Feb 7, 17, 11:28 am
Last edit by: leftysauce
Types of Upgrades
UA's Upgrades overview
UA has multiple methods for upgrading to a higher cabin. Examples include: Economy to Domestic First, Economy to International Business or Business (ex-p.s. flights) or Economy to Premium Economy ("Premium Plus").
In this regard, seating in Economy Plus is considered Economy.
Not all upgrade methods are available on all flights (see table).
Waitlisting for a premium cabin award and all forms of Economy Plus are not considered upgrades.
Upgrade Priority and Required Inventory
All upgrades other than CPU may clear immediately if the required inventory class is available. If you request an upgrade when there is not inventory to confirm your upgrade immediately, you will be added to the upgrade waitlist. The required inventory classes are as follows:
RN class is required for all upgrades to Premium Economy (United Premium Plus)
PN class is required for Instant Upgrades to Business/First from Y, B, and M fares for Premier 1K members, and for all upgrades to Business/First of any type for Global Services members.
PZ class is required for all other upgrades to Business/First except CPUs.
Note: The display of the upgrade lists is rather complicated at the moment. There seems to be more information available than usual, but its accuracy is disputed. The following is how it has historically functioned in terms of public visibility.
Passengers with unconfirmed upgrade requests will be added to the upgrade waitlist. This is not the same as the upgrade standby list which you can see on the Flight Status page. You cannot see this list by any means. The ordering of the upgrade waitlist is as follows:
Fare Class priority is J, C, D, Z, P, O, A, R, Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W, S, T, L, K, G, N.
Waitlist priority for all flights
If we haven't confirmed your upgrade by the time you check in for your flight, you will be added to the Upgrades list at check-in, so there's nothing that you need to do after submitting your original request. Our upgrade systems process requests until three hours before flight departure, at which point our gate agents will handle all remaining upgrade requests.
*On flights equipped with United Premium Plus, we will process requests to upgrade to business class for customers ticketed in United Premium Plus (fare classes O, A, R) before processing requests for customers ticketed in economy.
Upgrade priority on United Premium Plus
On aircraft with United Premium Plus, we’ll first process United Polaris business class or United Business waitlists for all members who have purchased United Premium Plus seats, using the same priority order that applies to all upgrades. We’ll then process waitlists for members with United Economy seats.
New waitlist requests for MileagePlus Upgrade Awards can be made until 24 hours before departure. New waitlist requests for PlusPoints upgrades can be made up until the flight check-in cutoff time.
United will periodically run sweeps from this list. The required inventory class for your upgrade does not need to be available in order to be upgraded from the standby list; passengers on the list will be upgraded at the discretion of United's systems. (You can also think of it as space was opened and then you immediately took it.)
For flights with Premium Plus, those with paid Premium Plus fares will be prioritized above those with paid economy fares even if status is lower. However, GS with paid economy are higher on the list than non-GS customers with paid Premium Plus fares. Therefore, GS with paid Prem Plus, then GS with paid economy, then other Prem Plus pax (1Ks, then Plat, then Gold, etc), then Economy (1Ks, then Plat, then Gold, etc).Not clear if this applies to GS in economy -- certainly not pre-gate waitlist (as they are waitlisted for PN) but unclear what happens at the gate merged waitlist.
How does PlusPoints/GPU/ Mileage Upgrade waitlist for business work with PremiumPlus?
Once check-in starts a new waitlist will be generated for use at the gate. The pre-gate list will continue to process until the flight goes to the gate, typically one to three hours prior to departure. This new list is the visible one on the Flight Status page. Generally they will have the same order, but there can be some differences in priority ordering of the two lists -- usually due to the time tiebreaker -- which is time of request for the pre-gate list and time of check-in (sequence number) for gate list. The visible (upgrade standby) list is not used until the flight is under gate control and the gate agent manually processes an upgrade.
The upgrade list sometimes also shows passengers who have been upgraded. Advance-cleared upgrades will not show on the gate list as cleared -- only passengers who clear after they check in will display with a green checkmark. Some paid Premium Plus fares may show as a confirmed upgrade to Premium Plus.
