Jan 27, 2024, 4:51 pm

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Earlier discussion "Upgrade certificates (GPUs & RPUs) are useless nowadays" {Archive}

The way of the Dodo? - 1K upgrades, PP or CPU

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Dec 28, 2022, 2:56 pm

#571

frappant

Join Date: Sep 2022

Programs: United Mileage Plus

Posts: 865

What time of the year did you get SFO-SYD?

From Premium Econ?

Dec 28, 2022, 5:06 pm

#572

leoo

Join Date: Jun 2014

Location: YYC

Programs: UA 1K, Accor Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Delta Silver

Posts: 370

2022 upgrades

Also had a good year using my Plus Points accumulated in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
All cleared at booking except for the Dec ORD-GRU. I usually only book if PZ>0 or at least RN>0, don't like playing the upgrade lottery.

Jan : GRU-IAH (30) R->PZ
Feb : IAD-ZRH (40) W->PZ
Feb : ZRH-IAD (40) W->PZ
Mar : IAH-GRU (30) R->PZ
Apr : GRU-ORD (80) K->PZ
Apr : EWR-GVA (00) K->PZ
Apr : GVA-EWR (80) K->PZ
Apr : IAD-GRU (00) K->PZ
Apr : GRU-ORD (30) R->PZ
May : IAH-GRU (30) R->PZ
Jun : GRU-ORD (30) R->PZ
Jul : ORD-GRU (30) R->PZ
Jul : GRU-ORD (30) R->PZ
Aug : SFO-SIN (80) K->PZ
Aug : SIN-SFO (20) K->RN
Oct : ORD-GRU (30) R->PZ
Oct : GRU-EWR (30) R->PZ
Nov : LAX-NRT (80) K->PZ
Nov : SIN-SFO (20) K->RN
Dec : ORD-GRU (30) R->PZ

To Polaris : 18/20 = 90%
To at least Premium Plus : 20/20 = 100%

Also cleared these domestic segments:

Jan : IAH-DEN : B->PN
Jan : DEN-YYC : B->PN
Feb : YYC-DEN : K->PZ
Feb : EWR-IAD : K->PZ
Feb : IAD-DEN : B->PN
Feb : DEN-YYC : B->PN
Mar : YYC-DEN : B->PN
Mar : DEN-IAH : B->PN
Apr : ORD-EWR : K->PZ
Apr : EWR-IAD : K->PZ
Apr : ORD-IAH : B->PN
Apr : IAH-YYC : B->PN
May : YYC-IAH : K->PZ
May : IAH-AUS : K->PZ
May : LAX-IAH : B->PN
Jun : ORD-LAX : B->PN
Jun : LAX-IAH : B->PN
Jul : YYC-DEN : B->PN
Jul : DEN-ORD : B->PN
Jul : ORD-DEN : B->PN
Aug : YYC-SFO : K->PZ
Oct : YYC-DEN : B->PN
Oct : DEN-IAH : B->PN
Oct : IAH-ORD : B->PN
Oct : LAX-ORD : K->PZ
Dec : YYC-IAH : B->PN
Dec : IAH-ORD : B->PN

27/39 = 69%

cesco.g, kevino, SPN Lifer and 2 others like this.

Dec 28, 2022, 6:39 pm

#573

kb1992

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2003

Location: BOS, PVG

Programs: United Global Services and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador

Posts: 10,002

Quote:

Originally Posted by leoo

Jan : GRU-IAH (30) R->PZ
Feb : IAD-ZRH (40) W->PZ
Feb : ZRH-IAD (40) W->PZ
Mar : IAH-GRU (30) R->PZ
Apr : GRU-ORD (80) K->PZ
Apr : EWR-GVA (00) K->PZ
Apr : GVA-EWR (80) K->PZ
Apr : IAD-GRU (00) K->PZ
Apr : GRU-ORD (30) R->PZ
May : IAH-GRU (30) R->PZ
Jun : GRU-ORD (30) R->PZ
Jul : ORD-GRU (30) R->PZ
Jul : GRU-ORD (30) R->PZ
Aug : SFO-SIN (80) K->PZ
Aug : SIN-SFO (20) K->RN
Oct : ORD-GRU (30) R->PZ
Oct : GRU-EWR (30) R->PZ
Nov : LAX-NRT (80) K->PZ
Nov : SIN-SFO (20) K->RN
Dec : ORD-GRU (30) R->PZ

