Apr 27, 2020, 1:00 am
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).
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.
Plus Points and MUA (also called "miles+cash upgrades") are collectively referred to as instrument-supported upgrades, as they are considered with equal priority once applied. They may also be used on Copa (CM), Lufthansa (LH), and ANA (NH) flights.
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:
Recent announced modification
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.)
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 has only checked-in passengers and 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 Economy fares may show as a confirmed upgrade to Premium Economy.
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, once checked in, in priority order. But until all have checked in, the visible gate waitlist is incomplete.
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 GPU applied: both are eligible as 1Ks with GPU
1K and three non-status companions, 4x GPU applied: all four are eligible as 1Ks with GPU
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, GPU 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 the upgraded passenger was not checked in. Remember that the upgrade standby list (the visible list) only shows passengers who have checked in.
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)?
Can 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-SFO/LAX, BOS-SFO and v.v.) 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- 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) -- see UA award chart for details 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. For Plats and below these require PZ space. For 1Ks and GS, this can be done on Y, B & M fares and requires PN space. 1K & GS, if not cleared at booking, will be waitlisted.
- 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.
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.
Plus Points and MUA (also called "miles+cash upgrades") are collectively referred to as instrument-supported upgrades, as they are considered with equal priority once applied. They may also be used on Copa (CM), Lufthansa (LH), and ANA (NH) flights.
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:
- All Global Services members (presumably prioritized similar to other members below), including those awaiting a CPU.
- For CPU eligible flights, Premier 1K members on eligible Y-, B- and M-class fares that were not cleared at time of booking are prioritized by fare class and then time of request.
- All travelers on waitlisted instrument-supported upgrades: Prioritized by Premier status of the traveler, then fare class and then time of request. There is no priority difference between types of instruments.
- For CPU eligible flights all remaining Premier members: Prioritized by Premier status of the traveler and fare class (award tickets are considered the lowest fare class)
Recent announced modification
Effective August 14, 2018, upgrade waitlists are processed in the following priority order:
- Premier status of the traveler
- Fare class
- Chase United MileagePlus Club cardholder
- United Corporate Preferred participant
- Time of request
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 has only checked-in passengers and 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 Economy fares may show as a confirmed upgrade to Premium Economy.
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, once checked in, in priority order. But until all have checked in, the visible gate waitlist is incomplete.
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 GPU applied: both are eligible as 1Ks with GPU
1K and three non-status companions, 4x GPU applied: all four are eligible as 1Ks with GPU
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, GPU 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 the upgraded passenger was not checked in. Remember that the upgrade standby list (the visible list) only shows passengers who have checked in.
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)?
Can 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]
Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively {Archive}
Jun 27, 2018, 7:32 pm
#1066
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 97
As promised, a quick update on how this worked out (not that this is a valuable data point since it's a pretty uncommon situation). Checked in for the flight today, and ended up (at this time) towards the top of the upgrade standby list in the app, which leads me to believe the GPU is prioritized higher than most, but below those who are currently GS. Not that it matters anyway since J is full
Jul 18, 2018, 8:49 am
#1067
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 622
Just another data point about the list that shows up when offered a buy-up inside T-24. On a recent MSP-SFO trip, I checked in at T-24, and was CPUed at T-23:50. (Based on change in booked F, I was the only one CPUed in that sweep) In the interim 10 minutes, I was the only one on the visible list. In the mobile app during that 10 minutes, the list shown when I started the process of a buy-up showed me at #3.
The persons shown #1 and #2 in the buy-up list later checked in and showed on the visible list. One of them was upgraded somewhere around T-12, and the other cleared at the gate.
Given F was very lightly loaded (NRSAs went out in F), I was surprised to be the only one CPU’ed at the sweep, and doubly so given I was #3 on the buy-up list.
The persons shown #1 and #2 in the buy-up list later checked in and showed on the visible list. One of them was upgraded somewhere around T-12, and the other cleared at the gate.
Given F was very lightly loaded (NRSAs went out in F), I was surprised to be the only one CPU’ed at the sweep, and doubly so given I was #3 on the buy-up list.
Jul 18, 2018, 11:09 am
#1068
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,344
I'm some what confused by the upgrade status as a premier gold status.
My flight from ORD to IAH is on a 767 so you get the Polaris first class and nicer business class seats (compared to airbuses). I just found out that if you go in the app and select the "upgrade" feature (the one you pay) you can see the full upgrade list. Out of 35 total people on that list I'm 21 and there's currently 12 business class seats available. On the flight status page you can see who has checkeed in the the order and at the moment I'm # 8 of 20. So of everyone checks in (35) will that put me in spot 21?
