Last edit by: WineCountryUA
It appears at times, UA will release upgrade space, now labeled as PZ, but the upgrade waitlist is not processed until a later time. During this period of time, a new upgrade request will clear, ignoring the waitlist. This could be a new request or someone calling to request their waitlisted request to be clear (sometimes called -- "jumping the queue"). So as a defensive move, some may try to call to get their waitlisted request cleared if this situation occurs. Over the years agents, at times, have been reluctant or agreeable to doing this. More recently there are reports of agents needing supervisor approval to do this (this may be UA's attempt to prevent "queue jumping").
Another strategy in this situation is to remove a waitlisted request and then reapply. This does risk losing one's place on the waitlist if unsuccessful
At times, the waitlist process seems to be delayed for an extended period of time, it is speculated that this is a situation where the waitlist processing is "stuck" -- this may be due to a ticket out-of-sync issue with the passenger on top of the waitlist or other causes. A good agent will notice this if you call about clearing and fix the situation.
Releated thread
Difference of"Upgrade Requested","Segment has been Waitlisted","R/PZ class requested"
Changes to UA's Fare Classes (19-20 October 2018)
Archive thread: Upgrade still waitlisted even though R (now PZ) class is available {Archive}
Another strategy in this situation is to remove a waitlisted request and then reapply. This does risk losing one's place on the waitlist if unsuccessful
At times, the waitlist process seems to be delayed for an extended period of time, it is speculated that this is a situation where the waitlist processing is "stuck" -- this may be due to a ticket out-of-sync issue with the passenger on top of the waitlist or other causes. A good agent will notice this if you call about clearing and fix the situation.
Releated thread
Difference of"Upgrade Requested","Segment has been Waitlisted","R/PZ class requested"
Changes to UA's Fare Classes (19-20 October 2018)
Archive thread: Upgrade still waitlisted even though R (now PZ) class is available {Archive}
Upgrade still waitlisted even though PZ (previously R) class is available
#376
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,947
EZE-IAH 01 Sep, PZ7 but not automatically upgraded on a waitlisted GPU. Agent was happy to push it through for me when I called in.
#379
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: United Platinum
Posts: 320
Just went through this exercise this AM for LGA-DEN. Woke up and saw PZ1, so I called in.
First call/agent: sorry, we can’t force upgrades and need to let the system handle it
Second call/agent: if you are first on the list I can force it through; no go, I was 4th
Third agent/call: no problem at all, not sure why it didn’t upgrade you...I am now upgraded
First call/agent: sorry, we can’t force upgrades and need to let the system handle it
Second call/agent: if you are first on the list I can force it through; no go, I was 4th
Third agent/call: no problem at all, not sure why it didn’t upgrade you...I am now upgraded
She is correct that their might be other people in front of you with upgrades applied, however it has been conventional wisdom on FT that calling in to have the upgrade forced thru when you see PZ space will get you the upgrade and possibly queue jump others.
If you do not want to HUCA, I would just call in & have the agent remove your GPU & then hang up and reapply it online. You cannot do this within 24 hours of the flight, but since today is Friday you should be able to if PZ space is available. This has been my argument when I get any pushback from a phone agent, as someone buying a new ticket can basically queue jump everyone if PZ is available at the time they buy their ticket.
If you do not want to HUCA, I would just call in & have the agent remove your GPU & then hang up and reapply it online. You cannot do this within 24 hours of the flight, but since today is Friday you should be able to if PZ space is available. This has been my argument when I get any pushback from a phone agent, as someone buying a new ticket can basically queue jump everyone if PZ is available at the time they buy their ticket.
#380
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 148
#381
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,868
Non status family member on a flight in a week out of SFO was waitlisted using miles & copay, I noticed this morning there was PZ space with 12/48 seats open which hasn't changed in a few days. No pushback, agent cleared the upgrade right away.
#382
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 9
I booked a flight several weeks ago in R class, and submitted a miles and cash upgrade request on both legs. Both outbound and inbound were PZ0 at the time. The return flight is now showing PZ9 and has been showing this for the past 2 days. I understand that I'm #1 on the waitlist. I thought that miles and cash upgrades process automatically? How long will I need to wait before my return flight is upgrade from R to PZ? I'm not an upgrade expert here, so maybe I'm missing some details.
#383
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
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Posts: 14,425
It should happen automatically but it doesn't always work. Just call and ask them to push it through (harder if you have no status).
#385
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#387
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 114
#388
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
Phone agents may not be willing to apply within T-24 regardless of gate control or not.
#389
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,163
It goes under gate control when the gate agent takes control. (Perhaps it sounds silly to say it that way.) The gate agent might take control between 1h and 30m before the flight. You certainly cannot get a phone agent to do anything then.
Phone agents may not be willing to apply within T-24 regardless of gate control or not.
Phone agents may not be willing to apply within T-24 regardless of gate control or not.
#390
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,130
It goes under gate control when the gate agent takes control. (Perhaps it sounds silly to say it that way.) The gate agent might take control between 1h and 30m before the flight. You certainly cannot get a phone agent to do anything then.
Phone agents may not be willing to apply within T-24 regardless of gate control or not.
Phone agents may not be willing to apply within T-24 regardless of gate control or not.