Why was I upgraded?
 

I was on a flight recently, purchased with award miles and received a CPU 4 days before the flight. I am a 1K and it was my understanding that award flights are not CPU eligible. My wife, on the same flight, but a different PNR, with the kids, did not receive an upgrade. Her ticket was also on miles and she is also a 1K through MM.

Just wondering what happened? And before anyone asks, I had to give my first class seat to my wife :)

Do you have a UA credit card?

No, but I used to have one a long time ago.

How full was it in Y?

Most likely explanation is an OP-UP due to an oversell in Y.
But maybe, just maybe, they're bringing back the "Surprise and Delight" program.

I don't think this matters - I have been upgraded on awards and don't have a UA credit card.

Op-up four days out is extremely unlikely. Formerly having a credit card is likely the reason . . . and United hasn't coded things correctly to show you no longer are eligible for a CPU on award tickets. (or perhaps they've changed the rule silently?)

It's supposed to matter. I've never seen myself on the list when on an award ticket despite getting bumped up once on an award (I assume it was an OPUP). I don't have a UA CC.

UA miles or a partner?

I've had at least two times when I've been upgraded on award tickets.

First time was a looong time ago, definitely pre-merger UA, and before there was ever such a benefit as being able to CPU due to holding a CC (and I've never had a UA card that has that, anyway). It was ORD-CVG. I think I was gold, and upgraded at/close to the window. This was a YYZ-ORD-CVG itinerary. Traveling just me. Have no idea what happened there, but Y was not even close to full.

Second time was traveling with my family...I think we were 3 award tickets and 1 lap infant, and IIRC, were gold at the time. CVG-SFO. This was the holidays, and I don't think we showed up on list after checking in (as expected). But I remember getting a message as we were walking from check in desk to the gate, and wondering how this happened. These were definitely the last F seats, and Y was oversold. So I suspect that was the reason

UA miles

Is Y economy? If so it was fairly full.

Re giving it to the wife....If you earned the upgrade its yours !!

Although this is coming from the unmarried guy whose relationships never last long lol

Currently have a flight booked in XN that is showing "CPU eligible." NVM, forgot about the cc.

There are airlines that don't upgrade on award tickets? I don't know how you guys live, we take that stuff for granted here on AA...

If I don't get upgraded at T-100 hours I call them up to ask what their problem is...:p