Last edit by: WineCountryUA
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
Archive
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)?
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
Archive
Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively [Archive]
Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
#196
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
Significantly but probably not meaningfully. SFO-EWR clears very few upgrades in the first place, and GS instruments will still have priority over OP, who I’m guessing is Plat or lower since the post mentions MUA instead of PlusPoints. Half of the PE cabin will be 1Ks/GSes who have learned that booking PE makes a big difference, and then toss in the rest of the GSes in Y and I wouldn’t like my odds on that flight regardless.
OP: If you purchase the PE buy-up, expect to sit in PE. It makes J more likely, but probably from 0.01% to 1%. Unless you have some reason to believe that your flight is unusual — maybe you’re flying tomorrow and you’re 10th on the list for 9 seats — do not purchase PE if your only rationale is to try to fly in J, as you’re likely to be disappointed.
OP: If you purchase the PE buy-up, expect to sit in PE. It makes J more likely, but probably from 0.01% to 1%. Unless you have some reason to believe that your flight is unusual — maybe you’re flying tomorrow and you’re 10th on the list for 9 seats — do not purchase PE if your only rationale is to try to fly in J, as you’re likely to be disappointed.
#197
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 562
Currently booked in Y from SFO-EWR. I have an upgrade waitlist offer into PremPlus and/or Business using miles+copay. I also have a cash offer into PremPlus. If I take the cash offer into PremPlus, and subsequently waitlist upgrade into Business using miles+copay, will my upgrade priority change?
Significantly but probably not meaningfully. SFO-EWR clears very few upgrades in the first place, and GS instruments will still have priority over OP, who I’m guessing is Plat or lower since the post mentions MUA instead of PlusPoints. Half of the PE cabin will be 1Ks/GSes who have learned that booking PE makes a big difference, and then toss in the rest of the GSes in Y and I wouldn’t like my odds on that flight regardless.
OP: If you purchase the PE buy-up, expect to sit in PE. It makes J more likely, but probably from 0.01% to 1%. Unless you have some reason to believe that your flight is unusual — maybe you’re flying tomorrow and you’re 10th on the list for 9 seats — do not purchase PE if your only rationale is to try to fly in J, as you’re likely to be disappointed.
OP: If you purchase the PE buy-up, expect to sit in PE. It makes J more likely, but probably from 0.01% to 1%. Unless you have some reason to believe that your flight is unusual — maybe you’re flying tomorrow and you’re 10th on the list for 9 seats — do not purchase PE if your only rationale is to try to fly in J, as you’re likely to be disappointed.
#198
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
huh I thought only refaring (fare basis changes) would make a difference. Simply a booking class change (like cash upgrade offer or instrument) will not change the priority. Maybe only at the fare class tie breaker after status but I wouldn't expect jumping over other folks in Y and being in the ranks with those booked in O?
I suppose there’s a chance you could end up in RN, if RN>0, in which case you probably wouldn’t get an enhanced upgrade priority, but I don’t recall any reports of that actually happening.
#199
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
huh I thought only refaring (fare basis changes) would make a difference. Simply a booking class change (like cash upgrade offer or instrument) will not change the priority. Maybe only at the fare class tie breaker after status but I wouldn't expect jumping over other folks in Y and being in the ranks with those booked in O?
#200
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 562
While I think that’s how it’s supposed to work, in practice it’s very repeatable — if you accept the cash upgrade offer, you’ll end up in O/A/R and then be treated as if you’d purchased an O/A/R fare for the purposes of upgrade priority.
I suppose there’s a chance you could end up in RN, if RN>0, in which case you probably wouldn’t get an enhanced upgrade priority, but I don’t recall any reports of that actually happening.
I suppose there’s a chance you could end up in RN, if RN>0, in which case you probably wouldn’t get an enhanced upgrade priority, but I don’t recall any reports of that actually happening.
right but PNR history should still have AS/XS records of the original booking class
#201
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
oh this is great. so if you get to O/A/R, do you know for sure that you'll be in the "PZ in O" group? Or can you still be stuck in the "PZ in Y" group but ranked ahead of others booked in Y/B/M/... since O/A/R is higher in the hierarchy?
right but PNR history should still have AS/XS records of the original booking class
right but PNR history should still have AS/XS records of the original booking class
Yes, theoretically the computer has history, but whoever wrote the code was lazy . Back when 016 tickets credited PQM based on class flown, it worked the same way (for example, if you purchased Economy and bought up to Business revalidating in a revenue class, you get bonus PQM... but if you then got upgraded to First in ON class - maybe via domestic CPU - you went back to 1x PQM). Also, an upgrade from Business to First on a differential fare resulted in Economy PQM (similar with IRROPS rebooking into Y class earning 1.5x but a subsequent upgrade resetting it).