For both cases, display cleared upgrades will appear in alphabetic order and regardless if checked-in (as long as a seat has been assigned). Uncleared, waitlisted requests will appear in priority order.
Upgrades and Companions
Main article: Comprehensive Companion Upgrade Questions
The following applies ONLY to the invisible upgrade list.
Up to one companion on the same PNR as you is entitled to a CPU based on your status. However, because PNRs must consist only of passengers with the same itinerary, you will only be eligible for an upgrade if all passengers on your PNR have the same upgrade eligibility. For CPUs, you may extend your CPU status to one companion, and then the system will take the status of the lowest passenger on the reservation.
This is a little complicated. Here are some example PNRs:
1K and non-status companion: both are eligible to CPU as 1Ks
1K and two non-status companions: no one is eligible to CPU
1K, Gold, and non-status companion: the companion gets "1K CPU status" but the Gold cannot, so all three pax have Gold priority
The situation for instrument supported upgrades is slightly different. Waitlisting an instrument is also all-or-nothing on the PNR. Either all pax must have a waitlisted upgrade, or none may. If you have a waitlisted upgrade for a multiple passenger PNR, it will have the priority of the highest Premier status on the reservation. Thus:
1K and non-status companion, 2x PlusPoints applied: both are eligible as 1Ks with PlusPoints
1K and three non-status companions, 4x PlusPointsapplied: all four are eligible as 1Ks with PlusPoints
Multi-pax PNR upgrades are all or nothing - you may (or may not) be skipped over if there are fewer available seats than members in your party. If you do not like the treatment of your PNR, you may split it into smaller pieces at any time and be treated as smaller groups or individuals.
Now, what happens if you haven't cleared by check-in?
Multiple pax PNRs are not eligible for the (visible) upgrade standby list. If you wish to be added to the list, you must split the PNR at check-in. This often happens even if you didn't intend to. Note, however, that the hidden list is active until 3 hours before departure and splitting your PNR changes it. Therefore, you may wish to delay check-in until the airport. On the other hand, the tiebreak for the gate list is time of check-in, so you may wish to do so immediately. It depends on your situation.
Companions may be eligible for the upgrade standby list even after splitting the PNR, if it is split at check-in. The behavior of your companion(s) depends on whether the reservation had instruments applied. You may have one CPU companion, who will be waitlisted with your Premier priority but with an effective fare class below X (namely, last). If your companion was on a different PNR originally, or you want to designate a different companion, an airport agent can do that for you. Therefore, the list of 1Ks might be:
1) 1K on an S fare (you)
2) 1K on a K fare
3) Your no-status companion
4) Plat on a B fare
If your reservation had instruments applied, however, this process is different. In this case, if the reservation is auto-split at check-in, all travelers will have your Premier priority with their fare class. Say you are a 1K with three non-status companions, all with GPUs applied. Then you have
1) 1K on a V fare,PlusPoints applied
2..5) you (1K) and your three companions on W fares, ordered by sequence number
6) Plat on a Q fare, miles+cash applied
Frequently Asked Questions
I was #1 on the upgrade list, but someone else got the upgrade instead. What happened?
The most likely answer is that a higher status passenger or fare moved to your flight.
I'm #1 on the upgrade list but seats in the forward cabin keep disappearing. No one is being upgraded. What's going on?
There are two major sources of this. First, once your flight is within 24 hours of departure, it is eligible for SDC. Passengers with paid premium tickets can change to your flight and take seats. Many experienced flyers, especially FT members, underestimate the volatility of flight loads on the day of departure. Additionally, United usually makes a time-of-departure upsell offer available at check-in. Purchasers of this upgrade may often appear similar to last-minute revenue bookings.
I was waitlisted for I (or IN) class and did not clear. Am I now eligible for an upgrade?
