Any correlation between O and I inventory?
 

When searching for UA business saver flights, I normally see more I inventory available than O. Is this generally true?

If so, using the ANA tool, if I see a United business saver award available, is there a good chance that upgrades are available as well? I ask because I'm trying to upgrade a flight, but because there are no economy saver awards available, I cannot see any I inventory on UA.bomb. So just wondering if the availability of O seats is any indication of I inventory.

I would say there's a reasonable likelihood that this is true more often than not. (How's that for being noncommittal?)

At least on the international flights I search for, there is usually more upgrade availiability than award availability (if there is even any of the latter).

John

I have never seen a case with more O than I... Most of the flights I look at usually look something like this:
R2 X2 O0 I9 N4

Seems like a way to boost revenue... Trying to get pax to either fork over more miles or purchase something in Y and upgrade. I would imagine that C is the "most popular" in terms of awards, so trying to get as much $ as possible seems about right.. especially on routes that almost always go out full in C.

Why do we go on getting these posts where people want to find I inventory online?

Yes, I wish we could do it - but we can't. And, even more importantly a UA agent will give you the answer in seconds flat if you call them - even better if there is no I inventory available, they'll advise you on the best bet for waitlisting. This process has never let me down yet and its really fast (especially at the end of the evening, when the phone queus are short).

david