Mar 31, 2014, 3:57 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Waitlisting for awards
Click for the current rules from United
Waitlisting options
Waitlisting can only be done over the phone, not online.
You can not book a standard award and then waitlist for a saver award.
If waitlisting for a higher cabin, best if done at the time of booking or soon afterward.
If done more than 24 hours after booking you may be charged an award change fee.
Generally, the waitlisted class mileage is deducted at time of request and will be refunded if unsuccessful
When waitlisting for a higher, state you are waitlisting for I (or IN if a plat or higher) -- do not use the word "upgrade", it may confuse the agent
If waitlisting for a segment when the rest of the segments are already in the higher cabin, there is no refund if unsuccessful
Member experiences:
Note: The correct priority term here may, in fact, be a code that is one of WAX, WBX, WCX, or WDX depending on status. The is per GG ONESTANDBY lines 32-55.
Note: PR-1 status is given to those who "paid" the requisite miles for an upgraded seat (i.e. biz) when only the non-upgraded space (i.e. coach) was available. The PR-1* status is to clue the system (and agents) in so that it is clear that you have been "displaced." (NOTE: once you have obtained PR-1 status, should there be any change to your ticket, e.g., an involuntary reroute by UA due to missing a connection, the PR-1 status will most likely get dropped and you must have it reattached (esp. before any UGs are given to others).
Unfortunately at T-24, many GAs do not get this concept. Use the above to plead your case but be prepared to be unsatisfied. One method that can get you to a higher level of understanding is the UC. Their staff seems to not only have a better understanding of the issues, but they can contact the gate and exert some influence on the less informed GAs, AND they seem to have more of an interest in helping PAX. If you can get into the UC, it will be worth your while.
**Note: If you get the UG on the long haul, the higher level of award miles you are using (like with the GPU) are considered used up regardless of the short haul. You will not be charged the lower level # of miles (i.e. refunded the diff between the lower level and the higher level you paid in advance), rather the higher level award miles will be considered spent. That is the risk you take when you do Plan B.
Related thread - Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
Archive of past posts - Consolidated "Waitlist for Award Seats Questions/Issues [ARCHIVE]
Click for the current rules from United
Waitlisting options
- Waitlist for alternative flights times / routing
- Waitlisting for a different cabin
From the above link on waitlisting for a different cabin: You may redeem miles for travel in United Global First, United First, United Business or United BusinessFirst, even if the space is not available. In these cases, United Economy in the same award type must be confirmed, and the front cabin will be waitlisted. If the courtesy waitlist does not clear, it will expire 24 hours before itinerary departure, and you will automatically be added to the airport upgrade standby list upon check-in. In these cases, you will be confirmed on a space-available basis by a United airport representative at the gate once the flight has closed for check-in. For United BusinessFirst and United Business travel awards, the difference in miles will be refunded when the United BusinessFirst or United Business class segment of the trip could not be confirmed. Waitlist requests may only be made over the phone with your local United Customer Contact Center.
You can not book a standard award and then waitlist for a saver award.
If waitlisting for a higher cabin, best if done at the time of booking or soon afterward.
If done more than 24 hours after booking you may be charged an award change fee.
Generally, the waitlisted class mileage is deducted at time of request and will be refunded if unsuccessful
When waitlisting for a higher, state you are waitlisting for I (or IN if a plat or higher) -- do not use the word "upgrade", it may confuse the agent
If waitlisting for a segment when the rest of the segments are already in the higher cabin, there is no refund if unsuccessful
Member experiences:
- You must have a confirmed segment to waitlist for different cabin and/or a different flight.
- Can only waitlist for UA/UX operated flight, cannot waitlist for partner flights. Can waitlist for UA/UX flights on a mixed itin.
- The maximum number of WL segments in a PNR is 2.
- When confirmed segment is on a partner, you can waitlist for UA operated alternative.
Note: The correct priority term here may, in fact, be a code that is one of WAX, WBX, WCX, or WDX depending on status. The is per GG ONESTANDBY lines 32-55.
The agent should give you “PR-1 status”* which gives you top-priority status and moves you to the very top of the upgrade standby list, ahead of employees and everyone else trying to upgrade with miles+cash. If one agent won’t put you on the list as a displaced Business class passenger with "PR-1 status"* then find another one who will. With this status, the odds of you getting a business class are very high if there are still open seats (or if anybody no-shows).
If the agents in the airport are all clueless you should direct them to look
up “gg onestandby” in their system (they’ll know exactly what this is)
and look around lines 85-89 which spell out the details of the procedure for
this award.
If the agents in the airport are all clueless you should direct them to look
up “gg onestandby” in their system (they’ll know exactly what this is)
and look around lines 85-89 which spell out the details of the procedure for
this award.
* note "PR-1" may not be the correct term, see the Wxx note proceeding this section
Unfortunately at T-24, many GAs do not get this concept. Use the above to plead your case but be prepared to be unsatisfied. One method that can get you to a higher level of understanding is the UC. Their staff seems to not only have a better understanding of the issues, but they can contact the gate and exert some influence on the less informed GAs, AND they seem to have more of an interest in helping PAX. If you can get into the UC, it will be worth your while.