#202
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 1,289
I am not sure I understand how upgrades work on planes with Premium Plus. Suppose a GS gets a Plus Points upgrade from coach to Premium Plus. Can they also then get an upgrade to Polaris, let's say on ORD-OGG using Plus Points? If they can who would have greater priority a 1K on an O fare using Plus Points or the GS? TIA
#203
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
The GS, except for the rare case where they’re using PlusPoints from a 1K or lower account instead of their own,
#204
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SFO, TPE, HNL
Programs: UA GS 4MM, RCC life member (paid), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, CLEAR
Posts: 1,822
Significantly but probably not meaningfully. SFO-EWR clears very few upgrades in the first place, and GS instruments will still have priority over OP, who I’m guessing is Plat or lower since the post mentions MUA instead of PlusPoints. Half of the PE cabin will be 1Ks/GSes who have learned that booking PE makes a big difference, and then toss in the rest of the GSes in Y and I wouldn’t like my odds on that flight regardless.
OP: If you purchase the PE buy-up, expect to sit in PE. It makes J more likely, but probably from 0.01% to 1%. Unless you have some reason to believe that your flight is unusual — maybe you’re flying tomorrow and you’re 10th on the list for 9 seats — do not purchase PE if your only rationale is to try to fly in J, as you’re likely to be disappointed.
OP: If you purchase the PE buy-up, expect to sit in PE. It makes J more likely, but probably from 0.01% to 1%. Unless you have some reason to believe that your flight is unusual — maybe you’re flying tomorrow and you’re 10th on the list for 9 seats — do not purchase PE if your only rationale is to try to fly in J, as you’re likely to be disappointed.
1. Outbound: I booked in Y, accepted a cash offer to upgrade to PE a while ago. Now fare code shows O and waitlisted for J using PP. I have been #1 on the waitlist until this morning, when some one leaped over me. I am now #2. (I thought O is the highest PE code?)
2. Inbound: I booked a mileage ticket for PE, fare code shows ON and waitlisted for J using PP. Have been #1 and still #1 as of today. (Does this mean no other GS instrument waiting for J on paid PE?)
#205
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: 66,850
I am flying SFO-EWR this weekend. Appreciate an interpretation/explanation of the following situations (fare codes and position in the waitlist)
1. Outbound: I booked in Y, accepted a cash offer to upgrade to PE a while ago. Now fare code shows O and waitlisted for J using PP. I have been #1 on the waitlist until this morning, when some one leaped over me. I am now #2. (I thought O is the highest PE code?)
1. Outbound: I booked in Y, accepted a cash offer to upgrade to PE a while ago. Now fare code shows O and waitlisted for J using PP. I have been #1 on the waitlist until this morning, when some one leaped over me. I am now #2. (I thought O is the highest PE code?)
- 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
And there is always a Chairman's Circle -- but not likely in PremPlus
Yes, any paid fare with GS support would top you
#206
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 17
As an update to my initial inquiry, our outbound segment from SNA to SFO was upgraded from Econ Plus to First but wait-list for PP to Polaris from SFO to ZRH did not clear on the 14th of May for our MUA upgrade award used, so I and +1 both ended up in PP for our outbound flight as originally purchased. On our return flight on 28 May, the wait-listed outbound segments from ZRH to SFO were upgraded from PP to Polaris and from SFO to SNA from Econ Plus to First for MUA upgrade award used. On the final segment from SFO to SNA, the PNR was split automatically between me and +1 during the wait-list upgrade process. Both of us were upgraded to First on the final segment, so I'm unsure why the PNR was automatically split. The miles used from the first MUA upgrade award wait-listed outbound segment of PP to Polaris SFO to ZRH which didn't clear have not yet been returned. Is the 7-10 day window from the date of flight (5/14/23) or date of final flight of round trip journey (05/28/23) for the miles to be returned? Should I be calling United now to inquire on return of miles of MUA award used from first segment (SFO to ZRH) or wait 7-10 days from return flight date of 5/28/23 to inquire? Thanks in advance for taking time to answer my questions.
#207
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
As an update to my initial inquiry, our outbound segment from SNA to SFO was upgraded from Econ Plus to First but wait-list for PP to Polaris from SFO to ZRH did not clear on the 14th of May for our MUA upgrade award used, so I and +1 both ended up in PP for our outbound flight as originally purchased. On our return flight on 28 May, the wait-listed outbound segments from ZRH to SFO were upgraded from PP to Polaris and from SFO to SNA from Econ Plus to First for MUA upgrade award used. On the final segment from SFO to SNA, the PNR was split automatically between me and +1 during the wait-list upgrade process. Both of us were upgraded to First on the final segment, so I'm unsure why the PNR was automatically split. The miles used from the first MUA upgrade award wait-listed outbound segment of PP to Polaris SFO to ZRH which didn't clear have not yet been returned. Is the 7-10 day window from the date of flight (5/14/23) or date of final flight of round trip journey (05/28/23) for the miles to be returned? Should I be calling United now to inquire on return of miles of MUA award used from first segment (SFO to ZRH) or wait 7-10 days from return flight date of 5/28/23 to inquire? Thanks in advance for taking time to answer my questions.
