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 10, 2022, 11:32 am
#482
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
I was waitlisted for 2 pax and saw PZ3, left it for over a day, and then decided to try reapplying. But right after I cancelled, before I could apply again, it went PZ1, and a couple more F seats were taken. I'm not sure where we ranked on the list, so maybe that was correct and we wouldn't have cleared anyway. But I think next time I'll go back to calling.
Feb 10, 2022, 12:07 pm
#483
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 2,350
Beware, I tried this recently, and it seemed like cancelling my request resulted in the system clearing others.
I was waitlisted for 2 pax and saw PZ3, left it for over a day, and then decided to try reapplying. But right after I cancelled, before I could apply again, it went PZ1, and a couple more F seats were taken. I'm not sure where we ranked on the list, so maybe that was correct and we wouldn't have cleared anyway. But I think next time I'll go back to calling.
I was waitlisted for 2 pax and saw PZ3, left it for over a day, and then decided to try reapplying. But right after I cancelled, before I could apply again, it went PZ1, and a couple more F seats were taken. I'm not sure where we ranked on the list, so maybe that was correct and we wouldn't have cleared anyway. But I think next time I'll go back to calling.
I would normally just cancel and re-apply online, but this particular reservation has had a ton of weird issues such that I didn't fully trust that doing so wouldn't also somehow cause a different problem. Safer to call in in sometimes!
Feb 10, 2022, 12:23 pm
#484
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
Probably just bad luck on timing. At some point, PZ opens up. With some periodicity, the upgrade list is swept. The latter likely just happened to occur right after you cancelled.
I would normally just cancel and re-apply online, but this particular reservation has had a ton of weird issues such that I didn't fully trust that doing so wouldn't also somehow cause a different problem. Safer to call in in sometimes!
I would normally just cancel and re-apply online, but this particular reservation has had a ton of weird issues such that I didn't fully trust that doing so wouldn't also somehow cause a different problem. Safer to call in in sometimes!
May 3, 2022, 8:14 am
#487
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,346
The 'computer' probably only runs once a day - usually around 2am ET when CPUs happen as well in bulk.
You can always call and ask the agent to take the upgrade request out and then go online/app and submit a new one which will clear immediately. Agents are not supposed to manually push through any upgrade anymore, including for 1K. You can still find a few agents willing to do it but their response is supposed to be, "We have to wait for the system to do it automatically" which leaves the door wide open for others to come in and queue jump via the method outlined earlier.
United is an airline in business. Of course this is all related to revenue somehow.
-RM
You can always call and ask the agent to take the upgrade request out and then go online/app and submit a new one which will clear immediately. Agents are not supposed to manually push through any upgrade anymore, including for 1K. You can still find a few agents willing to do it but their response is supposed to be, "We have to wait for the system to do it automatically" which leaves the door wide open for others to come in and queue jump via the method outlined earlier.
United is an airline in business. Of course this is all related to revenue somehow.
-RM
May 4, 2022, 3:42 am
#488
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,868
Clearly, I’m not sure their is any point in waitlisting PP or Mileage upgrades. You might be better off just watching PZ space and then applying the upgrade. In my case PZ1 has been available > 24 hours with no movement.
May 4, 2022, 12:36 pm
#489
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: 66,861
With PlusPoints one has unlimited waitlisting, but you will only clear if you have enough PlusPoints. No downside to waitlisting (a little hard to see cash offers)
May 4, 2022, 1:12 pm
#490
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
May 5, 2022, 2:40 am
#491
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Ambassador, AA Platinum, Avis Pres Club, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 564
I don’t think it’s unlimited. Yes you can “request” more than you have available, but at or about requesting 2X more the system will not allow is my experience.
May 5, 2022, 2:56 am
#492
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 32
Curious WineCountryUA - how would you see cash offers if waitlisted? (Currently waitlisted on every itinerary that I haven't bought J for, but would jump at cash upgrades if the price were right.)
May 5, 2022, 5:14 am
#493
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,553
You can supposedly cancel your PP upgrade requests online. Try this link when logged in: https://www.united.com/en/us/manageres/mytrips?tab=pp. Under My Trips > PlusPoints Upgrades there is a "Cancel upgrade" hotlnk on the right side of the screen. I haven't tried to cancel an upgrade but would certainly try if PN/PZ showed as available.
It does look glitchy though, since one of my flights shows as upgrade is waitlisted but I cleared about a week ago and the "cancel upgrade" link is there. If anyone is successful with this approach, please report back.
It does look glitchy though, since one of my flights shows as upgrade is waitlisted but I cleared about a week ago and the "cancel upgrade" link is there. If anyone is successful with this approach, please report back.
May 5, 2022, 7:28 am
#494
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: BOS/SFO
Programs: United 4MM GS, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 307
Curious WineCountryUA - how would you see cash offers if waitlisted? (Currently waitlisted on every itinerary that I haven't bought J for, but would jump at cash upgrades if the price were right.)
May 5, 2022, 9:40 am
#495
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: 66,861
I see them scrolling over the seatmap