It can’t hurt, on TCONs with +points I’m 5 out of 6 and #6 is Thursday night.

Similar story, on an E fare with PP applied and surprised to find myself 5/6 on the waitlist. I guess not impossible in theory but seems rather surprising given how few people are still flying. Although on the flip side maybe it’s also other GS/1K’s trying to burn PP’s.

Going midday from IAH-Florida so even more surprising for me. But again maybe not so much given the limited schedules and the fact most people are moving around for leisure.

Yeah, hadn't done that before my post as I had other things to do. Just added PP to the res and I moved up to #7. WOOT! Seriously...#7 as a 1K on an E fare on a holiday with PP applied. This isn't EWR-SFO! Maybe elite flying is back to "normal". If that's the case load up on UA stock because they're going to report way better than expected earnings for Q2. Geesh.

Gone are the days when I was the only elite on the whole plane during this pandemic as I had to get from A to B. Some flights I was the only one in FC.

-RM

i was supposed to fly LAX-ORD-AVP today. I was #12 out of 24 on Tuesday days ago, so I applied PP and jumped to #7 . Eventually there were 35 people on the list. I cancelled last night, since the cases in LA are spiking and I was afraid that PA would issue a state-wide mandatory quarantine for people coming from CA.

I reckon there might be some shenanigans going on here... Just checked the list for my 7/4 flight. I am #12 on the list.
There is also a party of 4 with the same last name ahead of me. I doubt there are more than 12 GS on this flight especially during this time, let alone that a GS(s) used PP to redeem upgrades for such a short flight <2h.

I have an upcoming flight this weekend EWR-IAH where the plane is pretty empty and 20F seats are open. I checked EF and PZ6. If this is the case, why wouldn’t they start upgrading folks within their window until PZ0 instead of a mess at the gate wheee 15-+ are upgraded at
a time including non revs? I get that they are trying to sell as much as possible and maybe the PZ availability gives folks with PP or miles the chance to use them and take them off UA books but it’s kind of ridiculous to Limit all advanced upgrades. I know DL did that for a few months but the difference there is they are capping F to 50%.

UA stopped advance CPU around the end of April.

Why? Some words were said by UA about COVID and safety. Coincidentally, when CPU is held back, there is more chance for someone to buy up to F.

UA has made it clear on my recent bookings that upgrades are only happening at the gate.

I made two close in bookings in the past week. Applied my PlusPoints (as a 1K) and was the only person upgraded at the gate on two flights, one of two on another flight and was upgraded at time of booking for the fourth flight. Long lists for the upgrades.

The supply is not there and UA knows many of us are booking last minute for our flights. For a number of trips where I may have previously booked a flight I am driving and also flying WN.

It is the old adage, especially with limited flights, if you want first pay for it.

UA is no different to AA. A couple of my friends missed out on the upgrade last week as Plarinum Executive.

These recent posts about clearing at the gate suggest that these are tough days indeed for Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs), especially for mere Premier Gold members.

FWIW I'm 7/8 this year on CPUs as a Premier Gold. Of those 2/3 were pre-COVID

CA, NJ and NY governors have made similar announcements. Without boarding cards and or secret police it’s all bark. I do love the PSA highway signs telling out of state’ers to call 511 and turn yourself in!
Take the trip, spend the points and live your life.

i ended up re-booking for Labor Day weekend. For $51 extra in “add/collect,” I was able to confirm F in both directions. (My original ticket was Y on the outbound, F on the return.)

Do gate agents get incentives for Buy Up's at gate? Twice in last month I have heard a gate announce "want more space, you can upgrade to first for $XXX" amount.

Where at? Pre-COVID, I only ever heard that at DEN.

My first thought too. I may have heard it on occasion at some other station, but I primarily associate it with DEN.