Oct 2, 2015, 2:45 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Upgrading award tickets
New statement on companions changed late 2021?
Early on success in being transferred to the gate list had been spotty and many agents will claim this benefit does not exist. Since 2017 this appears to be working better.
Previous thread
Consolidated CPU on Awards for UA Premiers Who Hold An Eligible Chase/UA CC {ARCHIVE}
Premier members who are primary cardholders for certain Chase-issued MileagePlus credit cards are eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades when traveling on award tickets on United-operated flights. The following credit cards qualify for this benefit:
Complimentary Premier Upgrades on award tickets will be prioritized as indicated in the "Upgrade Confirmation Priority" section above, and prioritized after the lowest paid fare class within each Premier level.This benefit does not apply to companions traveling on award tickets.
- United℠ Explorer Card
- United Explorer℠ Business Card
- United℠ Business Card
- United Quest℠ Card
- United Club℠ Card
- United Club℠ Business Card
- United Club℠ Infinite Card
- United℠ Presidential Plus℠ Card
- United Presidential Plus Business Card
Complimentary Premier Upgrades on award tickets will be prioritized as indicated in the "Upgrade Confirmation Priority" section above, and prioritized after the lowest paid fare class within each Premier level.
This benefit only extends to one companion traveling on an award ticket. The companion must be traveling on the same PNR as the primary Cardmember.
Previous thread
Consolidated CPU on Awards for UA Premiers Who Hold An Eligible Chase/UA CC {ARCHIVE}
Consolidated CPU on Awards for UA Elites +Companion Who Hold An Eligible Chase/UA CC
Oct 10, 2021, 3:40 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,913
Consolidated CPU on Awards for UA Elites +Companion Who Hold An Eligible Chase/UA CC
Has there been a change to the companion CPU policy for eligible cardholders on award tickets?
Just received a mailer explaining my existing United Club Card was being converted to a United Club Infinite Card next month. The first page of the letter states "you can now take advantage of Complimentary Premier Upgrades for one companion traveling on the same reservation on award tickets (when available)." Yet, the full terms & conditions in the membership guide also included states "The primary Cardmember who has MileagePlus Premier status and is traveling on an award ticket is eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades on select United- and United Express-operated flights, subject to availability; travel companions and authorized users are not eligible." (emphasis added) Seems contradictory.
-FlyerBeek
Just received a mailer explaining my existing United Club Card was being converted to a United Club Infinite Card next month. The first page of the letter states "you can now take advantage of Complimentary Premier Upgrades for one companion traveling on the same reservation on award tickets (when available)." Yet, the full terms & conditions in the membership guide also included states "The primary Cardmember who has MileagePlus Premier status and is traveling on an award ticket is eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades on select United- and United Express-operated flights, subject to availability; travel companions and authorized users are not eligible." (emphasis added) Seems contradictory.
-FlyerBeek
Oct 10, 2021, 12:37 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,910
My Tue night Oct 12-13 award XN (domestic, not EWR/JFK) red-eye's upgrade list was unveiled late last night. However, my companion (silver) and I (gold) are not on the CPU list. Any reason why I'm not eligible?
Oct 10, 2021, 12:40 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,849
Oct 10, 2021, 12:41 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 282
Oct 10, 2021, 1:44 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,910
There's a thread here talking about that route and how United doesn't seem to be sure whether or not they're considering BOS a Premium TCON again. It's specifically about SFO-BOS but I imagine the same rules apply.
Oct 10, 2021, 1:57 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,849
My son flew that route last week on a revenue ticket.The 10:40PM departure from LAX he missed by a mile, the 6 PM departure from BOS had originally 10 seats, He missed it by one at the gate. He is a Platinum
so as a gold with a credit card on an award your the lowest gold possible I don’t see the odds in your favor. As to why you’re not appearing, call in and ask? I didn’t think it extends to anyone except the card holder even on the same PNR. Therefore split the split reservation and I guess you will appear
Last edited by Flying Machine; Oct 10, 2021 at 2:16 pm
Oct 10, 2021, 4:57 pm
#11
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,832
Oct 10, 2021, 5:22 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,849
Has there been a change to the companion CPU policy for eligible cardholders on award tickets?