To Polaris : 18/20 = 90%
To at least Premium Plus : 20/20 = 100%

Also cleared these domestic segments:

Jan : IAH-DEN : B->PN
Jan : DEN-YYC : B->PN
Feb : YYC-DEN : K->PZ
Feb : EWR-IAD : K->PZ
Feb : IAD-DEN : B->PN
Feb : DEN-YYC : B->PN
Mar : YYC-DEN : B->PN
Mar : DEN-IAH : B->PN
Apr : ORD-EWR : K->PZ
Apr : EWR-IAD : K->PZ
Apr : ORD-IAH : B->PN
Apr : IAH-YYC : B->PN
May : YYC-IAH : K->PZ
May : IAH-AUS : K->PZ
May : LAX-IAH : B->PN
Jun : ORD-LAX : B->PN
Jun : LAX-IAH : B->PN
Jul : YYC-DEN : B->PN
Jul : DEN-ORD : B->PN
Jul : ORD-DEN : B->PN
Aug : YYC-SFO : K->PZ
Oct : YYC-DEN : B->PN
Oct : DEN-IAH : B->PN
Oct : IAH-ORD : B->PN
Oct : LAX-ORD : K->PZ
Dec : YYC-IAH : B->PN
Dec : IAH-ORD : B->PN

27/39 = 69%

Impressive record.

I see

Apr : EWR-GVA (00) K->PZ
Apr : IAD-GRU (00) K->PZ

Zero points? Free upgrades?

Dec 28, 2022, 6:44 pm

#574

leoo

Join Date: Jun 2014

Location: YYC

Programs: UA 1K, Accor Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Delta Silver

Posts: 370

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb1992

Impressive record.

I see

Apr : EWR-GVA (00) K->PZ
Apr : IAD-GRU (00) K->PZ

Zero points? Free upgrades?

Counted elsewhere.
Itinerary was GRU-ORD-EWR-GVA and GVA-EWR-IAD-GRU so I spent 80 PP each way.

Dec 28, 2022, 11:06 pm

#575

selo

Join Date: Aug 2009

Location: Los Angeles

Programs: United 1K/*G, HHonors Platinum

Posts: 146

Dec 2022: HNL-LAX 20 +Ps at T-24. I was #3 with 9 available on the 757-300, W -> PZ.

Dec 29, 2022, 7:03 am

#576

MileTrek

Join Date: Jan 2021

Location: ORD, MCO

Programs: UA 1K

Posts: 276

Quote:

Originally Posted by frappant

What time of the year did you get SFO-SYD?

From Premium Econ?

Yes from PE in Mid-August

Dec 29, 2022, 7:32 am

#577

Aussienarelle

Join Date: Oct 2015

Location: SAN

Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM

Posts: 3,236

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombietooth

Were you able to snag an UG on your flight?

Apologies just saw this. No on SAN-IAD, yes IAD-ORF (CPU).

Did get upgraded LAX-SYD (R-->PZ) in early December. Also, have been upgraded SYD-LAX (T-->PZ) next month.

All my USA-->SYD (and return) flights were upgraded in 2022 as was my USA-->MAD (and return) flight. My December flight to SYD was the determining flight to go for 1K in 2023 for 2024 (it was a nailbiter on the last upgrade). I want 1K for the international uphrades. 100% in 2022 for international upgrades. 1K for 2023 and looking forward to using all my PlusPoints again on international flights. Rarely got CPUs on domestic flights - not a key decision factor for me but they do happen on short hops.

zombietooth and dutchpacific like this.

Dec 29, 2022, 8:28 am

#578

st530

Join Date: Jan 2009

Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA

Programs: UA Global Services 3.2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Exec Plat, BA Gold

Posts: 2,576

IAH-LIM-IAH on Dec 29/30 was PZ8 on both legs when I booked two days ago.

seanp7 likes this.