"Upgrade" is the wrong terminology. You should be automatically placed on the standy list for business or first (whichever applies). Historically there have been problems with this occurring automatically, but that seems to have mostly been fixed. The exact priority compared to passengers who are waitlisted for an upgrade is unclear and a matter of some dispute. See discussion of GG ONESTANDBY lines 32-55.
Who are these people who are on standby lists for both Business and First?
These are non-revs (i.e., UA employees and family members) - either NRPS (non-rev positive space) or NRSA (non-rev standby). Non-revs can list for any cabin. NRPS are traveling on company business (e.g., deadheading pilots) and will clear into open space ahead of upgraders. NRSA travel standby and will be last in priority after all paid passengers. Why would someone be listed on both standby & upgrade list(s)?
Deadheading Pilots Will Have Upgrade Priority Over ElitesCan you have one companion on a different PNR?
Yes, but only at the airport/gate and some agents are not familiar with the process. They are at the bottom of your status group.
Related threads
Ever see (+X blocked) in booked column on upgrade list?
Consolidated "Waitlist for Award Seats Questions/Issues"
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight
Decoding the alphabet soup - fare buckets for UA
Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively [Archive]
UA's Upgrades overview
UA has multiple methods for upgrading to a higher cabin. Examples include: Economy to Domestic First, Economy to International Business or Business (ex-p.s. flights) or Economy to Premium Economy ("Premium Plus").
In this regard, seating in Economy Plus is considered Economy.
Not all upgrade methods are available on all flights (see table).
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPU) are available for most North American flights, Central America flights, and some select Oceania flights. "ex-PS" flights (EWR/JFK-SFO/LAX) and Hawaii-EWR, IAD, ORD, IAH, DEN, GUM, MAJ and v.v. are not CPU eligible. CPUs are available for all paid fares and in some cases on award tickets with certain credit cards. A CPU is requested automatically for all elites as long as there is a maximum of one non-Premier as only one companion on the same PNR is also eligible for CPU. CPUs cannot be confirmed until inside the particular window:
Global Services: 120 hours
Premier 1K: 96 hours
Premier Platinum: 72 hours
Premier Gold: 48 hours
Premier Silver: 24 hours
white text to force line
Premier 1K: 96 hours
Premier Platinum: 72 hours
Premier Gold: 48 hours
Premier Silver: 24 hours
white text to force line
- Plus Points (provided to Plats and above) are the upgrade currency of United elites. This wiki of this thread has more details about pricing of various Plus Points upgrades.
- Mileage Upgrade Awards (MUA) can be requested for all UA flights with a higher cabin on all paid fares. This a varying amount of miles and a $ copay (elites are exempt from the co-pay for CPU eligible flights) -- mileage+copay calculator
Note the miles and copay are due at time of the request and will be returned if unsuccessful. - Instant Upgrades are space available for all elites on Y & B fares for CPU-eligible flights at booking or thereafter. For Platinum and below these require PZ space. For 1Ks and GS, this can be done on Y, B & M fares and requires PN space. These Instant Upgrades, if not cleared at booking, cannot be waitlisted and one must keep checking to see if the instant upgrade space opens up. However, CPUs will process, as discussed above.
- Paid/cash upgrades are a different mechanism and are only available if confirmable -- no waitlisting. Depending on methods, paid upgrades can clear into almost any fare class. If the class would otherwise be used for upgrades, the cash upsell can show up on the cleared upgrade list.
Waitlisting for a premium cabin award and all forms of Economy Plus are not considered upgrades.
Upgrade Priority and Required Inventory
All upgrades other than CPU may clear immediately if the required inventory class is available. If you request an upgrade when there is not inventory to confirm your upgrade immediately, you will be added to the upgrade waitlist. The required inventory classes are as follows:
RN class is required for all upgrades to Premium Economy (United Premium Plus)
PN class is required for Instant Upgrades to Business/First from Y, B, and M fares for Premier 1K members, and for all upgrades to Business/First of any type for Global Services members.
PZ class is required for all other upgrades to Business/First except CPUs.
Note: The display of the upgrade lists is rather complicated at the moment. There seems to be more information available than usual, but its accuracy is disputed. The following is how it has historically functioned in terms of public visibility.
