I don't know how long
this web page has been around, but here's the info relating to mileage upgrades:
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Upgrade award rules- Upgrades are valid for one class of service.
- On three-class aircraft, you can upgrade from paid United Economy® to United Business®, or from paid United Business to United First®.
- On two-class aircraft, you can upgrade from paid United Economy to United First.
- Upgrade awards are not available on all published fares and are subject to capacity controls.
- For travel within North America, upgrade awards can be used with booking classes C, Y, B, M, H, Q, V, W, S, K, L and T, except when the terms and conditions of the sale state that the fare is not eligible for upgrades.
- For travel outside of North America, upgrade awards can be used with booking classes C, Y, B, M and H, except when the terms and conditions of the sale state that the fare is not eligible for upgrades.
- Ticket must be issued in the paid class of service before an upgrade is issued.
- Purchase your ticket online, through United Reservations or through your travel professional.
- Request your upgrade through United Reservations or your City Ticket Office.
- Upgrade awards shown in the upgrade chart, are for one-way travel.
- When traveling on an upgrade award, a maximum of two en route stopovers (one each way) is permitted.
- Travel on code share flights operated by other airlines is excluded.
- When United award travel originates in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe or Latin America and entails routing via the U.S., two awards are required: one to/from the U.S., and another between the U.S. and your final destination.
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Here are the rules for electronic upgrades (from
https://www.ua2go.com/web/eug/jsp/_terms_conditions.jsp, but you have to log in to get to that page):
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500 - Mile Upgrade Terms and Conditions- Valid Carrier: This upgrade may be used on United Airlines- or United Shuttle-operated flights, but not on United-marketed code share flights operated by other airlines. For use on flights to or from Canada, customer must present a valid Mileage Plus membership card or a completed Mileage Plus Enrollment Form to the check-in agent. Offer is subject to government approval where applicable.
- Valid Routing: To take advantage of this upgrade you must be traveling within the 49 continental United States, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Canada or Mexico.
- Upgradeable Fares: This upgrade may be used on United Business (C) and United Economy (Y, B) booking classes by all members; and Premier members may also upgrade on United Economy (M, H, Q, V, W, S, K, L, T) booking classes except when the terms and conditions of sale state that the fare is not eligible for upgrades.
- Non-Upgradeable Fares: This upgrade may not be used on travel industry (G) or Mileage Plus (XY, XC, NY, NC) booking classes.
- Mileage Plus Accrual: The Mileage Plus Miles you earn are based on the class of service you purchase, not your upgraded class of service.
- Ticketing: You may purchase your ticket using United's Electronic Ticketing (where applicable) by calling United Airlines or your travel professional. You may also ticket via United's Web site at united.com, through the mail, a city ticket office or airport location. Ticket should be issued in the purchased United Economy or United Business class fare. Your ticket should not be reissued using this Electronic Upgrade.
- Request Upgrade: The upgrade NF/NC booking class may be requested anytime prior to departure, but will be confirmed, based on availability, according to the following time frame. United Business (C) and United economy (Y, B) booking classes may be confirmed 100 hours prior to departure for Premier Executive 1K members, and 72 hours prior for all other members. For Premier members only: United Economy (M, H, Q, V, W, S, K, L, T) booking classes may be confirmed 100 hours prior to departure for 1K members, 72 hours prior for Premier Executive members and 24 hours prior for Premier members. The NF/NC booking class may be confirmed up to 20 minutes prior to departure for flights within the 50 United States and 30 minutes prior for flights to/from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The upgraded NF/NC booking class may not always be available on all flights or on all days of the week when you travel.
- Upgrade Rules: Only one-way and one upgraded class of service is allowed using this upgrade. Two-class upgrades on a three-cabin aircraft are not permitted. For flights that stop en-route, the upgrade is only permitted when the upgraded seating is available on all portions of the flight. This upgrade may not be used on the domestic portion of an international flight when only one flight coupon has been issued.
