Apr 25, 2021, 2:48 pm
Last edit by: PTahCha
Skip Waitlist
From time to time, our 1K members are able to use additional PlusPoints to receive a confirmed upgrade when traveling on select international long-haul flights.
When Skip Waitlist is available, youre able to either request an upgrade on our standard waitlist using fewer PlusPoints, or use additional PlusPoints to skip the waitlist and confirm your upgrade right then and there, even if upgrade inventory is closed.
Skip Waitlist availability on international long-haul flights will vary; to be eligible, you must be traveling on an eligible fare*, and request your upgrade at least 30 days from departure
*Eligible fare classes include O, A, and R (for United Premium Plus to United Polaris business); Fare classes Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W (for Economy to United Polaris business); Fare classes Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W, S, T, L, K, (for Economy to United Premium Plus).
From time to time, our 1K members are able to use additional PlusPoints to receive a confirmed upgrade when traveling on select international long-haul flights.
When Skip Waitlist is available, youre able to either request an upgrade on our standard waitlist using fewer PlusPoints, or use additional PlusPoints to skip the waitlist and confirm your upgrade right then and there, even if upgrade inventory is closed.
Skip Waitlist availability on international long-haul flights will vary; to be eligible, you must be traveling on an eligible fare*, and request your upgrade at least 30 days from departure
*Eligible fare classes include O, A, and R (for United Premium Plus to United Polaris business); Fare classes Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W (for Economy to United Polaris business); Fare classes Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W, S, T, L, K, (for Economy to United Premium Plus).
- The earning Premier member may use PlusPoints for upgrade requests for themselves or to sponsor others with the exception of Skip Waitlist upgrade requests, for which the earning Premier member must be traveling. Although the earning Premier member may use PlusPoints to request upgrades for others, PlusPoints are not transferable to other members.
- PlusPoints used for Skip Waitlist upgrades are not refundable or transferable to other flights in the event of itinerary changes. A PlusPoints upgrade on a changed itinerary will require additional PlusPoints.
- Skip Waitlist upgrades wont be available for corporate and agency account travelers who are using upgrades from a Corporate Upgrade Bank account.
When is STW available?
First UA needs to decide the route is eligible and then ZN seems to be the key inventory requirement.
PN or PZ is not required (if they were the regular amount would be sufficient)
Appears to be no special/separate GS STW inventory
STW has generally been limited to deep South America except for a short period in late summer 2021 when some TATL STW was offered, never to be seen again.
New Promo 20 June 2023 till 31 July 2023 (to use expiring PlusPoints?)
So thanks to this promo and playing around with various flights the past day. I think there's enough data for how StW works, with the major deciding factor if it's offered being if UA has "enabled" StW for the market in question.
For StW it needs these 6 things:
Inventory (ZN for business/first; /ON for PremEcon), advance purchase met (30 days international, 14 days CPU market [promo]), eligible fare (W+ to Polaris, non-BE for PP/first), eligible market, and redeeming account is 1k/GS, redeeming account travelling on the PNR.
The StW segment(s) will confirm into PZ/RN, if there are other non-StW eligible segments in the line-of-flight they are considered "paid for" by the StW pricing and will waitlist as part of the request/process as any other waitlisted upgrade.
To summarize the different scenarios:
To find StW
-Redeeming account must be GS/1K and must be travelling on the PNR
-PlusPoints being used to StW must not expire prior to the flight (oldest, eligible PlusPoints taken first)
-Cannot have pending upgrade WL request
To Polaris
-Voluntary: forfeits the upgrade and PlusPoints
-Involuntary: PlusPoints can be redeposited if not able to be accommodated in upgraded cabin
For StW it needs these 6 things:
Inventory (ZN for business/first; /ON for PremEcon), advance purchase met (30 days international, 14 days CPU market [promo]), eligible fare (W+ to Polaris, non-BE for PP/first), eligible market, and redeeming account is 1k/GS, redeeming account travelling on the PNR.
