I have read through a lot of waitlist threads and the United website, however, haven't found an answer.
I have a multi-segment award ticket (10 segments in all) booked in business class for all but the last segment (IAH to MCO) where I had to take economy seats. As allowed by the award booking rules, I have waitlisted us on that segment, however, I can't figure out where we would be on the waitlist. The upgrade page on United talks about the waitlist for upgrades, however, this is not really an upgrade, it is just waiting to get what we have paid for (albeit with miles), and, in any event, it makes no mention of business class award tickets that have been booked into economy.
There are six of us on the ticket and, from what I can tell, only 4 award seats available in business, so if we aren't all going to get our business seats, I could split us into 4 and 2, however, it creates possible issues with IRROPs, with 7 connections to be made (messed up) at one point or another.
Can anyone help me out with some idea what the priority is for business awards booked into economy?
And a related, but not the same question, shouldn't an award ticket at the business level, if required to go in economy, at least get economy plus?

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You are at the top of the list as a displaced F passenger, though that's only used at the gate. Prior to that you would be processed by status and time of listin for the "I" space should it open.

And, while the free E+ seems to make sense to many of us in that scenario it is not per the rules.

Thank you sbm12

if you feel it is very important to get into F on that segment I would take the 4 award seats that are currently available by splitting the PNR, then leave the other two on the waitlist. the system will skip you over unless the flight ever goes to I=6 which is very unlikely to happen.

I missed the part about 4 seats being available today. I agree and would split the PNR and grab what you can.

Do new fees to change ticketed award cabin not apply when a premium award is redeem, but segments waitlisted? In other words, the OP (a silver) doesn't have to pay to confirm any waitlisted seats that have become available, does he/she?

On a side note, congratulations on getting 54 total seats in business across 9 segments.

Exactly. What's IAH-MCO. Two hours? Come on, economy isn't that bad. If anything, it makes you appreciate the great trip that came before it.

Seriously. Not worth the ink already spilt.

I agree, likely not worth splitting the PNR for 2 and a half hours, although this will be the tail end of the trip home after already traveling for 15 hours from Munich through Amsterdam, so first/business for the last leg would be nice. Traveling with my wife and four daughters (8, 10, 11, and 14), so it should be an adventure!
It definitely took some work finding business for the whole thing. I don't think most people traveling from MCO to LHR will get to see Charlotte, Madrid, and Frankfurt, like we are scheduled for!

First of all, if didn't get your msg wrong you supposed to be on economy with miles being updated to business using miles as well , right ? If that's the case, I suggest you make a phone and talk to one of their reps on the possibility of being updated to biz. Oftentimes, the rep will be able to tell what is the overall situation of the flight- whether it's fully loaded or there's some seats left for revenue/awards or whatever they can fit people in. By the way, you can not ask him/her exactly how many folks in the waitlist , what you should ask the rep is: on the scale of 1 to 10, can you tell me what the changes are ? With this information in your mind, you'd be able to make a quick decision of whether to proceed to get the upgrade for all 6 folks or just stay where you are, the economy. Hope my info helps.

That's what I call "polishing a turd".

On long flights, it one thing enjoying larger planes and better seats along the way, and it's another connecting to smaller planes and worse seats. I'd grab the 4 seats.

Using expert mode on United.com, I can see that there is I availability of 8 or more for virtually every Tuesday (the day that I am flying) flights at about the same time for the next 3 months. The flight I am waitlisted on is next June, however, my itinerary starts in December (with a 5 month stopover at home). Is it possible to split the PNR in March/April (when I will be able to see if they have opened up availability), after I have already flown the first three segments?

Splitting an award with partner inventory involved is a precarious move; it may result in segments dropping and agents will often recommend against it. That said, yes, it is technically possible to split a PNR after travel has started.