Upgrade Priority: e500 vs Miles
Jul 16, 2006 | 4:12 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: UA 1K MM, SPG Plat
Posts: 13
Upgrade Priority: e500 vs Miles
Howdy all, an easy one for the pros here. Having just returned to flying too much to have a life, I've been upgrading with miles for transcon flights. Having flown enough this year to start seeing the e500s pile up, I now have the choice of using either. For my next trip, on one leg I am waitlisted having tried unsuccessfully to use miles, though the other leg is a confirmed upgrade. Reading thru the other threads here, I've garnered that PA/PB lists give higher priority to e500 upgrades than using miles prior to kicking into DM. Can anyone confirm if that is true, and if so, that it makes sense for me to request an e500 upgrade on the remaining leg rather than a mileage upgrade?
Any wisdom much appreciated.
Any wisdom much appreciated.
Jul 16, 2006 | 5:11 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 41,216
The common - but not entirely evidence based - believe is that 500 milers go
onto the PA once their window arrives.
If you are a 1K that would mean that between -100 hours to scheduled depature
and -24 hours to it, they would beat miles to ug chances.
However if inventory management releases seats more than 100 hours (or shorter,
depending on your status) out, your 500 milers would not kick in at all.
This is why miles are regarded a confirmed instrument.
If clearing the ug is your only concern in life then you should either a) leave
the ug waitlisted on miles until right before your window and then switch to
500er certs or b) trade the miles for a CR1 on the Coupon Connection and
be on the PA all the way...
onto the PA once their window arrives.
If you are a 1K that would mean that between -100 hours to scheduled depature
and -24 hours to it, they would beat miles to ug chances.
However if inventory management releases seats more than 100 hours (or shorter,
depending on your status) out, your 500 milers would not kick in at all.
This is why miles are regarded a confirmed instrument.
If clearing the ug is your only concern in life then you should either a) leave
the ug waitlisted on miles until right before your window and then switch to
500er certs or b) trade the miles for a CR1 on the Coupon Connection and
be on the PA all the way...
Jul 16, 2006 | 7:54 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: MP - 1K
Posts: 112
Welcome to FT!
Jul 16, 2006 | 4:28 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: UA 1K MM, SPG Plat
Posts: 13
Thanks!
Originally Posted by weero
If clearing the ug is your only concern in life then you should either a) leave the ug waitlisted on miles until right before your window and then switch to 500er certs or b) trade the miles for a CR1 on the Coupon Connection and be on the PA all the way...
Thanks for the advice!
Jul 16, 2006 | 5:51 pm
#5
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Originally Posted by weero
...leave the ug waitlisted on miles until right before your window and then switch to 500er certs....
Jul 16, 2006 | 6:05 pm
#6
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Originally Posted by KathyWdrf
Wait a minute, is that even allowed?
Jul 16, 2006 | 6:11 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 746
Originally Posted by mahasamatman
Sure, as long as it hasn't cleared, you can always cancel one upgrade request and put in another. You lose your place on the waitlist, but that's about all.
Jul 16, 2006 | 6:13 pm
#8
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Originally Posted by drjhwang
I thought you can only cancel the original upgrade request if your fare class is still available.
Jul 16, 2006 | 7:06 pm
#9
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Originally Posted by mahasamatman
As long as it hasn't cleared, there's no problem. If it has cleared, you might have problems, and that's also where the ethics come into play.
Jul 16, 2006 | 10:03 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
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Posts: 751
Originally Posted by drjhwang
I thought you can only cancel the original upgrade request if your fare class is still available. If it's not, then can you still do a CR-1 to 500 conversion?
Jul 16, 2006 | 10:16 pm
#11
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Originally Posted by SFO_Chad
This is only a problem when you have 2 or more legs that you want to upgrade.
Jul 17, 2006 | 5:10 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 41,216
Originally Posted by KathyWdrf
OK, I think I misunderstood what weero was saying. He did say "right before" the window! @:-)
Otherwise you are right, it is unethical and they will rightfully not do it!
And we are not 100% sure if 500 milers actuall do go on the PA. Most simply
assume it.