Mar 31, 2014, 3:57 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Waitlisting for awards
Click for the current rules from United
Waitlisting options
Waitlisting can only be done over the phone, not online.
You can not book a standard award and then waitlist for a saver award.
If waitlisting for a higher cabin, best if done at the time of booking or soon afterward.
If done more than 24 hours after booking you may be charged an award change fee.
Generally, the waitlisted class mileage is deducted at time of request and will be refunded if unsuccessful
When waitlisting for a higher, state you are waitlisting for I (or IN if a plat or higher) -- do not use the word "upgrade", it may confuse the agent
If waitlisting for a segment when the rest of the segments are already in the higher cabin, there is no refund if unsuccessful
Member experiences:
Note: The correct priority term here may, in fact, be a code that is one of WAX, WBX, WCX, or WDX depending on status. The is per GG ONESTANDBY lines 32-55.
Note: PR-1 status is given to those who "paid" the requisite miles for an upgraded seat (i.e. biz) when only the non-upgraded space (i.e. coach) was available. The PR-1* status is to clue the system (and agents) in so that it is clear that you have been "displaced." (NOTE: once you have obtained PR-1 status, should there be any change to your ticket, e.g., an involuntary reroute by UA due to missing a connection, the PR-1 status will most likely get dropped and you must have it reattached (esp. before any UGs are given to others).
Unfortunately at T-24, many GAs do not get this concept. Use the above to plead your case but be prepared to be unsatisfied. One method that can get you to a higher level of understanding is the UC. Their staff seems to not only have a better understanding of the issues, but they can contact the gate and exert some influence on the less informed GAs, AND they seem to have more of an interest in helping PAX. If you can get into the UC, it will be worth your while.
**Note: If you get the UG on the long haul, the higher level of award miles you are using (like with the GPU) are considered used up regardless of the short haul. You will not be charged the lower level # of miles (i.e. refunded the diff between the lower level and the higher level you paid in advance), rather the higher level award miles will be considered spent. That is the risk you take when you do Plan B.
Related thread - Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
Archive of past posts - Consolidated "Waitlist for Award Seats Questions/Issues [ARCHIVE]
Click for the current rules from United
Waitlisting options
- Waitlist for alternative flights times / routing
- Waitlisting for a different cabin
From the above link on waitlisting for a different cabin: You may redeem miles for travel in United Global First, United First, United Business or United BusinessFirst, even if the space is not available. In these cases, United Economy in the same award type must be confirmed, and the front cabin will be waitlisted. If the courtesy waitlist does not clear, it will expire 24 hours before itinerary departure, and you will automatically be added to the airport upgrade standby list upon check-in. In these cases, you will be confirmed on a space-available basis by a United airport representative at the gate once the flight has closed for check-in. For United BusinessFirst and United Business travel awards, the difference in miles will be refunded when the United BusinessFirst or United Business class segment of the trip could not be confirmed. Waitlist requests may only be made over the phone with your local United Customer Contact Center.
You can not book a standard award and then waitlist for a saver award.
If waitlisting for a higher cabin, best if done at the time of booking or soon afterward.
If done more than 24 hours after booking you may be charged an award change fee.
Generally, the waitlisted class mileage is deducted at time of request and will be refunded if unsuccessful
When waitlisting for a higher, state you are waitlisting for I (or IN if a plat or higher) -- do not use the word "upgrade", it may confuse the agent
If waitlisting for a segment when the rest of the segments are already in the higher cabin, there is no refund if unsuccessful
Member experiences:
- You must have a confirmed segment to waitlist for different cabin and/or a different flight.
- Can only waitlist for UA/UX operated flight, cannot waitlist for partner flights. Can waitlist for UA/UX flights on a mixed itin.
- The maximum number of WL segments in a PNR is 2.
- When confirmed segment is on a partner, you can waitlist for UA operated alternative.
Note: The correct priority term here may, in fact, be a code that is one of WAX, WBX, WCX, or WDX depending on status. The is per GG ONESTANDBY lines 32-55.