Passengers with unconfirmed upgrade requests will be added to the upgrade waitlist. This is not the same as the upgrade standby list which you can see on the Flight Status page. You cannot see this list by any means. The ordering of the upgrade waitlist is as follows:
Fare Class priority is J, C, D, Z, P, O, A, R, Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W, S, T, L, K, G, N.
Waitlist priority for all flights
- United Global Services® requests
- PlusPoints upgrades and MileagePlus Upgrade Awards
- Premier status of the traveler*
- Fare class
- Chase United MileagePlus Club cardholders and Presidential Plus cardholders
- United Corporate Preferred participants
- United Chase Cardmembers with $25,000 in annual spending
- Date and time of request
If we haven't confirmed your upgrade by the time you check in for your flight, you will be added to the Upgrades list at check-in, so there's nothing that you need to do after submitting your original request. Our upgrade systems process requests until three hours before flight departure, at which point our gate agents will handle all remaining upgrade requests.
*On flights equipped with United Premium Plus, we will process requests to upgrade to business class for customers ticketed in United Premium Plus (fare classes O, A, R) before processing requests for customers ticketed in economy.
Upgrade priority on United Premium Plus
On aircraft with United Premium Plus, we’ll first process United Polaris business class or United Business waitlists for all members who have purchased United Premium Plus seats, using the same priority order that applies to all upgrades. We’ll then process waitlists for members with United Economy seats.
New waitlist requests for MileagePlus Upgrade Awards can be made until 24 hours before departure. New waitlist requests for PlusPoints upgrades can be made up until the flight check-in cutoff time.
United will periodically run sweeps from this list. The required inventory class for your upgrade does not need to be available in order to be upgraded from the standby list; passengers on the list will be upgraded at the discretion of United's systems. (You can also think of it as space was opened and then you immediately took it.)
For flights with Premium Plus, those with paid Premium Plus fares will be prioritized above those with paid economy fares even if status is lower. However, GS with paid economy are higher on the list than non-GS customers with paid Premium Plus fares. Therefore, GS with paid Prem Plus, then GS with paid economy, then other Prem Plus pax (1Ks, then Plat, then Gold, etc), then Economy (1Ks, then Plat, then Gold, etc).
How does PlusPoints/GPU/ Mileage Upgrade waitlist for business work with PremiumPlus?
Once check-in starts a new waitlist will be generated for use at the gate. The pre-gate list will continue to process until the flight goes to the gate, typically one to three hours prior to departure. This new list is the visible one on the Flight Status page. Generally they will have the same order, but there can be some differences in priority ordering of the two lists -- usually due to the time tiebreaker -- which is time of request for the pre-gate list and time of check-in (sequence number) for gate list. The visible (upgrade standby) list is not used until the flight is under gate control and the gate agent manually processes an upgrade.
The upgrade list sometimes also shows passengers who have been upgraded. Advance-cleared upgrades will not show on the gate list as cleared -- only passengers who clear after they check in will display with a green checkmark. Some paid Premium Plus fares may show as a confirmed upgrade to Premium Plus.
For both cases, display cleared upgrades will appear in alphabetic order and regardless if checked-in (as long as a seat has been assigned). Uncleared, waitlisted requests will appear in priority order.
Upgrades and Companions
Main article: Comprehensive Companion Upgrade Questions
The following applies ONLY to the invisible upgrade list.
Up to one companion on the same PNR as you is entitled to a CPU based on your status. However, because PNRs must consist only of passengers with the same itinerary, you will only be eligible for an upgrade if all passengers on your PNR have the same upgrade eligibility. For CPUs, you may extend your CPU status to one companion, and then the system will take the status of the lowest passenger on the reservation.