The StW segment(s) will confirm into PZ/RN, if there are other non-StW eligible segments in the line-of-flight they are considered "paid for" by the StW pricing and will waitlist as part of the request/process as any other waitlisted upgrade.
To summarize the different scenarios:
To find StW
-Redeeming account must be GS/1K and must be travelling on the PNR
-PlusPoints being used to StW must not expire prior to the flight (oldest, eligible PlusPoints taken first)
-Cannot have pending upgrade WL request
To Polaris
- ZN inventory
- 30+ days in advance
- Fare class: non-award, published W or higher
- Eligible market (only appears to be GRU, GIG, EZE, SCL, and LIM as of June 2023)
- Cost per person; 140 PlusPoints from economy/110 PlusPoints from premium economy
- Confirms into PZ
- ON inventory (yes, it appears when StW is offered to PremiumPlus, it is effectively allowing last seat inventory)
- 30+ days in advance
- Fare class: any non-BE published revenue fare
- Eligible market (only appears to be GRU, GIG, EZE, SCL, and LIM as of June 2023)
- Cost per person; 70 PlusPoints
- Confirms into RN
- ZN inventory
- 14+ days in advance/flight prior to or on July 31st (effectively July 17th is last day to book)
- Fare class: any non-BE published revenue fare
- Eligible market (basically CPU markets, see promo announcement)
- Cost per person; 70 PlusPoints
- Confirms into PZ
-Voluntary: forfeits the upgrade and PlusPoints
-Involuntary: PlusPoints can be redeposited if not able to be accommodated in upgraded cabin
Yes it's a limited time promo in many CPU markets to help people use PlusPoints before they expire at the end of July. For flights through July 31st it should be offering StW when requested at least 2 weeks in advance (as opposed to typical 30 days for international).
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...questions.html
Edit: here's the promo details they will email to you if you ask
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...questions.html
Edit: here's the promo details they will email to you if you ask
Skip the waitlist (STW) questions, sightings,...
Dec 11, 2021 | 9:39 am
#271
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH LTDiamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA MM LT1P
Posts: 21,070
Yeah, this really is good news. Those of us who haven't been able to burn any PPs for domestic UGs can now, at least, use some of them up on international travel if it really does open again soon (of which I'm not completely confident-Japan is no looking like June at the earliest).
100 pts for one J UG is still better than no UGs at any price, which is the way it is now for many of us.
100 pts for one J UG is still better than no UGs at any price, which is the way it is now for many of us.
David
Dec 11, 2021 | 9:42 am
#272
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP; UA 1MM & PP; Marriott AMB; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 62,158
Dec 12, 2021 | 4:23 am
#273
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,593
I have used STW 3 times this year and had my points refunded twice because UA changed their schedule and due to rerouting I was still in J, but the new times wouldn't work, so I was refunded. The 3rd time I flew as scheduled. FWIW - both time i was rescheduled PN was available, so I just used a regular PP upgrade.
Dec 12, 2021 | 9:09 am
#274
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH LTDiamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA MM LT1P
Posts: 21,070
I have used STW 3 times this year and had my points refunded twice because UA changed their schedule and due to rerouting I was still in J, but the new times wouldn't work, so I was refunded. The 3rd time I flew as scheduled. FWIW - both time i was rescheduled PN was available, so I just used a regular PP upgrade.
David
Dec 12, 2021 | 3:32 pm
#275
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,593
I requested but ONLY because both tickets had LH upgraded legs on them and as you know you can't just change those tickets yourself. So, yes, I had help, but because of other reasons, i don't know if it would have happened organically or not. I had to change them because in both instances I ended up with a negative layover, so I had no choice but to change. Also, neither time did the flight with the STW get changed, it was other flights - one time was LH, the other was UA domestic flight.
Dec 13, 2021 | 10:50 am
#276
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA LT GS | UA LT Club | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,250
First Time ever I am now seeing Skip the Waitlist to NRT in Feb and beyond. Cost is 100 PPS.
