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]
Oct 17, 2014, 8:58 pm
#316
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 137
What's the recommended procedure when checking bags?
Oct 23, 2014, 5:26 pm
#317
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,432
I wish training was better. I had to HUCA to get an agent to WL for F on the domestic section of an intl. F award. Finally done after the first agent insisted it could not be done.
Oct 24, 2014, 4:15 am
#318
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Wembley, Middx, England
Programs: BA Gold, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 775
My partner's X (waitlist I) cleared yesterday - 5 days out. At least the system works ...
Oct 25, 2014, 12:10 am
#319
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
And here I thought UA would WANT to have me spend an extra 20K miles.
Oct 25, 2014, 5:32 am
#320
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Hoboken, NJ; Pembroke Pines, FL
Programs: CO Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,939
I'm really surprised. I had NO LOVE trying to w/l into Bus/First on SFO>OGG yesterday. There were one, or more, seats available a few hours before departure. Those on standby and/or u/g list cleared ahead of me. If you are w/l on a busy route I'd say forget about it. Ain't goin' happen. And here I thought UA would WANT to have me spend an extra 20K miles.
And here I thought UA would WANT to have me spend an extra 20K miles.Or did you have a revenue economy ticket and were waitlisting for a mileage upgrade? Because it is my understanding that waitlists expire 24 hours before a flight and if mileage upgrader waitlisters are placed on the standby list.
Or were you holding a saver first award ticket and only had a seat in coach? Note that the latter only happens when you have a mixed cabin fulfillment for a first award - that is, your other segment is in first.
Oct 27, 2014, 11:39 am
#321
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
I had a Saver award economy (X) ticket and had W/L for Bus/First ( I ).
UA never opened a Saver award "I" seat so at 24 hr. mark I was out of luck.
My point was that if you are flying a popular route you are probably wasting your time with an award W/L request. I think the system is flawed because I'd think UA would rather get another 20K miles for a seat (from me) than give it to someone with an U/G instrument.
UA never opened a Saver award "I" seat so at 24 hr. mark I was out of luck.
My point was that if you are flying a popular route you are probably wasting your time with an award W/L request. I think the system is flawed because I'd think UA would rather get another 20K miles for a seat (from me) than give it to someone with an U/G instrument.
Oct 27, 2014, 1:08 pm
#322
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,451
A waitlisted award may or may not clear. I've had both happen. But it is not a wasted effort.
Oct 28, 2014, 1:17 am
#323
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
I'm also W/L on an X award SFO-KOA in Jan. and have little hope of success. I hope I'm wrong. But with many flts being fully booked to Hawaii I'm apprehensive. At least the W/L doesn't cost anything.
Oct 28, 2014, 1:43 am
#324
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,451
Can you give us some details on the successes you've had? Routes? Time of year?
I'm also W/L on an X award SFO-KOA in Jan. and have little hope of success. I hope I'm wrong. But with many flts being fully booked to Hawaii I'm apprehensive. At least the W/L doesn't cost anything.
I'm also W/L on an X award SFO-KOA in Jan. and have little hope of success. I hope I'm wrong. But with many flts being fully booked to Hawaii I'm apprehensive. At least the W/L doesn't cost anything.
Oct 28, 2014, 8:37 am
#325
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New York NY
Programs: UA Gold, CO Plat, CO Million Miler
Posts: 2,617
I have commented previously that if you are waitlisted for a Saver Business seat while holding a saver Y seat that on checkin, you have“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. My question is what is your waitlist status relative to others prior to checkin?
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. My question is what is your waitlist status relative to others prior to checkin?
Oct 28, 2014, 12:38 pm
#326
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
I have commented previously that if you are waitlisted for a Saver Business seat while holding a saver Y seat that on checkin, you have“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. My question is what is your waitlist status relative to others prior to checkin?
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. My question is what is your waitlist status relative to others prior to checkin?
Am I correct?
Oct 28, 2014, 8:07 pm
#327
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,451
Then, when the list goes to the gate, you are supposed to be placed on the upgrade standby list, ahead of upgraders. If this all works correctly, you will then be eligible for any open business class seat, regardless whether UA ever opens I inventory. The odds of this all working correctly are somewhat less than 100%
Oct 28, 2014, 10:22 pm
#328
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
Technically, in order to waitlist for the business seat, you must have redeemed for a business saver award - I rather than X. Although this is not always enforced.
A CSR told me that redeeming for "X" (economy) was the correct way & if I was moved into Bus/First then they would deduct the extra 20K, or whatever, miles. He said I couldn't redeem for a Bus/First seat that didn't exist.
Then, when the list goes to the gate, you are supposed to be placed on the upgrade standby list, ahead of upgraders. If this all works correctly, you will then be eligible for any open business class seat, regardless whether UA ever opens I inventory. The odds of this all working correctly are somewhat less than 100%
Weird, because I checked the upgrade standby list every few minutes w/in the last 2 hours on UA.BOMB and my name NEVER appeared.
A CSR told me that redeeming for "X" (economy) was the correct way & if I was moved into Bus/First then they would deduct the extra 20K, or whatever, miles. He said I couldn't redeem for a Bus/First seat that didn't exist.
Then, when the list goes to the gate, you are supposed to be placed on the upgrade standby list, ahead of upgraders. If this all works correctly, you will then be eligible for any open business class seat, regardless whether UA ever opens I inventory. The odds of this all working correctly are somewhat less than 100%
Weird, because I checked the upgrade standby list every few minutes w/in the last 2 hours on UA.BOMB and my name NEVER appeared.
Oct 29, 2014, 12:10 am
#329
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,451
Weird, because I checked the upgrade standby list every few minutes w/in the last 2 hours on UA.BOMB and my name NEVER appeared.
For future reference, here is the rule covering waitlisting for a front cabin award:
You may redeem miles for travel in United Global FirstSM, 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. For example, a Saver United First award must be confirmed in Saver United Economy to be eligible for waitlisting. 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 Reservations office.
Doesn't give me much confidence in the system.
Oct 29, 2014, 12:59 am
#330
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
UA agents are wrong all the time. As this one was.
This is reported pretty frequently. You have to be proactive and push the GA to add your name to the standby list. It probably didn't help that you weren't properly waitlisted in the first place.
For future reference, here is the rule covering waitlisting for a front cabin award:
...
This is reported pretty frequently. You have to be proactive and push the GA to add your name to the standby list. It probably didn't help that you weren't properly waitlisted in the first place.
For future reference, here is the rule covering waitlisting for a front cabin award:
You may redeem miles for travel in United Global FirstSM, 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. For example, a Saver United First award must be confirmed in Saver United Economy to be eligible for waitlisting. 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 Reservations office.
...
No extra miles were deducted from my account. What should I do next? Call and quote the rule and see what they say? How would you handle it?
Thanks much!!
Last edited by philemer; Oct 29, 2014 at 1:20 am