This is a little complicated. Here are some example PNRs:
1K and non-status companion: both are eligible to CPU as 1Ks
1K and two non-status companions: no one is eligible to CPU
1K, Gold, and non-status companion: the companion gets "1K CPU status" but the Gold cannot, so all three pax have Gold priority
The situation for instrument supported upgrades is slightly different. Waitlisting an instrument is also all-or-nothing on the PNR. Either all pax must have a waitlisted upgrade, or none may. If you have a waitlisted upgrade for a multiple passenger PNR, it will have the priority of the highest Premier status on the reservation. Thus:
1K and non-status companion, 2x PlusPoints applied: both are eligible as 1Ks with PlusPoints
1K and three non-status companions, 4x PlusPointsapplied: all four are eligible as 1Ks with PlusPoints
Multi-pax PNR upgrades are all or nothing - you may (or may not) be skipped over if there are fewer available seats than members in your party. If you do not like the treatment of your PNR, you may split it into smaller pieces at any time and be treated as smaller groups or individuals.
Now, what happens if you haven't cleared by check-in?
Multiple pax PNRs are not eligible for the (visible) upgrade standby list. If you wish to be added to the list, you must split the PNR at check-in. This often happens even if you didn't intend to. Note, however, that the hidden list is active until 3 hours before departure and splitting your PNR changes it. Therefore, you may wish to delay check-in until the airport. On the other hand, the tiebreak for the gate list is time of check-in, so you may wish to do so immediately. It depends on your situation.
Companions may be eligible for the upgrade standby list even after splitting the PNR, if it is split at check-in. The behavior of your companion(s) depends on whether the reservation had instruments applied. You may have one CPU companion, who will be waitlisted with your Premier priority but with an effective fare class below X (namely, last). If your companion was on a different PNR originally, or you want to designate a different companion, an airport agent can do that for you. Therefore, the list of 1Ks might be:
1) 1K on an S fare (you)
2) 1K on a K fare
3) Your no-status companion
4) Plat on a B fare
If your reservation had instruments applied, however, this process is different. In this case, if the reservation is auto-split at check-in, all travelers will have your Premier priority with their fare class. Say you are a 1K with three non-status companions, all with GPUs applied. Then you have
1) 1K on a V fare,PlusPoints applied
2..5) you (1K) and your three companions on W fares, ordered by sequence number
6) Plat on a Q fare, miles+cash applied
Frequently Asked Questions
I was #1 on the upgrade list, but someone else got the upgrade instead. What happened?
The most likely answer is that a higher status passenger or fare moved to your flight.
I'm #1 on the upgrade list but seats in the forward cabin keep disappearing. No one is being upgraded. What's going on?
There are two major sources of this. First, once your flight is within 24 hours of departure, it is eligible for SDC. Passengers with paid premium tickets can change to your flight and take seats. Many experienced flyers, especially FT members, underestimate the volatility of flight loads on the day of departure. Additionally, United usually makes a time-of-departure upsell offer available at check-in. Purchasers of this upgrade may often appear similar to last-minute revenue bookings.
I was waitlisted for I (or IN) class and did not clear. Am I now eligible for an upgrade?
"Upgrade" is the wrong terminology. You should be automatically placed on the standy list for business or first (whichever applies). Historically there have been problems with this occurring automatically, but that seems to have mostly been fixed. The exact priority compared to passengers who are waitlisted for an upgrade is unclear and a matter of some dispute. See discussion of GG ONESTANDBY lines 32-55.
Who are these people who are on standby lists for both Business and First?
These are non-revs (i.e., UA employees and family members) - either NRPS (non-rev positive space) or NRSA (non-rev standby). Non-revs can list for any cabin. NRPS are traveling on company business (e.g., deadheading pilots) and will clear into open space ahead of upgraders. NRSA travel standby and will be last in priority after all paid passengers. Why would someone be listed on both standby & upgrade list(s)?
Originally Posted by leftysauce
I want to note the distinction that this only applies to NRPS that book the specific cabin directly (eg. if NRPS are eligible for J, they will clear into J immediately if any J seat is available). Otherwise, if NRPS book a lower cabin, they will be waitlisted after all paid (cash+award) pax but before NRSA for upgrades to higher cabins.
