Feb 22, 2017, 12:57 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Active thread Consolidated "Waitlist for Award Seats Questions/Issues"
Waitilisting for awards
Click for the current rules from United
Member experiences:
At the airport if you have not yet cleared:
Note: The correct priority term here may in fact be a code that is one of WAI, WBI, WCI, or WDI depending on status. The is per GG ONESTANDBY lines 32-55.
Note: PR-1 status is given to those who "paid" the requisite miles for an upgraded seat (i.e. biz) when only the non-upgraded space (i.e. coach) was available. The PR-1 status is to clue the system (and agents) in so that it is clear that you have been "displaced." (NOTE: once you have obtained PR-1 status, should there be any change to your ticket, e.g., an involuntary reroute by UA due to missing a connection, the PR-1 status will most likely get dropped and you must have it reattached (esp. before any UGs are given to others).
Unfortunately at T-24, many GAs do not get this concept. Use the above to plead your case but be prepared to be unsatisfied. One method that can get you to a higher level of understanding is the UC. Their staff seem to not only have a better understanding of the issues, but they can contact the gate and exert some influence on the less informed GAs, AND they seem to have more of an interest in helping PAX. If you can get into the UC, it will be worth your while.
**Note: If you get the UG on the long haul, the higher level of award miles you are using (like with the GPU) are considered used up regardless of the short haul. You will not be charged the lower level # of miles (i.e. refunded the diff between the lower level and the higher level you paid in advance), rather the higher level award miles will be considered spent. That is the risk you take when you do Plan B.
Waitilisting for awards
Click for the current rules from United
From the above link:You may redeem miles for travel in United Global First, United First, United Business or United BusinessFirst, even if the space is not available. In these cases, United Economy in the same award type must be confirmed, and the front cabin will be waitlisted. If the courtesy waitlist does not clear, it will expire 24 hours before itinerary departure, and you will automatically be added to the airport upgrade standby list upon check-in. In these cases, you will be confirmed on a space-available basis by a United airport representative at the gate once the flight has closed for check-in. For United BusinessFirst and United Business travel awards, the difference in miles will be refunded when the United BusinessFirst or United Business class segment of the trip could not be confirmed. Waitlist requests may only be made over the phone with your local United Customer Contact Center.
- You must have a confirmed segment to wait list for different cabin and/or a different flight.
- Can only waitlist for UA/UX operated flight, cannot waitlist for partner flights. Can waitlist for UA/UX flights on a mixed itin.
- Maximum number of WL segments in a PNR is 2.
- When confirmed segment is on a partner, you can waitlist for UA operated alternative.A report of being refused waitlisting for Economy{mixed reports - need further confirmation/clarification}.
At the airport if you have not yet cleared:
Note: The correct priority term here may in fact be a code that is one of WAI, WBI, WCI, or WDI depending on status. The is per GG ONESTANDBY lines 32-55.
The agent should give you “PR-1 status” which gives you top-priority status and moves you to the very top of the upgrade standby list, ahead of employees and everyone else trying to upgrade with miles+cash. If one agent won’t put you on the list as a displaced Business class passenger with PR-1 status then find another one who will. With this status the odds of you getting a business class are very high if there are still open seats (or if anybody no-shows).
If the agents in the airport are all clueless you should direct them to look
up “gg onestandby” in their system (they’ll know exactly what this is)
and look around lines 85-89 which spell out the details of the procedure for
this award.
If the agents in the airport are all clueless you should direct them to look
up “gg onestandby” in their system (they’ll know exactly what this is)
and look around lines 85-89 which spell out the details of the procedure for
this award.
Unfortunately at T-24, many GAs do not get this concept. Use the above to plead your case but be prepared to be unsatisfied. One method that can get you to a higher level of understanding is the UC. Their staff seem to not only have a better understanding of the issues, but they can contact the gate and exert some influence on the less informed GAs, AND they seem to have more of an interest in helping PAX. If you can get into the UC, it will be worth your while.
**Note: If you get the UG on the long haul, the higher level of award miles you are using (like with the GPU) are considered used up regardless of the short haul. You will not be charged the lower level # of miles (i.e. refunded the diff between the lower level and the higher level you paid in advance), rather the higher level award miles will be considered spent. That is the risk you take when you do Plan B.
Consolidated "Waitlist for Award Seats Questions/Issues [ARCHIVE]
Mar 6, 2017, 10:23 am
#1576
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: fwp blood diamond, dykwia uranium
Posts: 7,251
mileage plus booking, 80k saver business class:
jnb-jfk on sa confirmed in business
ewr-yyc on ac confirmed in y
1) so i am ineligible for upgrade waitlist on the ewr-yyc (ac) leg?
2) it says in the wiki i can get rebooked on a ua alternative. could i have it changed/waitlisted ewr/lga-ord-yyc? or must i fly the ewr-yyc leg? it's a 11 hour connection, i'd rather wait/lottery it out on standby and get moving thru ord (and get polaris lounge) than have the 11 hour connection.
also i am a little confused by this wording:
so if ewr-yyc were a ua flight and i couldn't get confirmed in f, i would get the difference given back?
confusing because it also says
or is this in reference to involuntary downgrade?
jnb-jfk on sa confirmed in business
ewr-yyc on ac confirmed in y
1) so i am ineligible for upgrade waitlist on the ewr-yyc (ac) leg?