Just received a mailer explaining my existing United Club Card was being converted to a United Club Infinite Card next month. The first page of the letter states "you can now take advantage of Complimentary Premier Upgrades for one companion traveling on the same reservation on award tickets (when available)." Yet, the full terms & conditions in the membership guide also included states "The primary Cardmember who has MileagePlus Premier status and is traveling on an award ticket is eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades on select United- and United Express-operated flights, subject to availability; travel companions and authorized users are not eligible." (emphasis added) Seems contradictory.
-FlyerBeek
Just received a mailer explaining my existing United Club Card was being converted to a United Club Infinite Card next month. The first page of the letter states "you can now take advantage of Complimentary Premier Upgrades for one companion traveling on the same reservation on award tickets (when available)." Yet, the full terms & conditions in the membership guide also included states "The primary Cardmember who has MileagePlus Premier status and is traveling on an award ticket is eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades on select United- and United Express-operated flights, subject to availability; travel companions and authorized users are not eligible." (emphasis added) Seems contradictory.
-FlyerBeek
Oct 10, 2021, 5:46 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,954
When you book the tickets, you need to book separately and pay the taxes/fees with different Explorer cards. That is, each primary cardholder pays his/her own taxes/fees. When you book the tickets together and after you split the reservation, only one pax (who paid the taxes) is eligible for upgrade.
My son flew that route last week on a revenue ticket.The 10:40PM departure from LAX he missed by a mile, the 6 PM departure from BOS had originally 10 seats, He missed it by one at the gate. He is a Platinum
so as a gold with a credit card on an award your the lowest gold possible I don’t see the odds in your favor. As to why you’re not appearing, call in and ask? I didn’t think it extends to anyone except the card holder even on the same PNR. Therefore split the split reservation and I guess you will appear
so as a gold with a credit card on an award your the lowest gold possible I don’t see the odds in your favor. As to why you’re not appearing, call in and ask? I didn’t think it extends to anyone except the card holder even on the same PNR. Therefore split the split reservation and I guess you will appear
Oct 10, 2021, 6:27 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,913
-FlyerBeek
Oct 20, 2021, 7:53 am
#15
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,910
My son flew that route last week on a revenue ticket. The 10:40PM departure from LAX he missed by a mile, the 6 PM departure from BOS had originally 10 seats, He missed it by one at the gate. He is a Platinum. So as a gold with a credit card on an award your the lowest gold possible I don’t see the odds in your favor. As to why you’re not appearing, call in and ask? I didn’t think it extends to anyone except the card holder even on the same PNR. Therefore split the split reservation and I guess you will appear
* 10/11 evening OLCI: We did not appear on the list.
* 10/12 afternoon: I called Premier line, was told Explorer card wasn't eligible. I looked up the FAQs, Explorer was right there. I called a 2nd time, was told only airport agent could do it.
* 10/12 evening: Arrived at the T7 Premier counter, was told only gate agent could do it, maybe try upstairs at the CS counter.
* At the CS counter: Explained everything to the agent, took a few minutes, we were added! I was suddenly #1, mom was #2, proving my suspicion that all Golds had been upgraded at that point. I as award Gold and mom as award Gold companion were ahead of revenue Silvers.
* Just before boarding time: App and SMS notified I was upgraded. Wallet BP wouldn't update. Turned out I was split to a new PNR. Had to go into the app for the new BP.
* 10/17 morning: We appeared on the CPU list, separated by revenue Silvers, mom at the bottom. Long list. Hopeless anyway.
* 10/18 morning: We had to OLCI separately. She got Group 2 unlike the 1st flight.
(One big annoyance was the extra long walk to TBIT to use *ABL because we had to go to T7 first to sort this out. But it was fun to see our 739 from CUN parked at TBIT before it was towed to T8 while we were walking to T8.)
Last edited by HkCaGu; Oct 20, 2021 at 10:59 am Reason: shortened lounge walk annoyance, corrected date