Jan 22, 2016, 2:52 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Instant Upgrades (economy to next cabin) are available at booking for elites selecting Y/B fares on CPU Eligible flights. There also needs to be PZ space if Plat / Gold / Silver or PN if GS / 1K. GS/1Ks are also eligible for M fares.
If not available at booking, GS/1Ks will be waitlisted for the upgrade and will be prioritized above 1Ks and lower elites on supported upgrades (PlusPoints, Miles+copay) and CPUs. If PN/PZ become available after booking, you will need to check if the upgrade button is visible or call -- upgrades are not automatic and require a manual step.
TL;DR
(status: space required / eligible fare classes / availability)
Do not apply PlusPoints or mileage upgrades to a waitlisted Instant Upgrade (GS & 1Ks) -- Instant Upgrades are a higher priority and applying the instruments will downgrade the request to solely an instrument upgrade.
PremPlus tickets show "B" fare (but underlying fare may be lower) for non-PremPlus flights and there are reports this may not always be recognized for Instant Upgrades.
For more on waitlisting, see Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively .
Feb 2016, Waitlisting was restricted to 1Ks/GSs. Plat / Gold / Silver can still Instant Upgrade but only if available at the time of booking. For lower elites, even if PZ later becomes available, it is not intended for them to be eligible -- however, occasionally someone can have success. YMMV
Changes (2016Q2) to required fare class to clear
RN has been repurposed to Premium Plus / Premium Economy upgrade
PZ is the right fare class for Plat/Gold/Silver
Related, more general but older thread -- Y/B/M Premier Instant Upgrade - How does it work? {Archive}
Add: When the instant upgrade link is broken (DIY does not work on App/web), you need to call. You can say something like that: "Hi, I bought an instant upgrade fare and it looks like the upgrade is now confirmable, can you please help me with that." See post #1384.
If not available at booking, GS/1Ks will be waitlisted for the upgrade and will be prioritized above 1Ks and lower elites on supported upgrades (PlusPoints, Miles+copay) and CPUs. If PN/PZ become available after booking, you will need to check if the upgrade button is visible or call -- upgrades are not automatic and require a manual step.
TL;DR
(status: space required / eligible fare classes / availability)
- 1K & GS: PN / YBM / at booking & able to waitlist (priority over instrument upgrades)
- Silver, Gold & Plat: PZ / YB / at booking only (waitlist YMMV)
Do not apply PlusPoints or mileage upgrades to a waitlisted Instant Upgrade (GS & 1Ks) -- Instant Upgrades are a higher priority and applying the instruments will downgrade the request to solely an instrument upgrade.
PremPlus tickets show "B" fare (but underlying fare may be lower) for non-PremPlus flights and there are reports this may not always be recognized for Instant Upgrades.
For more on waitlisting, see Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively .
Feb 2016, Waitlisting was restricted to 1Ks/GSs. Plat / Gold / Silver can still Instant Upgrade but only if available at the time of booking. For lower elites, even if PZ later becomes available, it is not intended for them to be eligible -- however, occasionally someone can have success. YMMV
For flights departing on or after February 1, 2016, the following is the order of priority for upgrades, within five days of departure, on flights that are eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades:
Premier 1K members on eligible Y-, B- and M-class fares: Premier 1K Instant upgrades that weren't confirmed in advance are prioritized by fare class on the upgrade waitlist and are ahead of:
Premier 1K members on eligible Y-, B- and M-class fares: Premier 1K Instant upgrades that weren't confirmed in advance are prioritized by fare class on the upgrade waitlist and are ahead of:
Travelers on waitlisted PlusPoints Global Premier Upgrades, Regional Premier Upgrades and MileagePlus Upgrade Awards: Prioritized by Premier status of the traveler, then fare class and then the time of request
All remaining Premier members: Prioritized by Premier status of the traveler, then fare class and then award travel
UA has introduced some additional waitlist tie-breaks -- "preferred customers / certain credit cards, .... See the earlier thread link on upgrade priority
All remaining Premier members: Prioritized by Premier status of the traveler, then fare class and then award travel
UA has introduced some additional waitlist tie-breaks -- "preferred customers / certain credit cards, .... See the earlier thread link on upgrade priority
PZ is the right fare class for Plat/Gold/Silver
Related, more general but older thread -- Y/B/M Premier Instant Upgrade - How does it work? {Archive}
Add: When the instant upgrade link is broken (DIY does not work on App/web), you need to call. You can say something like that: "Hi, I bought an instant upgrade fare and it looks like the upgrade is now confirmable, can you please help me with that." See post #1384.
Y/B/M Premier Instant Upgrade - How does it work? **?Broken?
