Requesting (Mileage) upgrades within 24 hours of departure
Apr 15, 2014, 6:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: MCO, YEG
Posts: 1,181
Requesting (Mileage) upgrades within 24 hours of departure
Hi all, tried to figure out how to search for this answer, but could not get specific enough to give me usable results. It looks like I will be close to an CPU on flights I am taking on Thursday, but it will be very close, so I want to see what the upgrade standby list looks like close to departure. How close to departure can I request an upgrade with miles? And can it be done online within 24 hours of departure or does it have to be done at the airport? Kiosk or live person?
Apr 15, 2014, 6:03 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: 1K
Posts: 784
Technically you're not supposed to be able to use miles any time after T-24. However, I've had really great success calling 1K line and having them do it for me. If the agent won't help you, just hang up and call back! Be sure to request that they manually check you out and back in.
Disclaimer: As always, YMMV
Disclaimer: As always, YMMV
Apr 15, 2014, 6:04 pm
#3
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: 66,768
Hi all, tried to figure out how to search for this answer, but could not get specific enough to give me usable results. It looks like I will be close to an CPU on flights I am taking on Thursday, but it will be very close, so I want to see what the upgrade standby list looks like close to departure. How close to departure can I request an upgrade with miles? And can it be done online within 24 hours of departure or does it have to be done at the airport? Kiosk or live person?
incorrect, see above.
Apr 15, 2014, 6:10 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: 1K
Posts: 784
Apr 15, 2014, 6:58 pm
#6
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: 66,768
Apr 15, 2014, 6:59 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Virgin Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 204
).AFAIK, can't be done online or at kiosk inside of T-24. I've only ever called in (easier to HUCA in case something goes wrong, though it never has in my case), but I'm sure it can be done with an airport agent.
Apr 15, 2014, 7:00 pm
#8
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: 66,768
Apr 15, 2014, 9:31 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: ORD/IND
Programs: UA Platinum, Avis Preferred, Hertz PC, Hyatt Discoverist , Marriott Titanium
Posts: 742
This is my experience as well. You'll need to call in inside of 24 hrs if R space is available. After t-24 the "redeem upgrade" option in your itinerary disappears... and I'm pretty sure (if I remember correctly) it doesn't matter if you are checked in or not.
Apr 16, 2014, 2:49 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: MCO, YEG
Posts: 1,181
Thank you, all of the information provided here was spot on. Did not end up buying the upgrade with miles, because I got a CPU on one of the two segments and it does not seem worth it to spend the 20,000 miles on the remaining 4 hour flight to move up from bulkhead to domestic first, however, information will be handy for future flights, thanks
Apr 16, 2014, 2:56 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SFO/JFK/MGA
Programs: UA 1P MM, AA-PP, AS, DL, HH G, SPG Gold, TA nada
Posts: 2,043
Really, I thought within 24 hours you couldn't go after R+ space. I just tried last weekend to use a RPU on a transcon and was told NO over the phone.
Apr 16, 2014, 3:11 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: MCI
Programs: UA Silver finally, DL GM until next year, Marriott Gold
Posts: 193
I have had good luck with the agents at check-in doing it for me on day of departure for domestic or international travel. Though I have only done it twice. I have asked about it many times just to get a feel for the number of miles required. The kiosk will not do it, but IME the agent behind the counter can, and usually will.
But you are correct above in saying that wait listing is not possible day of departure.
But you are correct above in saying that wait listing is not possible day of departure.
Apr 16, 2014, 4:53 pm
#14
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: 66,768
As stated only a yes if R>0, it is a no if R=0. So it is very possible to get either answer or uninformed agent.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 16, 2014 at 6:14 pm Reason: missing letter
Apr 16, 2014, 6:05 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
