Jun 28, 2019, 10:46 am
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
Feb 1, 2020, 9:37 pm
#452
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Also, the person at the top of the waitlist, if their ticket is out of sync, will hang up the upgrade clearing process.
And there may be other reasons, the system hangs up
It probably works most of the time, we tend to hear of only when it is not working and someone checked in the time gap.
Feb 2, 2020, 7:42 am
#453
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
Feb 22, 2020, 11:18 am
#454
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: UA
Posts: 67
Would you mind elaborating on this? I have dug around and can't seem to figure out what this new "tool" is you are referring to. All I know how to use the flight status which only works a few days out. Thanks!
Feb 22, 2020, 11:22 am
#455
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Use normal flight status but adjust the date on your device to the day before the flight. Changing the date on your device may mess up alarms / calendar reminders, but if that is not an issue, Flight Status will work.
Feb 22, 2020, 11:31 am
#456
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: UA
Posts: 67
Feb 22, 2020, 2:01 pm
#457
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
to add to this, if you subscribe to push notifications for the future flight, it will stick around in the flight status tab when you set your date back to normal.
Feb 22, 2020, 2:05 pm
#458
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
This is a great tip, but also best to be aware that if you set your phone to a date past your saved push notifications, they will disappear. So if you are saving multiple flights, work backwards in date.
Feb 22, 2020, 9:30 pm
#460
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Silicon wasteland
Programs: UA 1KMM
Posts: 1,381
Feb 29, 2020, 10:03 am
#461
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,393
Booked in R class in a few weeks, LHR-EWR, with PN W/L using 30 +P. As of yesterday, it was PN0/PZ0. This morning I looked, and it was PN9/PZ9. I called, and the friendly GS agent cleared me immediately -- and said she had no idea why it had not cleared automatically.
Conversely, today I received an upgrade cleared notification for a HKG-EWR (September flight) which was PN0/PZ0 both before and afterward.
Conversely, today I received an upgrade cleared notification for a HKG-EWR (September flight) which was PN0/PZ0 both before and afterward.
Jun 23, 2021, 7:24 am
#463
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
If there's open PZ, the workaround, always a little risky, is to cancel the upgrade request and then reapply into open PZ.
Jun 23, 2021, 7:34 am
#464
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
I find that once in a while there is PN open and I am first on the list as a GS. When I call, they say the same thing to me, and they have not done it for me. They can force it if you are using an instrument, however.
Jun 23, 2021, 7:44 am
#465
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
Right are we talking about CPU or Plus Points? I assumed PP, because there is absolutely no way an agent will force a CPU, it's a waste of everyone's time to make that call. And in recent years, it's become close to impossible for non-GS to get an agent to clear a waitlisted instrument. They're specifically instructed not to do that.