Mar 21, 2022, 11:53 am
#47
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 67,073
Is the B fare due to PremPlus ticket? or a straight B fare?
Some B fares have a non-B fare basis and apparently that confuses the agent.
Have you tried the app or united.com?
Mar 21, 2022, 12:14 pm
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,522
I notice this statement in the wiki.
I don't know the source for that, but it might be interpreted to mean that you can't clear after booking except with instrument or normal CPU.
It's a little confusing, though, since I have cleared a Gold on B fare after 2016. So it might be the PE / "true" B fare issue.
Feb 2016, Waitlisting was restricted to 1Ks/GSs. Plat / Gold / Silver can still Instant Upgrade but only if available at the time of booking
It's a little confusing, though, since I have cleared a Gold on B fare after 2016. So it might be the PE / "true" B fare issue.
Mar 26, 2022, 10:52 am
#49
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: D/FW
Programs: DL MM/Silver; UA 1K ; Hilton Gold; Marriott Titanium; Avis Pref+,Hertz PC
Posts: 587
So this is the reply I received from the Twitter team:
Thank you for verifying. Please be advised the Complimentary Premier Upgrade on Y and B full-fare economy tickets are automatically being processed by the system without human intervention. Currently, there's no available PZ class on that flight.
Thank you for verifying. Please be advised the Complimentary Premier Upgrade on Y and B full-fare economy tickets are automatically being processed by the system without human intervention. Currently, there's no available PZ class on that flight.
Mar 26, 2022, 11:43 am
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,306
So this is the reply I received from the Twitter team:
Thank you for verifying. Please be advised the Complimentary Premier Upgrade on Y and B full-fare economy tickets are automatically being processed by the system without human intervention. Currently, there's no available PZ class on that flight.
Thank you for verifying. Please be advised the Complimentary Premier Upgrade on Y and B full-fare economy tickets are automatically being processed by the system without human intervention. Currently, there's no available PZ class on that flight.
Mar 26, 2022, 3:18 pm
#51
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,224
Separately, the PN with B fares is only for domestic - correct? I have a NAS-EWR flight with a B fare and that should have PlusPpimts applied - correct?
Mar 26, 2022, 3:24 pm
#52
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 67,073
Applying the Plus Points will lower your priority to PZ
Note the Instant upgrade, pre-gate list, isn't automatic, so you would need to watch while the PlusPonits is auto on PZ availability (meaning PN is available also).
Is your B a true B or a B due to a PremPlus fare?
Mar 26, 2022, 4:49 pm
#53
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,224
Instant Upgrades apply to CPUable flights, NAS being consider Caribbean is a CPU destination.
Applying the Plus Points will lower your priority to PZ
Note the Instant upgrade, pre-gate list, isn't automatic, so you would need to watch while the PlusPonits is auto on PZ availability (meaning PN is available also).
Is your B a true B or a B due to a PremPlus fare?
Applying the Plus Points will lower your priority to PZ
Note the Instant upgrade, pre-gate list, isn't automatic, so you would need to watch while the PlusPonits is auto on PZ availability (meaning PN is available also).
Is your B a true B or a B due to a PremPlus fare?
Mar 29, 2022, 8:33 pm
#54
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: UA, DL, LH, Marriott, Amex
Posts: 554
Does United actually provide a receipt with Y, B, M (Economy) as the ticket class anywhere? On the emailed or website receipts it seems to be PN or PZ, which reads out as First and not Economy.
Mar 29, 2022, 9:01 pm
#55
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,621
If you applied the upgrade after purchasing the flight, then your original receipt will show your economy booking class. If you applied the upgrade during booking (as can happen when logged in and the appropriate inventory is available), then your original receipt will show the upgraded booking class, and you won't be able to get the website to give you a receipt with the economy booking class. An agent might be able to help, but I wouldn't count on it.
Mar 29, 2022, 10:38 pm
#56
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 67,073
.... If you applied the upgrade during booking (as can happen when logged in and the appropriate inventory is available), then your original receipt will show the upgraded booking class, and you won't be able to get the website to give you a receipt with the economy booking class. .....
Mar 30, 2022, 1:00 pm
#57
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: UA, DL, LH, Marriott, Amex
Posts: 554
Very interesting, thanks for the insight here. How exactly does one do this then? I get taken immediately to seat selection for F, and a box appears at the top of the website saying my fare is eligible for an immediate upgrade.
Mar 30, 2022, 1:04 pm
#58
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,621
When I did it recently I recall there was an option to "decline upgrade" or similar. It was probably on the seatmap screen, but could've been one or two screens earlier.
Mar 30, 2022, 2:42 pm
#59
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 67,073
When I did it recently I recall there was an option to "decline upgrade" or similar. It was probably on the seatmap screen, but could've been one or two screens earlier..