Viewing upgrade availability
Jun 30, 2009 | 1:51 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,198
Viewing upgrade availability
Did something change? I used to be able to view the various inventory buckets on ual.com and can no longer do so (I checked to make sure that my availability format is set to "expert")
Jun 30, 2009 | 1:54 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat, SPG Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 1,970
Are you searching for a standard award?
Jun 30, 2009 | 1:56 pm
#3
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,726
Just did a dummy booking and also a standard award search while logged in and saw the fare buckets.
Jun 30, 2009 | 2:01 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,198
D'oh! I see it now ... under Flight Info 
But "I" and "X" buckets are missing. Does that imply none are available?
But "I" and "X" buckets are missing. Does that imply none are available?
Jun 30, 2009 | 2:38 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Rockville MD USA
Programs: UA former 1K MM
Posts: 2,184
For upgrade availability, do a "booking with miles" and look for NC and NF buckets.
Jun 30, 2009 | 2:43 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NorCal - Platinum 2.6MM
Posts: 2,152
If you need to view upgrade availability frequently, I strongly recommend the KVS tool. There's a modest fee, but it's just a few keystrokes then -- easily five times faster than united.com, esecially if you want to examine lots of different city pairs, dates, etc.
Jun 30, 2009 | 4:32 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Chicago
Programs: United 1K MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 739
Jun 30, 2009 | 4:33 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Crystal City, VA
Programs: United Mileage Plus 1K 2.7 MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Silver (!)
Posts: 2,648
How is it that KVS maintains the ability to see award buckets, when seatcounter & expertflyer have been shut out of this?
Jun 30, 2009 | 5:17 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,198
Thanks ... will check it out. How does it compare to expertflyer?
Update: google is my friend
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...lyer-tool.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ert-flyer.html
Update: google is my friend
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...lyer-tool.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ert-flyer.html
I, too, heartily endorse KVS Tool (www.kvstool.com) which I count as one of the best travel tools I've ever used.
Jun 30, 2009 | 7:03 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NorCal - Platinum 2.6MM
Posts: 2,152
Although Mr. KVS may reply (or might prefer not to!) I would guess that not only does KVS scrape the UA website, but since it asks for each user's M+ number and website password, it essentially has the same status as you would when going to united.com -- thus there's no way UA can shut you out.
Jun 30, 2009 | 9:49 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 264
EF sent out an email to its subs in January telling us that UA asked them to not show the award and upgrade inventory anymore, EF complied as to stay on their good side. UA asked the same thing of seatcounter as well. So either KVS is ignoring such requests or UA can't find an address/phone number for KVS to send him one.