The agent should give you “PR-1 status”* which gives you top-priority status and moves you to the very top of the upgrade standby list, ahead of employees and everyone else trying to upgrade with miles+cash. If one agent won’t put you on the list as a displaced Business class passenger with "PR-1 status"* then find another one who will. With this status, the odds of you getting a business class are very high if there are still open seats (or if anybody no-shows).
If the agents in the airport are all clueless you should direct them to look
up “gg onestandby” in their system (they’ll know exactly what this is)
and look around lines 85-89 which spell out the details of the procedure for
this award.
If the agents in the airport are all clueless you should direct them to look
up “gg onestandby” in their system (they’ll know exactly what this is)
and look around lines 85-89 which spell out the details of the procedure for
this award.
* note "PR-1" may not be the correct term, see the Wxx note proceeding this section
Unfortunately at T-24, many GAs do not get this concept. Use the above to plead your case but be prepared to be unsatisfied. One method that can get you to a higher level of understanding is the UC. Their staff seems to not only have a better understanding of the issues, but they can contact the gate and exert some influence on the less informed GAs, AND they seem to have more of an interest in helping PAX. If you can get into the UC, it will be worth your while.
**Note: If you get the UG on the long haul, the higher level of award miles you are using (like with the GPU) are considered used up regardless of the short haul. You will not be charged the lower level # of miles (i.e. refunded the diff between the lower level and the higher level you paid in advance), rather the higher level award miles will be considered spent. That is the risk you take when you do Plan B.
Related thread - Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
Archive of past posts - Consolidated "Waitlist for Award Seats Questions/Issues [ARCHIVE]
Consolidated "Waitlist for Award Seats Questions/Issues"
May 26, 2023, 6:47 am
#181
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,423
That generally indicates an oversale that they’re expecting to clear by upgrading 6 passengers.
At one point in the past, there used to be a hidden list and a visible list. However, since they made the lists visible prior to passengers checking it, it seems that they also consolidated into a single list.
So I am confused about the waitlist at the airport and the wikis here on FT. According to united rules: “If the courtesy waitlist does not clear, it will expire 24 hours before itinerary departure, and you will automatically be added to the airport upgrade standby list upon check-in. In these cases, you will be confirmed on a space-available basis by a United airport representative at the gate once the flight has closed for check-in.”
it seems to imply that that there is two list, one that the agent manage and the one we can all see. Is this correct?
it seems to imply that that there is two list, one that the agent manage and the one we can all see. Is this correct?
May 26, 2023, 7:47 am
#182
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Join Date: Nov 2014
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I have a recent data point that getting listed for IN on a CPU-eligible flight has no effect on your position on the website list (pre-24h).
It's interesting to see that it does add you to that list for a Polaris flight.
I honestly have no idea exactly what the list on the website is or how it's generated. I'm 99% sure that in advance of the gate that the computer is just clearing completely separate lists for each booking class.
It's interesting to see that it does add you to that list for a Polaris flight.
I honestly have no idea exactly what the list on the website is or how it's generated. I'm 99% sure that in advance of the gate that the computer is just clearing completely separate lists for each booking class.
May 26, 2023, 8:53 am
#183
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 106
I have a recent data point that getting listed for IN on a CPU-eligible flight has no effect on your position on the website list (pre-24h).
It's interesting to see that it does add you to that list for a Polaris flight.
I honestly have no idea exactly what the list on the website is or how it's generated. I'm 99% sure that in advance of the gate that the computer is just clearing completely separate lists for each booking class.
It's interesting to see that it does add you to that list for a Polaris flight.
I honestly have no idea exactly what the list on the website is or how it's generated. I'm 99% sure that in advance of the gate that the computer is just clearing completely separate lists for each booking class.
From what I read I thought exactly as you are saying, that being waitlisted for IN didn't put you on the public list until check-in. I thought that the public list only showed people using instruments such as plus points of revenue tickets using miles to upgrade waiting for PZ availability. For that reason at the beginning, I was confused as if it was better to see myself on the list competing with those people or just waitlisted for IN competing on a different unpublished list.
From this experience, I can say I am now waitlisted for IN and I can see myself on the list really low, previously when apparently by mistake United waitlisted me for PZ I was higher on the public list.
