Jan 1, 2018, 9:57 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Welcome to this thread to ask your basic, simple questions about United Airlines, its operations, or the MileagePlus program. We know that the airline is complex and we’ve created this thread for new and veteran members to ask those basic questions about United Airlines that you think must have an easy answer but just can’t find it or aren’t sure where to look.

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Ocn Vw 1K, l'etoile, J.Edward, goalie, Pat89339, WineCountryUA

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Use this thread for a simple, basic question. Moderators may move posts to other threads if the question deserves its own thread.
Any member who can post a constructive, patient answer is welcome to reply.

Generally, there are not long discussions of an issue in this thread. If it appears that is needed, the posts will be moved to an existing thread or used as the start of a new separate thread.

Additional tools for members seeking information about MileagePlus:

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"New" United Airlines Forum Glossary

Here is a link to recent previous threads:
Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2017]

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2016 Part II]

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2016 Part I]

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2015 -Part II]...

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2015 Thread]...

Have a Simple Question About United Airlines/MileagePlus? Ask Here [2018]

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Sep 13, 2018, 8:26 am

#1321

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 56,495

Quote:

Originally Posted by frontenac551

I didn't, yet, get my first GPU back

If it's not back yet, it's likely not coming back on its own. I would call MPSC.

Aussienarelle likes this.

Sep 13, 2018, 12:06 pm

#1322

jkumpire

Join Date: Feb 2011

Posts: 51

Quick question

Quick silly question on booking an award flight.

I am trying to do a business saver award in US for October (if you need more details let me know).

There are some choices where it is a mixed cabin and the mixed cabin is in the XN fare bucket. I have a Chase card, is it possible that this can be bumped up to E+ or higher with miles or cash, or when I use my chase card to pay for the award? Or is the flight/segement having an XN because there are no business/first class award seats open?

Thanks!

Last edited by jkumpire; Sep 13, 2018 at 12:08 pm Reason: I can't type

Sep 13, 2018, 12:26 pm

#1323

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 66,867

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkumpire

E+ access is purchasable for award tickets. Cash, not miles.

You are seeing XN for two reasons, if selecting a business award -- there is no business space but there is economy saver space. And it is XN vs X because there is extra economy saver space for elites and credit card holders.

Note you can waitlist for I space on the X/XN segments,
Consolidated "Waitlist for Award Seats Questions/Issues"
If successful your E+ access fee will be refunded.

Sep 14, 2018, 1:50 pm

#1324

frontenac551

Join Date: Jan 2007

Posts: 467

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

If it's not back yet, it's likely not coming back on its own. I would call MPSC.

It actually popped back today

Sep 15, 2018, 11:45 pm

#1325

dsquared37

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia

Programs: Some of this 'n some of that

Posts: 17,263

What bucket does a GS GPU pull from? Is it PN?

Sep 15, 2018, 11:57 pm

#1326

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,431

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsquared37

What bucket does a GS GPU pull from? Is it PN?

Yes

Sep 16, 2018, 12:44 am

#1327

dsquared37

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia

Programs: Some of this 'n some of that

Posts: 17,263

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsloan

Yes

Thank you. Didn't wanna screw this one up.

Sep 16, 2018, 1:37 pm

#1328

flyguy6

Join Date: Sep 2017

Programs: WN A-list., Marriott Plat, National EX, UA Silver

Posts: 289

I am seeing my name twice on the upgrade list. It appears there is someone with same a very similar name to me. Is there any way to tell which one I am?

I don't know if it is related to Florence but I am seeing some crazy long upgrade lists. One of my flights is not clearing upgrades with 7R and <24 hours before flight.

Sep 16, 2018, 3:00 pm

#1329

fumje

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2015

Posts: 11,481

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyguy6

If you are familiar with upgrade patterns on that route, you may be able to guess with a good degree of confidence. But I can't think of any way to confirm on your own without possibly affecting your priority on the list. Somewhat for this reason, I usually look at the list just before I check in as well.

Sometimes recently they seem to like to hold off on upgrades until right around T-24 and run one sweep. But note also that they've changed the way upgrades displayed, so that you only see check marks for passengers who have already checked in at the time of upgrade, which means it's much harder to know if anyone has or has not cleared.

Sep 17, 2018, 1:13 am

#1330

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)

Posts: 56,495

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyguy6

One of my flights is not clearing upgrades with 7R and <24 hours before flight.

Well if you apply an instrument, it will clear immediately

Sep 17, 2018, 9:41 am

#1331

Flyingwith5

Join Date: Jan 2018

Posts: 10

Award Upgraded

I'm not sure what happened but I'm super thrill!
My orginal biz award booking was a mixed cabin for 2 one-way tix for 75k each. Only one segment was class I and the other two segments were X. First two segments are United metal and last is a partner flight.
So there was a time change arriving 5 mins later on one segment. I called CS and ask if i can change the departure time a little later. He was able to find a later time for class X but I told him I saw class I. After 2 mins on hold he did find class I and made the change. Next thing I know all 3 segments are class I. I didn't have to pay any additional miles. Did the agent made a mistake? If so can they downgrade or require me to pay additional miles? Thanks.

Sep 17, 2018, 10:09 am

#1332

FlyingHighlander

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: USA

Posts: 1,153

I have an upcoming flight IAD-DEN, for which I need to check a bag. Is there no way to pay for that in advance? I don't see anywhere I can do it. Will it let me during online checkin, or do I have to do it at IAD?

Sep 17, 2018, 11:25 am

#1333

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,431

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyingwith5

Next thing I know all 3 segments are class I. I didn't have to pay any additional miles. Did the agent made a mistake? If so can they downgrade or require me to pay additional miles? Thanks.

As long as the segments that went from X to I were each within a single MileagePlus region, the cost would have been the same anyway. They won't come after you for more miles.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingHighlander

You can't pay in advance. I think you can pay online during the check-in process.

Sep 18, 2018, 8:54 pm

#1334

Zakfischer

Join Date: Jul 2018

Posts: 5

I'm UA gold and have a question. I currently have an economy ticket. The "Use Miles to Upgrade" screen says I can use 15,000 miles to upgrade to first but that it's "waitlist only". I'm wondering how this compares to the CPU from gold status?

Sep 18, 2018, 9:10 pm

#1335

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,431

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zakfischer

You'd be much further ahead on the waitlist.

1 - A miles + copay* waitlist can clear at any time; a Gold CPU cannot clear until 48 hours before departure. (This doesn't mean that it will clear, just that it can).
2 - If it goes to the gate without clearing, a Gold member using an instrument (including miles) will be ahead of all non-GS CPUs, but will be behind 1K and Platinum instruments. So, think of it as jumping over Platinums and 1Ks who do not use instruments of their own.

* For CPU-eligible routes, the copay is waived for premier members, and not all fare classes have copays anyway, but the same principle applies.