Do you buy a higher fare-class (Y, B, U, H, M) solely to increase SWU/CR-1 chances?
Feb 8, 12, 7:46 pm
#31
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Near SEA
Programs: UA MM, AS MVPG75K, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,948
Originally Posted by LarkSFO
First:
Instant upgrades for GS, 1K, 0P (Y, B, M), Instant upgrades for 1P, 2P (Y or B)
Then:
1) GS using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a high fare bucket (not y, b, or m or they would have already instant upgraded)
2) GS using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a lower fare bucket
3) GS - If fare bucket is the same, then date supported upgrade added to waitlist
4) 1K using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a high fare bucket (not y, b, or m or they would have already instant upgraded)
5) 1K using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a lower fare bucket
6) 1K - If fare bucket is the same, then date supported upgrade added to waitlist
7) Platinum / 0P using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a high fare bucket (not y, b, or m or they would have already instant upgraded)
8) Platinum / 0P using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a lower fare bucket
9) Platinum / 0P - If fare bucket is the same, then date supported upgrade added to waitlist
10) 1P using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a high fare bucket (not y or b or they would have already instant upgraded)
11) 1P using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a lower fare bucket
12) 1P - If fare bucket is the same, then date supported upgrade added to waitlist
13) 2P using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a high fare bucket (not y or b or they would have already instant upgraded)
14) 2P using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a lower fare bucket
15) 2P - If fare bucket is the same, then date supported upgrade added to waitlist
16) GM using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a high fare bucket (not y or b or they would have already instant upgraded)
17) GM using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a lower fare bucket
18) GM - If fare bucket is the same, then date supported upgrade added to waitlist
And finally:
After all of the above upgrades have cleared, then CPU system kicks in.
Instant upgrades for GS, 1K, 0P (Y, B, M), Instant upgrades for 1P, 2P (Y or B)
Then:
1) GS using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a high fare bucket (not y, b, or m or they would have already instant upgraded)
2) GS using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a lower fare bucket
3) GS - If fare bucket is the same, then date supported upgrade added to waitlist
4) 1K using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a high fare bucket (not y, b, or m or they would have already instant upgraded)
5) 1K using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a lower fare bucket
6) 1K - If fare bucket is the same, then date supported upgrade added to waitlist
7) Platinum / 0P using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a high fare bucket (not y, b, or m or they would have already instant upgraded)
8) Platinum / 0P using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a lower fare bucket
9) Platinum / 0P - If fare bucket is the same, then date supported upgrade added to waitlist
10) 1P using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a high fare bucket (not y or b or they would have already instant upgraded)
11) 1P using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a lower fare bucket
12) 1P - If fare bucket is the same, then date supported upgrade added to waitlist
13) 2P using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a high fare bucket (not y or b or they would have already instant upgraded)
14) 2P using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a lower fare bucket
15) 2P - If fare bucket is the same, then date supported upgrade added to waitlist
16) GM using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a high fare bucket (not y or b or they would have already instant upgraded)
17) GM using GPU, RPU, or miles to upgrade in a lower fare bucket
18) GM - If fare bucket is the same, then date supported upgrade added to waitlist
And finally:
After all of the above upgrades have cleared, then CPU system kicks in.
Your instant upgrades are backwards - it's by fare then status.
Originally Posted by LarkSFO
Is the 'Instant Upgrade' categorized as a CPU?
Edit: Yep, you just saw that. We have dueling edits going on
Feb 8, 12, 7:53 pm
#32
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
Originally Posted by bmvaughn
Edit: Yep, you just saw that. We have dueling edits going on
Is this correct?
Instant upgrades for all Y tickets (ordered by status - GS, 1K, 0P, 1P, 2P)
Instant upgrades for all B tickets (ordered by status - GS, 1K, 0P, 1P, 2P)
Instant upgrades for all M tickets (ordered by status - GS and 1K only)
One last question: Where is the list of fare classes ordered in the way UA will look at them to determine upgrade priority?
