Last edit by: WineCountryUA
The way of the Dodo? - 1K upgrades, PP or CPU
#1276
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA/NYC/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 2,079
I think it's a combo of expirations and the unusually large number of cancelations and delays from the combo of the MAX grounding and weather. Elites are getting concentrated onto the remaining flights in such a way that there's really no such thing as off-peak for domestic travel right now. I've still had a few upgrades clear, notably on LAX-SFO yesterday where about half the plane was GS/1K preboards!
I don't know that I'd have had as smooth an experience on AS judging by the MAX9 thread over in that subforum.
#1278
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Redondo Beach, CA USA
Programs: UA 1KMM, Bonvoy LTE+A, HH D, Nat'l EE, Hertz Plat, Avis PC
Posts: 3,783
She and I are greatly looking forward to "the great GS purge" coming soon...
#1279
Moderator: Trip Reports
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA GS-2MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,807
#1280
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Redondo Beach, CA USA
Programs: UA 1KMM, Bonvoy LTE+A, HH D, Nat'l EE, Hertz Plat, Avis PC
Posts: 3,783
But I'm optimistic this time because of the significant number of people bawling and whining (I mean seriously, like, melting down) on the GS qualification thread because they fly on company discounted tickets and have earned GS for years but finally are not getting to double-dip on those benefits. They are all being "downgraded" to 1K and many are claiming to have shifted all their business away from UA.
If all of that is true, then I just don't see us dying as #1 or #2 on the upgrade list as many times as we did last year.
#1281
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium, LTP; IHG Platinum
Posts: 7,245
Perhaps!!
Please report back after Feb. 1. Good luck.
#1282
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 22,385
Don’t kid yourself. UA is not in business to give upgrades for free when they could sell them instead.
#1283
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,719
In most cases, you’re not losing out at #1 or #2 to people who are higher on the upgrade list. You’re losing out to people who are buying F, either directly or via a discounted buy-up. That will not change. The people who used to be GS, who aren’t GS anymore, will still buy those same F seats out from underneath you.
Don’t kid yourself. UA is not in business to give upgrades for free when they could sell them instead.
Don’t kid yourself. UA is not in business to give upgrades for free when they could sell them instead.
#1284
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 11,060
EWR - LAX K fare this week, late afternoon departure.
There are two later flights, one early evening and another one an hour later - both wide open for upgrades - PN9, PZ9, I9, IN9.
Switching to the later flight incurs a fare difference of $200+, but confirms into business right away. Better than $200+ & $750+ buy up into PE and J, respectively, on the current flight.
There are two later flights, one early evening and another one an hour later - both wide open for upgrades - PN9, PZ9, I9, IN9.
Switching to the later flight incurs a fare difference of $200+, but confirms into business right away. Better than $200+ & $750+ buy up into PE and J, respectively, on the current flight.
#1285
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Virginia
Programs: UA Plat (1MM), Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 107
I booked a ticket yesterday and managed to have 20PP clear immediately, and I'm waitlisted for my remaining 10PP for the return flight. I had one upgrade that didn't clear (I requested two and only got one, so the wife got to enjoy Polaris home from Hawaii) but otherwise every PP upgrade I've applied has cleared. The only upgrades I really cared about were the TPAC legs (5 for 5), so the rest was just icing.
Polaris upgrade success: 100% (5/5): HND-ORD, SFO-HND, HND-IAD, EWR-HND, HND-ORD
Premium Econ upgrade success: 100% (4/4): EWR-FRA (2 seats), FRA-IAD (2 seats) - all cleared at booking
Non-Polaris upgrade success: 75% (6/8): HNL-IAD (Polaris seat), IAD-SFO, IAH-SAN, RIC-ORD, ORD-HNL (Polaris seat), HNL-IAD (Polaris seat)
Failed: HNL-IAD, EWR-IAH
CPU success: 47% (8/17)
#1286
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium, LTP; IHG Platinum
Posts: 7,245
My last trip as a 1K is later today, and yesterday my last PP upgrade request cleared on HNL-IAD to a Polaris seat on a non-Polaris flight. I feel fortunate to have used them all!
