Feb 17, 2015, 3:16 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
From MileagePlus Upgrade Awards in the T&Cs
The uncertainty on PS (previously considered BF) segments appears to have been address, as PS flights are not considered Polaris flights
Archive: UA Miles + $ CoPay Upgrade (refunded if no Polaris segments are upgraded) {Archive}
What is the refund policy for MileagePlus Upgrade Awards that do not clear the waitlist?If you request an upgrade using a MileagePlus Upgrade Award, and none of your travel segments are upgraded, then we will automatically redeposit your miles and co-pay. In most instances, a MileagePlus Upgrade Award will be considered used if any segment of your travel is upgraded. However, if your travel includes requested upgrades to United PolarisSM business class or United Polaris first class, and none of the international premium segments are upgraded, then your MileagePlus Upgrade Award will not be considered used, even if you are upgraded to United First® or United Business® on another segment. In these instances, we will fully redeposit your miles and co-pay. When applicable, these refunds will occur automatically seven to 10 days after travel.
Archive: UA Miles + $ CoPay Upgrade (refunded if no Polaris segments are upgraded) {Archive}
UA Miles + $ CoPay Upgrade (refunded if no Polaris segments are upgraded)
Apr 21, 2022, 5:29 pm
#61
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: 3,614
Moderators please feel free to move if this isn't the right spot.
Question: is it still UA policy that if you get upgraded using miles on only 1 of 2 segments you waitlisted for, that it's considered a "used" upgrade?
I'd like to use 22k miles to upgrade SBA-SFO-OGG. I feel the SBA-SFO leg will clear for sure but don't want to use my miles if it's only for that short segment. I recall the solution is to call in and have them apply it for the longer SFO-OGG leg only?
TIA!
- Tom
Question: is it still UA policy that if you get upgraded using miles on only 1 of 2 segments you waitlisted for, that it's considered a "used" upgrade?
I'd like to use 22k miles to upgrade SBA-SFO-OGG. I feel the SBA-SFO leg will clear for sure but don't want to use my miles if it's only for that short segment. I recall the solution is to call in and have them apply it for the longer SFO-OGG leg only?
TIA!
- Tom
Apr 21, 2022, 5:32 pm
#62
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,447
Moderators please feel free to move if this isn't the right spot.
Question: is it still UA policy that if you get upgraded using miles on only 1 of 2 segments you waitlisted for, that it's considered a "used" upgrade?
I'd like to use 22k miles to upgrade SBA-SFO-OGG. I feel the SBA-SFO leg will clear for sure but don't want to use my miles if it's only for that short segment. I recall the solution is to call in and have them apply it for the longer SFO-OGG leg only?
TIA!
- Tom
Question: is it still UA policy that if you get upgraded using miles on only 1 of 2 segments you waitlisted for, that it's considered a "used" upgrade?
I'd like to use 22k miles to upgrade SBA-SFO-OGG. I feel the SBA-SFO leg will clear for sure but don't want to use my miles if it's only for that short segment. I recall the solution is to call in and have them apply it for the longer SFO-OGG leg only?
TIA!
- Tom
Apr 21, 2022, 11:04 pm
#63
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: SBA
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 940
May 30, 2022, 8:16 pm
#64
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 2
If only one leg gets upgraded
Rookie here. Flying DEL - ORD - CLE. I have an upgrade option using 25K United miles for Polaris Business class. It is very likely the ORD - CLE will get upgraded (45-minute flight). If the DEL - ORD (international segment) doesn't get upgraded to Polaris class - United will refund my miles, right? Even if the last segment (ORD - CLE) gets upgraded - which i dont care about.
May 31, 2022, 6:11 am
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,001
Yes, for international flights, if one doesn't get upgraded to Polaris class, United will refund your miles, and any already-cleared domestic upgrade will be retained.
This does not apply if both boldface criteria are not satisfied.
This does not apply if both boldface criteria are not satisfied.
May 31, 2022, 6:36 am
#66
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,858
I was never actually upgraded for either segment, yet they have awarded me the PQP for the upgrade. How long should I wait for the upgrade to refund?
May 31, 2022, 9:22 am
#67
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 2
May 31, 2022, 1:54 pm
#68
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,769
The key issue is now the ticket is marketed. If marketed as Polaris "class", then the refund policy apply. If marketed as FIrst, Business or International Business, the policy does not apply. Being a lie flat seat (either polaris seat or the older styles) is not a factor, it is all how the ticket is marketed.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 31, 2022 at 2:51 pm Reason: qualifier vs restrictiom
Aug 19, 2022, 12:41 am
#70
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,277
No if any segment of a mileage upgrade award is upgraded, then it is considered used. The only exception is if you only clear the non-Polaris segments when waitlisting on a Polaris marketed segment. As has been indicated above, Polaris marketing is not offered on any domestic flights. PS(Premium select? presuming you mean Premium Plus, as PS is Delta's product) and premium transcontinental business routings are not marketed as Polaris so they would not qualify for the exception.
Last edited by Lux Flyer; Aug 19, 2022 at 12:48 am
Aug 19, 2022, 12:48 am
#71
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,769
if your travel includes requested upgrades to United Polaris® business class and none of the segments are upgraded, then your MileagePlus Upgrade Award will not be considered used, even if you are upgraded to United First® or United Business® on another segment. In these instances, we will fully redeposit your miles and co-pay.
Aug 19, 2022, 9:30 pm
#72
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: BOS
Posts: 157
Policy is no , Premium Transcons are not Polaris marketed
Note, it may still be worth giving a call as some have been successful with ultra-short connecting flights that clear but the transcon did not.. YMMV
Note, it may still be worth giving a call as some have been successful with ultra-short connecting flights that clear but the transcon did not.. YMMV
Aug 19, 2022, 9:40 pm
#73
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,000
Aug 19, 2022, 10:19 pm
#74
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,769
At a min, if you can not get a total refund (YMMV), UA should refund the Premium Transcon (has not been called PS for years) copay, as that was undelivered. The mileage is the same for the short leg or the transcon
Sep 9, 2022, 11:18 pm
#75
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 12
UA upgrade waitinglist question
I saw a similar thread, but no definite answer that I can understand
I bought a ticket premium economy, united, SEA -> SFO -> PVG
I saw an upgrade waitlist opportunity for $450 dollars + 35K miles, that would upgrade the entire trip from premium economy to business
I did, and the united promptly charged that money to my credit card and deducted my mileage
Now, I got confirmed upgrade for the SEA->SFO, but is 9th place in the waitlist for the SFO->PVG
I really don't care about seating for the first leg. If the second leg upgrade fails, would I get the entire expenses ($450 + 35K miles) back automatically？ What happens to the first leg upgrade? Would united automatically put me back in economy plus? Or do I keep the upgrade? (that doesn't make sense as I would be getting a free upgrade from SEA->SFO?)
Different agent are giving me different wild answers...
I bought a ticket premium economy, united, SEA -> SFO -> PVG
I saw an upgrade waitlist opportunity for $450 dollars + 35K miles, that would upgrade the entire trip from premium economy to business
I did, and the united promptly charged that money to my credit card and deducted my mileage
Now, I got confirmed upgrade for the SEA->SFO, but is 9th place in the waitlist for the SFO->PVG
I really don't care about seating for the first leg. If the second leg upgrade fails, would I get the entire expenses ($450 + 35K miles) back automatically？ What happens to the first leg upgrade? Would united automatically put me back in economy plus? Or do I keep the upgrade? (that doesn't make sense as I would be getting a free upgrade from SEA->SFO?)
Different agent are giving me different wild answers...