United is very clear in basically saying "as early as 72 hours prior to departure". Nowhere does it promise upgrades are guaranteed to be given out at the window. Good luck filing a false advertising complaint when the language is unambiguous. UA is still doling out upgrades and UA is still going by the priority list. I got an upgrade at my window last month, and then another well before T-24, so it still can happen.

Also - seats need to be allocated for upgrades or CPUs. Just because seats are available for purchase, that doesn't necessarily mean seats are available for upgrades/CPUs. It's been like this for decades. UA has, in fact, been releasing CPUs late, but there might not have been any CPU seats available anyway on your flights. Maybe your complaint should be that UA needs to allocate the few unsold seats on your flights for CPUs at the 72 hour window (to the dismay of last minute purchasers) and not give them to GS or 1K customers :)

Oops
 

Well, I stand corrected. I never noticed the language.

Never would I have thought to file a false advertising complaint because, let’s be honest, if you want it buy it. Especially on an hour flight. Now that I went back and read the language you’re 100% correct. Regardless, this makes me feel better. Thanks for pointing it out.

You must be a bus driver ‘cause you just took me to school 😂

Yeah, it's borderline deceptive and you're not the first to raise the issue here.

There have been periods where UA pretty consistently ran upgrade sweeps at the CPU clearance "windows" and periods where they have not. They've recently started doing it again, though it's still quite unpredictable. Most likely pattern these days is they'll run a sweep just inside T-24, and they will typically hold a couple F seats back for last minute sales or ticket changes. If you have a few hours, it's all covered in this, and related, threads ;)

For a segment that short, I wouldn't care one way or the other. Most of the time, I would be on a regional jet with no F anyway.

This is not just UA, other airlines have had similar practice (my experience with AS and DL), but they do have similar language.

Broke the string cpu’ed to PE EWR-LAX on Wednesday and donated 20 PPs for 9L

PHX-SFO F booked 7/12 at T-24, I was #3 on the WL. They sold one seat before they ran a sweep at T-19, leaving me odd man out at #1 with 2 seats open. Had to cancel the flight so don't know how it would have turned out.

By contrast, for the return, AA upgraded me shortly after purchase at about T-60, with only 2 F seats open on a 319. Much more elite friendly upgrade policies than UA (but even surlier FAs, and I did not believe that possible).

I bet you would have cleared. I had a similar occurrence a few weeks ago also on this route ex-PHX, and I had cleared for not being 1K.

It's likely I would have. I just find the difference in policies interesting. UA is much better at monetizing upgrades. AA is stuck like 10 years behind.

OMG! I am deeply offended. On a last minute change tonight I show up as 5th on the UG list. 5th on a COD Saturday flight. Okay there are 28 open seats but 5th?

What's wrong with 5th?
what does COD mean?

​​​​​​Why deeply offended? You are in a clear position to get upgraded. Are you deeply offended because you haven't been upgraded yet? If so, come on now. You will get it, just be patient. Or is it so unbelievable there are 4 pax ahead of you?

Well it seems that I should have added rolleyes. It means there are other sleep deprived individuals trying to escape kalifornia in the middle of the night.
COD Crack Of Dawn.

Alternately, oh dark thirty / Zero Dark Thirty - i.e., too early.

David

oh you kids with your fancy sayings 👍

I feel your pain. I was third last week on a Tuesday 8:38 a.m. flight, and seriously contemplated a strong letter to the full C-suite.