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 13, 2019, 1:16 pm
#301
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,046
That can certainly be part of the problem, but I have had WLs sit for days on available PZ ... then I called and nobody was on the WL. So sometimes this just gets stuck somehow.
Jan 13, 2019, 2:09 pm
#302
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Silicon wasteland
Programs: UA 1KMM
Posts: 1,381
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.)
Just make sure you know which GPU and itinerary it was on. It took maybe five minutes
Jan 13, 2019, 2:32 pm
#303
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 695
I'll probably just try calling or emailing after. When I called MPSC, they immediately transferred to reservations who were unwilling to keep the upgrade in place while they redeposited the newer RPU and applied the older RPU. If I can't get them to fix it after, then I'll probably just let the single RPU left expire. I've had quite a tough time trying to use them all anyways. Won't be a problem with RPUs next year considering there's only going to be 4.
Jan 15, 2019, 5:01 pm
#304
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: Hilton Lifetime Diamond and United Global Services
Posts: 34
I just subscribed to Expert Flyer Premium and was trying to search on a United flight for fare code "PN" which is an upgrade code available for Global Services members. In the search criteria, it only allows for one letter "P" as an example and not two "PN". Am I missing how to do this? Any suggestions?
Jan 15, 2019, 5:06 pm
#305
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
I just subscribed to Expert Flyer Premium and was trying to search on a United flight for fare code "PN" which is an upgrade code available for Global Services members. In the search criteria, it only allows for one letter "P" as an example and not two "PN". Am I missing how to do this? Any suggestions?
Jan 15, 2019, 5:12 pm
#306
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: 67,136
In fact, I gave her the PNR in each case, she called up the itin, and immediately as she said, "Okay, looking at it now..." I got the "Waitlist Notification" e-mail, and she said, "Huh, looks like it cleared as soon as I opened the res."
It's like the agent accessing the itin triggered the waitlist processing.
I didn't think to check. If it happens again, I will do just that.
Jan 15, 2019, 5:26 pm
#307
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,413
UA doesn't publish private inventory (PZ, PN, IN, etc.) and actually is quite diligent about shutting down services which attempt to scrape the data.
Jan 15, 2019, 5:43 pm
#309
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: 67,136
Jan 15, 2019, 5:56 pm
#311
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: 3,620
No surprise from UA, anything to give the consumer a bit of an advantage and they shut it down. I was looking into subscribing to EF premium as well but after reading this why.......
Jan 15, 2019, 6:07 pm
#312
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: Amex Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, Carlson Gold, CM Presidential / *A Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 1,648
Jan 17, 2019, 7:08 am
#313
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UA 1K & 1MM/AA Gold & 1MM/HH Gold/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 2,924
I check everyday and noticed my IAD-AUS flight on Feb. 6 had PZ3 so I called. The agent said he opened the record, didn't do a thing and it went through right away. Must have been his magic touch!
Jan 17, 2019, 8:45 am
#314
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Silicon wasteland
Programs: UA 1KMM
Posts: 1,381
The latter.
In fact, I gave her the PNR in each case, she called up the itin, and immediately as she said, "Okay, looking at it now..." I got the "Waitlist Notification" e-mail, and she said, "Huh, looks like it cleared as soon as I opened the res."
It's like the agent accessing the itin triggered the waitlist processing.
In fact, I gave her the PNR in each case, she called up the itin, and immediately as she said, "Okay, looking at it now..." I got the "Waitlist Notification" e-mail, and she said, "Huh, looks like it cleared as soon as I opened the res."
It's like the agent accessing the itin triggered the waitlist processing.
Good for following the wait-list, I guess, but bad for those of us in the know.
Jan 17, 2019, 5:55 pm
#315
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 695
Another datapoint for this. Was able to redeposit the new RPU and redeem the old RPU after travel completion in about 5 minutes. Did have to wait about a minute on hold before an agent which is quite rare though. Good job to the 1k MP desk.