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
Jan 4, 2019, 6:43 pm
#286
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,038
I am a United GS member and my wife and I booked trips to the Maldives using miles in business class. My brother-in-law purchased an upgradable ticket for which he was instantly upgraded on the outbound from EWR to DEL. On the return (SIN - SFO) united flight he was put on a waitlist. I don't understand the "R" in the advanced booking as I can only see options like "upgradable using GPU" and it still says only "waitlisted" as an option still. Any suggestions on how to get this cleared sooner rather than later?
Much appreciated!!!
Much appreciated!!!
Jan 5, 2019, 4:50 pm
#287
Join Date: May 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: UA
Posts: 129
Roger- appreciate the nudge!, called, was initially routed to the wrong desk, then magically rerouted to "Premier" operator; I briefly explained what was going on and BAM upgrade confirmed! Icing on the cake is that call cut out just after I gave her my travel companion's PNR but both are upgraded.
See, United, that wasn't so hard, was it?!?!?
See, United, that wasn't so hard, was it?!?!?
Thank you FlyerTalk!
Last edited by andol469; Jan 5, 2019 at 5:00 pm Reason: Fixed fare bucket to PZ
Jan 6, 2019, 12:22 am
#288
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Singapore
Programs: EXP PLT, UA1K, QF Gold
Posts: 20
PZ1 in availablity - called the desk and hey presto
Whilst its annoying that the 'system' doesn't sweep and clear the upgrades (GPU), its ok to check online a couple of times a day & you might be lucky to find PZ open.......call the 1K desk and pushed through ....now for the 2nd segment to clear ..........
The process maybe broken but do you really want some IT 'whizz kid' to play around with the current process and try to fix it or worse - screw it up even further.
The process maybe broken but do you really want some IT 'whizz kid' to play around with the current process and try to fix it or worse - screw it up even further.
Jan 7, 2019, 7:16 am
#290
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: 4,392
Just had it happen again. A month ago booked EWR-ORD-HKG with GPU applied at booking, at which time ORD-HKG cleared and EWR-ORD W/L for PN. This morning I checked and it was at PN=3 but the W/L had not cleared. I called GS and they cleared it immediately.
Jan 7, 2019, 9:48 am
#292
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
You just set you United account as "Expert Flyer" (or is it called "Expert Mode"?). When you look for flights you have to be logged in your account. You look into the "Details" for every flights choices offered: it will have how many seats are available for every fare code up to 9. So, for example PZ can be PZ0 to PZ9.
For GS, the GPUs clear into PN.
Since it seems that you are GS, you have to look the PN number. So, PN can be PN0 to PN9.
For GS, the GPUs clear into PN.
Since it seems that you are GS, you have to look the PN number. So, PN can be PN0 to PN9.
Jan 7, 2019, 8:14 pm
#293
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,129
The past several times I have had a flight with PZ>0 but a waitlisted upgrade, when I called, the very moment the agent "entered" the itin, the system cleared it before they could do anything else.
One was a longhaul, so I called as soon as the itin had ticketed but the GPU had waitlisted; the other was a shorthaul that I probably would have cleared CPU on, but given it had been 5 hours since reissuing the ticket, I called.
One was a longhaul, so I called as soon as the itin had ticketed but the GPU had waitlisted; the other was a shorthaul that I probably would have cleared CPU on, but given it had been 5 hours since reissuing the ticket, I called.
Jan 7, 2019, 8:53 pm
#294
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tx
Programs: AA, UA, WN
Posts: 812
Every waitlist I have had since mid 2017 had to be called in when I see PZ>0. Now I check daily for my waitlists as I don't trust them.
Jan 10, 2019, 10:04 am
#295
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
You just set you United account as "Expert Flyer" (or is it called "Expert Mode"?). When you look for flights you have to be logged in your account. You look into the "Details" for every flights choices offered: it will have how many seats are available for every fare code up to 9. So, for example PZ can be PZ0 to PZ9.
For GS, the GPUs clear into PN.