My flight from ORD to IAH is on a 767 so you get the Polaris first class and nicer business class seats (compared to airbuses). I just found out that if you go in the app and select the "upgrade" feature (the one you pay) you can see the full upgrade list. Out of 35 total people on that list I'm 21 and there's currently 12 business class seats available. On the flight status page you can see who has checkeed in the the order and at the moment I'm # 8 of 20. So of everyone checks in (35) will that put me in spot 21?
Sorry I don't have good news for you.
-RM
Just another data point about the list that shows up when offered a buy-up inside T-24. On a recent MSP-SFO trip, I checked in at T-24, and was CPUed at T-23:50. (Based on change in booked F, I was the only one CPUed in that sweep) In the interim 10 minutes, I was the only one on the visible list. In the mobile app during that 10 minutes, the list shown when I started the process of a buy-up showed me at #3.
The persons shown #1 and #2 in the buy-up list later checked in and showed on the visible list. One of them was upgraded somewhere around T-12, and the other cleared at the gate.
Given F was very lightly loaded (NRSAs went out in F), I was surprised to be the only one CPU’ed at the sweep, and doubly so given I was #3 on the buy-up list.
The persons shown #1 and #2 in the buy-up list later checked in and showed on the visible list. One of them was upgraded somewhere around T-12, and the other cleared at the gate.
Given F was very lightly loaded (NRSAs went out in F), I was surprised to be the only one CPU’ed at the sweep, and doubly so given I was #3 on the buy-up list.
-RM
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 18, 2018 at 2:55 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Jul 18, 2018, 1:16 pm
#1069
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 622
Just a guess...it's possible #1 and #2 were a pair on the same reservation. If only one seat was open for upgrade they were skipped. When they checked in their split their reservation to process upgrades individually which is why #1 got upgraded at T-12 and the other moved up to #1 on the list (and luckily got the upgrade at the gate).
-RM
-RM
Jul 18, 2018, 2:50 pm
#1070
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,344
Good guess, but I don't think that was the case this time. The gate upgrade inquired about her husband, who was on a separate PNR and award ticket. (Indicating she wasn't on the same reservation as the other upgrade) The gate agent immediately upgraded the husband too, though I'm not sure whether companions on separate, award PNRs supposed to be CPU-eligible.
No, award tickets are not eligible for upgrade unless you're GS or you have the credit card. The agent wasn't supposed to upgrade #1 's husband. The companion upgrade does not extend to award tickets; companions are supposed to be on revenue tickets.
-RM
Jul 18, 2018, 7:22 pm
#1071
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 622
BTW, don't forget that the upgrade list you see online is the airport upgrade list. The behind-the-scenes CPU list can have a separate order. If three people with the same status and fare class paid (e.g. 1K on a W fare) all check in, they will appear in the order they checked in. However, if #3 purchased their ticket first and a CPU seat opened up then #3 jumps #1 and #2 and gets the upgrade. That's the other explanation for what happened here.
No, award tickets are not eligible for upgrade unless you're GS or you have the credit card. The agent wasn't supposed to upgrade #1 's husband. The companion upgrade does not extend to award tickets; companions are supposed to be on revenue tickets.
Jul 18, 2018, 7:37 pm
#1072
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,889
As promised, a quick update on how this worked out (not that this is a valuable data point since it's a pretty uncommon situation). Checked in for the flight today, and ended up (at this time) towards the top of the upgrade standby list in the app, which leads me to believe the GPU is prioritized higher than most, but below those who are currently GS. Not that it matters anyway since J is full
Jul 22, 2018, 4:28 pm
#1073
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
I’ve got a tangentially related question and hoping I’m in the right place. Today I am flying AMS-ORD-SEA on a P fare, and had to book a later ORD-SEA flight than I wanted as the next one didn’t have P inventory when I bought it or when I checked in for SDC. My AMS-ORD flight was delayed by an hour or so, and the app allowed me to see alternatives available (despite being at no risk of missing my originally booked connection). One of them was to stand by for the earlier ORD-SEA that I actually wanted while keeping my later confirmed seat—jackpot, I accepted the new “itinerary” and the app then showed me standing by for the flight I wanted.
For whatever reason, I was listed at the top of both the Standby and Upgrade lists, and when I got to the gate I made myself known to one of the GAs. They ended up processing two upgrades, clearing a slew of standbys into coach, and were only prepared to offer me a coach seat. My question relates to the order of processing standbys and upgrades at the gate: should the GAs have cleared a revenue passenger standing by for a premium cabin seat before clearing upgrades? I know that in general it’s better to clear upgrades first to make space for standbys in the back, but in this case that screwed me. I’d be keen to hear what the actual order should have been. Thank you!
