My fight from DEN-ORD on Monday was surprisingly CPUed last night, about 3.5 days before departure. That's the first time in over a year that I've been upgraded to/from ORD more than 24 hours in advance (and even those have been rare). Probably because of a slow down in business travel next week.

Ouch. I've learned not to count on routes even when they have been reliable previously. One day some conference is ending, or someone and his bachelor party shows up, or whatever, and all the F seats on my off-hub route are gone. Oh well. :o

I had another T+24 upgrade success today on UA2346 (JAX - ORD) as a Silver. Batting 3 for 8 on CPUs on my flights over the last 2 weeks.

I'm continuing a Silver streak, too. Just got a CPU at T-23.5 on the longish UA5932 (DAY-DEN) tomorrow morning.

Around T-72 I cleared with a companion. E75 went from 5 (+3 blocked)/12 (J5 Y3) to 8/12 and same inventory, so I think a human might have pushed that one through.

I got a CPU two weeks ago on a Saturday morning RDU-EWR 737-800. We went out with one empty seat and two FA standbys in F. That should accurately sum up my year for upgrades.

Last time I cleared with a companion at the window it was on a 737-500.

I cleared 3 this year with a companion right at the T-48 window. LAX - BZN, BZN - LAX, LAX - SBA. LAX- BZN was a CRJ-700 with only 6 seats, so was pleasantly surprised on that one. The others were 175's.

It's okay they canceled the flight so it did not matter in the end :D

what's the record for most seats upgraded on a flight?
 

last night was a good night to upgrade IAD-CLE: 12 of 20 seats were filled via clearing on the upgrade list. Wonder what the records are for a) Most upgraded seats on a flight, b) highest % seats upgraded.

100%. I guarantee it. Now which route? Who knows. But I'd bet there are a few flights a day in the United network that go out with everyone flying in first via upgrade. Could happen because of light loads, IROPS, etc.

-RM

Just had CPUs clear on award flight on January 1 (late afternoon flights) from Las Vegas for myself and my travelling companion. No email. Just checking some upcoming flights and noticed the changed seat assignments.

I booked using my Chase Explorer CC. I have had near 100% CPU success with award flights. I am wondering if they get priority over booked seats. My CPU success rate has been good on paid flights but not as good as on award fligjts.

Saver award or everyday award?

A saver award definitely wouldn’t get priority. An everyday award might, although it shouldn’t. I suspect, however, that it’s just a side-effect of the fact that saver awards are more likely to be available on low-load flights.

CLE-RSW, G fare. This Silver got upgraded at about T-45 minutes. Plane was half empty, they closed the door and pushed back about 20 minutes prior to scheduled departure. Never seen that happen before.

That's my brother's almost weekly flight and that is definitely rare for this time of the year. He said he will clear CPU often in the summer but now far more difficult. ^