgrade list.
Plus Points and MUA (also called "miles+cash upgrades") are collectively referred to as instrument-supported upgrades, as they are considered with equal priority once applied. They may also be used on Copa (CM), Lufthansa (LH), and ANA (NH) flights.
Waitlisting for a premium cabin award and all forms of Economy Plus are not considered upgrades.
Upgrade Priority and Required Inventory
All upgrades other than CPU may clear immediately if the required inventory class is available. If you request an upgrade when there is not inventory to confirm your upgrade immediately, you will be added to the upgrade waitlist. The required inventory classes are as follows:
RN class is required for all upgrades to Premium Economy (United Premium Plus)
PN class is required for Instant Upgrades to Business/First from Y, B, and M fares for Premier 1K members, and for all upgrades to Business/First of any type for Global Services members.
PZ class is required for all other upgrades to Business/First except CPUs.
Note: The display of the upgrade lists is rather complicated at the moment. There seems to be more information available than usual, but its accuracy is disputed. The following is how it has historically functioned in terms of public visibility.
Passengers with unconfirmed upgrade requests will be added to the upgrade waitlist. This is not the same as the upgrade standby list which you can see on the Flight Status page. You cannot see this list by any means. The ordering of the upgrade waitlist is as follows:
- All Global Services members (presumably prioritized similar to other members below), including those awaiting a CPU.
- For CPU eligible flights, Premier 1K members on eligible Y-, B- and M-class fares that were not cleared at time of booking are prioritized by fare class and then time of request.
- All travelers on waitlisted instrument-supported upgrades: Prioritized by Premier status of the traveler, then fare class and then time of request. There is no priority difference between types of instruments.
- For CPU eligible flights all remaining Premier members: Prioritized by Premier status of the traveler and fare class (award tickets are considered the lowest fare class)
Recent announced modification
Effective August 14, 2018, upgrade waitlists are processed in the following priority order:
- Premier status of the traveler
- Fare class
- Chase United MileagePlus Club cardholder
- United Corporate Preferred participant
- Time of request
Once check-in starts a new waitlist will be generated for use at the gate. The pre-gate list will continue to process until the flight goes to the gate, typically one to three hours prior to departure. This new list is the visible one on the Flight Status page. Generally they will have the same order, but there can be some differences in priority ordering of the two lists -- usually due to the time tiebreaker -- which is time of request for the pre-gate list and time of check-in (sequence number) for gate list. The visible (upgrade standby) list has only checked-in passengers and is not used until the flight is under gate control and the gate agent manually processes an upgrade.
The upgrade list sometimes also shows passengers who have been upgraded. Advance-cleared upgrades will not show on the gate list as cleared -- only passengers who clear after they check in will display with a green checkmark. Some paid Premium Economy fares may show as a confirmed upgrade to Premium Economy.
For both cases, display cleared upgrades will appear in alphabetic order and regardless if checked-in (as long as a seat has been assigned). Uncleared, waitlisted requests will appear, once checked in, in priority order. But until all have checked in, the visible gate waitlist is incomplete.
Upgrades and Companions
Main article: Comprehensive Companion Upgrade Questions
The following applies ONLY to the invisible upgrade list.
Up to one companion on the same PNR as you is entitled to a CPU based on your status. However, because PNRs must consist only of passengers with the same itinerary, you will only be eligible for an upgrade if all passengers on your PNR have the same upgrade eligibility. For CPUs, you may extend your CPU status to one companion, and then the system will take the status of the lowest passenger on the reservation.
