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]
Jan 16, 2017, 2:55 pm
#1456
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: New York NY
Programs: UA Gold, CO Plat, CO Million Miler
Posts: 2,617
Just wanted to thank you guys for the great advice on the forum! I put myself and +1 in IN on the UA FRA-SFO for Feb 20th.
Chances are probably relatively slim considering the high number of elites on that route, but I wouldn't even have known that I could do that had I not read up on here!
The UA rep on the 1k line first said she had recently been told off for doing the business saver waitlisting and that she couldn't do it, so I politely read her the official policy on the United website and she checked with her supervisor and got it approved. All-in only took about 20min.
Chances are probably relatively slim considering the high number of elites on that route, but I wouldn't even have known that I could do that had I not read up on here!
The UA rep on the 1k line first said she had recently been told off for doing the business saver waitlisting and that she couldn't do it, so I politely read her the official policy on the United website and she checked with her supervisor and got it approved. All-in only took about 20min.
Jan 18, 2017, 11:32 am
#1457
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 3
LAX-LHR Plan B worked
plan B worked on UA923 LAX-LHR with 16 Biz seats remaining the day before departure
As a side note, miles + money upgrades have been available since I got the award ticket.
I monitored my MP+ account to see if the waitlist request was applied & had to call back after setting up the plan B ticket (which took 30 mins on the phone) to make sure that the additional 27.5k miles were withdrawn from my account & then to get the "waitlisted for I" to be added to my itinerary.
As a side note, miles + money upgrades have been available since I got the award ticket.
I monitored my MP+ account to see if the waitlist request was applied & had to call back after setting up the plan B ticket (which took 30 mins on the phone) to make sure that the additional 27.5k miles were withdrawn from my account & then to get the "waitlisted for I" to be added to my itinerary.
Jan 18, 2017, 5:16 pm
#1458
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: IAD
Posts: 319
Buy a refundable ticket to guarantee upgrade space on day of departure?
I was searching through the thread and didn't find what I was looking for, so if you can point me to it, that would be great.
I have an upcoming award trip. It is a one-way, two-segment with the first segment on a partner in business and the second (long-haul) segment on UA in business. Because of the partner business segment, it priced as a partner business award, the same price as a UA first award. F award space is not available on the UA segment, but it is F3 A3. I booked it via the elite desk (Gold) and they were kind enough to waive the telephone fee and waitlist me for an F seat. The trip shows the waitlist when I pull it up on .bomb, so it was done correctly.
The F3 worries me a bit, the trip is in about 6 weeks. I was considering purchasing a fully refundable F ticket for the UA segment (using someone else's name) to guarantee that an F seat will be available on the day of departure, so I can use PR-1 status to get an F seat.
Will this work? If I wait until I check-in for my award flight and confirm that I'm PR-1 on the upgrade list before I cancel the refundable ticket, does that pretty much guarantee my F seat? Any downside to this?
I have an upcoming award trip. It is a one-way, two-segment with the first segment on a partner in business and the second (long-haul) segment on UA in business. Because of the partner business segment, it priced as a partner business award, the same price as a UA first award. F award space is not available on the UA segment, but it is F3 A3. I booked it via the elite desk (Gold) and they were kind enough to waive the telephone fee and waitlist me for an F seat. The trip shows the waitlist when I pull it up on .bomb, so it was done correctly.
The F3 worries me a bit, the trip is in about 6 weeks. I was considering purchasing a fully refundable F ticket for the UA segment (using someone else's name) to guarantee that an F seat will be available on the day of departure, so I can use PR-1 status to get an F seat.
Will this work? If I wait until I check-in for my award flight and confirm that I'm PR-1 on the upgrade list before I cancel the refundable ticket, does that pretty much guarantee my F seat? Any downside to this?
Jan 18, 2017, 5:19 pm
#1459
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: United GS, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 109
I'm a 1k (long time lurker, first time poster) and stumbled upon this thread. I'm on a longhaul from SFO to AKL and a return from SYD to LAX in April all on UA metal. I called the 1k line a few minutes ago and it only took 5 minutes for the agent to complete the transaction. The only big change compared to others is he said miles will be deducted once the IN waitlist clears.
Apparently it will clear, put the ticket out of sync, will require you to call in, authorize the mileage deduction, and then it will be yours.
This is contrary to deducting the miles before and being a displaced business class passenger at T-24. Is this new or did I need to push back more?
My reservation shows:
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200
Fare Class: United Economy (X) - (IN class requested)
Meal: Dinner
Apparently it will clear, put the ticket out of sync, will require you to call in, authorize the mileage deduction, and then it will be yours.
This is contrary to deducting the miles before and being a displaced business class passenger at T-24. Is this new or did I need to push back more?
