2011 SWU/GPU breakage survey
Feb 1, 2012, 7:02 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,067
How do calculate breakage? When you use one domestically on a long domestic itin which clears well ahead of time, but the first flight gets cancelled (mechanical), putting you in AA E- with only 2 weeks left to use the SWU, so you use it on a short-haul just for the heck of it, a short haul that you would have likely cleared anyway, is that considered breakage?
I think it is.
I think it is.
Feb 1, 2012, 7:51 pm
#17
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,449
Mine
1/6 used on LH Z to F
5/6 into the garbage can
5/6 into the garbage can
Feb 1, 2012, 8:09 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 53
0 / 6 expired, all used on Transpac upgrades.
Feb 1, 2012, 8:20 pm
#19
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Near SEA
Programs: UA MM, AS MVPG75K, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,969
Earned 6, used them 7 times. 0%
Feb 1, 2012, 8:24 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Washington
Programs: United 1K 1MM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Hertz Prez
Posts: 250
Different people have very different experiences with SWUs. How does it average out?
It's the ratio of (how many SWUs expired from 1/1/2011 through yesterday) to (the total that you earned). If you used any for domestic flights treat those as expired. If you gave any away treat those as used.
100% for me, 6/6 expired
It's the ratio of (how many SWUs expired from 1/1/2011 through yesterday) to (the total that you earned). If you used any for domestic flights treat those as expired. If you gave any away treat those as used.
100% for me, 6/6 expired
Feb 1, 2012, 11:15 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
Earned 8, used 10. 
ORD-HKG, SFO-HKG, ORD-PVG, SFO-PVG, SFO-ICN
2 SWUs got returned to my account even though upgrade cleared.
ORD-HKG, SFO-HKG, ORD-PVG, SFO-PVG, SFO-ICN
2 SWUs got returned to my account even though upgrade cleared.
Feb 1, 2012, 11:25 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ONT, SNA, LAX
Programs: UA Plat, AA Plat, SPG Plat, HGP Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 270
2 expired, 12 used
Feb 2, 2012, 7:22 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: nobody
Posts: 1,837
Earned 6, used 3, 1 get returned even thought it cleared. 4 expired. Also failed upgrade 4 times on trip to hkg/sin/nrt.
Feb 2, 2012, 7:26 am
#24
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: West Yorkshire
Programs: UA Plat 2.2MM, AA nobody, IHG Gold, HH Silver
Posts: 276
had 8 - all used on first time of asking on international (actually all lhr-sfo-syd come to think of it). so no breakage for me.
Feb 2, 2012, 8:02 am
#25
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: San Juan Capistrano, CA
Programs: UA Premier Gold (1MM), AS MVP
Posts: 989
Earned 6, used 2, 4 expired. My travel pattern just didn't materialize as usually planned. Flew C on DL on two intl trips due to price, and a trip with Mr. GLR to GRU didn't materialize in time for expiration.
I would have only used them lately for C to F so I'm not too heartbroken.
I would have only used them lately for C to F so I'm not too heartbroken.
Feb 2, 2012, 8:28 am
#26
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Programs: AS MVP 100K, UA PremEx-MM
Posts: 3,335
0/10 SWUs expired in 2011:
DEN-ICN r/t (x2 passengers) (January 2011 travel with 2010 SWUs).
DEN-SIN r/t
DEN-DXB r/t
DEN-HKG r/t
I had one CR1 expire 2/1/12, but it was an orphan that came back into my account in Dec. due to IRROPS (kept the upgrade), so I felt like I had already used it anyway.
DEN-ICN r/t (x2 passengers) (January 2011 travel with 2010 SWUs).
DEN-SIN r/t
DEN-DXB r/t
DEN-HKG r/t
I had one CR1 expire 2/1/12, but it was an orphan that came back into my account in Dec. due to IRROPS (kept the upgrade), so I felt like I had already used it anyway.