This is a little complicated. Here are some example PNRs:
1K and non-status companion: both are eligible to CPU as 1Ks
1K and two non-status companions: no one is eligible to CPU
1K, Gold, and non-status companion: the companion gets "1K CPU status" but the Gold cannot, so all three pax have Gold priority
The situation for instrument supported upgrades is slightly different. Waitlisting an instrument is also all-or-nothing on the PNR. Either all pax must have a waitlisted upgrade, or none may. If you have a waitlisted upgrade for a multiple passenger PNR, it will have the priority of the highest Premier status on the reservation. Thus:
1K and non-status companion, 2x GPU applied: both are eligible as 1Ks with GPU
1K and three non-status companions, 4x GPU applied: all four are eligible as 1Ks with GPU
Multi-pax PNR upgrades are all or nothing - you may (or may not) be skipped over if there are fewer available seats than members in your party. If you do not like the treatment of your PNR, you may split it into smaller pieces at any time and be treated as smaller groups or individuals.
Now, what happens if you haven't cleared by check-in?
Multiple pax PNRs are not eligible for the (visible) upgrade standby list. If you wish to be added to the list, you must split the PNR at check-in. This often happens even if you didn't intend to. Note, however, that the hidden list is active until 3 hours before departure and splitting your PNR changes it. Therefore, you may wish to delay check-in until the airport. On the other hand, the tiebreak for the gate list is time of check-in, so you may wish to do so immediately. It depends on your situation.
Companions may be eligible for the upgrade standby list even after splitting the PNR, if it is split at check-in. The behavior of your companion(s) depends on whether the reservation had instruments applied. You may have one CPU companion, who will be waitlisted with your Premier priority but with an effective fare class below X (namely, last). If your companion was on a different PNR originally, or you want to designate a different companion, an airport agent can do that for you. Therefore, the list of 1Ks might be:
1) 1K on an S fare (you)
2) 1K on a K fare
3) Your no-status companion
4) Plat on a B fare
If your reservation had instruments applied, however, this process is different. In this case, if the reservation is auto-split at check-in, all travelers will have your Premier priority with their fare class. Say you are a 1K with three non-status companions, all with GPUs applied. Then you have
1) 1K on a V fare, GPU applied
2..5) you (1K) and your three companions on W fares, ordered by sequence number
6) Plat on a Q fare, miles+cash applied
Frequently Asked Questions
I was #1 on the upgrade list, but someone else got the upgrade instead. What happened?
The most likely answer is that the upgraded passenger was not checked in. Remember that the upgrade standby list (the visible list) only shows passengers who have checked in.
I'm #1 on the upgrade list but seats in the forward cabin keep disappearing. No one is being upgraded. What's going on?
There are two major sources of this. First, once your flight is within 24 hours of departure, it is eligible for SDC. Passengers with paid premium tickets can change to your flight and take seats. Many experienced flyers, especially FT members, underestimate the volatility of flight loads on the day of departure. Additionally, United usually makes a time-of-departure upsell offer available at check-in. Purchasers of this upgrade may often appear similar to last-minute revenue bookings.
I was waitlisted for I (or IN) class and did not clear. Am I now eligible for an upgrade?
"Upgrade" is the wrong terminology. You should be automatically placed on the standy list for business or first (whichever applies). Historically there have been problems with this occurring automatically, but that seems to have mostly been fixed. The exact priority compared to passengers who are waitlisted for an upgrade is unclear and a matter of some dispute. See discussion of GG ONESTANDBY lines 32-55.
Who are these people who are on standby lists for both Business and First?
These are non-revs (i.e., UA employees and family members) - either NRPS (non-rev positive space) or NRSA (non-rev standby). Non-revs can list for any cabin. NRPS are traveling on company business (e.g., deadheading pilots) and will clear into open space ahead of upgraders. NRSA travel standby and will be last in priority after all paid passengers. Why would someone be listed on both standby & upgrade list(s)?
Can you have one companion on a different PNR?
Yes, but only at the airport/gate and some agents are not familiar with the process. They are at the bottom of your status group.
Related threads
Ever see (+X blocked) in booked column on upgrade list?
