Upgrades becoming easier?
Mar 25, 2009, 11:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAS - I'm All In!
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott PP
Posts: 3,639
Upgrades becoming easier?
As an anthesis to the "Upgrades becoming harder" thread. I have actually noticed the opposite. According to Fox Bussiness News last night I saw that travel was down 19% in Feb.
I booked an early Apr ICN trip with a return in mid-april. When I booked it yesterday the upgrades waitlisted and then cleared this morning, both ways. I booked my coworkers ticket this morning and then his upgrades cleared right away.
My domestic CR1s are clearing early as well - a May flight with 2 transcons have already cleared.
Just my 2 pennies.
I booked an early Apr ICN trip with a return in mid-april. When I booked it yesterday the upgrades waitlisted and then cleared this morning, both ways. I booked my coworkers ticket this morning and then his upgrades cleared right away.
My domestic CR1s are clearing early as well - a May flight with 2 transcons have already cleared.
Just my 2 pennies.
Mar 25, 2009, 11:40 am
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
It varies greatly. We're still waitlisted for April transcons (SFO-IAD and vv) and a July FRA-SFO.
Mar 25, 2009, 11:49 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Between SFO and SJC
Programs: UA 1K-MM
Posts: 1,406
I would generally agree - with the exception of Hawaii routes and A319s, most of my upgrades have cleared well ahead of time this year. Thankfully. 
Mar 25, 2009, 12:05 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 209
YMMV
I went to BKK in February and even with 35 open seats in the big business class section of the 777 I was on the upgrade didn't clear until the day of travel. On the way home it was cleared NRT-SEA, but BKK-NRT didn't clear until day of travel and was open enough I got 15A on a 747
I went to BKK in February and even with 35 open seats in the big business class section of the 777 I was on the upgrade didn't clear until the day of travel. On the way home it was cleared NRT-SEA, but BKK-NRT didn't clear until day of travel and was open enough I got 15A on a 747
Mar 25, 2009, 12:14 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: ORD, MBS
Programs: UA Plat., 1.52 MM
Posts: 2,053
The one thing that works well for me on mainline UA:
As far as my memory goes I almost always got my upgrades - domestic and international. Can't recall an exception right now. Actually it also worked well for last minute travel.
As far as my memory goes I almost always got my upgrades - domestic and international. Can't recall an exception right now. Actually it also worked well for last minute travel.
Mar 25, 2009, 12:16 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
With flights as empty as they are I have absolutely noticed earlier clearance than what I experienced last year. For my SEA-LAX-NRT-SIN-NRT-LAX-SEA trip starting 4/30 everything cleared at ticketing last week except NRT-SIN-NRT..and both of those segments cleared for both of us last night. I've got an upcoming transcon SEA-MCO next month and all legs but 1 have cleared...and my SEA-SFO-DEN-SFO-SEA this week cleared at the 100 hour window. ^
Mar 25, 2009, 12:22 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAS - I'm All In!
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott PP
Posts: 3,639
With flights as empty as they are I have absolutely noticed earlier clearance than what I experienced last year. For my SEA-LAX-NRT-SIN-NRT-LAX-SEA trip starting 4/30 everything cleared at ticketing last week except NRT-SIN-NRT..and both of those segments cleared for both of us last night. I've got an upcoming transcon SEA-MCO next month and all legs but 1 have cleared...and my SEA-SFO-DEN-SFO-SEA this week cleared at the 100 hour window. ^
Mar 25, 2009, 12:31 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DC, JNB, LON, NYC
Programs: * A
Posts: 2,528
YMMV: most of my upgrades have cleared weeks if not months ahead of my leisure trips. However, a few of my SFO-IAD/LAX-IAD are still waitlisted for lack of NC/NF space 
Mar 25, 2009, 12:36 pm
#9
In memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Chicago, IL (ORD), Phoenix AZ (PHX)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Starwood Platinum, a nothing in several others
Posts: 5,176
It looks like a large amount of award and upgrade inventory was released last night. I had been putting off a ticket purchase because of lack of upgrades but I noticed early this morning more upgrade inventory. Now UA has $1100 more of my money.
Mar 25, 2009, 12:51 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: SBA
Programs: UA Mileage Plus 1P, UA Chase Mileage Plus Platinum
Posts: 134
Agreed. As of last night, LAX/SFO-NRT/BKK from now till the end of the year is wide open in all categories, NC, XC, NF, XF. It is showing XC9, XF7 for many different flights for many different days across many different months with many different routings.
Mar 25, 2009, 1:09 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,449
Whoah! Sweet. I'm all over that!
Mar 25, 2009, 1:09 pm
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ravens Country
Programs: UA-1K, Marriott-Gold, SPG-Gold, IC RA/Plat, Amtrak Select
Posts: 3,887
I am still waitlisted on the 777 LAX-IAD this Saturday.
Mar 25, 2009, 1:16 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Indiana
Programs: United GS 1.5MM, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 533
A lot of TPAC Award Availability opened up for travel
I have been monitoring TPAC flights from June-Aug and it seems like a ton of XC and NC has opened up in the last 24 hours. Even legs like HKG-SFO and HKG-ORD, ORD-HKG and SFO-HKG is showing lots of availability. Strangely for some flights, it shows XC9, NC0. I know it happens, but it is always NC buckets opening up first.
Mar 25, 2009, 1:21 pm
#15
In memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Chicago, IL (ORD), Phoenix AZ (PHX)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Starwood Platinum, a nothing in several others
Posts: 5,176
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Last edited by gfowler-ord-1k; Mar 25, 2009 at 1:26 pm