Last edited by LarkSFO; Feb 8, 12 at 8:02 pm
Feb 8, 12, 8:02 pm
#33
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Near SEA
Programs: UA MM, AS MVPG75K, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,948
Originally Posted by LarkSFO
Touche!
Is this correct?
Instant upgrades for all Y tickets (ordered by status - GS, 1K, 0P, 1P, 2P)
Instant upgrades for all B tickets (ordered by status - GS, 1K, 0P, 1P, 2P)
Instant upgrades for all M tickets (ordered by status - GS and 1K only)
Is this correct?
Instant upgrades for all Y tickets (ordered by status - GS, 1K, 0P, 1P, 2P)
Instant upgrades for all B tickets (ordered by status - GS, 1K, 0P, 1P, 2P)
Instant upgrades for all M tickets (ordered by status - GS and 1K only)
Originally Posted by LarkSFO
One last question: Where is the list of fare classes ordered in the way UA will look at them to determine upgrade priority?
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,,3122,00.html
http://www.continental.com/CMS/en-US...ntinental.aspx
J, C, D, Z (for BusinessFirst -> GlobalFirst upgrades, only GPUs/RPUs on Z)
Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W, S, T, L, K, G
Feb 8, 12, 8:05 pm
#34
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
Originally Posted by bmvaughn
Good question - I bet you could infer from the mileage earning pages for PMUA/PMCO:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,,3122,00.html
http://www.continental.com/CMS/en-US...ntinental.aspx
J, C, D, Z (for BusinessFirst -> GlobalFirst upgrades, only GPUs/RPUs on Z)
Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W, S, T, L, K, G
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,,3122,00.html
http://www.continental.com/CMS/en-US...ntinental.aspx
J, C, D, Z (for BusinessFirst -> GlobalFirst upgrades, only GPUs/RPUs on Z)
Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W, S, T, L, K, G
In the notes at the bottom they list: 'For regions with a ✔*, Global Premier Upgrades are ineligible for fare classes Z P S T K L G N'
So it looks like N and P should be on the list somewhere..
We'll wait for Seth to answer...
Feb 8, 12, 8:29 pm
#35
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: SYD; Central Coast, NSW
Programs: UA, 1K 2MM
Posts: 947
Originally Posted by Mike Jacoubowsky
I'm glad I'm not part of the SWU lottery anymore, because it seems to create very fuzzy thinking. The difference in some of the fare classes, over, say, K or L, can be huge. Take SFO-SYD as an example. You can often get a K class ticket for $1100 or so, while an upgrade-possible fare might run $2300 (or more). That's $1200 difference. Why would someone pay more for an SWU-capable fare than a cheap fare plus 2*co-pay? The miles are almost insignificant (20k each way).
Obviously, there will be times when a high fare class is all that's available, but otherwise, what's the point? Save the SWUs for flights where you don't have a choice (but to buy a high fare) and use miles+copay for the rest. What am I missing?
(And yes, my year as a 1K, I bought a higher-fare SFO-LHR ticket for my wife and I so we could play the lottery. We lost. But at least it was just $150 extra per ticket, so had we won, we would have been well ahead)
Obviously, there will be times when a high fare class is all that's available, but otherwise, what's the point? Save the SWUs for flights where you don't have a choice (but to buy a high fare) and use miles+copay for the rest. What am I missing?
