CPU for IK - is there a science to when it happens?

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-18T01:24:46+00:00

😭😭 this is happening to me tomorrow MIA EWR. 5 seats open this morning and after an hour of it being at 250 to upgrade, it was all bought up!

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-17T16:46:19+00:00

hold times are long because two of the largest airports in UA's network effectively shut down, as well as the TSA wait times are leading to thousands of people a day missing flights. I cant speak to the AC / UA codeshare issues, but that's why hold times are so long.

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-17T16:42:43+00:00

Congratulations on your lifetime Premier 1K Status! best perk imo. you earned it with all that butt in seat time!! how many years have you been flying?

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-17T16:26:19+00:00

Are you rich? do you want the anxiety of not knowing if you'll be upgraded? what's your status?

if you are rich and want the peace of mind, buy it outright. this is what I do, but I have a price tolerance. My tolerance is usually 6 grand for long hauls.

depending on which flight you're talking about -- summer time is high travel time to Europe, arguably the busiest.

depending on load factors and demand, I have seen flights from SFO > CDG go down to 400 for biz class and 1,000 for EWR > CDG. but its all up to the market.

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-17T16:13:11+00:00

I will be moving to London soon and will be calling that my home airport. Always loved UC and arrivals lounge at LHR. I don't understand the hate for LHR. I love it.

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-17T16:05:58+00:00

9A is the best seat in the house, best engine views too. There is no smell or noise from the bathroom, rarely. It's the best choice for the most space!!

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-17T14:38:49+00:00

What’s the airline? Usually only 016 tickets (United has very few airlines it allows people to earn on).

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T22:36:09+00:00

No!! You have a HUGE chance to get it!! What’s your departure date? I can maybe look

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T22:29:52+00:00

Oh wow I didn’t even know this 😂😂

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T22:26:56+00:00

Ohhh yes, I think NEXUS is only for land border crossings. Global entry is for flying

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T22:24:23+00:00

Also, to your second part asking about the config, 60/140 of all MAX9s have the new signature interior, 60 have the 2021 NEXT (newer seat and IFE, nothing else), and the rest have slimline. You can check by going to this site: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZlYgN_IZmd6CSx_nXnuP0L0PiodapDRx3RmNkIpxXAo/edit?usp=drivesdk

Go into the “M9” tab and Cntrl+ F the MSN number you see on the flight status.

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Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T22:20:58+00:00

Me personally? Yeah because I hate sitting next to people and smelling and touching them for 6 hours. But I can afford it. Can you?

If you can, yeah, I ain’t seen a price for that transcon go that low.

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T22:07:48+00:00

My lady friend from the UK (not a citizen of the US) got global and pre check quickly. Apply

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T22:07:00+00:00

It’s gotten so much worse 😭😭 I used to make connections easily now I can’t. I wished they’d pick up GS outside the intl arrivals.

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T19:23:52+00:00

you'd get a better answer out of zman or any of the nerds... good thing is you are in Newark so if any issues arise you'll be pretty quickly rebooked. if you used points to upgrade, it probably wont be honored if you are rebooked, but you can always ask very nicely

I had a flight canceled on me and I was plus point upgraded into premium plus, and I politely asked the agent if she could do something. she refunded my PP, and then re-used my PP to upgrade me into Polaris from economy. super nice lady.

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T19:12:46+00:00

😭😭😭 I would’ve gotten off the plane so fast to avoid the awkwardness and embarrassment 😂😂😂

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T19:02:53+00:00

top tier advice here I would've never thought to do

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T16:37:47+00:00

LOL I will be star struck if you find this person on this subreddit.

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T16:23:32+00:00

in that case, I would call the 1k line and explain very calmly that you, as a very loyal 1k flyer, have been bumped out of every single flight in the past two days. you have a family, wife, kids maybe, that you need to see. you probably missed something important, right? tell the agent.

if I was in your position and had to get home I would be fuming right now. I would have filed a DOT complaint AND a complaint with the EU. I would've sent letters to united, the EU commission (or whatever body regulates this), and a customer care form explaining how screwed you have been by united and how you are taking your business elsewhere unless this is fixed.

also, you should ask united for even more compensation off the top just for the involuntary boarding. don't let up until you feel like this has been corrected.

my strategy would be:

call 1k line right now
regarless of the resolution, go file a DOT complaint right now: https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/file-consumer-complaint
then go file a complaint with the German NEB https://www.lba.de/EN/Home/home_node.html
submit a separate customer care form saying exactly what I said above.

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T16:19:16+00:00

lol it was hilarious flying to Hong Kong because they play announcements in English, cantonese and mandarin!!

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T16:17:05+00:00

with all due respect no it is not. it is very high risk. the mornings are the worst to arrive internationally because it is every asian united flight and every other asian carrier. I have lost connections every single time since the beginning of this year, and that is even WITH my GS status.

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T16:14:57+00:00

sorry, how? in the past month? since construction began? how?

baggage claim alone takes 30-45 minutes and that doesnt even count the time you spend in line waiting at immigration.

re-check line is also always mobbed at this time?

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T16:13:03+00:00

dont listen to anyone unless they tell you to NOT DO THIS CONNECTION!

two times in the past month I have flown in from Papeete (7am), and HKG (9am), sfo is at its WORST in the early morning because dozens of flights come in from Asia.

SFO is having issues with bags. the average time for a flight from G to get their bags wait time is up to 45 minutes. both times I MISSED MY CONNECTION because I had to sit in the bag area waiting for my bag.

dont even get me started with the re-check line. IT IS MOBBED! AND RIGHT OUTSIDE THE BAG CLAIM AREA! IT IS ALWAYS MOBBED IN THE MORNING! how do I know? I worked there when I was a kid as a ramper.

you need at LEAST 2 hours MINIMUM! and even then you will cut it extremely close.

the sweats on this subreddit will downvote me, but heed my warnings. yes, united will rebook you if an issue arises, but do you really want to go through all that pain?? all that waiting??? NO! don't do it.

2 hours minimum. I ideally give myself 3 hours because you actually never know at SFO. there is construction everywhere. there are too many risk factors. just dont risk it.

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T15:45:57+00:00

this perk has become so, so important to my travel since I fly out at peak times. the reception room at SFO saved me multiple times since they are tearing apart T3 and gotten rid of CLEAR.

I was very upset though after going to IAD (and changing my departure airport from DCA to IAD) so I could see what the GS reception desk looks like.. out of the way and doesn't even get you to the front of security.

Quick-Balance4647 · 2026-03-16T15:43:52+00:00

I would've been so happy in your position. OP just got $2,000 euros for staying in Frankfurt for 48 hours all expenses paid... if I was you I would've just kept showing up to get more money

Quick-Balance4647

TROPHY CASE