**Note: If you get the UG on the long haul, the higher level of award miles you are using (like with the GPU) are considered used up regardless of the short haul. You will not be charged the lower level # of miles (i.e. refunded the diff between the lower level and the higher level you paid in advance), rather the higher level award miles will be considered spent. That is the risk you take when you do Plan B.
Related thread - Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
Archive of past posts - Consolidated "Waitlist for Award Seats Questions/Issues [ARCHIVE]
Consolidated "Waitlist for Award Seats Questions/Issues"
Jan 24, 2023, 8:59 am
#31
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 562
there is no saver prem plus or else the rates won't be more than saver biz. Premplus is OAR and only ON (award) and RN (upgrade) exist.
Jan 24, 2023, 9:16 am
#32
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA1K, *G & Wife of UA1K MM
Posts: 3,431
Jan 24, 2023, 9:19 am
#33
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 562
Jan 24, 2023, 4:50 pm
#34
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Montrose, CO
Programs: United 1K MM, Marriott LTPP
Posts: 548
If you think that's frustrating wait until you have to explain "displaced business" passenger to get onto the waitlist at the airport if it hasn't cleared. I didn't even bother last time because I find it so annoying and stressful.
Jan 24, 2023, 7:00 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
At this point, I'm pretty convinced that PR-1 priority is not supposed to apply to waitlisted awards, and probably never was, and the "displaced business class" stuff is nonsense. UA has intentionally put PN and PZ ahead of IN and I in the fare pecking order. It makes absolutely no sense that the order is suddenly supposed to swap at the gate.
Jan 25, 2023, 9:06 am
#36
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Montrose, CO
Programs: United 1K MM, Marriott LTPP
Posts: 548
All I want is for them to follow the policy, which I guess I am not clear on based on your comment versus the wiki. PR-1 has certainly worked for me in the past but it was so much effort I really can't be bothered with the conversation. Last time we tried "Waitlist of IN" and it didn't clear we didn't even get on the waitlist, so regardless of where we should have been on it I think we can all agree that we should have been on it.
Jan 25, 2023, 9:15 am
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
All I want is for them to follow the policy, which I guess I am not clear on based on your comment versus the wiki. PR-1 has certainly worked for me in the past but it was so much effort I really can't be bothered with the conversation. Last time we tried "Waitlist of IN" and it didn't clear we didn't even get on the waitlist, so regardless of where we should have been on it I think we can all agree that we should have been on it.
Jan 25, 2023, 10:45 am
#38
Join Date: Jul 2022
Programs: United MileagePlus
Posts: 336
as an update, i was able to waitlist the XN flight for IN on an existing XN-IN mixed itinerary. I've since decided to purchase the return and have called the 1K desk. 5 agents and 2 supervisors have told me this is not possible, and proceed to transfer me to someone else. This is ridiculous, they don't even know their own published rules. I'm going to keep trying.
Jan 25, 2023, 11:28 am
#39
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,864
There have been some reports of people dropping off of the visible list at T-24, and I agree that's not supposed to happen. But I firmly believe that the spot you should be in at T-23:59 is the same as the spot you are in at T-24:01, and that's going to be after all instrument upgrades, not ahead of all upgrades based upon the "Displaced Business Passenger" thing.
Jan 25, 2023, 2:45 pm
#40
Join Date: Jul 2022
Programs: United MileagePlus
Posts: 336
At this point, I'm pretty convinced that PR-1 priority is not supposed to apply to waitlisted awards, and probably never was, and the "displaced business class" stuff is nonsense. UA has intentionally put PN and PZ ahead of IN and I in the fare pecking order. It makes absolutely no sense that the order is suddenly supposed to swap at the gate.
Jan 25, 2023, 3:00 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
That said, I think the Wiki does say PR-1 isn't the actual priority for this and instead it's Wxx, since you're not a true displaced business passenger but you have pre-paid for a business seat (whereas PlusPoints are only deducted AFTER upgrade is confirmed) even if that payment is in UA's own currency.
Jan 25, 2023, 4:44 pm
#42
Join Date: Jul 2022
Programs: United MileagePlus
Posts: 336
We think this is the case because PZ implies underlying is paid fare and IN implies underlying is award, and therefore behind all paid fares? Niche situation that I previously hadn't considered.
Jan 25, 2023, 6:35 pm
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
The PR-1 list is essentially waitlisted for J, which would have the highest priority. Then you'd have people waitlisted for JN, C, D, etc. Most of those lists will be empty, because there's no way to waitlist for them within policy. (SHARES will let you waitlist somebody for C class, but UA policy doesn't allow it). And then PZ, PZ, IN, I.
Jan 25, 2023, 7:01 pm
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
I had agent do this (waitlist for IN) in about 30 seconds over the phone. It was so fast that I didn't believe she did anything, but when I checked, she had.
Jan 25, 2023, 7:28 pm
#45
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Aurora, CO
Programs: Statusless and proud
Posts: 7,582