(And yes, my year as a 1K, I bought a higher-fare SFO-LHR ticket for my wife and I so we could play the lottery. We lost. But at least it was just $150 extra per ticket, so had we won, we would have been well ahead)
Feb 9, 12, 9:21 am
#36
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA1k; Bonvoy Titanium; Hilton Diamond; IHG Spire
Posts: 1,716
Originally Posted by LarkSFO
First:
Instant upgrades for all Y tickets (ordered by status - GS, 1K, 0P, 1P, 2P)
Instant upgrades for all B tickets (ordered by status - GS, 1K, 0P, 1P, 2P)
Instant upgrades for all M tickets (ordered by status - GS and 1K only)
Feb 9, 12, 9:38 am
#37
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.85MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 59,938
Based on the more recent Upgrade benefits in the 2012 MileagePlus program (and this matches what was posted on the preview site before it was shutdown)
All GS (on any fare -- but GS tend to be full fare) are ahead of everyone
On these flights, our upgrade hierarchy will be:
•Global Services (all upgrade types)
•Instant upgrades that weren't confirmed in advance, on select Economy tickets, sorted by fare class, then status
•Global Premier Upgrades, Regional Premier Upgrades, and Mileage Upgrade Awards, sorted by status, fare class and date of waitlist
•All remaining Premier members, by status, then fare class
•Global Services (all upgrade types)
•Instant upgrades that weren't confirmed in advance, on select Economy tickets, sorted by fare class, then status
•Global Premier Upgrades, Regional Premier Upgrades, and Mileage Upgrade Awards, sorted by status, fare class and date of waitlist
•All remaining Premier members, by status, then fare class
Feb 9, 12, 9:42 am
#38
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
Is this fare class list up to date?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-each-one.html
A = Discounted Fare First Class. Round The World First is booked in this class.
B = Almost Full Fare Economy with minimal restrictions - also used Star * RTW
C = Full Fare Unrestricted Business Class
D = Discounted Fare Business - used also on all "Business" Class Star RTW fares
E = 'Ted' and some low web/discount fares from early 2005. Now officially elevated to above H class!
F = Full Fare Unrestricted First Class
G = Travel Industry Economy Class fares. Feb 2011 rolled out on many lowball bookable coach fares.
H = Higher level Economy Class with few restrictions. Some "RTW" coach is H
I = Business Class Upgrade class from Economy (Better known as 'NC' class)
J = Supposedly Full Fare Business to replace 'C/D' - but C/D still very active as at July 2010 update.
K = Seasonal Economy heavy discount Promotional Fares/Reduced Fare Gov’t contract etc
L = Discount Fare Economy often with a lot of restrictions
M = Almost Full Fare Economy with very few restrictions
N = Economy Class AWARD TICKET (Better known as 'XY' class)
O = Business Class AWARD TICKET (Better known as 'XC' class)
P = Premium USA Transcon First Class on 3 classers
Q = Discount Economy with moderate restrictions. (Bereavement tix are often in Q)
R = First Class AWARD TICKET (Better known as 'XF' class)
S = Real Lowball coach with lot of restrictions. Reports that some are not mile earning ex UK/Brazil etc.
T = Heavy discount Fare Economy - often with a lot of restrictions
U = Showed up Nov/03 as booking class for "TED" also in mid 2005 a high level mainline class!
V = "Mid level" Discount Fare Economy, often with quite a few restrictions
W = "Mid level" Discount Fare Economy, often with some restrictions
X = First Class UPGRADE AWARD from paid Business* (Better known as 'NF')
Y = Full Fare unrestricted Economy class - generally fully refundable
Z = Heavily discounted Business Class - generally NOT "legally" upgradeable.
A = Discounted Fare First Class. Round The World First is booked in this class.
B = Almost Full Fare Economy with minimal restrictions - also used Star * RTW
C = Full Fare Unrestricted Business Class
D = Discounted Fare Business - used also on all "Business" Class Star RTW fares
E = 'Ted' and some low web/discount fares from early 2005. Now officially elevated to above H class!
F = Full Fare Unrestricted First Class
G = Travel Industry Economy Class fares. Feb 2011 rolled out on many lowball bookable coach fares.
H = Higher level Economy Class with few restrictions. Some "RTW" coach is H
I = Business Class Upgrade class from Economy (Better known as 'NC' class)
J = Supposedly Full Fare Business to replace 'C/D' - but C/D still very active as at July 2010 update.