Consolidated "Waitlist for Award Seats Questions/Issues"
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight
Decoding the alphabet soup - fare buckets for UA
Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively [Archive]
Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively {Archive}
Oct 12, 2018, 8:26 am
#1186
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Oakland, CA
Programs: UA 1K, IHG Spire, Marriott Gold
Posts: 25
International Upgrades
I have a question about international upgrades that I've always wondered about. When I see a long list of people on the pending upgrade list for an international flight, does this mean that every one of them used a GPU, or a mileage upgrade request, to get on that list? Or is there some kind of complimentary upgrade that certain status travelers get, like the one all status members get for domestic flights?
Oct 12, 2018, 8:31 am
#1187
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,470
The sometimes-long list also includes people flying non-revenue tickets (e.g., employee travel benefit, buddy pass). You can sometimes figure out who they are by comparing names on the upgrade standby list and the economy standby list (non-rev can appear on both). That's not conclusive, but it can give you a pretty good idea.
Occasionally, the list includes displaced premium-cabin passengers from other flights.
Other than those, everyone has supported the upgrade with GPU/miles.
Happy first post!
I get worried when that happens. My experience is that it's usually related to a schedule change, and (I infer) the upgrade request sticks to the pre-change flight, while you're obviously booked on the post-change flight. If the agent didn't look carefully at your reservation, you may have just been given a canned response.
Do you think you have a chance of clearing? If there are several seats still available, I'd say it's worth calling again and asking an agent to check that you have a valid upgrade request / right priority / etc.
Occasionally, the list includes displaced premium-cabin passengers from other flights.
Other than those, everyone has supported the upgrade with GPU/miles.
Happy first post!
I applied a GPU to flight 21, leaving tomorrow (Saturday; I'm connecting in AMS from a flight originating in Germany on Lufthansa). Sometime last night (more than 24 hours before the departure of flight 21, and before I checked in) information about the requested upgrade disappeared from my account. I checked in. Just as I expected, now when I check the flight status, I'm not on the upgrade list. However, when I called UA a couple of hours ago, the agent said something about my upgrade request being transferred to the airport, that everything was fine. Don't worry.
Is the normal? Should I be worried?
Is the normal? Should I be worried?
Do you think you have a chance of clearing? If there are several seats still available, I'd say it's worth calling again and asking an agent to check that you have a valid upgrade request / right priority / etc.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 12, 2018 at 1:43 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Oct 12, 2018, 8:37 am
#1188
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: United 1K, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 590
I have a question about international upgrades that I've always wondered about. When I see a long list of people on the pending upgrade list for an international flight, does this mean that every one of them used a GPU, or a mileage upgrade request, to get on that list? Or is there some kind of complimentary upgrade that certain status travelers get, like the one all status members get for domestic flights?
Oct 12, 2018, 8:43 am
#1189
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
Oct 12, 2018, 8:48 am
#1190
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Clinging to the edifices of a decadent past from the biggest city in America nobody really cares about.
Programs: (ಠ_ಠ)
Posts: 9,077
I have a question about international upgrades that I've always wondered about. When I see a long list of people on the pending upgrade list for an international flight, does this mean that every one of them used a GPU, or a mileage upgrade request, to get on that list? Or is there some kind of complimentary upgrade that certain status travelers get, like the one all status members get for domestic flights?
Think of the upgrade list as a standby-for-business-list which catches all eligible travelers on the day of departure. This will include customers trying to upgrade (i.e. those using a GPU or mileage) as well as others such as displaced / misconnected business customers, employees "non-reving" for business, and others.
So to answer your direct question: everyone who got on the international business standby list via an upgrade is there because they used something to support the upgrade (e.g. GPU / mileage); no one is there for "free". However, just because someone is on the standby-for-business-list does not automatically imply they got there via a (supported) upgrade request. Employees / displaced customers / etc. can also show on the standby-for-business list too.
I'll also go ahead and merge this thread with " Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively" (thanks UAPremExecflyer!) thread for those who want to learn more.
