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
#496
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: BOS/SFO
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Posts: 309
I can see them scrolling over the seat map until I apply plus points. Once I apply plus points that option disappears :-(
#497
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#499
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Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
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#501
Moderator: United Airlines
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Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,908
#502
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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#503
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,491
I don’t get it in browser or in app over a small handful of reservations, but they are all intl or mixed intl/dom. I’m sure sometimes I have seen offers w +P applied sometimes but never thought about international vs domestic.
#504
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,459
I called in today about a XXX-YYY-ZZZ itinerary where I saw PZ space on both segments yet the PP upgrade didn't clear. After explaining the situation the agent cleared the upgrade for the 9hr YYY-ZZZ flight but refused to do so for 1hr XXX-YYY saying there was someone else ahead on the upgrade list for that one. That flight was showing PZ2 and they wouldn't budge, even when I suggested they upgrade both passengers who should have already cleared. I guess I may need to call back tomorrow if it doesn't clear overnight. There is still PZ space available and it's still nt cleared, some 12hrs later.
#505
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
I called in today about a XXX-YYY-ZZZ itinerary where I saw PZ space on both segments yet the PP upgrade didn't clear. After explaining the situation the agent cleared the upgrade for the 9hr YYY-ZZZ flight but refused to do so for 1hr XXX-YYY saying there was someone else ahead on the upgrade list for that one. That flight was showing PZ2 and they wouldn't budge, even when I suggested they upgrade both passengers who should have already cleared. I guess I may need to call back tomorrow if it doesn't clear overnight. There is still PZ space available and it's still nt cleared, some 12hrs later.
#506
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,459
In the past I've not had a problem getting agents to process upgrade requests that don't go through automatically. Plus, if you cancel and reapply and the space disappears in the interim, or there is some other IT anomaly, you g to the back of whatever line there is. This time it seems that the web site shows PZ2 for the XXX-YYY segment but UA reservations sees PZ0, so something is clearly wrong and I don't want to lose the upgrade on the longer flight to get the upgrade on the shorter one.
Last edited by Xyzzy; May 6, 2022 at 7:13 am
#507
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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No cash offer to be found, either via upgrade options, nor seat map, on the web site.
Trying the app, the "upgrade cabin" button yields "This reservation is not eligible to be upgraded".
The change seat function has all the front cabin seats grayed out.
#508
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,491
Mine is a simple domestic round trip. Applied PP on the only 2 eligible segments out of 4 (The other 2 are single-cabin).
No cash offer to be found, either via upgrade options, nor seat map, on the web site.
Trying the app, the "upgrade cabin" button yields "This reservation is not eligible to be upgraded".
The change seat function has all the front cabin seats grayed out.
No cash offer to be found, either via upgrade options, nor seat map, on the web site.
Trying the app, the "upgrade cabin" button yields "This reservation is not eligible to be upgraded".
The change seat function has all the front cabin seats grayed out.
#509
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: UA 1K - 2.1MM, HH LT Diamond, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 766
From my experience, once it’s under T-24, you can’t remove yourself from the waitlist and re-apply PP to clear when PZ>0. If you were unlikely to clear, you’d need to remove yourself from the list before T-24 or change to a different flight.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 3, 2022 at 10:33 am Reason: poster issued a correction
#510
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 66
What's the thought process here? Are you suggesting that if someone were planning to try to upgrade using a combo of miles + copay, they may be better off not jumping onto the waitlist with miles + copay and, instead, just monitor to see if PZ comes available, at which time they could go to the United website/app, submit miles + copay, and have the upgrade instantly (w/o ever being on waitlist)?