Polaris upgrade success: 100% (5/5): HND-ORD, SFO-HND, HND-IAD, EWR-HND, HND-ORD
Premium Econ upgrade success: 100% (4/4): EWR-FRA (2 seats), FRA-IAD (2 seats) - all cleared at booking
Non-Polaris upgrade success: 75% (6/8): HNL-IAD (Polaris seat), IAD-SFO, IAH-SAN, RIC-ORD, ORD-HNL (Polaris seat), HNL-IAD (Polaris seat)
Failed: HNL-IAD, EWR-IAH
CPU success: 47% (8/17)
Polaris upgrade success: 100% (5/5): HND-ORD, SFO-HND, HND-IAD, EWR-HND, HND-ORD
Premium Econ upgrade success: 100% (4/4): EWR-FRA (2 seats), FRA-IAD (2 seats) - all cleared at booking
Non-Polaris upgrade success: 75% (6/8): HNL-IAD (Polaris seat), IAD-SFO, IAH-SAN, RIC-ORD, ORD-HNL (Polaris seat), HNL-IAD (Polaris seat)
Failed: HNL-IAD, EWR-IAH
CPU success: 47% (8/17)
#1287
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 57,619
My last year as a 1K was by far my worst for upgrades. I gave away 210 PP here on FT (and I think the last 40 will expire unused unless there's a miracle and GF clears on PHX-IAH RT here at the end of the month). I might have had one or two CPUs. Didn't keep score, it was too dismal.
I'm obviously way down on UA and its skill at selling upgrades over upgrading elites, the overall lack of value in 1K, and the really poor onboard product.
#1288
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: UA GS 2MM
Posts: 18
I think you have a point - when a person puts up $50-$100 to upgrade I understand UA is going to take the money. For the last 10-15 years as 1K I think I got upgraded nationally about 30% at best. On Internationals - much better odd using points - maybe 80% to Polaris (which is decent but service is not great). I did not get upgraded on the last 4 national flights last year as GS and I am flying on Monday - there are 5 empty seats right now - I spent over $50k last year - and its now about 40 hrs from the flight early Monday morning - the Upgrade is $399 which would make my IND_SFO return tkt about $1200 or $1600 if I also upgraded the return - I assume UA wd not sell an upgrade ticket for less that they are offering me - ??? this would be an interesting question. At this moment - first both ways is selling for $1258. The other thing I find frustrating with UA is that when I fly on the same schedule as an employee who has lower status that me, I am pretty certain UAs computer set the status as the lowest level of either party. I find this a pretty obnoxious practice.
#1289
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,246
I think you have a point - when a person puts up $50-$100 to upgrade I understand UA is going to take the money. For the last 10-15 years as 1K I think I got upgraded nationally about 30% at best. On Internationals - much better odd using points - maybe 80% to Polaris (which is decent but service is not great). I did not get upgraded on the last 4 national flights last year as GS and I am flying on Monday - there are 5 empty seats right now - I spent over $50k last year - and its now about 40 hrs from the flight early Monday morning - the Upgrade is $399 which would make my IND_SFO return tkt about $1200 or $1600 if I also upgraded the return - I assume UA wd not sell an upgrade ticket for less that they are offering me - ??? this would be an interesting question. At this moment - first both ways is selling for $1258. The other thing I find frustrating with UA is that when I fly on the same schedule as an employee who has lower status that me, I am pretty certain UAs computer set the status as the lowest level of either party. I find this a pretty obnoxious practice.
Personally I was able to use 290 out of 320 PlusPoints last year on TPAC and TATL flights. The 30 I could not use was due to due long upgrade list so I paid the upfare for one TATL flight. I travel on days when OPM flyers usually do not. But still peeved I was unable to use the last 30 and UA appears to have changed the long standing practice of extending them from January 31 to April 30.
They are not useless BUT if upfaring is my going forward strategy then status with United becomes irrelevant especially when you see reports of lower upfares for pax without status. Interesting business model and when the rules change smart folks change their strategies.
#1290
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: The place where it gets so hot in the summer some planes can't take off.
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, WoH Globalist, National EE, United Platinum
Posts: 1,454
I barely got to use the PlusPoints I had last year as a lowly Plat. Ended up burning the last 20 on a SJO-IAH leg vs gambling on CPU.
Today I happened to check an upcoming LHR-IAH flight i paid in miles and was amazed to see PZ available and instant upgrade for 30 PP and $379. The ticket is going for 80k + $322 for saver Polaris, but I saved 50k miles by paying a couple hundred dollars extra in taxes (original ticket and the upgrade) and burning some pluspoints.
Prob my last trip to/from London for quite a while so at least I get a decent send off..
Today I happened to check an upcoming LHR-IAH flight i paid in miles and was amazed to see PZ available and instant upgrade for 30 PP and $379. The ticket is going for 80k + $322 for saver Polaris, but I saved 50k miles by paying a couple hundred dollars extra in taxes (original ticket and the upgrade) and burning some pluspoints.
Prob my last trip to/from London for quite a while so at least I get a decent send off..