Are there different shades of 1K?
Jun 6, 2011, 5:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
Are there different shades of 1K?
Mrs. EX and I have been 1K for two years now and since we fly together all the time reached the threshold at the same time in those two years. Only this year, because of the earthquake, she is a couple of 10k miles behind me. We are looking at our flight on Thursday and I was upgraded via UDU for the U.S. domestic leg exactly at the 100 hr mark while she was not. Funny, though, she was offered a mileage upgrade for the TPAC segment, while I was not. Just trying to make sense out of it. In both instances there was/is plenty of space in each corresponding cabin.
Jun 6, 2011, 8:17 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton GLD, Marriott Plat, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 2,872
Were you in different fare buckets by chance?
Jun 6, 2011, 8:48 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posts: 296
Million Miler maybe? One of you is, one is not? It seems to make a difference for me sometimes, although can't say at booking. More in a clear at gate situation.
Jun 6, 2011, 8:52 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
Exactly the same itinerary, same buckets, just two separate confirmation numbers since we applied each our own SWUs for the return leg which came up as W fare at booking. Also we called UA and linked our reservations. We are stumped.
Jun 6, 2011, 8:53 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 1,208
I'm pretty sure the algorithm is widely established. Status, Booking Code, Time on list. It says to me that you probably booked a second or two earlier than her and there was only space to upgrade 1 of you.
Jun 6, 2011, 8:55 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
No, not there yet. We did bite on the upgrade with miles offer, though, and by doing so, Mrs. EX was upgraded as well. It just does make little sense and I was hoping some of you would have an explanation for it.
Jun 6, 2011, 9:13 pm
#7
In Memoriam
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: BUR/LAX
Programs: UA 1K, RCC; AA EXP; HH Diamond; CC Gold
Posts: 693
There was a thread a while back where Luckycoins experienced something of this nature where he was upgraded ahead of someone else who booked at the same time, same everything else. The other traveler didn't get the upgrade until later and it was speculated that present EQMs for the year might factor into play now. It was speculation, but sounded pretty solid, as it does in this case. YMMV.
Jun 6, 2011, 9:42 pm
#8
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,839
For the international upgrade, the time of application of the SWU/miles would be the tie-breaker.
For the UDU, the time of purchase would be the tie breaker.
Would be very easy for the order of two passagners on different PNR (or the same PNR) to be different based on the different tie breaker.
Do not understand the "offered mileage upgrade" comment? Anyone can request mileage upgrades.
For the UDU, the time of purchase would be the tie breaker.
Would be very easy for the order of two passagners on different PNR (or the same PNR) to be different based on the different tie breaker.
Do not understand the "offered mileage upgrade" comment? Anyone can request mileage upgrades.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 6, 2011 at 9:47 pm
Jun 6, 2011, 9:49 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: ord,ewr
Programs: Lifetime UA GS 22 million,AA 1m ,Hilton Li fetime diamond,marriott lifetime platinum hyatt diamond
Posts: 1,000
Mrs. EX and I have been 1K for two years now and since we fly together all the time reached the threshold at the same time in those two years. Only this year, because of the earthquake, she is a couple of 10k miles behind me. We are looking at our flight on Thursday and I was upgraded via UDU for the U.S. domestic leg exactly at the 100 hr mark while she was not. Funny, though, she was offered a mileage upgrade for the TPAC segment, while I was not. Just trying to make sense out of it. In both instances there was/is plenty of space in each corresponding cabin.
Jun 6, 2011, 9:57 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
For the international upgrade, the time of application of the SWU/miles would be the tie-breaker.
For the UDU, the time of purchase would be the tie breaker.
Would be very easy for the order of two passagners on different PNR (or the same PNR) to be different based on the different tie breaker.
Do not understand the "offered mileage upgrade" comment? Anyone can request mileage upgrades.
For the UDU, the time of purchase would be the tie breaker.
Would be very easy for the order of two passagners on different PNR (or the same PNR) to be different based on the different tie breaker.
Do not understand the "offered mileage upgrade" comment? Anyone can request mileage upgrades.
Last edited by Exleftseat; Jun 6, 2011 at 10:03 pm
Jun 6, 2011, 10:04 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Sunny SYDNEY!
Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold
Posts: 32,330
Whichever of us checks in first and gets first DM card gets upgrade first to clear.
1K is 1K.
Jun 6, 2011, 10:16 pm
#12
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,839
At time of booking, 7 months ago, we could not request mileage upgrade for "L" fare. This came only up yesterday being offered exclusively on Mrs. EX itinerary when clicking the "request upgrade" button. Fare out was "L", fare back was "W". I booked both tickets at the same time, well, actually minutes apart. That should not have made a difference. The UDU was on the "L" leg, no connection to the return on a "W" fare which is three months apart from the 1st leg.
As far as a few minutes apart -- when sorted by time that would be a clear difference.
I guess I see nothing strange here at all.
Jun 6, 2011, 10:23 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Pikes Peak COS
Programs: 3 Month Delta Plat, UA PP 2.4mm, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HH Lifetime Diamond, National EE
Posts: 426
I have noticed something in the past 6 months or so. The more UA trips I have ticketed, the faster my upgrades clear. The trips I have booked on CO metal, whether using my 1K number or my CO Plat number, clear even faster. Not sure why, but it has been working for me.
Jun 6, 2011, 10:48 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
+1, as a matter of fact CO has always cleared well before the 100 hrs mark. As far as the rest is concerned, let's just leave it as it is, since besides the SWU HKG-SFO that probably will never clear, everything is in fine order. I just thought there was an easy answer. No problems, thanks all for your responses.