Since it seems that you are GS, you have to look the PN number. So, PN can be PN0 to PN9.
For GS, the GPUs clear into PN.
Since it seems that you are GS, you have to look the PN number. So, PN can be PN0 to PN9.
The past several times I have had a flight with PZ>0 but a waitlisted upgrade, when I called, the very moment the agent "entered" the itin, the system cleared it before they could do anything else.
One was a longhaul, so I called as soon as the itin had ticketed but the GPU had waitlisted; the other was a shorthaul that I probably would have cleared CPU on, but given it had been 5 hours since reissuing the ticket, I called.
One was a longhaul, so I called as soon as the itin had ticketed but the GPU had waitlisted; the other was a shorthaul that I probably would have cleared CPU on, but given it had been 5 hours since reissuing the ticket, I called.
I'm also curious: did you notice (via flight status or inventory) if the system swept the list (multiple new J bookings / diminution of PZ by more than one) or if it just pushed you through?
Jan 13, 2019, 12:53 pm
#296
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 695
United calls it 'Expert Mode'. ('Expert Flyer' is a subscription service, not affiliated with UA, that offers access to supplemental flight information.)
That's interesting. How was it conveyed to you? E.g., 'I have the reservation now and it shows you already as upgraded', or 'I just opened the reservation, and I tried to push the upgrade, but it went through before I did anything'?
I'm also curious: did you notice (via flight status or inventory) if the system swept the list (multiple new J bookings / diminution of PZ by more than one) or if it just pushed you through?
That's interesting. How was it conveyed to you? E.g., 'I have the reservation now and it shows you already as upgraded', or 'I just opened the reservation, and I tried to push the upgrade, but it went through before I did anything'?
I'm also curious: did you notice (via flight status or inventory) if the system swept the list (multiple new J bookings / diminution of PZ by more than one) or if it just pushed you through?
Jan 13, 2019, 1:00 pm
#297
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 64
They redeposited the old upgrade and used a new one but the new upgrade expires later than the old upgrade. Does anyone have any experience with if it's better to call before or after travel to try to fix this? (I.e. replace the confirmed upgrade currently with a new RPU to use the old RPU.)
Jan 13, 2019, 1:04 pm
#298
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,618
This has happened to me several times over the past years and absolutely get them to change it prior to travel or you will get the "nothing we can do about it" line.
Jan 13, 2019, 1:05 pm
#299
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,038
Seriously? That would be awesome although could not corroborate. T-12 had to HUCA 3 times before getting someone to push it through. They redeposited the old upgrade and used a new one but the new upgrade expires later than the old upgrade. Does anyone have any experience with if it's better to call before or after travel to try to fix this? (I.e. replace the confirmed upgrade currently with a new RPU to use the old RPU.)
Jan 13, 2019, 1:09 pm
#300
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,967
I had one that was waitlisted. It showed PZ = 1 before I went to sleep (in the US). I called and the agent would not do anything.
Then the next morning, it showed PZ = 2. I called. The agent looked at the WL and saw 10 1Ks waiting for it. She said she could see who is on the WL but could not see the order. She also said they run the thing once a day.
She put me on hold for a long time and essentially removed the upgrade request and re-applied it (I could see the re-deposit and deposit). Then I got it.
I wonder if this is caused by them running the upgrade once a day and the inventory adjustment runs after the upgrade runs? So, when the inventory is adjust further, more seats are released - making it look like nothing had happened?
Then the next morning, it showed PZ = 2. I called. The agent looked at the WL and saw 10 1Ks waiting for it. She said she could see who is on the WL but could not see the order. She also said they run the thing once a day.
She put me on hold for a long time and essentially removed the upgrade request and re-applied it (I could see the re-deposit and deposit). Then I got it.
I wonder if this is caused by them running the upgrade once a day and the inventory adjustment runs after the upgrade runs? So, when the inventory is adjust further, more seats are released - making it look like nothing had happened?
Last edited by username; Jan 13, 2019 at 1:14 pm