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
May 10, 2022, 12:25 pm
#511
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,867
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)?
Jun 7, 2022, 10:43 pm
#512
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
This happened to me today for flight next week. PlusPoints upgrade still waitlisted, despite PZ1. Cheapest available economy fare had also dropped, so rather than calling UA, I simply canceled, rebooked, and reapplied the upgrade to clear into F. And got a $68 future flight credit. If UA had just cleared me as it should have, it would have kept my $68.
Jun 9, 2022, 10:06 am
#513
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 66
Jun 9, 2022, 10:09 am
#514
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
Typical (in the sense of most flights) is 0 days in advance — PZ does not open. When PZ does open, it is usually >3mo in advance or approximately within last 20 days if sales are far behind expectation.
Jun 9, 2022, 12:09 pm
#515
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,867
Yeah those PZ spaces are primarily to drive new sales. I saw PZ open about 2 weeks before my flight in each direction. On the way out I wanted lie flat for the redeye so I called up to grab it, on the return I saw PZ1 sit there for about 3 days until it disappeared.
Sep 3, 2022, 3:46 am
#516
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
Correction from my earlier post: you can’t remove yourself from waitlist if other segments in the same request for that direction of travel have already cleared.
Nov 26, 2022, 4:36 am
#518
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
11/24 SFO-SIN UA 1
50 people on the WL with 46/60 booked in Polaris.
Suddenly at T-12, it showed PZ9 IN9. My cousin was No. 17 on the WL (supported by 1K PP).
He called UA and asked to clear him. The agent said NO.
So he just canceled his ticket and re-booked. He already cleared EWR-SFO so he can't remove SFO-SIN upgrade request without canceling the whole ticket.
Luckily EWR-SFO also had PZ. All cleared after applying PP again.
50 people on the WL with 46/60 booked in Polaris.
Suddenly at T-12, it showed PZ9 IN9. My cousin was No. 17 on the WL (supported by 1K PP).
He called UA and asked to clear him. The agent said NO.
So he just canceled his ticket and re-booked. He already cleared EWR-SFO so he can't remove SFO-SIN upgrade request without canceling the whole ticket.
Luckily EWR-SFO also had PZ. All cleared after applying PP again.
Nov 26, 2022, 9:13 am
#519
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
Nov 26, 2022, 10:03 am
#520
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
11/24 SFO-SIN UA 1
50 people on the WL with 46/60 booked in Polaris.
Suddenly at T-12, it showed PZ9 IN9. My cousin was No. 17 on the WL (supported by 1K PP).
He called UA and asked to clear him. The agent said NO.
So he just canceled his ticket and re-booked. He already cleared EWR-SFO so he can't remove SFO-SIN upgrade request without canceling the whole ticket.
Luckily EWR-SFO also had PZ. All cleared after applying PP again.
50 people on the WL with 46/60 booked in Polaris.
Suddenly at T-12, it showed PZ9 IN9. My cousin was No. 17 on the WL (supported by 1K PP).
He called UA and asked to clear him. The agent said NO.
So he just canceled his ticket and re-booked. He already cleared EWR-SFO so he can't remove SFO-SIN upgrade request without canceling the whole ticket.
Luckily EWR-SFO also had PZ. All cleared after applying PP again.
Amazing to catch both EWR-SFO and SFO-SIN with PZ>0, but I guess this is holiday travel with the 'usual' atypical loads/inventory.
Nov 26, 2022, 10:09 am
#521
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
Per flight status, the flight was indeed 789 operated, with 48 J. Seat map shows one PE seat flew empty.
Nov 26, 2022, 12:05 pm
#522
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
It should be 33+3 blocked and my cousin was No. 17 on the WL.
With PZ9 he canceled the ticket and got cleared immediately online.
Nov 26, 2022, 3:26 pm
#523
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,531
Appeared even a few non-revs cleared on the return flight.
Dec 30, 2023, 8:40 am
#524
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,346
Just had this happen to me for the first time. Booked a ticket last night US -> Europe -> US. Waitlisted on the return (Italy -> EWR nonstop). Flight was P9 R9 RN1. I upgraded to RN and was waitlisted for PZ.
This morning my preferred outbound flight opened so I cancelled my original ticket and used the FFC to buy the new one. I knew my preferred outbound had PZ9 so I went straight into the upgrade flow on the website and lo & behold the return flight was showing 1 seat open in PZ. I didn't even check the inventory before booking the new flight as I expected to re-clear to RN and waitlist for PZ. But, nope, PZ was open and I snagged it. 160 PPs deducted.
I have no clue when the Italy -> EWR segment opened PZ but I was clearly waitlisted for it but wasn't given the seat. Maybe it would have processed within the next 24 hours? Maybe I wasn't first on the list? I have no idea.
-RM
This morning my preferred outbound flight opened so I cancelled my original ticket and used the FFC to buy the new one. I knew my preferred outbound had PZ9 so I went straight into the upgrade flow on the website and lo & behold the return flight was showing 1 seat open in PZ. I didn't even check the inventory before booking the new flight as I expected to re-clear to RN and waitlist for PZ. But, nope, PZ was open and I snagged it. 160 PPs deducted.
I have no clue when the Italy -> EWR segment opened PZ but I was clearly waitlisted for it but wasn't given the seat. Maybe it would have processed within the next 24 hours? Maybe I wasn't first on the list? I have no idea.
-RM
Last edited by RobOnLI; Dec 30, 2023 at 8:52 am
Dec 30, 2023, 9:36 am
#525
Join Date: May 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, WN A+, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Amb, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,129
This has been a huge issue - I babysit my reservations as I’ve noticed I almost never clear proactively. It’s especially terrible inside 24 hours of departure where PZ/PN are open but don’t clear immediately so it’s possible to jump the WL if you apply / re-apply.