Yes, but only at the airport/gate and some agents are not familiar with the process. They are at the bottom of your status group.
Related threads
Ever see (+X blocked) in booked column on upgrade list?
Consolidated "Waitlist for Award Seats Questions/Issues"
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight
Decoding the alphabet soup - fare buckets for UA
Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively [Archive]
Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
Oct 29, 22, 6:58 pm
#1756
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 3,223
Originally Posted by Infinite1K
Setting aside that GS ticketed in Economy jump ahead of say a 1K ticketed in PP for Business upgrades, the fact that the GS traveling companions (also booked in Economy) also get to leapfrog seems wrong. But perhaps a GS really is that valuable to United that they are willing to bend the rules so much for them.
Oct 31, 22, 11:33 am
#1757
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA GS | Marriott Titanium / LT Platinum
Posts: 412
Originally Posted by Infinite1K
Setting aside that GS ticketed in Economy jump ahead of say a 1K ticketed in PP for Business upgrades, the fact that the GS traveling companions (also booked in Economy) also get to leapfrog seems wrong. But perhaps a GS really is that valuable to United that they are willing to bend the rules so much for them.
It would be even more development to get both the latter and former scenarios to work out (linking separate PNRs for upgrade purposes and also sorting the upgrade list by some combination of status as well as space being requested).
So it's less abound bending the rules and more about the fact that getting the rules to work as intended may be too complex from an IT system perspective therefore they're fine with this behavior persisting for the most valuable customers.
Oct 31, 22, 11:59 am
#1758
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K, AA, DL, LH, VX, HA
Posts: 6,776
^ I'm not terribly persuaded they couldn't get the IT to work for that scenario. Already one can call in to get an E+ assignment for an off-PNR companion. They could do something like that for upgrades.
I think UA designed it the way they want to - PP from GS accounts are worth more than PP for everyone else regardless of the scenario. Yes, as a non-GS sometimes it grates, but that's how UA has decided to reward royalty. I mean loyalty.
I think UA designed it the way they want to - PP from GS accounts are worth more than PP for everyone else regardless of the scenario. Yes, as a non-GS sometimes it grates, but that's how UA has decided to reward royalty. I mean loyalty.
Oct 31, 22, 12:08 pm
#1759
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA GS | Marriott Titanium / LT Platinum
Posts: 412
Originally Posted by drewguy
^ I'm not terribly persuaded they couldn't get the IT to work for that scenario. Already one can call in to get an E+ assignment for an off-PNR companion. They could do something like that for upgrades.
I think UA designed it the way they want to - PP from GS accounts are worth more than PP for everyone else regardless of the scenario. Yes, as a non-GS sometimes it grates, but that's how UA has decided to reward royalty. I mean loyalty.
I think UA designed it the way they want to - PP from GS accounts are worth more than PP for everyone else regardless of the scenario. Yes, as a non-GS sometimes it grates, but that's how UA has decided to reward royalty. I mean loyalty.
Getting the upgrade list to rank not first by inventory class would break behavior they need to preserve in other cases potentially (instant upgrades, etc.). Alternative could be only allowing GS to clear into PN (and if they apply to someone on a random flight it clears into PZ) but that would break the mechanics when a GS and companion are on the same PNR or same flight different PNR. It's really the upgrade list mechanics that complicate things but agreed they are likely content with the design.
Nov 1, 22, 7:01 pm
#1760
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 24
New to the upgrade game - questions
My husband and I are new to the upgrade game. Purchased Premium Economy from BCN to SFO connecting in Frankfurt coming back from a cruise. There was an offer to purchase PE seats and add 15,000 miles per person to be placed on the waitlist so we did it. Flight date is 5/27/2023. What is the chance of getting upgraded? How do I find out where we stand on the waitlist? Does purchasing PE seats have a good chance for upgrading? We don't have any status with UA.
