You could be correct, but most GS I know where handing out rpus to people who would never pay to get in first on t-cons. As a GS, it was far more fun to upgrade someone who would never fly first but really appreciate the treat. Why upgrade someone who wouldn’t blink at accepting a buy up offer? I happen to think GS rpus were going to general members or nonmembers of Mileage Plus. Anyway, that gig is up. And I suspect that is a win for 1Ks which I can’t argue against.

That's all well and good -- and miles + copay won't be an attractive alternative on the non-CPU routes, because the copay isn't waived -- but I suspect you've probably got hundreds of thousands of MileagePlus miles sitting around and will end up using some of them to upgrade friends and family on CPU-eligible routes to make up the difference. :)

And, anyway, with +P, now you don't have to make the call. Unless you were using all of your GPUs for your own personal travel, you'll still have plenty of RPU equivalents.

Doubt it. I think the GS charity-train is over. In the new world, a single one-way int'l skip-wl upgrade (80 pts) could cost a GS 25% of their annual PlusPoint award (320 pts). GS will likely hold these points for significant-other or family...

We have no idea how much StW will cost. The 80 point level is for discount fares to J, and may well be used.. but 320 points is the minimum -- you get them with 100K PQM (and $15K PQD). The absolute baseline, fewest possible +P for a 1K.

OP said he had 32 fewer RPUs this year than last year. At 2 RPUs per 25K, that's 500K PQM. 500K PQM = 960 +P (320 baseline, then 40 additional for each 25K PQM). Many GSes will continue to have plenty of upgrade instruments.

I can tell you this 1K’s charity train is over as well. I’ve been giving my RPUs to friends for years since I rarely fly domestic. And unlike miles, they expire, so completely worthless by the end of the year, so it doesn’t cost me a thing.
Now that I can convert them to points my friends can kiss those UGs goodbye.

Thanks for your correction. So my impression was still right.

Judging by how many GPUs my colleagues gave out, I doubt PP means the charity train is ending.. most people have no idea how to get them to clear :)

And no interest in learning how. I find it quite strange ;)

HKG flights right now are an anomaly, although i do take EWR-HKG-EWR flight fairly often and it is upgrade friendly

SFO-TPE is also an easy upgrade some of the time

It will be route dependent for sure - but I would think it would be the exception not the rule

Highly unlikely 80 pts can get a skip-wl. My guess is 120 pts for a P slot.

If true, then the charity train is difinitely done. 120 PlusPoints is nearly 40% of the annual allocation to a base GS/1K. Uncertainty will drive PlusPoints hoarding, which is the desired outcome for the broader elite customer base.

Even if you're right, that won't change anything, because they will still eventually expire. So people will (allegedly) hoard them. and then they'll find that they need to dump them anyway.

The basic premise -- that UA is trying to take upgrades away from Global Services members -- is flawed.

That's not the premise. The premise is fewer upgrades will go to the eco-system of infrequent flyers that surround GS/1K members. Several GS/1K flyers on this thread are saying it has already started to happen, and will accelerate next year when the impact of the Cap and PlusPoints is fully felt.

Many feel this change will materially improve the UA upgrade program. You seem to feel nothing will change and the program will continue to be weak. Fine, to each their own. Fortunately, FT will launch a survey in Nov to poll the UA community on their satisfaction with the upgrade program today, and then ask the same question again in Nov of 2020. I think the score will materially improve next year. You probably don't. Let's see...

If I can snag an upgrade ahead of a GS, that's a win in my book. But if it costs an arm or a leg (or 120 points) ... maybe not.

There's no need to put words into my mouth. I actually like the program quite a bit, as I've been able to use every one of my upgrades since I became a 1K, although RPUs are mostly useless because I would have cleared CPUs anyway nearly every time.

The program has been -- and will continue to be -- materially better for people (like me) who live outside of hub cities. A couple of anecdotes don't a trend make.

If you are planning to use +P on SFO-EWR, that's not going to be any easier next year than it is this year.

You are right about one thing -- I don't think the satisfaction score will improve any. Then again, I'm already planning to vote "satisfied."