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
Jun 20, 2018, 6:26 pm
#151
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 622
Why should upgrades when R>0 automatically clear anyway? You'd think UA would be smart and add everyone to the end of the waitlist regardless, and then have a desk that does nothing but fix these issues across the system until the code can be updated to stop it from happening in the first place. If the system were working as designed, if R>0 the waitlist should have zero people on it, so in my proposal if you apply an upgrade you'd go #1 on the waitlist for an instant and then be upgraded.
Jun 20, 2018, 6:35 pm
#152
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If person #1 's ticket is out of sync and holding up the whole waitlist, you're number 12, and true inventory is R9, well then you're still gaming the system even though your heart and intentions are true. Same flight, same inventory, but you're #2 , then no. I can't blame you in any case, because even if you are #12 on the waitlist with R9, if you don't call in and take one of the available upgrades, any other person with instruments or miles can do the same and game the system even harder than you.
Seriously? Instruments should clear when R>0. They often don't because (a) the system is currently broken, and (b) SHARES does not allow dynamic processing of the waitlist, so even when the system is working there will be some lag between R opening and the system running a sweep.
Jun 20, 2018, 6:39 pm
#153
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Jun 21, 2018, 7:25 am
#154
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Posts: 4,993
^Thanks for the advice. While refusing to grab the R space for me, they were more than happy to remove the RPU, which I promptly reapplied to get the UG.
Jun 21, 2018, 8:38 am
#155
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 622
What I meant is why should new instruments clear via a direct, waitlist-independent process when R>0 and the flight has an open waitlist?
Agreed. UA should fix the system. If all requests went on the waitlist BUT the system actually worked, then if R>0 you'd end up #1 on the waitlist for a few milliseconds before clearing.
Jun 21, 2018, 8:55 am
#156
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
What I meant is why should new instruments clear via a direct, waitlist-independent process when R>0 and the flight has an open waitlist?
Agreed. UA should fix the system. If all requests went on the waitlist BUT the system actually worked, then if R>0 you'd end up #1 on the waitlist for a few milliseconds before clearing.
Agreed. UA should fix the system. If all requests went on the waitlist BUT the system actually worked, then if R>0 you'd end up #1 on the waitlist for a few milliseconds before clearing.
.
Jun 21, 2018, 9:20 am
#157
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 6,956
Last night I received a "United Airlines Waitlist Notification" for a flight in a few weeks to which I applied an RPU. After recovering from my shock that an RPU actually cleared, I realized that the email came through at about 8PM. I cannot recall ever receiving one of these golden tickets during my waking hours. Has anybody else received one of these notifications outside of the midnight-2AM (Pacific Time) time frame? I'm wondering if UA is monitoring this thread, and perhaps fixed the problem??? (A girl can certainly dream. 
)
)
Jun 21, 2018, 9:35 am
#158
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This thread is clearly about preserving the intent of the upgrade instrument and processing and we've all seen stories and proven that United's processes don't do that. So, it's not nonsense. There are better ways but clearly United isn't interested in fixing them so blocking a reservation from having an instrument waitlisted after one was removed (for 24 hours as an example) is a quick way for them to 'fix' this.
Jun 21, 2018, 11:43 am
#159
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 114
The only fair solution is to never open R if there are people on the waitlist. Until that is implemented, whenever I see R>0, I will call to remove and re-apply the upgrade because I don't want to be jumped by someone who is not even on the waitlist.
Jun 21, 2018, 12:40 pm
#160
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: UA-GS, Hyatt-Defiantly Diamond, Marriott-Platinum, SPG-Platinum
Posts: 499
No, it's not nonsense. The OP I replied to was trying to have their upgrade cleared out of order. The only way to protect the integrity of the upgrade order and allow United to process upgrades in the correct order is to fix the loophole. That obviously affects those who have waitlisted upgrades with wide-open cabins and less people on the waitlist than R has availability.