But you lose your points if you change your flight right? Not sure I am too excited about risking 100 PPs when there is a good change I will have to change plans due to restrictions that pop up.
But you lose your points if you change your flight right? Not sure I am too excited about risking 100 PPs when there is a good change I will have to change plans due to restrictions that pop up.
2. StWL PPs are automatically returned to the account if the reservation is cancelled, regardless of reason.
Dec 13, 2021 | 9:11 pm
#277
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 2MM
Posts: 7,838
Jan 8, 2022 | 9:50 am
#279
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Global
Programs: United 1K, Qatar Gold, Etihad Gold, Hilton Diamond, InterCon RA, PC Plat, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,465
I think that STW is primarily a marketing ploy. Ive never seen it available on any flights.
Jan 8, 2022 | 10:01 am
#280
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP; UA 1MM & PP; Marriott AMB; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 62,158
When I was looking to Europe very recently, there was nothing for March but quite a bit for February, which suggests there's more likely to be availability close-in for lightly booked flights (i.e., exactly the flights where you're most likely to clear off the waitlist anyway).
You can cancel a waitlisted PP request at any time.
Jan 8, 2022 | 10:02 am
#281
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 7,694
Jan 8, 2022 | 1:20 pm
#282
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: San Francisco
Programs: 1K 2.7 MM
Posts: 2,581
I've never seen it on line, but have been offered twice by agents....once to MUC and once to CDG. Both tickets were booked at least a month in advance. At the time, MUC looked pretty full, CDG looked wide open.
Jan 8, 2022 | 1:43 pm
#283
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 6,270
-FlyerBeek
Jan 15, 2022 | 9:36 am
#284
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 7,694
Data point: I had a schedule change (~2 hours) of a connecting partner flight months ago. Had to cancel/rebook the return leg (GRU-EWR on UA), which was STW'd via 140 PP's. Because of the prior schedule change, UA.com said a refund was possible and that the PP's would be refunded plus any residual fare. Great, I will just cancel the return leg and use an award to get home.
Took screenshots along the way. UA.com bombed on the cancellation and said to call. Called an agent and they said I'm outta luck with the PP's as it was STW'd, and I shouldn't have cancelled. Told them the website said it was permitted and that I had screenshots. After supervisor review, they gave me back the 140 PP's "as a courtesy", but the residual fare would need to go to refunds. After 14 days, I got the residual as a FFC, so all in all it worked out well - but just be careful if any schedule changes are on partners and the website erroneously says you can cancel. I got very lucky...
Took screenshots along the way. UA.com bombed on the cancellation and said to call. Called an agent and they said I'm outta luck with the PP's as it was STW'd, and I shouldn't have cancelled. Told them the website said it was permitted and that I had screenshots. After supervisor review, they gave me back the 140 PP's "as a courtesy", but the residual fare would need to go to refunds. After 14 days, I got the residual as a FFC, so all in all it worked out well - but just be careful if any schedule changes are on partners and the website erroneously says you can cancel. I got very lucky...
Jan 18, 2022 | 9:09 am
#285
Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: Various
Posts: 6,558
Another data point on applying for STW after booking. I have an upcoming planned trip where the outbound is US city 1 -> US city 2 -> International destination city. When booking this, there was no ZN availability on leg 1, and ZN=6 on leg 2. If I tried to book the flight with PP upgrades enabled, it bumped me up to a higher fare class *and* didn't let me apply STW at all on the outbound I wanted (it did on another more convoluted option with multiple domestic connections where there was ZN space). After booking, I was able to apply STW to the second leg no problem, and waitlist on the first leg.
From everything I had read on this thread (and elsewhere) ahead of time, that was my understanding of how things *should* work, so I was pleased that they actually did!
From everything I had read on this thread (and elsewhere) ahead of time, that was my understanding of how things *should* work, so I was pleased that they actually did!