Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the master thread is CPU Clearance Experiences
CPU Clearance Experiences - Archive
#241
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: fwp blood diamond, dykwia uranium
Posts: 7,252
the guy you're replying to is in yyz and ord
as a plat based somewhat in canada i cannot remember not getting upgraded on a can<>usa flight...even as a silver
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#242
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 15,060
I got op-up'd out of YYZ yesterday ORD flight - I was on an award ticket and a plat. I think there's only been a flight or two I've missed inbound to YYZ from ORD/IAD since UDU/CPUs started, however, IME, it's been much more hit and miss going south - southbound flights out of YYZ for some reason are much harder. When I was a silver, I barely got upgrades out of YYZ - much better as a gold. I also missed an upgrade a couple of years ago out of YVR (to ORD) - can't remember if I was gold or plat.
Canada is definitely less hit or miss then the domestic system, but it's still there.
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#243
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,926
I got my first CPU yesterday DEN-MCO. It was a battlefield upgrade at the last minute that I turned down because I was traveling with my spouse.
Today's return trip I was #1 on the upgrade list (with one open seat) until about 5 mins prior to boarding when a couple bumped me at the last minute.![Mad](https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/images/smilies/mad.gif)
So batting 0% for the year so far.
Today's return trip I was #1 on the upgrade list (with one open seat) until about 5 mins prior to boarding when a couple bumped me at the last minute.
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So batting 0% for the year so far.
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#244
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SRQ
Programs: UA Gold, DL Gold, IHG-Plat Amb; Amex Plat-P, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 777
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I am a 1K based in Saudi Arabia. I fly perhaps 10-12 UA Metal Domestic Segments per year. I would estimate my CPU Success rate at about 50% over the past couple of years.
For 2016 I am 2 for 2 (provided I don't miss my upcoming connections).
1. ATL-IAH booked in "V" Fare
2. IAH-LAS booked in "V" Fare
I am still on the "list" for
3. LAS-DEN booked in "V" Fare
4. DEN-ORD also booked in V
5. ORD-ATL booked in "T" Fare
For 2016 I am 2 for 2 (provided I don't miss my upcoming connections).
1. ATL-IAH booked in "V" Fare
2. IAH-LAS booked in "V" Fare
I am still on the "list" for
3. LAS-DEN booked in "V" Fare
4. DEN-ORD also booked in V
5. ORD-ATL booked in "T" Fare
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#245
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: STL
Programs: United Global Services
Posts: 46
100% in 2016, even a companion upgrade on one of them (STL/ORD/ATL). usually STL to SFO. I have even been upgraded to GF to/from SYD before they switched to the dream-liner and the 2 class cabin.
Have a feeling GS helps my percentage
Have a feeling GS helps my percentage
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#246
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SDF
Programs: -=- UA: GS + 3.97 Million Miler; Hilton: LT Diamond; Marriott: Gold; Hertz: President's Circle
Posts: 680
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#247
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: SMF
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP
Posts: 1,548
As a 16-year 1K who remembers the old days (after 500 milers of course) of pmUA complementary UGs that generally cleared at the then 96 hour window, I was shocked this week.
For the first time since the merger I think, both of my SMF-HUB-SMF cleared at T-100 hours.
Thank you Mr. Munoz.
Lurker
For the first time since the merger I think, both of my SMF-HUB-SMF cleared at T-100 hours.
Thank you Mr. Munoz.
Lurker
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#248
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,926
All this I am 10% as a gold vs I am 0% as a 1K is so subjective. It is very dependent on the day you fly and the route you fly. So, without a very comprehensive spreadsheet and on;y basing on what you read most of the info posted here is meaningless. When I fly hub to hub I am 0%, when I fly to some small substation point I am 100%. I am 1K based out of SFO.
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#249
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 15,060
All this I am 10% as a gold vs I am 0% as a 1K is so subjective. It is very dependent on the day you fly and the route you fly. So, without a very comprehensive spreadsheet and on;y basing on what you read most of the info posted here is meaningless. When I fly hub to hub I am 0%, when I fly to some small substation point I am 100%. I am 1K based out of SFO.
It's all dependent on a bunch of factors including day-of-week, time, route, etc. Even that can change week-to-week or during short holiday weeks, etc.
Pre-merger, their used to be a site where one could report their UDU success/failues, and you could search by route and it gave percentages by route, status, day-of-week, time of day, etc. I forget what it was, but it wasn't maintained or taken down at some point. I think there was another one developed post-merger, but not sure how much that one was used, and if it still exists today. I'm sure someone can find the thread on these.
Even those weren't necessarily so accurate, as it was based on people entering it, so only as good as the date provided, and still probably was pretty unrepresentative of the system as a whole.
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#250
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: UA SP, DL SM MM, AS 75K, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond.
Posts: 2,596
All this I am 10% as a gold vs I am 0% as a 1K is so subjective. It is very dependent on the day you fly and the route you fly. So, without a very comprehensive spreadsheet and on;y basing on what you read most of the info posted here is meaningless. When I fly hub to hub I am 0%, when I fly to some small substation point I am 100%. I am 1K based out of SFO.
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#251
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Million Miler, 1K - Basically spend a lot of time on planes
Posts: 2,202
All this I am 10% as a gold vs I am 0% as a 1K is so subjective. It is very dependent on the day you fly and the route you fly. So, without a very comprehensive spreadsheet and on;y basing on what you read most of the info posted here is meaningless. When I fly hub to hub I am 0%, when I fly to some small substation point I am 100%. I am 1K based out of SFO.