Dec 29, 2022, 10:23 am

#579

Artpen100

Join Date: Jul 2011

Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver

Posts: 2,144

Got a CPU upgrade at the gate on Friday Dec. 23. IAD to ATL. It looked like it was because of people missing their flight that day due to all the bad weather.

zombietooth likes this.

Dec 29, 2022, 5:09 pm

#580

kulak

Join Date: Jan 2020

Posts: 65

I stopped playing the PP, CPU, and status game. I just pick my flights around open FC seats and pay for the upgrade.

zombietooth likes this.

Jan 8, 2023, 7:10 am

#581

Kmxu

Join Date: May 2012

Location: ORF, RIC

Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium, LTP; IHG Platinum

Posts: 7,180

I think that I cleared IAH-LIM (June) at booking, EWR-LIS and MAD-EWR (flight cancelled; took AA back in economy) last year. The rest of PPs were given to colleagues and friends. I used miles for a trip to Italy (IN) and another trip to NZ (JN; 60K one way). My PP balance is zero and I won’t see my new PP deposit until the end of the month.

Last edited by Kmxu; Jan 8, 2023 at 9:53 am

Jan 9, 2023, 10:52 pm

#582

zombietooth

Join Date: Oct 2009

Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.

Posts: 5,111

PZ to Japan?

Is anybody seeing (or clearing into) any PZ space to NRT/HND in the next few months? I am finding some reasonable J-fares to Japan on other carriers (none on UA), but would still like to use some of my PPs so that they don't expire worthless.

Jan 10, 2023, 8:04 am

#583

JALsnipe

Join Date: Apr 2021

Location: HPN, LAX, HNL, or somewhere in between

Programs: UA 1K, JetBlue Mosaic

Posts: 443

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombietooth

Availability is scattered, but exists. Over the next 29 days there are 11 flights with PZ availability from SFO (at time of search):

Code:

2023-01-15
==========
UA 875 SFO-HND 2023-01-15 10:35
Business Awards: PN8 PZ1

2023-01-16
==========
UA 837 SFO-NRT 2023-01-16 10:40
Business Awards: PN8 PZ6 IN4 I4

2023-01-18
==========
UA 837 SFO-NRT 2023-01-18 10:40
Business Awards: PN9 PZ6 IN3 I3

2023-01-19
==========
UA 837 SFO-NRT 2023-01-19 10:40
Business Awards: I1 PN7 PZ4 IN1

2023-01-20
==========
UA 837 SFO-NRT 2023-01-20 10:40
Business Awards: PN4 PZ2

2023-01-23
==========
UA 837 SFO-NRT 2023-01-23 10:40
Business Awards: PN5 PZ3 IN1 I1

2023-01-24
==========
UA 837 SFO-NRT 2023-01-24 10:40
Business Awards: PN9 PZ4 IN2 I2

2023-01-25
==========
UA 837 SFO-NRT 2023-01-25 10:40
Business Awards: PN9 PZ3

2023-01-26
==========
UA 837 SFO-NRT 2023-01-26 10:40
Business Awards: PN8 PZ3

2023-02-02
==========
UA 837 SFO-NRT 2023-02-02 10:40
Business Awards: PN9 PZ2

2023-02-06
==========
UA 837 SFO-NRT 2023-02-06 10:40
Business Awards: PZ1 PN4

zombietooth, Kmxu and Kacee like this.

Last edited by JALsnipe; Jan 10, 2023 at 8:28 am

Jan 10, 2023, 8:42 am

#584

Doppy

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: May 2000

Location: أمريكا

Posts: 26,798

Most of my international PP upgrades cleared last year, but only if I'm already in premium economy. Biggest factor against 1K upgrades is the ability for GS friends and family, even on the cheapest fare on the plane, to trump you.

United should revamp GS ability to confer PN clearance space on people they're not traveling with.

Boraxo, hch, zombietooth and 3 others like this.