#208
Join Date: Mar 2023
Posts: 218
I think the Wiki chart vs the Wiki text is confusing re GS upgrades from Y on planes with Premium Plus.
Do (1) GS upgrades from Y trump all EXCEPT GS upgrades from PP or (2) GS upgrades from Y trump all EXCEPT GS-supported upgrades (regardless of whether the GS member is traveling).
I'm assuming that it is accepted that the below link astrix re all upgrades from PP clearing over Y upgrades does not apply to GS given that the astrix is on #3 (premier status) and GS request is the #1 criteria. If read correctly, the situation is (2) though if read another way, no Y to J upgrade clears before a PP to J upgrade even GS.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...-priority.html
Trying to decide whether to pay an extra $1400 to buy PP rather than Y while trying to upgrade to J from LHR to EWR.
Do (1) GS upgrades from Y trump all EXCEPT GS upgrades from PP or (2) GS upgrades from Y trump all EXCEPT GS-supported upgrades (regardless of whether the GS member is traveling).
I'm assuming that it is accepted that the below link astrix re all upgrades from PP clearing over Y upgrades does not apply to GS given that the astrix is on #3 (premier status) and GS request is the #1 criteria. If read correctly, the situation is (2) though if read another way, no Y to J upgrade clears before a PP to J upgrade even GS.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...-priority.html
Trying to decide whether to pay an extra $1400 to buy PP rather than Y while trying to upgrade to J from LHR to EWR.
#209
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,279
I think the Wiki chart vs the Wiki text is confusing re GS upgrades from Y on planes with Premium Plus.
Do (1) GS upgrades from Y trump all EXCEPT GS upgrades from PP or (2) GS upgrades from Y trump all EXCEPT GS-supported upgrades (regardless of whether the GS member is traveling).
I'm assuming that it is accepted that the below link astrix re all upgrades from PP clearing over Y upgrades does not apply to GS given that the astrix is on #3 (premier status) and GS request is the #1 criteria. If read correctly, the situation is (2) though if read another way, no Y to J upgrade clears before a PP to J upgrade even GS.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...-priority.html
Trying to decide whether to pay an extra $1400 to buy PP rather than Y while trying to upgrade to J from LHR to EWR.
Do (1) GS upgrades from Y trump all EXCEPT GS upgrades from PP or (2) GS upgrades from Y trump all EXCEPT GS-supported upgrades (regardless of whether the GS member is traveling).
I'm assuming that it is accepted that the below link astrix re all upgrades from PP clearing over Y upgrades does not apply to GS given that the astrix is on #3 (premier status) and GS request is the #1 criteria. If read correctly, the situation is (2) though if read another way, no Y to J upgrade clears before a PP to J upgrade even GS.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...-priority.html
Trying to decide whether to pay an extra $1400 to buy PP rather than Y while trying to upgrade to J from LHR to EWR.
Upgrade priority for J (PP not oversold)
GS-supported requests (PN) from PP cabin (O/A/R), prioritized further by highest status in the PNR and remaining tiebreakers
GS-supported requests (PN) from Y cabin (Y/B/M.../K/G/YN/XN/X), prioritized further by highest status in PNR and remaining tiebreakers
Non-GS supported requests (PZ) from PP cabin (O/A/R), prioritized further by highest status in the PNR and remaining tiebreakers
Non-GS supported requests (PZ) from Y cabin (Y/B/M.../K/G/YN/XN/X), prioritized further by highest status in PNR and remaining tiebreakers
Upgrade priority for J (PP oversold) - only until PP oversale is resolved
GS-supported requests (PN) from PP cabin (O/A/R), prioritized further by highest status in the PNR and remaining tiebreakers
Non-GS supported requests (PZ) from PP cabin (O/A/R), prioritized further by highest status in the PNR and remaining tiebreakers
GS-supported requests (PN) from Y cabin (Y/B/M.../K/G/YN/XN/X), prioritized further by highest status in PNR and remaining tiebreakers
Non-GS supported requests (PZ) from Y cabin (Y/B/M.../K/G/YN/XN/X), prioritized further by highest status in PNR and remaining tiebreakers
Upgrade priority for PP
All requests (RN) from Y cabin (Y/B/M.../K/G/YN/XN/X), prioritized further by highest status in PNR and remaining tiebreakers
Last edited by Lux Flyer; Jun 6, 2023 at 11:31 am