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#252
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,926
Well, except that for some of us who have had the same flying patterns for 10+ years. I had a 90%+ success rate on upgrades for 10 years and then have it fall to less than 10% for last three. I posted my routings and most of them were 100% clearances for years, now down to zero. Hard to suggest that it's my schedule
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#253
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 15,060
Well, except that for some of us who have had the same flying patterns for 10+ years. I had a 90%+ success rate on upgrades for 10 years and then have it fall to less than 10% for last three. I posted my routings and most of them were 100% clearances for years, now down to zero. Hard to suggest that it's my schedule
If you had someone who took a flight 10 years ago, and then went through the flight experience for the first time since, except for perhaps being on the same type of plane, pretty much the entire experience has changed - what you get for a fare, ancilliary fees, change fees/policies, security, onboard experience, the kind of seat you sit in, even number of crew onboard, meal service (or lack thereof), etc. All of these things have changed he experience.
If you go back a little beyond the last 2 years or so, you also had a very different kind of market for premium fares. On the one hand, you had a down economy for many of those years where people weren't buying premium, but they are now. You also had, in recent years, price reductions in the product because airlines started realizing that earning less $ per seat but selling more seats could get them more revenue, and yes, that means fewer upgrades. Combined with a better economy meaning more people are willing to buy F outright.
Upgrades still happen - I'm about 35% this year. Yes, they happen less often then in the past (including to me - I used to be closer to 60+%), but it's something folks are going to have to get used to. And yes, it's the case for all airlines, not just UA.
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#254
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Mileage Plus Global Services 2MM
Posts: 1,229
Well, except you'd also be silly not to consider the changes that have gone on in the industry during the last 10 years. Not to mention that 10 years ago can't be correct, because at least on legacy UA, there were no comp upgrades 10 years ago - that only started what - 2010 or so?
If you had someone who took a flight 10 years ago, and then went through the flight experience for the first time since, except for perhaps being on the same type of plane, pretty much the entire experience has changed - what you get for a fare, ancilliary fees, change fees/policies, security, onboard experience, the kind of seat you sit in, even number of crew onboard, meal service (or lack thereof), etc. All of these things have changed he experience.
If you go back a little beyond the last 2 years or so, you also had a very different kind of market for premium fares. On the one hand, you had a down economy for many of those years where people weren't buying premium, but they are now. You also had, in recent years, price reductions in the product because airlines started realizing that earning less $ per seat but selling more seats could get them more revenue, and yes, that means fewer upgrades. Combined with a better economy meaning more people are willing to buy F outright.
Upgrades still happen - I'm about 35% this year. Yes, they happen less often then in the past (including to me - I used to be closer to 60+%), but it's something folks are going to have to get used to. And yes, it's the case for all airlines, not just UA.
If you had someone who took a flight 10 years ago, and then went through the flight experience for the first time since, except for perhaps being on the same type of plane, pretty much the entire experience has changed - what you get for a fare, ancilliary fees, change fees/policies, security, onboard experience, the kind of seat you sit in, even number of crew onboard, meal service (or lack thereof), etc. All of these things have changed he experience.
If you go back a little beyond the last 2 years or so, you also had a very different kind of market for premium fares. On the one hand, you had a down economy for many of those years where people weren't buying premium, but they are now. You also had, in recent years, price reductions in the product because airlines started realizing that earning less $ per seat but selling more seats could get them more revenue, and yes, that means fewer upgrades. Combined with a better economy meaning more people are willing to buy F outright.
Upgrades still happen - I'm about 35% this year. Yes, they happen less often then in the past (including to me - I used to be closer to 60+%), but it's something folks are going to have to get used to. And yes, it's the case for all airlines, not just UA.
Second, the "C" in CPU stands for complimentary. To call the program a sham or scam is flat out wrong. It is up to UA to decide how to dole out CPU's. If they can monetize those seats, good for them. If I pay for economy, I get economy unless I get a gift. If I want F I either pay for it take my chances. To say "UA sold my CPU out from under me" is crazy. It is not our CPU, it is UA's. If the TOD offers cost me a CPU..........meh. Now, when using instruments that is a totally different matter and also a totally different thread
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Last edited by bluedemon211; Jun 10, 2016 at 8:40 am
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#255
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 15,060
Not to inflame the folks on this thread, but I have two observations after reading 6 pages of posts...............trying to reconcile "my % vs your %" is a fools errand considering the lack of data provided by posters. Even if we knew exact routes and status, fare classes play into things too, and that takes the analysis up exponentially.
Second, the "C" in CPU stands for complimentary. To call the program a sham or scam is flat out wrong. It is up to UA to decide how to dole out CPU's. If they can monetize those seats, good for them. If I pay for economy, I get economy unless I get a gift. If I want F I either pay for it take my chances. To say "UA sold my CPU out from under me" is crazy. It is not our CPU, it is UA's. If the TOD offers cost me a CPU..........meh. Now, when using instruments that is a totally different matter and also a totally different thread![Wink](https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
Second, the "C" in CPU stands for complimentary. To call the program a sham or scam is flat out wrong. It is up to UA to decide how to dole out CPU's. If they can monetize those seats, good for them. If I pay for economy, I get economy unless I get a gift. If I want F I either pay for it take my chances. To say "UA sold my CPU out from under me" is crazy. It is not our CPU, it is UA's. If the TOD offers cost me a CPU..........meh. Now, when using instruments that is a totally different matter and also a totally different thread
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