How does the auto upgrade process work?
 

Hi,

I would like to know whether there is a known formula for the UA auto upgrade process from economy/coach to business on international flights?

Here's my circumstances. I am 1K. I always book B class & use miles or SWU's to u/g to business. My travel is usually SYD/SFO or LAX & return.

If I am lucky when I book, I get a confirmed u/g immediately. Other times I am placed on a WL. Almost always, I clear from the WL by some mysterious automated process at a time that I cant predict.

So my question is, "is there a formula behind this?".

I understand that a higher paid fare (ie B) will clear before a lower paid fare (eg M). I also understand that 1K will clear before Premier Exec.

What I dont understand is whether UA have an equation that says "at x days from departure, if there are y empty seats then we will upgrade z seats from the top priority wait list." Further, how does UA determine who gets to be top of the WL?

I try to pick flights that are lightly loaded as best as I can (as determined from the seat assignment map) but at the moment I dont know any other tehcniques.

Does anyone have insight/clues into this?

Thanks,

John:confused:

The upgrade should clear immediately you request it, if there is availability in the NC bucket on the flight - to check this, sign on, start the process of booking an award on the same flights checking "standard" award and not "saver" award, when the flights are listed mouse over the flight information, and if it shows NC is >0 the upgrade should clear immediately. Doing this means you can effectively pick flights that have upgrade availability if you have flexibility. If NC is 0 you will go onto the waitlist - and then there are rules in the run up to departure date for UA clearing (or not!) the WL which depends on passenger status, etc, that others will be better able to explain than I can.

Andy

One question, how does the complimentary upgrade actually work? do they auto upgrade you everytime you buy a valid ticket for it?

OP said miles or SWUs are used.

That only works domesticly - not on international travel.

It is actually quite simple. Most people get tripped up either (1) by thinking that their Y/B fare qualifies when it does not or (2) by failing to have their travel agent request the upgrade.

From http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1162,00.html:

Clarification: Only for reservations made by united ticketing outlets (united.com, United phone reservations, United city and airport ticket offices) will the request be automatically placed in the member’s reservation.

Complimentry upgrades must be requested manually for tickets booked through travel agents.

As always, it is best to verify your upgrade request on united.com for all reservations.

Revenue management manages the buckets and releases seats for upgrades as they see fit -- based on bookings, historical loads, etc. Pretty much a series of formulas like you describe.

The waitlist is sorted by status and fare class, and time of when you were added.

Finally, as for finding flights, look for NC space. If you have route or date flexibility, sometimes shifting a trip a bit will allow upgrades to clear right after requesting them.

This is so helpful, thanks to OP & replies.

If NC>0, will Cr-1's and/or E500's also clear immediately (for domestic flights)?

CR-1s or mileage upgrades yes. E500's only clear within your status window.

Thanks

I can't find the thread at the moment, but I thought that the conventional wisdom here is that there are two waitlists, A for 1K/GS (including sponsored SWUs), and B for everyone else; both are FIFO with A clearing first, and the quoted sorting applies only to departure management.

Please check the FAQ at the top of this forum. I believe it is all covered there.

I agree. Thank you!^

This is correct. You can either have your TA request it when booking, or you can call United and request it yourself after it is booked. But someone has to...