Because these are processed by the *A upgrade procedure, nobody at any airline is going to be of much assistance. It's a magic box that usually works, but that nobody really has access to. It could be broken just about anywhere. I've run into similar pr:(blems in the past and never found anyone who could help. You may want to try escalating with web supp:ort.

I’m trying to waitlist for a flight in November, but I’m getting this error.

B Class Economy
014 Air Canada ticket stock.
NH116 HND-YVR flight numbers.

What should I do?

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f28e1b9c59.png

Looks like NH is currently broken, I don’t have upcoming travel to check it myself. With a prime NH flight this flight should be upgradable, no matter the ticket stock.

I spoke to someone,
websupport desk service says I need a 016 ticket. Fact or cap?

are people able to apply upgrades on ANA stock tickets ? This can’t be the reason.

complete b.s. You don't need 016 ticket stock for this. All you need is a native flight #; no codeshares.

Now that ExpertFlyer is down for *A (RIP), is there any way to check PP upgrade availability on NH? I want to book a west coast to Japan trip on Jan 31 and upgrade with PP, but I don’t want to pay the higher cost for the upgradable fare code if it’s not pretty much guaranteed to clear.

I supposed I could book it, immediately try to upgrade it, and if it doesn’t work cancel it for a refund within 24 hours? Do I have any other options?

Tracks 100% with award availability on united.com

Clearance rates are very high, even if it waitlists initially

Thanks! Higher probability and/or sooner clearance of booking NH and upgrading with UA PP, rather than booking a UA flight (meaning UA metal, not NH metal with an UA flight number) and trying to upgrade with PP?

This far out, do you expect it to clear within days, or weeks?

I don’t really care if I end up flying NH or UA metal, I just want a lie-flat seat 🙂

That will always depend on the flight in question. UA has a lot more upgrade instruments going around than NH and UA also sells upgrades. IME NH upgrades clear at a very high rate and much more than UA upgrades.

That said, you need to buy a higher fare class on NH to be able to upgrade, so the penalty is higher if it doesn't clear.

Trying to clarify about upgrading TO business class.
The terms state only one-cabin upgrade is allowed and there is no upgrade from coach to PE, but lists several economy fare classes that are eligible. I assume that means you can only upgrade from PE to Business, or from Coach to Business on flights that don't offer PE?
Therefore, for an upgrade into business on a 4-class plane, you'd therefore need to buy PE in G or E (but not N), correct?

I believe that E/PE are treated as the same "Cabin" -- as I have upgraded myself and my wife from E to J on NH (but will admit this was just after PP came out years ago).

That's correct; it doesn't matter if the flight offers PE or not, you can upgrade from coach or PE to business, or business to first. You can't upgrade from coach to PE using PPs though.

Thanks both, glad I asked rather than assume what was logical to me. :)

I booked my flight from IAD-HND-SGN today in U. My eTicket starts with 016 and I put in my PlusPoints request to be upgraded to Business. What are the chances of it clearing considering I leave in 2 weeks? Is it still a crapshoot and I should just bite the bullet to book straight to D?

NH 101 shows 20 empty and 1 blocked J seats (out of 48) on 11/11 if that is the date. I'd say there is a good chance for you. But I would upfare to A and end up with a premium economy seat in case the upgrade to business fails. Maybe I am too risk-averse.
I have an A fare on that date ex-TYO and the equipment changed from 787-9 with 48 J seats to 787-8 with 32 J seats; only 9 available and I am still waitlisted with my PlusPoints. Nervous time.