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 19, 2015, 11:41 am
#811
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,578
I have a award reservation from the US to Europe in business, where the first and last segments are UA domestic segments and are currently in Economy because there is no saver space in UA domestic first, and the other Europe segments are all LH business. UA says I cannot waitlist for the UA segments because of the LH segments on the itinerary and I have to just keep checking award space and call if it opens to change it. Is that correct?
Oct 19, 2015, 12:27 pm
#812
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,453
I have a award reservation from the US to Europe in business, where the first and last segments are UA domestic segments and are currently in Economy because there is no saver space in UA domestic first, and the other Europe segments are all LH business. UA says I cannot waitlist for the UA segments because of the LH segments on the itinerary and I have to just keep checking award space and call if it opens to change it. Is that correct?
Oct 19, 2015, 1:16 pm
#813
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,578
Well, 3 agents have all told me no now. Odd.
UPDATE: after speaking with a supervisor, the last one finally said she could. Hopefully its done right.
UPDATE 2: now I have 2 extra segments on the bottom of my itinerary that say they have been waitlisted, and they deleted my seats on the original 2 segments, but left my wife's seats alone. When I try and reassign myself seats, it wants to charge me now for my E+ seats. Sigh...
UPDATE: after speaking with a supervisor, the last one finally said she could. Hopefully its done right.
UPDATE 2: now I have 2 extra segments on the bottom of my itinerary that say they have been waitlisted, and they deleted my seats on the original 2 segments, but left my wife's seats alone. When I try and reassign myself seats, it wants to charge me now for my E+ seats. Sigh...
Last edited by antonius66; Oct 19, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Oct 20, 2015, 12:37 am
#814
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,141
I'm booked on a GF saver award from EWR-HKG via ORD. I am currently in O for the TPAC portion and in Y for the EWR-ORD portion with a small note on my res that O is requested. There are currently 5 O or F seats available on the flight, a 767-300. Where do I fit in on the waitlist as lifetime Gold thru my MM status? After T-24, who goes in front of me on the airport waitlist? Can I use the GF checkin in EWR due to my F portion from ORD?
If not, when you arrive at the airport, ask to be given a priority assignment (can't remember classification right now [PR-1?], but there is lengthy discussion of this on FT).
Oct 21, 2015, 3:48 am
#815
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,039
I'm looking to book a flight that routes FRA-ATL-SFO, with the FRA-ATL portion on LH in J, and the ATL-SFO portion in X. However, that flight has a 16 hour layover, and the ATL-SFO doesn't leave until the next day. Am I able to request to be waitlisted for a first class seat on an earlier flight and request an economy seat if the first class seats don't clear? At this moment, I'm not sure if it's worth the risk of a 16 hour layover, especially if I can only waitlist for one class...
Oct 22, 2015, 5:24 pm
#816
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Programs: Hyatt LT Globalist, Marriot LT Titanium, UA 2.4MM, HH Gold, AS MVPG
Posts: 3,400
O Class Requested vs. Flight Waitlisted?
So we have an award reservation where we are confirmed in Business and waitlisted for Global First (O). The reservation seems to continually toggle between having the segment just listed in Business with a little note buy it saying "O Class Requested" and then I look on other days and it lists a separate segment (same as the one we are already confirmed) and has that as "This Flight segment is waitlisted" for the Global First.
Is there any difference? Why does it keep changing?
Is there any difference? Why does it keep changing?
Oct 22, 2015, 7:06 pm
#817
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, United Club, IHG Ambassador/Spire
Posts: 163
So we have an award reservation where we are confirmed in Business and waitlisted for Global First (O). The reservation seems to continually toggle between having the segment just listed in Business with a little note buy it saying "O Class Requested" and then I look on other days and it lists a separate segment (same as the one we are already confirmed) and has that as "This Flight segment is waitlisted" for the Global First.
Is there any difference? Why does it keep changing?
Is there any difference? Why does it keep changing?
Oct 24, 2015, 11:41 am
#818
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 155
Difficult Plan B at airport... But successful
Just another data point for weight listed awards or "Plan B"
Had a confirmed XN award and successfully/correctly had miles pulled and IN class requested on my reservation.
At T-24 I received an email saying my "upgrade" could not yet be confirmed which I thought strange.
At the airport (EWR) I checked in at the Premier counter and it said I was added to the upgrade standby list (boarding pass says so too). However, I was not added at all. Spoke to an agent who had never heard of "Plan B" so I gave her he GG ONESTANBY language. She pulled it and said it was only for Global Services so she called her help desk. After about 20 minutes she told me that my award didn't clear and my miles would be redeposited (they weren't). I explained that I should be added to the UG list, with PR1 but she said she could not do it and suggested I go to the Global Services checkin. So I did.
After getting grilled on why as a 1K I was checking in at Global Services, the agent understood what I wanted to do but said that wasn't the rule and I would, at best, be given PR2 (and behind those with higher fare buckets). Before doing anything though he said he couldn't see the business miles as deducted from my account and required me to speak to the 1K desk. 1K and the GS agent got into a "discussion" (argument almost) about how this wasn't allowed. 1K got a supervisor to add a note into my reservation that this was a valid ticket because he wouldn't process anything until the computer said my miles were correctly debited. 1K desk was actually on my side and said "everything is correct. Maybe you don't know how to work the system!" :0
So now the GS agent agrees to put me on the UG list but only with PR2. I had to explain profusely that I should be PR1 and he called another help desk. I want to say it was the "A0" desk but could be mistaken.