K = Seasonal Economy heavy discount Promotional Fares/Reduced Fare Gov’t contract etc
L = Discount Fare Economy often with a lot of restrictions
M = Almost Full Fare Economy with very few restrictions
N = Economy Class AWARD TICKET (Better known as 'XY' class)
O = Business Class AWARD TICKET (Better known as 'XC' class)
P = Premium USA Transcon First Class on 3 classers
Q = Discount Economy with moderate restrictions. (Bereavement tix are often in Q)
R = First Class AWARD TICKET (Better known as 'XF' class)
S = Real Lowball coach with lot of restrictions. Reports that some are not mile earning ex UK/Brazil etc.
T = Heavy discount Fare Economy - often with a lot of restrictions
U = Showed up Nov/03 as booking class for "TED" also in mid 2005 a high level mainline class!
V = "Mid level" Discount Fare Economy, often with quite a few restrictions
W = "Mid level" Discount Fare Economy, often with some restrictions
X = First Class UPGRADE AWARD from paid Business* (Better known as 'NF')
Y = Full Fare unrestricted Economy class - generally fully refundable
Z = Heavily discounted Business Class - generally NOT "legally" upgradeable.
Feb 9, 12, 9:45 am
#39
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Ambassador/Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 590
Originally Posted by 1k650
I guess Instant Upgrade means only when NF or NC space is available, correct?
However, both of these usually have much better availability than R/RN class (bucket for CPUs (old NC/NF)) on UA.
Feb 9, 12, 9:49 am
#40
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Ambassador/Plat, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 590
Originally Posted by LarkSFO
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-each-one.html
A = Discounted Fare First Class. Round The World First is booked in this class.
B = Almost Full Fare Economy with minimal restrictions - also used Star * RTW
C = Full Fare Unrestricted Business Class
D = Discounted Fare Business - used also on all "Business" Class Star RTW fares
E = 'Ted' and some low web/discount fares from early 2005. Now officially elevated to above H class!
F = Full Fare Unrestricted First Class
G = Travel Industry Economy Class fares. Feb 2011 rolled out on many lowball bookable coach fares.
H = Higher level Economy Class with few restrictions. Some "RTW" coach is H
I = Business Class Upgrade class from Economy (Better known as 'NC' class)
J = Supposedly Full Fare Business to replace 'C/D' - but C/D still very active as at July 2010 update.
K = Seasonal Economy heavy discount Promotional Fares/Reduced Fare Gov’t contract etc
L = Discount Fare Economy often with a lot of restrictions
M = Almost Full Fare Economy with very few restrictions
N = Economy Class AWARD TICKET (Better known as 'XY' class)
O = Business Class AWARD TICKET (Better known as 'XC' class)
P = Premium USA Transcon First Class on 3 classers
Q = Discount Economy with moderate restrictions. (Bereavement tix are often in Q)
R = First Class AWARD TICKET (Better known as 'XF' class)
S = Real Lowball coach with lot of restrictions. Reports that some are not mile earning ex UK/Brazil etc.
T = Heavy discount Fare Economy - often with a lot of restrictions
U = Showed up Nov/03 as booking class for "TED" also in mid 2005 a high level mainline class!
V = "Mid level" Discount Fare Economy, often with quite a few restrictions
W = "Mid level" Discount Fare Economy, often with some restrictions
X = First Class UPGRADE AWARD from paid Business* (Better known as 'NF')
Y = Full Fare unrestricted Economy class - generally fully refundable
Z = Heavily discounted Business Class - generally NOT "legally" upgradeable.
A = Discounted Fare First Class. Round The World First is booked in this class.
B = Almost Full Fare Economy with minimal restrictions - also used Star * RTW
C = Full Fare Unrestricted Business Class
D = Discounted Fare Business - used also on all "Business" Class Star RTW fares
E = 'Ted' and some low web/discount fares from early 2005. Now officially elevated to above H class!