J.Edward
UA Form Moderator
Oct 12, 2018, 9:12 am
#1191
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Oakland, CA
Programs: UA 1K, IHG Spire, Marriott Gold
Posts: 25
Thanks for the explanation! So let me ask another upgrade question. When I'm waiting on a GPU for a flight that I've booked long in advance, I often notice that as close to departure as two weeks, there are still many business class seats available, sometimes more than 50% of them, which gives me hope that my upgrade will be confirmed. But then it seems that most of these seats get snapped up in the last weeks before the flight. What's going on?
Oct 12, 2018, 9:18 am
#1192
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,470
Thanks for the explanation! So let me ask another upgrade question. When I'm waiting on a GPU for a flight that I've booked long in advance, I often notice that as close to departure as two weeks, there are still many business class seats available, sometimes more than 50% of them, which gives me hope that my upgrade will be confirmed. But then it seems that most of these seats get snapped up in the last weeks before the flight. What's going on?
Oct 12, 2018, 9:28 am
#1193
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
In the time from two weeks to one day(-ish) pre-departure, that will be a mix of (1) late-booking business travel and (2) higher-status/fare passengers (anyone between GS and you, anyone with your status but higher fare) clearing. At check-in, (3) some passengers are offered a cash-upgrade, and sometimes the price is good enough that many take it. In my estimation, in rank order, the space is mostly taken by (1), then (3), then (2). I notice more late-booking business on TATL than TPAC.
Also, if you're judging by the seat map, know that a surprising number of people don't reserve seats in advance.
Oct 12, 2018, 9:53 am
#1194
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,424
7-14 days in advance is not even "late booking" for business travel by any stretch of the imagination. A lot of frequent business travel is indeed of the "let's come out to fix a problem" and tends to come up pretty last minute.
If you checked in on the United flight and do not appear on the upgrade standby list, something is wrong. In all cases, you should still have the waitlisted premium segment on your record.
I applied a GPU to flight 21, leaving tomorrow (Saturday; I'm connecting in AMS from a flight originating in Germany on Lufthansa). Sometime last night (more than 24 hours before the departure of flight 21, and before I checked in) information about the requested upgrade disappeared from my account. I checked in. Just as I expected, now when I check the flight status, I'm not on the upgrade list. However, when I called UA a couple of hours ago, the agent said something about my upgrade request being transferred to the airport, that everything was fine. Don't worry.
Is the normal? Should I be worried?
Is the normal? Should I be worried?
Oct 12, 2018, 9:54 am
#1195
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,478
Yes, since OP mentioned a connecting flight on LH, it's likely he is not checked in on the UA segment (and may not be able to check in until the LH segment is flown).
Oct 12, 2018, 10:21 am
#1196
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Hokay. Here's data from last week's UA613 LAX-ORD that makes me think that UA's pushing bad data toward us in order to believe there's more folks on the (hidden) upgrade ranking list.
At T-24 check in, here's the upgrade ranking list that showed when in the check-in cycle and had selected a seat in Domestic First from the seat map:
Why I have an issue with this list is that my wife does not show up (SHA, G,) - and I had checked her in before me.
Advancing forward at T-17, here's the same list:
So, SHA, G. still is not showing.
I then went to the flight status list (public list), where she appears just after me:
In comparing the lists, CON, D. appears at the top of the ranking list but number 5 on the public list as well as others who are below on the public list that then show up above JEL, G. and LYN, T. on the ranking list. Additionally, ROD, E. doesn't appear at all on the public list and MAL, C. is between JEL, G. and LYN, T. Additionally, there are names on the public list that don't show on the ranking list.
FWIW, here's the offer and "seat" that it was priced at the T-17 mark:
David
At T-24 check in, here's the upgrade ranking list that showed when in the check-in cycle and had selected a seat in Domestic First from the seat map:
Advancing forward at T-17, here's the same list:
I then went to the flight status list (public list), where she appears just after me:
FWIW, here's the offer and "seat" that it was priced at the T-17 mark:
Oct 12, 2018, 10:34 am
#1197
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,470
On some routes, the vast majority of business class seats are purchased within 2-3 weeks of departure. They're "hey, our supplier/customer/etc. has a problem, get over there and figure it out" kind of trips.