May 26, 2023, 9:05 am
#184
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
I have a recent data point that getting listed for IN on a CPU-eligible flight has no effect on your position on the website list (pre-24h).
It's interesting to see that it does add you to that list for a Polaris flight.
I honestly have no idea exactly what the list on the website is or how it's generated. I'm 99% sure that in advance of the gate that the computer is just clearing completely separate lists for each booking class.
It's interesting to see that it does add you to that list for a Polaris flight.
I honestly have no idea exactly what the list on the website is or how it's generated. I'm 99% sure that in advance of the gate that the computer is just clearing completely separate lists for each booking class.
May 26, 2023, 9:11 am
#185
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 106
Totally agree.
From what I read I thought exactly as you are saying, that being waitlisted for IN didn't put you on the public list until check-in. I thought that the public list only showed people using instruments such as plus points of revenue tickets using miles to upgrade waiting for PZ availability. For that reason at the beginning, I was confused as if it was better to see myself on the list competing with those people or just waitlisted for IN competing on a different unpublished list.
From this experience, I can say I am now waitlisted for IN and I can see myself on the list really low, previously when apparently by mistake United waitlisted me for PZ I was higher on the public list.
From what I read I thought exactly as you are saying, that being waitlisted for IN didn't put you on the public list until check-in. I thought that the public list only showed people using instruments such as plus points of revenue tickets using miles to upgrade waiting for PZ availability. For that reason at the beginning, I was confused as if it was better to see myself on the list competing with those people or just waitlisted for IN competing on a different unpublished list.
From this experience, I can say I am now waitlisted for IN and I can see myself on the list really low, previously when apparently by mistake United waitlisted me for PZ I was higher on the public list.
If the case is that being waitlisted is been treated equally or even inferior to requesting an upgrade then I think that the wiki on FT needs to be updated and reflect this.
Which btw totally makes sense for United, why will they prioritize being waitlisted for a business saver award over revenue tickets that are paying even more now to get upgraded? For United it's cheaper to just refund you the difference in miles you already "paid" for.
Again I just feel that FT forums need to be updated and reflect this.
May 26, 2023, 9:17 am
#186
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
I also want to add that I also thought this because being waitlisted for "I" or IN is different from requesting an upgrade. I thought there was a difference between being waitlisted and requesting an upgrade.
If the case is that being waitlisted is been treated equally or even inferior to requesting an upgrade then I think that the wiki on FT needs to be updated and reflect this.
Which btw totally makes sense for United, why will they prioritize being waitlisted for a business saver award over revenue tickets that are paying even more now to get upgraded? For United it's cheaper to just refund you the difference in miles you already "paid" for.
Again I just feel that FT forums need to be updated and reflect this.
If the case is that being waitlisted is been treated equally or even inferior to requesting an upgrade then I think that the wiki on FT needs to be updated and reflect this.
Which btw totally makes sense for United, why will they prioritize being waitlisted for a business saver award over revenue tickets that are paying even more now to get upgraded? For United it's cheaper to just refund you the difference in miles you already "paid" for.
Again I just feel that FT forums need to be updated and reflect this.
May 26, 2023, 9:30 am
#187
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 106
If I'm understanding this correctly, I have a contrary experience. Was 2. on list for CPU eligible flight with XN award, saw that IN opened before CPU window, so got waitlisted for IN, fell to last on list, but then cleared into IN a few hours later as desired. So from what I see, getting listed for IN does put you behind all PZ, which I would say makes sense given the inventory sorting.
Now what happens after check-in and if you continue to be waitlisted for I/IN is where it gets interesting. Do you then get waitlisted ahead of PZs or behind? Are you put on an unpublished list managed by the agent? Do you need to ask the agent for PR-1 or United has already taken care of this issue and now it's automatic?
Any data point on this?
May 26, 2023, 9:34 am
#188
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
This actually makes a lot of sense. Before check-in, if you are waitlisted for "I" or IN you are on the list behind PZs, however, this does not affect your chances of getting upgraded because the system may release "I" or "IN" even before it does for PZs given you are greater chance of getting upgraded.