- Number of Upgrades: The number of 500-Mile Upgrades required to upgrade must equal or exceed the total miles flown between your origin and destination cities.
- Companion: Upgrade is not transferable, but may be used to upgrade one traveling companion to the same class of service following the same guidelines.
- Changes/Refunds: The rules of the fare you purchase determine what changes or refunds are allowed. Check with United Airlines or your travel professional.
- Other Important Notes: This upgrade may only be used to upgrade one person. Other restrictions may apply. Upgrade has no cash value. Void if sold or bartered.
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and
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Confirmed North America Upgrade Terms and Conditions
To make reservations, contact United Airlines or your travel professional and refer the representative to profile name: MPI/Upgrade HK-System for Systemwide Upgrades and PMO/Upgrade HK49 for Confirmed North America.
- Valid Carrier: This upgrade may be used on United Airlines - or United Shuttle-operated flights, but not on flights operated by other airlines (such as United-marketed code share and Star Alliance flights).
- Valid Routing: For North America Confirmed Upgrades, you must travel within the 49 United States, the Caribbean, Canada or Mexico. This upgrade is not valid on flights to/from Hawaii, except when member is a resident of Hawaii. You may use Confirmed Systemwide Upgrades anywhere United flies.
- Upgradeable Fares: This [HK49] upgrade may be used on most United Business (C) or United Economy (Y, B, M, H, Q, V, W, S, K, L, T) booking classes, except when the terms and conditions of sale state that the fare is not eligible for upgrade. Confirmed Systemwide Upgrades may be used on most United Business (C) or United Economy (Y, B, M, H, Q, V, W) booking classes.
- Non-Upgradeable Fares: This upgrade may not be used on travel industry (G) or Mileage Plus (XY, XC, NY, NC) booking classes.
- Mileage Plus Accrual: The Mileage Plus Miles you earn are based on the class of service you purchase, not your upgraded class of service.
- Ticketing: You may purchase your ticket using United's Electronic Ticketing (where applicable) by calling United Airlines or your travel professional.* You may also ticket via United's Web site at united.com, through the mail, a city ticket office or airport location. Ticket must be issued in the purchased United Economy or United Business class fare. Your ticket will not be reissued using this upgrade. Present the Confirmed Systemwide Upgrade Certificate upon check-in on the day of departure. For North America Confirmed Upgrades, your electronic upgrade account will be deducted automatically upon check-in at the airport.
- Request Upgrade: The upgraded United First (NF) or United Business (NC) booking class may be requested after the ticket is issued in the purchased United Economy or United Business class fare. If available, the upgraded class will be confirmed and you may request a seat assignment. The upgraded NF/NC booking class may be confirmed up to 20 minutes prior to departure for flights within the 50 United States and 30 minutes prior to departure for flights to/from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The upgraded NF/NC booking class may not always be available on all flights or on all days of the week when you travel.
- Upgrade Rules: Only one-way and one upgraded class of service is allowed using this upgrade. Two-class upgrades on a three-cabin aircraft are not permitted. For flights that stop en-route, the upgrade is only permitted when the upgraded seating is available on all portions of the flight. This upgrade may not be used on the domestic portion of an international flight when only one flight coupon has been issued.
- Changes/Refunds: The rules of the fare you purchase determine what changes or refunds are allowed. Check with United Airlines or your travel professional.
- Other Important Notes: This upgrade may be used to upgrade one person. Upgrade has no cash value. Expired upgrades will not be replaced. This upgrade is transferable, but is void if sold or bartered. Other restrictions may apply.
* Please advise the booking agent that you are using a Premier Confirmed Upgrade.</font>
Some other interesting threads on the subject:
nonupgradeable fares using miles
Which fares definitely don't allow upgrade?
No Internet Fares Can be Upgraded?
(More can be found by
searching for "upgrade" in "Subject Only".)