Nov 1, 22, 7:25 pm
#1761
Moderator: United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.85MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 62,373
Originally Posted by monkeymommy
My husband and I are new to the upgrade game. Purchased Premium Economy from BCN to SFO connecting in Frankfurt coming back from a cruise. There was an offer to purchase PE seats and add 15,000 miles per person to be placed on the waitlist so we did it. Flight date is 5/27/2023. What is the chance of getting upgraded? How do I find out where we stand on the waitlist? Does purchasing PE seats have a good chance for upgrading? We don't have any status with UA.
First, you have done all the right things so far and are in the best possible position short of purchasing the Polaris cabin.
However, the news maybe disappointing but May 2023 is a long away and it will be hard to predict the demand and competition. But recent experiences are not positive, but it may get better or not.
While there is a small chance of clearing early if seat sales go pretty weak but if next summer is as strong as this year you will not clear far in advance.
The waitlist is priotized by status and fare class and other factors. Your no status will put you below many elites, but the paid PewmPlus is a positive in your case.
UA has five levels of elites, and status is the single most important factor for upgrades.
For polaris seats, all GS (the top elite) or any body being sponsored by a GS will be at the top of the list
Then any 1K (next level) or Plat or Gold Or Silver status with paid PremPus will be ahead of you. It is a small cabin so not too many, but generally more than the number of unsold seats in Polaris. Then you.
You will be ahead of any non-GS supported upgraders in economy.
There are a few other nuances, but that is the basic prioritization of the waitlist.
A high elite in PremPlus can have a good chance of an upgrade but it is too early at this point to make an informed guess for a non-elite
You will not be able to see the waitlist until a few days before day. You can call and ask and while the agent is not supposed to say, but they may tell you. The reason they are not to tell you is your position will drop any time an elite purchases PremPlus or a GS sponsors an economy flyer and that will happen. You position will get worse with time. So, the early position is misleading.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Nov 1, 22 at 7:32 pm
Nov 2, 22, 9:31 am
#1763
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 141
Iah to Den next Wednesday with my fiancee and I. Premier 1K, fare type K in a 777-200 aircraft.
I typically don't have trouble getting a upgrade when I go to Denver for work. But since my fiancee and I are going for vacation, I wanted to secure a upgrade so I requested to also use PP when I booked the fare. I changed my phone date manually to a week ahead so I can see the list. Currently # 3-4 with 11 business class seats open. I'm curious what our position would be if I didn't request to use PP.
if I remove the PP request to see where it gets us in line, would I be put back in spots 3 and 4 if I were to re add the PP request?
I typically don't have trouble getting a upgrade when I go to Denver for work. But since my fiancee and I are going for vacation, I wanted to secure a upgrade so I requested to also use PP when I booked the fare. I changed my phone date manually to a week ahead so I can see the list. Currently # 3-4 with 11 business class seats open. I'm curious what our position would be if I didn't request to use PP.
if I remove the PP request to see where it gets us in line, would I be put back in spots 3 and 4 if I were to re add the PP request?
Nov 2, 22, 9:36 am
#1764
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 18,349
Originally Posted by LReyes66
if I remove the PP request to see where it gets us in line, would I be put back in spots 3 and 4 if I were to re add the PP request?
Nov 2, 22, 9:37 am
#1765
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Silver (1MM), Marriott Amb (LTT)
Posts: 9,690
Originally Posted by LReyes66
Iah to Den next Wednesday with my fiancee and I. Premier 1K, fare type K in a 777-200 aircraft.
I typically don't have trouble getting a upgrade when I go to Denver for work. But since my fiancee and I are going for vacation, I wanted to secure a upgrade so I requested to also use PP when I booked the fare. I changed my phone date manually to a week ahead so I can see the list. Currently # 3-4 with 11 business class seats open. I'm curious what our position would be if I didn't request to use PP.
if I remove the PP request to see where it gets us in line, would I be put back in spots 3 and 4 if I were to re add the PP request?
I typically don't have trouble getting a upgrade when I go to Denver for work. But since my fiancee and I are going for vacation, I wanted to secure a upgrade so I requested to also use PP when I booked the fare. I changed my phone date manually to a week ahead so I can see the list. Currently # 3-4 with 11 business class seats open. I'm curious what our position would be if I didn't request to use PP.
if I remove the PP request to see where it gets us in line, would I be put back in spots 3 and 4 if I were to re add the PP request?