For whatever reason, I was listed at the top of both the Standby and Upgrade lists, and when I got to the gate I made myself known to one of the GAs. They ended up processing two upgrades, clearing a slew of standbys into coach, and were only prepared to offer me a coach seat. My question relates to the order of processing standbys and upgrades at the gate: should the GAs have cleared a revenue passenger standing by for a premium cabin seat before clearing upgrades? I know that in general it’s better to clear upgrades first to make space for standbys in the back, but in this case that screwed me. I’d be keen to hear what the actual order should have been. Thank you!
Jul 22, 2018, 4:44 pm
#1074
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,414
For whatever reason, I was listed at the top of both the Standby and Upgrade lists, and when I got to the gate I made myself known to one of the GAs. They ended up processing two upgrades, clearing a slew of standbys into coach, and were only prepared to offer me a coach seat. My question relates to the order of processing standbys and upgrades at the gate: should the GAs have cleared a revenue passenger standing by for a premium cabin seat before clearing upgrades? I know that in general it’s better to clear upgrades first to make space for standbys in the back, but in this case that screwed me. I’d be keen to hear what the actual order should have been. Thank you!
If you explain the situation to the GA, they are capable of running it in the other order. Regardless, I do not recommend standing by for the premium cabin as it's nearly impossible to accomplish.
Jul 22, 2018, 5:17 pm
#1075
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,344
For whatever reason, I was listed at the top of both the Standby and Upgrade lists, and when I got to the gate I made myself known to one of the GAs. They ended up processing two upgrades, clearing a slew of standbys into coach, and were only prepared to offer me a coach seat. My question relates to the order of processing standbys and upgrades at the gate: should the GAs have cleared a revenue passenger standing by for a premium cabin seat before clearing upgrades? I know that in general it’s better to clear upgrades first to make space for standbys in the back, but in this case that screwed me. I’d be keen to hear what the actual order should have been. Thank you!
Did you wind up accepting the coach seat on ORD-SEA or did you keep your first class seat on the later flight? I'm curious how this turned out. Even though you were listed standby for the earlier flight your record would still have had the later flight booked in "P" class. That would have only dropped off if you boarded the earlier flight.
-RM
Jul 22, 2018, 9:55 pm
#1076
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
Seems like this is an unfortunate loophole that indicates UA (or CO) never thought about how to standby for a premium cabin.
Jul 22, 2018, 10:15 pm
#1077
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: United 1K
Posts: 131
Is it correct that passengers booked in J on standby for an earlier flight are at the top of the upgrade list, above any complimentary or instrument supported upgrades?
Jul 22, 2018, 10:20 pm
#1078
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
The 'bug' is that if they have not been cleared into an economy seat, the upgrade list will process and fill the front cabin before they are on the flight at all.
Jul 23, 2018, 8:41 am
#1079
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX & EWR/JFK
Programs: Fomerly UA 1K, now Gold... next year, who knows?
Posts: 1,432
For whatever reason, I was listed at the top of both the Standby and Upgrade lists, and when I got to the gate I made myself known to one of the GAs. They ended up processing two upgrades, clearing a slew of standbys into coach, and were only prepared to offer me a coach seat. My question relates to the order of processing standbys and upgrades at the gate: should the GAs have cleared a revenue passenger standing by for a premium cabin seat before clearing upgrades? I know that in general it’s better to clear upgrades first to make space for standbys in the back, but in this case that screwed me. I’d be keen to hear what the actual order should have been. Thank you!
Jul 23, 2018, 2:30 pm
#1080
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
Did you wind up accepting the coach seat on ORD-SEA or did you keep your first class seat on the later flight? I'm curious how this turned out. Even though you were listed standby for the earlier flight your record would still have had the later flight booked in "P" class. That would have only dropped off if you boarded the earlier flight.
Unfortunately it didn't quite work as slick as you outline: apparently the GA had removed me from my later flight when she issued the boarding pass for this one (the BP having been issued without first asking me); I'm not sure why she did this before I accepted it. AFAIK she didn't have to offload me after I rejected the eco- seat she offered, so not sure why she had already removed me from the later flight. In any event, she did put me back into P on the later flight, put me back into my original seat, and then re-checked me in, so while nothing was lost in the end it was a bit nerve-racking to have lost my original seat momentarily. All told, I had a comfortable and slightly longer ORD layover, and everything turned out fine.In the AA world I would have known exactly how to get this done (call the EXP line, get cleared into coach on the earlier flight, then get listed as DSR and get cleared into F at the gate in front of the upgraders), but I've got a fair bit of learning to do about UA, and the expertise and knowledge is very much appreciated. ^ Thank you all!