F = Full Fare Unrestricted First Class
G = Travel Industry Economy Class fares. Feb 2011 rolled out on many lowball bookable coach fares.
H = Higher level Economy Class with few restrictions. Some "RTW" coach is H
I = Business Class Upgrade class from Economy (Better known as 'NC' class)
J = Supposedly Full Fare Business to replace 'C/D' - but C/D still very active as at July 2010 update.
K = Seasonal Economy heavy discount Promotional Fares/Reduced Fare Gov’t contract etc
L = Discount Fare Economy often with a lot of restrictions
M = Almost Full Fare Economy with very few restrictions
N = Economy Class AWARD TICKET (Better known as 'XY' class)
O = Business Class AWARD TICKET (Better known as 'XC' class)
P = Premium USA Transcon First Class on 3 classers
Q = Discount Economy with moderate restrictions. (Bereavement tix are often in Q)
R = First Class AWARD TICKET (Better known as 'XF' class)
S = Real Lowball coach with lot of restrictions. Reports that some are not mile earning ex UK/Brazil etc.
T = Heavy discount Fare Economy - often with a lot of restrictions
U = Showed up Nov/03 as booking class for "TED" also in mid 2005 a high level mainline class!
V = "Mid level" Discount Fare Economy, often with quite a few restrictions
W = "Mid level" Discount Fare Economy, often with some restrictions
X = First Class UPGRADE AWARD from paid Business* (Better known as 'NF')
Y = Full Fare unrestricted Economy class - generally fully refundable
Z = Heavily discounted Business Class - generally NOT "legally" upgradeable.
Feb 9, 12, 9:51 am
#41
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA1k; Bonvoy Titanium; Hilton Diamond; IHG Spire
Posts: 1,716
Originally Posted by Cuse44
Nope. For Y class tickets, "space available" means any first class seat (F>0). For B and M class tickets, "space available" means any first class seat in the PN bucket (PN>0). PN is a subset of P (which is a discount first class fare).
However, both of these usually have much better availability than R/RN class (bucket for CPUs (old NC/NF)) on UA.
However, both of these usually have much better availability than R/RN class (bucket for CPUs (old NC/NF)) on UA.
Feb 9, 12, 9:52 am
#42
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 69,210
Originally Posted by bmvaughn
Here's the priority:
http://www.mileageplusmergerupdates....radesOverview?
http://www.mileageplusmergerupdates....radesOverview?
Originally Posted by LarkSFO
So it looks like N and P should be on the list somewhere..
We'll wait for Seth to answer...
We'll wait for Seth to answer...
N is not in use. P is a discounted business class bucket but higher than Z. But since it is already in Business no CPUs there.
Originally Posted by 1k650
I guess Instant Upgrade means only when NF or NC space is available, correct?
Originally Posted by LarkSFO
Originally Posted by Cuse44
For Y class tickets, "space available" means any first class seat (F>0).
Originally Posted by 1k650
PN is something new now (at least, it did not exist in legacy UA). What would be the business class equivalent?
Feb 9, 12, 9:57 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Near SEA
Programs: UA MM, AS MVPG75K, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,948
Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
Based on the more recent Upgrade benefits in the 2012 MileagePlus program (and this matches what was posted on the preview site before it was shutdown)
All GS (on any fare -- but GS tend to be full fare) are ahead of everyone
All GS (on any fare -- but GS tend to be full fare) are ahead of everyone
Feb 9, 12, 11:10 am
#44
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,761
Originally Posted by bmvaughn
Wow, so a GS using CPU would be ahead of a 1K using a RPU? That's unfortunate for the 1K.
Feb 9, 12, 11:16 am
#45
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Near SEA
Programs: UA MM, AS MVPG75K, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,948
Originally Posted by iluv2fly
No, actually, that's fortunate for the GS, as it should be.
