Waitlisted for PZ for a flight in 2 weeks: What would you do?
Yesterday | 7:08 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 584
Waitlisted for PZ for a flight in 2 weeks: What would you do?
"Asking for a Friend" 
Let's say hypothetically you had 4 folks on an itinerary booked in Premium Plus, waitlisted for Polaris (using PlusPoints) for a flight in 2 weeks.
Suddenly, you notice PZ9 pop up in Expert Mode for this flight. Would you:
A) Call UA to see if you can "force" the upgrade through
B) Take a chance and cancel your Polaris waitlist and then immediately reapply to instantly confirm into Polaris.
C) Be patient and wait for the system to automatically process the "upgrade sweep" to clear folks into Polaris who are waitlisted.
Just curious what folks typically do.
Let's say hypothetically you had 4 folks on an itinerary booked in Premium Plus, waitlisted for Polaris (using PlusPoints) for a flight in 2 weeks.
Suddenly, you notice PZ9 pop up in Expert Mode for this flight. Would you:
A) Call UA to see if you can "force" the upgrade through
B) Take a chance and cancel your Polaris waitlist and then immediately reapply to instantly confirm into Polaris.
C) Be patient and wait for the system to automatically process the "upgrade sweep" to clear folks into Polaris who are waitlisted.
Just curious what folks typically do.
Yesterday | 9:18 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: San Francisco
Programs: 1K 2.7 MM
Posts: 2,588
"Asking for a Friend"
Let's say hypothetically you had 4 folks on an itinerary booked in Premium Plus, waitlisted for Polaris (using PlusPoints) for a flight in 2 weeks.
Suddenly, you notice PZ9 pop up in Expert Mode for this flight. Would you:
A) Call UA to see if you can "force" the upgrade through
B) Take a chance and cancel your Polaris waitlist and then immediately reapply to instantly confirm into Polaris.
C) Be patient and wait for the system to automatically process the "upgrade sweep" to clear folks into Polaris who are waitlisted.
Just curious what folks typically do.
Let's say hypothetically you had 4 folks on an itinerary booked in Premium Plus, waitlisted for Polaris (using PlusPoints) for a flight in 2 weeks.
Suddenly, you notice PZ9 pop up in Expert Mode for this flight. Would you:
A) Call UA to see if you can "force" the upgrade through
B) Take a chance and cancel your Polaris waitlist and then immediately reapply to instantly confirm into Polaris.
C) Be patient and wait for the system to automatically process the "upgrade sweep" to clear folks into Polaris who are waitlisted.
Just curious what folks typically do.
Yesterday | 10:28 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1k, SPG/Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,079
Agree - go with B.
I recently shifted my wifes flight (SYD-LAX) applying plus points to grab available PZ about 48 hours out. Im sure that meant jumping over others waitlisted for that flight. in that case PZ=3 while IN=0 which was a first for me to see.
I think UA is opening PZ to newcomers without as regularly processing the waitlist until 24 hours out (or less). They also seem to be trying to make PZ a bit more accessible than IN in some cases? That may be new?
I recently shifted my wifes flight (SYD-LAX) applying plus points to grab available PZ about 48 hours out. Im sure that meant jumping over others waitlisted for that flight. in that case PZ=3 while IN=0 which was a first for me to see.
I think UA is opening PZ to newcomers without as regularly processing the waitlist until 24 hours out (or less). They also seem to be trying to make PZ a bit more accessible than IN in some cases? That may be new?
Yesterday | 12:54 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, AS MVP Gold, MR LTT, HH Dia, IHG Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 37,482
Yesterday | 1:11 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium, LTP; IHG Platinum
Posts: 7,956
If you have additional 40 points and want to save money (as well as willing to take a risk), rebook the original flight in W class and then immediately re-apply PPs. You do not need to cancel the original PP request because rebooking will trigger the refund of PPs and fare differences.
Good luck.
Yesterday | 2:31 pm
#13
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 73,202
If a RN upgrade, you can, in the first place, waitlist for both RN and PZ and getting the RN does not prevent the PZ later.
Yesterday | 2:45 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 272
Yes RN via MUA. But just like Plan B above, can you cancel and get a refund of the confirmed MUA to RN, to reapply to PZ and skip the waitlist? I dont see a way to do that in the UA app.
Yesterday | 2:49 pm
#15
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 73,202
With a confirmed PremPlus upgrade, you essentially need to wait it out.