2) it says in the wiki i can get rebooked on a ua alternative. could i have it changed/waitlisted ewr/lga-ord-yyc? or must i fly the ewr-yyc leg? it's a 11 hour connection, i'd rather wait/lottery it out on standby and get moving thru ord (and get polaris lounge) than have the 11 hour connection.
also i am a little confused by this wording:
You may redeem miles for travel in United PolarisSM first class, United First, United Business or United Polaris business class, even if the space is not available. In these cases, United Economy in the same award type must be confirmed, and the front cabin will be waitlisted. If the courtesy waitlist does not clear, it will expire 24 hours before itinerary departure, and you will automatically be added to the airport upgrade standby list upon check-in. In these cases, you will be confirmed on a space-available basis by a United airport representative at the gate once the flight has closed for check-in. [b[For United Polaris business class and United Business travel awards, the difference in miles will be refunded when the United Polaris business class or United Business class segment of the trip could not be confirmed. [/b]
confusing because it also says
If you elect to travel in a lower class of service than specified by your award, you will not receive a mileage adjustment.
Last edited by cur; Mar 6, 2017 at 10:31 am
Mar 6, 2017, 11:11 am
#1577
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
There are no miles to get back. The mileage cost for jnb-jfk on sa confirmed in business plus ewr-yyc is the same regardless of the class of ewr-yyc.
Mar 6, 2017, 4:31 pm
#1578
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 13
New to mileage awards so sorry if this has been asked and answered. I think I am correct but would like some assurance before I call back and try again.
Redeemed a saver award (mixed cabin) for 70K miles TPA-IAD-BRU-TXL. The TPA-IAD segment is XN, the other two are in I (on SN). I just called and asked for my 1st segment to be waitlisted for Business but he said not possible unless I paid another 50K miles. He did say I can ask at the airport.
So my question is, am I in the right that I should be allowed to waitlist my 1st segment?
Redeemed a saver award (mixed cabin) for 70K miles TPA-IAD-BRU-TXL. The TPA-IAD segment is XN, the other two are in I (on SN). I just called and asked for my 1st segment to be waitlisted for Business but he said not possible unless I paid another 50K miles. He did say I can ask at the airport.
So my question is, am I in the right that I should be allowed to waitlist my 1st segment?
Mar 6, 2017, 11:43 pm
#1579
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: DFW/LAX
Programs: HH Diamond, AA EXP
Posts: 534
Hi all, new to UA, usually on AA but helping my parents redeem some of their United miles.
They have 280k United miles and are looking to fly LAX-MEL in business class. Website shows availability on the outbound for their date but only coach saver availability on the return. So if I understand the system correctly at UA they can book business on the way out and pay for business on the way back but be confirmed in coach and then on the waitlist for business class? And if it becomes available they'll be moved into business class but if not then they fly coach. Do they get the 30k miles back per person if they do end up in coach instead of business class?
Thanks for the help, sorry for not using the fare class lingo here, not familiar with the UA codes. I just don't want them to end up in coach but have paid for business.
They have 280k United miles and are looking to fly LAX-MEL in business class. Website shows availability on the outbound for their date but only coach saver availability on the return. So if I understand the system correctly at UA they can book business on the way out and pay for business on the way back but be confirmed in coach and then on the waitlist for business class? And if it becomes available they'll be moved into business class but if not then they fly coach. Do they get the 30k miles back per person if they do end up in coach instead of business class?
Thanks for the help, sorry for not using the fare class lingo here, not familiar with the UA codes. I just don't want them to end up in coach but have paid for business.
Mar 7, 2017, 12:02 am
#1580
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
... They have 280k United miles and are looking to fly LAX-MEL in business class. Website shows availability on the outbound for their date but only coach saver availability on the return. So if I understand the system correctly at UA they can book business on the way out and pay for business on the way back but be confirmed in coach and then on the waitlist for business class? And if it becomes available they'll be moved into business class but if not then they fly coach. ...
The wiki covers the key elements of the process.
Mar 7, 2017, 2:08 am
#1581
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: fwp blood diamond, dykwia uranium
Posts: 7,251
waitlisting is not permitted for partner segments
Waitlisting for a 2-segment substitution is difficult but not impossible to achieve -- but very unlikely to clear
There are no miles to get back. The mileage cost for jnb-jfk on sa confirmed in business plus ewr-yyc is the same regardless of the class of ewr-yyc.
Waitlisting for a 2-segment substitution is difficult but not impossible to achieve -- but very unlikely to clear
There are no miles to get back. The mileage cost for jnb-jfk on sa confirmed in business plus ewr-yyc is the same regardless of the class of ewr-yyc.
now if i book on aeroplan a business ticket, jnb-gru (sa) confirmed in j, gru-iah (ua) confirmed in y on class x, can i waitlist for that? or same logic applies as mileage plus awards on partner (ac): no waitlisting on partner flights?