After about 5-10 mins he adds me to PR1 telling me that his help desk said since I already paid, I was entitled to PR1 status. He begrudgingly gave it to me and my UG cleared.
Took about 90 minutes to sort it out so the moral of the story is to definitely arrive early for this. Make sure to argue your point and don't let an uniformed agent (even GS) tell you that you don't deserve PR1. He seemed to be concerned that I would cut anyone in the UG list but didn't actually "pay" for my ticket.
Frustrating but ultimate successful so worth the effort. Hope this helps anyone else trying to do this!
Also, he showed me the screen for GG ONESTANDBY and it says "PR1 for Global Services or WLPA".
Had a confirmed XN award and successfully/correctly had miles pulled and IN class requested on my reservation.
At T-24 I received an email saying my "upgrade" could not yet be confirmed which I thought strange.
At the airport (EWR) I checked in at the Premier counter and it said I was added to the upgrade standby list (boarding pass says so too). However, I was not added at all. Spoke to an agent who had never heard of "Plan B" so I gave her he GG ONESTANBY language. She pulled it and said it was only for Global Services so she called her help desk. After about 20 minutes she told me that my award didn't clear and my miles would be redeposited (they weren't). I explained that I should be added to the UG list, with PR1 but she said she could not do it and suggested I go to the Global Services checkin. So I did.
After getting grilled on why as a 1K I was checking in at Global Services, the agent understood what I wanted to do but said that wasn't the rule and I would, at best, be given PR2 (and behind those with higher fare buckets). Before doing anything though he said he couldn't see the business miles as deducted from my account and required me to speak to the 1K desk. 1K and the GS agent got into a "discussion" (argument almost) about how this wasn't allowed. 1K got a supervisor to add a note into my reservation that this was a valid ticket because he wouldn't process anything until the computer said my miles were correctly debited. 1K desk was actually on my side and said "everything is correct. Maybe you don't know how to work the system!" :0
So now the GS agent agrees to put me on the UG list but only with PR2. I had to explain profusely that I should be PR1 and he called another help desk. I want to say it was the "A0" desk but could be mistaken.
After about 5-10 mins he adds me to PR1 telling me that his help desk said since I already paid, I was entitled to PR1 status. He begrudgingly gave it to me and my UG cleared.
Took about 90 minutes to sort it out so the moral of the story is to definitely arrive early for this. Make sure to argue your point and don't let an uniformed agent (even GS) tell you that you don't deserve PR1. He seemed to be concerned that I would cut anyone in the UG list but didn't actually "pay" for my ticket.
Frustrating but ultimate successful so worth the effort. Hope this helps anyone else trying to do this!
Also, he showed me the screen for GG ONESTANDBY and it says "PR1 for Global Services or WLPA".
Oct 24, 2015, 2:14 pm
#819
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,453
Awesome report, thanks.
Interesting. Confirms that GS trumps every other kind of upgrade.
Which airport was this?
Which airport was this?
Oct 25, 2015, 10:41 am
#821
Join Date: May 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 82
Split class saver award: Does lower class leg qualify for upgrade to booked class?
Please move if already asked.
Booked saver award ticket in business class with two legs. First (shorter) flight leg was booked in economy since no saver seat was available. Flight is open for check in and upgrades are taken place. What is United's policy for a ticket like this? Do I qualify for the upgrade list (I am not on it).
Thanks,
Waldo
Booked saver award ticket in business class with two legs. First (shorter) flight leg was booked in economy since no saver seat was available. Flight is open for check in and upgrades are taken place. What is United's policy for a ticket like this? Do I qualify for the upgrade list (I am not on it).
Thanks,
Waldo
Oct 25, 2015, 10:44 am
#822
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: N Charleston South Carolina
Programs: UA PM (by 2MM), DL GM (by 3.5MM), Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,655
Please move if already asked.
Booked saver award ticket in business class with two legs. First (shorter) flight leg was booked in economy since no saver seat was available. Flight is open for check in and upgrades are taken place. What is United's policy for a ticket like this? Do I qualify for the upgrade list (I am not on it).
Thanks,
Waldo
Booked saver award ticket in business class with two legs. First (shorter) flight leg was booked in economy since no saver seat was available. Flight is open for check in and upgrades are taken place. What is United's policy for a ticket like this? Do I qualify for the upgrade list (I am not on it).
Thanks,
Waldo
Billy
Oct 25, 2015, 10:45 am
#823
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ZRH
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 258
Out of my limited experience no - at least not automatically.
If you see saver award inventory coming up on this flight you need to call and you can upgrade. (change the booking)
If you see saver award inventory coming up on this flight you need to call and you can upgrade. (change the booking)
Oct 25, 2015, 10:57 am
#824
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Nov 1, 2015, 5:05 pm
#825
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: UA 1MM, Marriot (via SPG) Lifetime Gold
Posts: 632
To tie-off on my situation, I had booked CDG-ORD-LAX in saver economy, wait-listed for business on both legs. Due to a death in the family I had to move up travel several days and ended up with CDG-IAD-LAX, although saver biz was available on the CDG-IAD leg. Since they had already taken out biz class miles, it was a pretty seamless change with only the small fee for making a change within 21 days.
But I couldn't get on the PR-1 list for IAD-LAX. I tried at CDG and all I got was a lesson on how I was trying to upgrade an award ticket and that's impossible.
But I couldn't get on the PR-1 list for IAD-LAX. I tried at CDG and all I got was a lesson on how I was trying to upgrade an award ticket and that's impossible.