Most important question is how deep is the list right now? #3-4 has a decent chance of the upgrade but only at T-24h IMO. If there are already 50+ people on the list, which is very normal for a hub-hub 777, you can guess that a 1K on a K fare will drop to the mid-high teens.
If you cancel and re-request I'd guess you wouldn't lose more than 1-2 spots, if any at all. If it's worth it to you then go ahead. But, again, a deep upgrade list will basically guarantee you drop so far down that you have no chance. I just did DEN-EWR on a 789 and was #15 on the list out of 54 (no PP). Luckily 19 seats were open up front so I got upgraded at the 24h mark.
-RM
Nov 2, 22, 11:56 am
#1766
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,138
Originally Posted by LReyes66
Iah to Den next Wednesday with my fiancee and I. Premier 1K, fare type K in a 777-200 aircraft.
I typically don't have trouble getting a upgrade when I go to Denver for work. But since my fiancee and I are going for vacation, I wanted to secure a upgrade so I requested to also use PP when I booked the fare. I changed my phone date manually to a week ahead so I can see the list. Currently # 3-4 with 11 business class seats open. I'm curious what our position would be if I didn't request to use PP.
if I remove the PP request to see where it gets us in line, would I be put back in spots 3 and 4 if I were to re add the PP request?
I typically don't have trouble getting a upgrade when I go to Denver for work. But since my fiancee and I are going for vacation, I wanted to secure a upgrade so I requested to also use PP when I booked the fare. I changed my phone date manually to a week ahead so I can see the list. Currently # 3-4 with 11 business class seats open. I'm curious what our position would be if I didn't request to use PP.
if I remove the PP request to see where it gets us in line, would I be put back in spots 3 and 4 if I were to re add the PP request?
Good luck.
Last edited by Kmxu; Nov 2, 22 at 12:02 pm
Nov 4, 22, 10:02 am
#1767
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 2,996
I understand the fare order for paid tickets for CPUs. I need clarity for an XN fare.
The flight is on a 787 ORD-LAX. I have a seat in coach but know due to the configuration it is a Premium Plus seat, although not showing that way on the seat map but the first 3 rows of coach are 2-3-2. So I am very happy with the seat 22A.
What I am confused about is that I did not think there were CPUs on such flights but it us showing me as CPU eligible for the flight and the front is very empty.
So where does XN land in priority for a 1K. I know it would be after YN.
The flight is on a 787 ORD-LAX. I have a seat in coach but know due to the configuration it is a Premium Plus seat, although not showing that way on the seat map but the first 3 rows of coach are 2-3-2. So I am very happy with the seat 22A.
What I am confused about is that I did not think there were CPUs on such flights but it us showing me as CPU eligible for the flight and the front is very empty.
So where does XN land in priority for a 1K. I know it would be after YN.
Nov 4, 22, 10:17 am
#1768
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 13,400
Should be after a 1K on a G fare, then after YN, and ahead of a Plat on a Y fare.
No promises the system is coded correctly. You're only supposed to be CPU eligible if you have a Chase card.
No promises the system is coded correctly. You're only supposed to be CPU eligible if you have a Chase card.
Nov 4, 22, 10:28 am
#1769
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 2,996
Originally Posted by findark
Should be after a 1K on a G fare, then after YN, and ahead of a Plat on a Y fare.
No promises the system is coded correctly. You're only supposed to be CPU eligible if you have a Chase card.
No promises the system is coded correctly. You're only supposed to be CPU eligible if you have a Chase card.
Nov 4, 22, 12:59 pm
#1770
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K2MM ACMME50 SQPPS HHDiamond Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,336
Can you apply P+ points after check-in for the flight that is 2nd segment of the International trip.The said flight is 36 hours ;It cecked me in for the 2nd flight even though it is 36 hours.