Mar 7, 2017, 10:18 am
#1582
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
That would depend upon Aeroplan's rules. You'd be best off asking in that forum.
Mar 8, 2017, 2:15 pm
#1583
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 542
I had a segment waitlisted for J but the flight got a minor schedule change that included a flight number change and now the whole thing is messed up. Now it no longer says I'm waitlisted for a fare class, just that I'm waitlisted for a flight. It also has the previous flight number which no longer exists and says I should call to get a segment confirmed. Previously, it just had 3 segments listed and the segment I was waitlisted for an upgrade on had a note in its box saying I was waitlisted for I (from X). I attached a screenshot.
Mar 8, 2017, 3:27 pm
#1584
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
The ticket is clearly out of sync. You need to call, re-sync the tickets and if the waitlist does not return, re-waitlist.
Mar 10, 2017, 12:24 am
#1585
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: United
Posts: 3
I booked an economy saver and wait listed for business saver on a EWR->SFO->AKL flight. Both segments show I class requested. The business saver amount of miles has been deducted. I am getting conflicting information from United regarding getting miles reimbursed if it does not clear. I had one agent tell me that if either flight clears, the miles would not be reimbursed. Another agent told me that the miles will be reimbursed if the SFO->AKL flight does not clear. What have others experienced in this situation? I'm getting concerned that the SFO->AKL flight is not going to clear since there are not many seats left. There are actually many business seats available on the EWR->SFO route.
Mar 10, 2017, 5:23 pm
#1586
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 4
I called and booked a economy saver with a waitlisting for I, but looking at the mileage deducted it appears they are withholding both the economy saver (25k/ea) and first saver (50k/ea). Is this correct or should they only withhold 25k/ea saver and 25k/ea for the waitlist upgrade?
Mar 10, 2017, 9:24 pm
#1587
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New York NY
Programs: UA Gold, CO Plat, CO Million Miler
Posts: 2,617
I called and booked a economy saver with a waitlisting for I, but looking at the mileage deducted it appears they are withholding both the economy saver (25k/ea) and first saver (50k/ea). Is this correct or should they only withhold 25k/ea saver and 25k/ea for the waitlist upgrade?
Mar 10, 2017, 9:47 pm
#1588
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
I called and booked a economy saver with a waitlisting for I, but looking at the mileage deducted it appears they are withholding both the economy saver (25k/ea) and first saver (50k/ea). Is this correct or should they only withhold 25k/ea saver and 25k/ea for the waitlist upgrade?
It's normal for them to list every single transaction associated with an award, and they all appear -- confusingly -- with the original ticketing date. So you may see two "25,000 award redeposit" lines in there further down.
If it doesn't clear itself up organically, you'll need to call them. If you do need to call them, don't refer to it as an "upgrade" or they may get confused -- just say that you booked economy, waitlisted for first, and the mileage deduction was incorrect.
Mar 10, 2017, 9:53 pm
#1589
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 4
I just called and it took about 30 minutes between talking with the support desk and the MP desk but they admitted that they had taken too many miles. The 50k miles has already been returned to my account and still showing my booking with I class Waitlisted. Just shows the need to pay attention! Thanks for the assistance.
Mar 11, 2017, 1:27 pm
#1590
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 27
Receipt is incorrect
Greetings to all: I have 2 separate tickets for EWR-GVA, one for spouse, one for me. Spouse is fine, shows the waitlist for I, receipt page shows the mileage deducted is 57500/WB53.
Mine is a nightmare, I booked this yesterday at 3:05pm EST. Except for sleeping I have been on the phone trying to get this ticketed correctly. Right now I show the X confirmed, I waitlisted. They finally deducted the 57500 from my account and re-deposited the 30K. - My current problem is that I cannot get the receipt page to show the 57500/WB53. Each agent tells me that it won't show because I haven't cleared the wait list !I have been through 4 agents and 2 supervisors today, I have just emailed the mileage desk, sadly, I am a no-body, no status etc. I am still on hold waiting for a 3rd supervisor. What else can i do to get this resolved, because I am pretty sure that unless the receipt shows the mileage at 57500, I won't be in the system correctly?
Any and all help is greatly appreciated.......
Mine is a nightmare, I booked this yesterday at 3:05pm EST. Except for sleeping I have been on the phone trying to get this ticketed correctly. Right now I show the X confirmed, I waitlisted. They finally deducted the 57500 from my account and re-deposited the 30K. - My current problem is that I cannot get the receipt page to show the 57500/WB53. Each agent tells me that it won't show because I haven't cleared the wait list !I have been through 4 agents and 2 supervisors today, I have just emailed the mileage desk, sadly, I am a no-body, no status etc. I am still on hold waiting for a 3rd supervisor. What else can i do to get this resolved, because I am pretty sure that unless the receipt shows the mileage at 57500, I won't be in the system correctly?
Any and all help is greatly appreciated.......