My reservation shows:
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200
Fare Class: United Economy (X) - (IN class requested)
Meal: Dinner
Jan 18, 2017, 5:27 pm
#1460
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,412
It theoretically is a functional strategy. The downside is that you will get banned from MileagePlus (if not United) for life when you get caught. This is one of the more egregious CoC violations because it denies UA a potential late-booked F seat, so it is something they take quite seriously.
Jan 18, 2017, 5:35 pm
#1461
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,405
UA considers it fraudulent ticketing.
So, in addition to findark's suggestion that, if you get caught, you risk getting your MP account cancelled (and all miles forfeited), you risk pushing UA toward the elimination of plan B, waitlisting of instruments, and the like.
I do have a foolproof method to sit in the first-class seat, though: cancel your award ticket and purchase that first-class ticket in your own name. You'll even earn miles on the purchase!
Jan 18, 2017, 5:41 pm
#1462
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 was considering purchasing a fully refundable F ticket for the UA segment (using someone else's name) to guarantee that an F seat will be available on the day of departure, so I can use PR-1 status to get an F seat.
Will this work? If I wait until I check-in for my award flight and confirm that I'm PR-1 on the upgrade list before I cancel the refundable ticket, does that pretty much guarantee my F seat? Any downside to this?
Will this work? If I wait until I check-in for my award flight and confirm that I'm PR-1 on the upgrade list before I cancel the refundable ticket, does that pretty much guarantee my F seat? Any downside to this?
If UA catches you, they can, should, and will close your MP account and confiscate your miles.
It's not uncommon for them to do it that way. You got a better explanation of the process from the agent than most.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 18, 2017 at 9:38 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Jan 18, 2017, 6:28 pm
#1463
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: IAD
Posts: 319
It theoretically is a functional strategy. The downside is that you will get banned from MileagePlus (if not United) for life when you get caught. This is one of the more egregious CoC violations because it denies UA a potential late-booked F seat, so it is something they take quite seriously.
Jan 20, 2017, 8:56 am
#1464
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 64
I signed up for expert flyer and setup an alert for 2 biz seats for every single route (I think) to and near SYD, for every airline, for the date I would like. Do I need to bother waitlisting for the UA route?
Jan 20, 2017, 11:55 am
#1465
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
Unfortunately the reverse is possible also, so the EF alert is still a good idea.
Jan 22, 2017, 4:44 pm
#1466
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,326
I was just told that you cannot waitlist for economy class. He said the system would not allow it, and spent some time talking to someone else.
He was able to very quickly waitlist for F.
This seems odd.
Edit: Next agent called a lead and was told waitlisting to a different flight is simply not permitted, period.
He was able to very quickly waitlist for F.
This seems odd.
Edit: Next agent called a lead and was told waitlisting to a different flight is simply not permitted, period.
Last edited by canadiancow; Jan 22, 2017 at 5:24 pm
Jan 25, 2017, 5:26 am
#1467
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 43
- 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.
- Ticketed customers may waitlist for travel in a premium cabin for an alternate flight. Reservations where all segments are waitlisted without any confirmed segments are not permitted.
- Connecting flights: Customers may waitlist on only one leg of the connecting flights and the flight must meet the required minimum connecting time.
- Nonstop flights: Customers can waitlist on only one flight per direction. Alternate dates and times are allowed.
Jan 25, 2017, 8:51 am
#1468
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,864
Jan 25, 2017, 2:17 pm
#1469
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,326
This is correct. According to the award rules you must be able to confirm in economy, which then allows waitlisting the higher cabins:It's true that you can't waitlist economy (for either a primary or an alternate flight). But if it was a premium seat you were talking about on an alternate flight, the agent either lied or was misinformed. Happens all the time. Just keep calling back until an agent helps you with it. To quote the award rules:
- 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.
- Ticketed customers may waitlist for travel in a premium cabin for an alternate flight. Reservations where all segments are waitlisted without any confirmed segments are not permitted.
- Connecting flights: Customers may waitlist on only one leg of the connecting flights and the flight must meet the required minimum connecting time.
- Nonstop flights: Customers can waitlist on only one flight per direction. Alternate dates and times are allowed.
So if a 1K wants to book a flight in Y, there's simply no way to do it if there's currently no space available? It seems weird that they wouldn't allow waitlisting. It also seems weird that they wouldn't just open the space, but that's another topic.
Jan 25, 2017, 2:57 pm
#1470
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 43
Then you just need to find someone who will help you do it. May take a few calls.
Correct. You need award space -- in some cabin -- to book the flight.
If you're elite or a United credit card holder, you'll see more economy availability than the average person via the XN bucket (make sure you're logged into your MileagePlus account when you do the search). Premiers (but not card holders) also have expanded business space in the IN bucket.
If you're elite or a United credit card holder, you'll see more economy availability than the average person via the XN bucket (make sure you're logged into your MileagePlus account when you do the search). Premiers (but not card holders) also have expanded business space in the IN bucket.