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]
Jul 30, 2014, 12:21 pm
#257
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 88
These are two separate processes and I will not be at all surprised if they in fact process CPUs without opening IN and clearing you off the waitlist. At T-24, you're supposed to be transferred to the top of the upgrade standby list, but I will be surprised if that happens automatically.
That said, I would not be optimistic you will do any better on the CPU list. Two pax SFO-IAH midweek on an X fare with only five open seats does not strike me as good odds at all.
You might try calling and asking where you stand on the waitlist right now, and again at T-24 to confirm that your waitlist request has been transferred.
Please let us know what happens so we can add it to the collective knowledge base.
That said, I would not be optimistic you will do any better on the CPU list. Two pax SFO-IAH midweek on an X fare with only five open seats does not strike me as good odds at all.
You might try calling and asking where you stand on the waitlist right now, and again at T-24 to confirm that your waitlist request has been transferred.
Please let us know what happens so we can add it to the collective knowledge base.
Jul 30, 2014, 12:28 pm
#258
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,019
At t=24, unable to checkin online because we were connecting to a Turkish flight. At t=24, the flight was showing F0. At the airport, the check in agent did not succeed in getting us on the upgrade list. In the united club, the agent was able to add us to the upgrade list where we are in first and second on the list. Fingers crossed that there are some no shows for the F cabin.
Jul 30, 2014, 12:39 pm
#259
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Jul 30, 2014, 1:06 pm
#260
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 88
At t=24, unable to checkin online because we were connecting to a Turkish flight. At t=24, the flight was showing F0. At the airport, the check in agent did not succeed in getting us on the upgrade list. In the united club, the agent was able to add us to the upgrade list where we are in first and second on the list. Fingers crossed that there are some no shows for the F cabin.
Jul 30, 2014, 2:36 pm
#261
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Aug 11, 2014, 4:26 pm
#263
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Man, oh man. UA needs to up their training classes. I called today to W/L a Saver economy flight (SFO-OGG) and the agent tried to rebook as Standard award in FC. I hung up & called back. Got another confused agent and then asked to speak to a super. Super handled the situation w/in 2 minutes (I hope...I still don't see proof that it has been W/L). How many hours should it take to appear on my rez.?
Also, I thought they took the 20K extra miles out right away and he said they'll take them at time of u/g to FC. That's what the wiki indicates.
Also, I thought they took the 20K extra miles out right away and he said they'll take them at time of u/g to FC. That's what the wiki indicates.
Last edited by philemer; Aug 11, 2014 at 4:57 pm
Aug 11, 2014, 5:24 pm
#264
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Left Coast
Programs: UA 1K & 1MM, HH Diamond, Marriott/SPG Gold (UA comp)
Posts: 1,353
Man, oh man. UA needs to up their training classes. I called today to W/L a Saver economy flight (SFO-OGG) and the agent tried to rebook as Standard award in FC. I hung up & called back. Got another confused agent and then asked to speak to a super. Super handled the situation w/in 2 minutes (I hope...I still don't see proof that it has been W/L). How many hours should it take to appear on my rez.?
Also, I thought they took the 20K extra miles out right away and he said they'll take them at time of u/g to FC. That's what the wiki indicates.
Also, I thought they took the 20K extra miles out right away and he said they'll take them at time of u/g to FC. That's what the wiki indicates.
Aug 11, 2014, 5:33 pm
#265
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Aug 11, 2014, 6:22 pm
#266
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That's the subject of this thread. 
Yes, I know. Shouldn't the word "waitlisted" show up somewhere on my online rez.? I will call back tomorrow if necessary.
Yes, I know. Shouldn't the word "waitlisted" show up somewhere on my online rez.? I will call back tomorrow if necessary.
Aug 11, 2014, 6:32 pm
#267
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That's the subject of this thread.
Aug 11, 2014, 6:33 pm
#268
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Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,967
I had to do a WL for an award reservation for next summer (oneway domestic). The agent said I can only WL for 1 segment for a oneway. Tried again and agent waitlisted for 2 as I understood the rule was.
They definitely need to define the rules better and train their people. With award spaces so tight, we really don't have a choice but to do this...
They definitely need to define the rules better and train their people. With award spaces so tight, we really don't have a choice but to do this...
Aug 11, 2014, 6:35 pm
#269
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Aug 11, 2014, 6:41 pm
#270
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I seem to recall reports upthread about it not always showing on the itinerary. But I would definitely call and ask if the agent can see the waitlisted segment.