Who are all these elites flying on Thanksgiving Saturday?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Denver, CO USA
Programs: UA GS 3Million, Marriott/SPG LIFETIME Platinum - current Titanium, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 633
Who are all these elites flying on Thanksgiving Saturday?
Flying IAD - DEN on UA 2431 leaving Dulles at 10 PM. First is booked full, there are two people ahead of me and Mrs BHF on the UG list (and we’re both GS) and there are 40 premium pax on the UG list.
This isn’t a rhetorical question, who are all these premium pax? Where are they coming from?
This isn’t a rhetorical question, who are all these premium pax? Where are they coming from?
#2
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Flying IAD - DEN on UA 2431 leaving Dulles at 10 PM. First is booked full, there are two people ahead of me and Mrs BHF on the UG list (and we’re both GS) and there are 40 premium pax on the UG list.
This isn’t a rhetorical question, who are all these premium pax? Where are they coming from?
This isn’t a rhetorical question, who are all these premium pax? Where are they coming from?
David
#3
Flying IAD - DEN on UA 2431 leaving Dulles at 10 PM. First is booked full, there are two people ahead of me and Mrs BHF on the UG list (and we’re both GS) and there are 40 premium pax on the UG list.
This isn’t a rhetorical question, who are all these premium pax? Where are they coming from?
This isn’t a rhetorical question, who are all these premium pax? Where are they coming from?
#4
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David
#5
But what BlueHenFlyer is pointing out is not the folks already in F but the upgrade list and the sheer number of presumed elites flying to DEN on the Saturday evening after Thanksgiving.
David
David
#6
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First is booked full, there are two people ahead of me and Mrs BHF on the UG list (and we’re both GS) and there are 40 premium pax on the UG list.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Denver, CO USA
Programs: UA GS 3Million, Marriott/SPG LIFETIME Platinum - current Titanium, HHonors Diamond
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Families is a good answer. A lot of the same last names together. Looks like there’s a GS in the row in front of me with a family of 4 and they’re all on the list.
#9
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It’s not the Fs. That’s full. I get that. It’s not non-revs as I accounted for the 3 of them on the UG list.
Families is a good answer. A lot of the same last names together. Looks like there’s a GS in the row in front of me with a family of 4 and they’re all on the list.
Families is a good answer. A lot of the same last names together. Looks like there’s a GS in the row in front of me with a family of 4 and they’re all on the list.
David
#10
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Only 40 on the upgrade list on a hub-to-hub? I'm surprised it's not longer. My flight PHX-SFO on Sunday already has 59 on the list, and that's not even a hub-to-hub.
#11
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David
p.s. Just thought of another excuse: post Thanksgiving AYSO soccer tournaments ('tho to be honest many of them already started on Friday).
#12
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Midwest
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, IHG Diamond, BonVoy Gold, BW Diamond, RR Premium
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I don't know for sure, but I have noticed a good number of people who are able to take the entire week off now. Many schools, including universities, are taking week long breaks, and so parents, spouses, et al. take breaks to coincide. If that is the case, then many will fly Saturday to Saturday as that is a lower cost often. Sunday is higher traffic and more expensive when it comes to Thanksgiving. That may not account for all of the elites, but I'd sure do it. I am a professor, and former secondary teacher, and many of my friends are parents if not in education, so I am seeing this often on social media. I am not sure how many are elites, but this may account for some?
#14
Join Date: Jan 2014
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Got back today LAX - DEN, prices were WAY cheaper to head back home on Saturday than on Sunday when I booked which is why I chose to fly back home on Saturday. I have a feeling others had the same idea. 67 people on the upgrade list and I was number 26 on the list.
#15
Join Date: Oct 2009
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As someone who flies every week for business, all I can say is, "welcome to my world". I buy F on almost every flight now, so I get to see who stays in the front cabin with me during pre-boarding and, most of the time, the majority of the folks in F are non-elites. It's typical for me to see 3-5 GSs walk back to Y, along with a slew of 1Ks during pre-boarding. My interpretation of what is going on is that lots of infrequent flyers are buying F on every flight, leaving far fewer UG seats. I believe that this is a permanent shift in customer behavior and likely doesn't bode well for UGs into the future. FCM is working very well for UA.