Mar 31, 14, 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"
Aug 4, 18, 11:07 am
#361
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 18,860
1. When I check the flight status for this flight, it shows no one on the upgrade list. Is that correct? We have not checked in yet for the flight. It shows United PolarisSM business: 60 Booked: 50 Checked In: 0. I called customer service, and they said that we are all on waitlists for specific fares to open up, so we are not on the Upgrade Standby list.
If you do decide to check in, we'd appreciate it if you'd come back and tell us where each person ended up on the list, and what status each passenger has, as that might help us understand the transition process better -- there are differences of opinion about whether you should be ahead of your family or vice-versa.
Aug 4, 18, 1:56 pm
#362
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17
When you check in, your family members' PNRs will be split. In fact, once you pass T-24, their reservations will be tagged and it may not be possible to prevent them from being split at check-in. Assuming you're OK with that, check in as close as possible to T-24, as check-in time is the last tiebreaker. Understand that almost any outcome is possible here -- anything from 0 to 3 passengers could clear. If you're not OK with that, you'd need to remove the waitlist requests prior to T-24 by calling UA.
If you do decide to check in, we'd appreciate it if you'd come back and tell us where each person ended up on the list, and what status each passenger has, as that might help us understand the transition process better -- there are differences of opinion about whether you should be ahead of your family or vice-versa.
Aug 4, 18, 2:06 pm
#363
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 18,860
Got it - that's helpful to know. Do you know how my upgrade waitlist (paid fare, 20K miles+$550 upgrade) will be treated relative to my family's (economy award tickets, waitlisted to business saver award, IN space I assume)? Assume none of the 4 upgrades clear prior to T-24, how will the 4 be placed in the upgrade waitlist?
On the waitlist -- that's a very good question, which is why I asked you to let us know what happens.
There are competing theories. Some people are of the opinion that your family should be / will be ahead of you; others are of the opinion that it's purely based on status and fare class as of T-24; still others would say that upgrades should be / will be ahead of waitlisted business class award passengers regardless of status, since that's the case prior to T-24.There are quite a few anecdotes but I don't recall many situations where we could get data about known IN and R passengers on the same flight -- mostly it's just guesses and assumptions based upon list position.
Aug 4, 18, 2:13 pm
#364
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17
Prior to departure, you're ahead of them, because R space will open before IN space would.
On the waitlist -- that's a very good question, which is why I asked you to let us know what happens. There are competing theories. Some people are of the opinion that your family should be / will be ahead of you; others are of the opinion that it's purely based on status and fare class as of T-24; still others would say that upgrades should be / will be ahead of waitlisted business class award passengers regardless of status, since that's the case prior to T-24.
There are quite a few anecdotes but I don't recall many situations where we could get data about known IN and R passengers on the same flight -- mostly it's just guesses and assumptions based upon list position.
On the waitlist -- that's a very good question, which is why I asked you to let us know what happens.
There are competing theories. Some people are of the opinion that your family should be / will be ahead of you; others are of the opinion that it's purely based on status and fare class as of T-24; still others would say that upgrades should be / will be ahead of waitlisted business class award passengers regardless of status, since that's the case prior to T-24.There are quite a few anecdotes but I don't recall many situations where we could get data about known IN and R passengers on the same flight -- mostly it's just guesses and assumptions based upon list position.
Aug 5, 18, 10:51 am
#366
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New York NY
Programs: UA Gold, CO Plat, CO Million Miler
Posts: 2,565
You might try calling, but it's probably that they're waiting to assign the space until everyone checks in so that it's assigned in the correct order. Have you checked in yet? If so, where is everyone on the upgrade list.
Aug 5, 18, 11:18 am
#367
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 18,860
Your request can clear, but there have been multiple reports of R space appearing but the waitlist not processing.
At a minimum, I would call and ask that your waitlist request be cleared. Be polite, because not all agents will do it, but hang up and call again if necessary. The problem is, right now, anybody could call in and jump the queue.
Aug 5, 18, 12:34 pm
#368
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17
Your family's request can't clear because you need IN3 (assuming they're all on the same reservation). If you split off two of the passengers, they could clear.
Your request can clear, but there have been multiple reports of R space appearing but the waitlist not processing.
At a minimum, I would call and ask that your waitlist request be cleared. Be polite, because not all agents will do it, but hang up and call again if necessary. The problem is, right now, anybody could call in and jump the queue.
Your request can clear, but there have been multiple reports of R space appearing but the waitlist not processing.
At a minimum, I would call and ask that your waitlist request be cleared. Be polite, because not all agents will do it, but hang up and call again if necessary. The problem is, right now, anybody could call in and jump the queue.
Aug 5, 18, 12:36 pm
#369
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.9MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 63,201
Your family's request can't clear because you need IN3 (assuming they're all on the same reservation). If you split off two of the passengers, they could clear.
Your request can clear, but there have been multiple reports of R space appearing but the waitlist not processing.
At a minimum, I would call and ask that your waitlist request be cleared. ....
Your request can clear, but there have been multiple reports of R space appearing but the waitlist not processing.
At a minimum, I would call and ask that your waitlist request be cleared. ....
Aug 5, 18, 12:48 pm
#370
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17
Your family's request can't clear because you need IN3 (assuming they're all on the same reservation). If you split off two of the passengers, they could clear.
Your request can clear, but there have been multiple reports of R space appearing but the waitlist not processing.
At a minimum, I would call and ask that your waitlist request be cleared. Be polite, because not all agents will do it, but hang up and call again if necessary. The problem is, right now, anybody could call in and jump the queue.
Your request can clear, but there have been multiple reports of R space appearing but the waitlist not processing.
At a minimum, I would call and ask that your waitlist request be cleared. Be polite, because not all agents will do it, but hang up and call again if necessary. The problem is, right now, anybody could call in and jump the queue.
Aug 5, 18, 12:54 pm
#371
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.9MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 63,201
This is very good insight, which would have been useful to know when I called. She cleared the R request first, at which point IN2 decreased to IN1. So she started to clear one of IN requests, after splitting out the booking. By the time she finished splitting the booking, fortunately IN1 went back to IN2 and she was able to clear two.
Gald to hear you got 3 out of 4 up front, good luck on the fourth. Looks like it is still J7
Aug 5, 18, 1:38 pm
#372
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17
Final update - just did the online check-in for the 4th family member, and was offered the $829 upgrade offer, which I took. I assume I'll get the 30K miles back at some point?
Aug 5, 18, 3:42 pm
#373
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 18,860
This is very good insight, which would have been useful to know when I called. She cleared the R request first, at which point IN2 decreased to IN1. So she started to clear one of IN requests, after splitting out the booking. By the time she finished splitting the booking, fortunately IN1 went back to IN2 and she was able to clear two.
Enjoy your trip. :-)
Aug 5, 18, 10:15 pm
#375
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17
This didn't get to the upgrade standby list stage. 3 of the upgrades cleared before the T-24 window, and the 4th one happened at check-in time.