Now what happens after check-in and if you continue to be waitlisted for I/IN is where it gets interesting. Do you then get waitlisted ahead of PZs or behind? Are you put on an unpublished list managed by the agent? Do you need to ask the agent for PR-1 or United has already taken care of this issue and now it's automatic?
Any data point on this?
Now what happens after check-in and if you continue to be waitlisted for I/IN is where it gets interesting. Do you then get waitlisted ahead of PZs or behind? Are you put on an unpublished list managed by the agent? Do you need to ask the agent for PR-1 or United has already taken care of this issue and now it's automatic?
Any data point on this?
May 26, 2023, 10:08 am
#189
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
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If I'm understanding this correctly, I have a contrary experience. Was 2. on list for CPU eligible flight with XN award, saw that IN opened before CPU window, so got waitlisted for IN, fell to last on list, but then cleared into IN a few hours later as desired. So from what I see, getting listed for IN does put you behind all PZ, which I would say makes sense given the inventory sorting.
You understand correctly - data point was for a flight weeks in the future, XN class and CPU eligible, and position on the list was the same before and after being waitlisted for IN.
May 26, 2023, 10:31 am
#190
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 106
If you were waitlisted to IN for a flight weeks before then you wouldn't know your place on the list until like 3 days prior to check-in therefore you wouldn't know if your position changed or not.
May 26, 2023, 10:41 am
#191
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
It was well before check-in for my example. Maybe a silly question, but are you certain your instance did actually get IN waitlisted? For example, sometimes I've had a rep say it's done, but it actually wasn't (I have no idea what the rep thinks happened there).
May 26, 2023, 11:35 am
#192
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Join Date: Nov 2014
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I think what happened is that the upgrade list for flight status isn't syncing with SHARES in real time. Yes, the list for IN was correct, and now the IN request has dropped to the bottom of the list, after all the CPUs. My best guess is that it took the Flight Status page a little while to get the data from the reservation, so it hadn't updated right after the waitlist was applied.
I still have no idea how this actually affects clearance; before the gate it should be independent queues for PZ and IN, but perhaps the gate list now does explicitly put IN below PZ (inclusive of CPUs). However, I would be mildly skeptical of this, since I think the website code is doing something like merging the lists based on booking class and I would not be surprised if this is completely separate code from anything the reservations system is using. Or maybe agents are all in a new GUI thing that shares the code. Who knows!
May 26, 2023, 11:50 am
#193
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,868
Online I can see the segment shows "Waitlisted United Polaris business (PZ)" This is my confusion, I went to see the waitlist on United website we are #7 and #8 on the waitlist.
Was the waitlist process correct? I was under the impression that Business I waitlist didn't compete with people for PZ and that it was kinda manual process.
Was the waitlist process correct? I was under the impression that Business I waitlist didn't compete with people for PZ and that it was kinda manual process.
May 26, 2023, 1:03 pm
#194
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If it clears, either you'll get to sit in J or they'll notice the error at that point (or at check-in) and kick you back to Y. Waitlist clearance often triggers a manual revalidation of the ticket, but in the case of an upgrade waitlist I'm not sure if that's required so I don't know the odds here. The computer doesn't know that PZ is wrong, so it's a question of whether a human is caused to look at it and notice.
May 26, 2023, 1:50 pm
#195
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
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Posts: 4,868
Until it clears, no one will notice or care.
If it clears, either you'll get to sit in J or they'll notice the error at that point (or at check-in) and kick you back to Y. Waitlist clearance often triggers a manual revalidation of the ticket, but in the case of an upgrade waitlist I'm not sure if that's required so I don't know the odds here. The computer doesn't know that PZ is wrong, so it's a question of whether a human is caused to look at it and notice.
If it clears, either you'll get to sit in J or they'll notice the error at that point (or at check-in) and kick you back to Y. Waitlist clearance often triggers a manual revalidation of the ticket, but in the case of an upgrade waitlist I'm not sure if that's required so I don't know the odds here. The computer doesn't know that PZ is wrong, so it's a question of whether a human is caused to look at it and notice.