This thread is clearly about preserving the intent of the upgrade instrument and processing and we've all seen stories and proven that United's processes don't do that. So, it's not nonsense. There are better ways but clearly United isn't interested in fixing them so blocking a reservation from having an instrument waitlisted after one was removed (for 24 hours as an example) is a quick way for them to 'fix' this.
This thread is clearly about preserving the intent of the upgrade instrument and processing and we've all seen stories and proven that United's processes don't do that. So, it's not nonsense. There are better ways but clearly United isn't interested in fixing them so blocking a reservation from having an instrument waitlisted after one was removed (for 24 hours as an example) is a quick way for them to 'fix' this.
Jun 21, 2018, 1:51 pm
#161
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,089
Even currently, I don't really care about making 1K, or even upgrades domestically, I just find myself flying UA internationally a lot because when I can apply a GPU or get an upgrade with miles at booking at least one way, it makes it the cheapest ticket. If I could not do that, I would just buy the cheapest business class. Of course, that might still be UA, but it might be BA or AF, where you can find upgrade availability online or using EF. Or I might still by on UA.com, but be more likely to fly LH or AC.
Jun 21, 2018, 2:04 pm
#162
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,391
Sure. But that's the thing -- I have enough flexibility that I've never had to waitlist an instrument internationally. The suggestion was to make it so that I could see R9, book my flight... and find out there are 43 people on the waitlist and I need to enjoy my Y seat. If that's the case, I'm either (a) calling every single flight search in: "Can this one clear immediately?" or, more likely, (b) flying someone else.
Jun 21, 2018, 2:14 pm
#163
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
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Posts: 3,617
No, it's not nonsense. The OP I replied to was trying to have their upgrade cleared out of order. The only way to protect the integrity of the upgrade order and allow United to process upgrades in the correct order is to fix the loophole. That obviously affects those who have waitlisted upgrades with wide-open cabins and less people on the waitlist than R has availability.
This thread is clearly about preserving the intent of the upgrade instrument and processing and we've all seen stories and proven that United's processes don't do that. So, it's not nonsense. There are better ways but clearly United isn't interested in fixing them so blocking a reservation from having an instrument waitlisted after one was removed (for 24 hours as an example) is a quick way for them to 'fix' this.
This thread is clearly about preserving the intent of the upgrade instrument and processing and we've all seen stories and proven that United's processes don't do that. So, it's not nonsense. There are better ways but clearly United isn't interested in fixing them so blocking a reservation from having an instrument waitlisted after one was removed (for 24 hours as an example) is a quick way for them to 'fix' this.
Jun 21, 2018, 2:15 pm
#164
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It doesn't.
The only palatable "fix" for the current situation would involve UA resolving the issues with its IT that prevent the waitlist from processing when R opens. Every other "solution" would just make things worse.
In the meantime, those who really care about upgrading are well advised to check their flights for R regularly.
The only palatable "fix" for the current situation would involve UA resolving the issues with its IT that prevent the waitlist from processing when R opens. Every other "solution" would just make things worse.
In the meantime, those who really care about upgrading are well advised to check their flights for R regularly.
Jun 21, 2018, 3:49 pm
#165
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Alaska also has this issue, but it's a little less maddening because you can't waitlist an instrument. That being said, people can and do queue jump inside the complimentary upgrade windows when U space opens and the CPU list fails to clear. Unlike at UA, the availability of U space is a direct indication that CPUs should be clearing.
AS also can't seem to get the issue fixed once and for all so it isn't surprising that UA cannot either. It seems to be a larger software issue that is epidemic to the industry. It may also happen at DL but it's just not visible since you can't get at the inventory figures readily.
AS also can't seem to get the issue fixed once and for all so it isn't surprising that UA cannot either. It seems to be a larger software issue that is epidemic to the industry. It may also happen at DL but it's just not visible since you can't get at the inventory figures readily.