Also, if you're judging by the seat map, know that a surprising number of people don't reserve seats in advance.
Also, if you're judging by the seat map, know that a surprising number of people don't reserve seats in advance.
7-14 days in advance is not even "late booking" for business travel by any stretch of the imagination. A lot of frequent business travel is indeed of the "let's come out to fix a problem" and tends to come up pretty last minute.
If you checked in on the United flight and do not appear on the upgrade standby list, something is wrong. In all cases, you should still have the waitlisted premium segment on your record.
If you checked in on the United flight and do not appear on the upgrade standby list, something is wrong. In all cases, you should still have the waitlisted premium segment on your record.
Good point to add about seats. I have noticed that when many seats are unselected, the booked count tends to drop by a few in the T-5day time frame. But indeed, good to keep in mind that counting seats occupied does not tell you how many are booked.
Hokay. Here's data from last week's UA613 LAX-ORD that makes me think that UA's pushing bad data toward us in order to believe there's more folks on the (hidden) upgrade ranking list.
At T-24 check in, here's the upgrade ranking list that showed when in the check-in cycle and had selected a seat in Domestic First from the seat map:
Why I have an issue with this list is that my wife does not show up (SHA, G,) - and I had checked her in before me.
Advancing forward at T-17, here's the same list:
So, SHA, G. still is not showing.
I then went to the flight status list (public list), where she appears just after me:
In comparing the lists, CON, D. appears at the top of the ranking list but number 5 on the public list as well as others who are below on the public list that then show up above JEL, G. and LYN, T. on the ranking list. Additionally, ROD, E. doesn't appear at all on the public list and MAL, C. is between JEL, G. and LYN, T. Additionally, there are names on the public list that don't show on the ranking list.
FWIW, here's the offer and "seat" that it was priced at the T-17 mark:
David
At T-24 check in, here's the upgrade ranking list that showed when in the check-in cycle and had selected a seat in Domestic First from the seat map:
Why I have an issue with this list is that my wife does not show up (SHA, G,) - and I had checked her in before me.
Advancing forward at T-17, here's the same list:
So, SHA, G. still is not showing.
I then went to the flight status list (public list), where she appears just after me:
In comparing the lists, CON, D. appears at the top of the ranking list but number 5 on the public list as well as others who are below on the public list that then show up above JEL, G. and LYN, T. on the ranking list. Additionally, ROD, E. doesn't appear at all on the public list and MAL, C. is between JEL, G. and LYN, T. Additionally, there are names on the public list that don't show on the ranking list.
FWIW, here's the offer and "seat" that it was priced at the T-17 mark:
David
Also, was OLI, J a candidate for the celebrity sightings thread?
Oct 12, 2018, 10:37 am
#1198
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Join Date: Sep 2003
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DELee - thanks for destroying my idea that I had a vague idea of what invisible might look like. Have a nice day
Maybe you should hire Austin Powers to investigate the "SHA. G" issue.
Maybe you should hire Austin Powers to investigate the "SHA. G" issue.
Oct 12, 2018, 11:03 am
#1199
Join Date: Jul 2015
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Working in the Silicon Valley the amount of last minute booking at crazy prices in Biz or F is staggering (and often avoidable) but it happens ALL THE TIME. UA has to make a huge amount of there profit out of OAK, SFO, and SJC. My wife works at a large tech firm and often within 48 hrs she will have the travel department book her an F seat from SFO to anywhere in the globe at horrific prices. When I question it I get the "This is the business we are in" line....
Oct 12, 2018, 11:11 am
#1200
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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Posts: 56,478
Working in the Silicon Valley the amount of last minute booking at crazy prices in Biz or F is staggering (and often avoidable) but it happens ALL THE TIME. UA has to make a huge amount of there profit out of OAK, SFO, and SJC. My wife works at a large tech firm and often within 48 hrs she will have the travel department book her an F seat from SFO to anywhere in the globe at horrific prices. When I question it I get the "This is the business we are in" line....