Frequency of upgrades with 1K???
Dec 6, 2021, 9:30 am
#31
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 1
I’m about 10/40 for IAD-SFO this year. Requested PP every time immediately after booking. Most of the time only 1 or 2 upgrades clear.
Jan 1, 2022, 7:26 am
#32
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Not much data but in 2021 I went:
12/14 EWR-RDU 73G L Fare: Upgraded at Gate
12/21 RDU-IAD 739 T Fare: Upgraded with companion at T-96
12/21 IAD-ORD 739 T Fare: No upgrade
Also I put in for some TATL PlusPoints to Polaris for January and so far one of two has cleared.
12/14 EWR-RDU 73G L Fare: Upgraded at Gate
12/21 RDU-IAD 739 T Fare: Upgraded with companion at T-96
12/21 IAD-ORD 739 T Fare: No upgrade
Also I put in for some TATL PlusPoints to Polaris for January and so far one of two has cleared.
Jan 1, 2022, 7:43 am
#33
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Silver, UA 1K, DL Platinum
Posts: 696
0 out of 4 eligible revenue flights (EWR-TPA-EWR, LGA-DEN, IAH-ABQ). I just realized I did get upgraded IAH-LGA on a miles redemption.
Main issue for me has been traveling with child so I can’t take a risk on day of departure gate upgrades and split reservations. P fares in advance are usually decent, sometimes Z fares so I just go that. Use all my plus points and even took advantage of mileage upgrades TALT with reduced fees but like now the fact they give PQP so even worth considering for that.
if all goes according to plan TALT next week and PP cleared easily in advance.
Main issue for me has been traveling with child so I can’t take a risk on day of departure gate upgrades and split reservations. P fares in advance are usually decent, sometimes Z fares so I just go that. Use all my plus points and even took advantage of mileage upgrades TALT with reduced fees but like now the fact they give PQP so even worth considering for that.
if all goes according to plan TALT next week and PP cleared easily in advance.
Jan 1, 2022, 7:45 am
#34
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,269
I have my CPU history in my signature. Showing CPU/RPU/GPU percentages for past years.
Last year was great at 70% like it was back in 2015. It had gradually been getting worse down to close to 50%. Now we seem to be back to normal, though I was able to upgrade several award flights.
However there are lots of factors. PHL-ORD is my most common route. I'm sure its a different story for people that always fly hub to hub are always buy full fare.
Last year was great at 70% like it was back in 2015. It had gradually been getting worse down to close to 50%. Now we seem to be back to normal, though I was able to upgrade several award flights.
However there are lots of factors. PHL-ORD is my most common route. I'm sure its a different story for people that always fly hub to hub are always buy full fare.
Jan 1, 2022, 8:11 am
#35
Join Date: May 2000
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K 2.7MM, Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, IHG Spire
Posts: 3,317
IAH based flyer here. The first half of the year was almost 100%. The second half of the year has been about 40%. As others have mentioned, it is highly route dependent.
Jan 1, 2022, 2:40 pm
#36
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
I was at lower status levels in the first half of the year but I was 6/9 as a Premier Gold through August and then struggled as a Platinum until I made 1K in December. There was a big shift in the second half of the year regarding upgrades.
Jan 1, 2022, 4:16 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Jan 1, 2022, 5:25 pm
#38
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,162
The majority of time I'm in F without playing the CPU game but I've had decent odds (either success or finishing in the top 1-3 positions) when I have... but it's highly dependent on both route and aircraft type. For my flights tomorrow when I looked earlier today both were full in Y and 3/12 or 4/12 in F -- it will be interesting to see what the UG lists look like but I imagine more than 1Ks will be getting upgraded. (And RIC doesn't seem to attract that many GS or 1K passengers in the first place)
Jan 1, 2022, 8:07 pm
#39
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,997
Jan 1, 2022, 8:15 pm
#40
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Bloomfield, NJ
Programs: UA Gold, Million Miler, Marriott platinum, lifetime platinum
Posts: 974
I just hit IK less than a month ago. I applied PP to IAH EWR in March, and it cleared already. Also I cleared SFO EWR for me and a companion on February 9. Upgrades cleared Christmas Eve. I'm pretty happy with this so far.
Jan 2, 2022, 8:38 am
#41
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Jan 2, 2022, 8:44 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,501
Do level set your expectations, as 1Q is generally the quarter with the fewest people traveling. Without taking into consideration specific factors such as routing, day of week and time of day travel, the period between mid-January to mid-February will probably be the easiest in upgrades.
Jan 2, 2022, 9:50 am
#43
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 515
I'm a 1K Based at SFO. I had 11 flights on United this year, always PZ0 so I just bought first if I wanted it. No CPUs. I was able to use some of my Plus Points on NH flights and flights for family.
Jan 2, 2022, 6:26 pm
#44
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: IAH and ORD
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Titanium and LTT
Posts: 163
I was upgraded on every single flight I used PP on (or my husband's or son's PP on) this year, and also my companions. A few ORD-LHR and back, the few times I didn't just pay up for Polaris which was really cheap much of the past 20 months. Either way, ORD-LHR or LHR-ORD makes sense given the limited traffic most of the year. But also ORD-DEN and back, and IAH-ORD and back 3x. And ORD-IAD-AUA, and back. On really low fares and all at peak travel times. Count me lucky.