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.

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

These are the two rules for this thread:

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:

United MileagePlus Master Wiki

"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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Oct 19, 2018, 9:54 pm

#1471

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,413

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clay_C.

Thank you! One more simple-ish question if you or someone else would indulge me: is there a full fare economy class fare on a TATL ticket that can be upgraded to business for 20000 miles? I have the impression that this is only good for standby.

Any economy fare can be upgraded to business. A North America to Europe upgrade award is 15K miles each way for Y class and 20K miles each way for all other classes of service. For fares below B, there's a co-pay required; from $300 on M, E, and U to $550 on W and below.

Upgrades will clear immediately if there is space available in the upgrade bucket. That bucket was R, but as of today R is being removed and replaced with the new PZ bucket. There is not currently any way to see if there is inventory in the PZ bucket. (Give it a day or two to see how things shake out).

If your upgrade request cannot be cleared immediately, you'll be placed on a waitlist and might clear anytime from right away until just prior to departure. The list will be ordered by status and then by fare class. It is entirely common for even high-status passengers to fail to have an upgrade clear, especially when traveling at popular times.

Oct 20, 2018, 1:12 am

#1472

Zorak

Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jun 2015

Location: WAS

Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester

Posts: 18,933

Quote:

Originally Posted by fumje

Your question seems to be already answered, but may I ask, what is an anniversary pass? Does yours label itself specific to JFK?

I'm assuming "credit card anniversary".

Oct 20, 2018, 7:42 am

#1473

fumje

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2015

Posts: 11,464

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zorak

I'm assuming "credit card anniversary".

Ah, duh. I was thinking along the lines of MP anniversary, but I couldn't imagine such a thing.

Oct 21, 2018, 12:23 am

#1474

gregoryad

Join Date: Mar 2018

Location: MFR & BKK

Programs: Ex-UA Silver | Global Entry | Ex-HH Gold

Posts: 42

Noob/Idiot question. Can you have 2 explorer cards to 1 MP account? Cards issued to different people in the same family obviously.

Oct 21, 2018, 5:25 am

#1475

StuckinITH

Join Date: Nov 2012

Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum

Posts: 3,477

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregoryad

Noob/Idiot question. Can you have 2 explorer cards to 1 MP account? Cards issued to different people in the same family obviously.

Then, I think it would really be 1 explorer card per MP account. The expenditure of you family member would accrue to their MP account. On UA, they do not have a joined MP account for family members like on BA. On BA, you have your account, your family member his/her account and then both accounts are pooled into one.

But I think that you can have 2 explorer cards on your name (for example if you use one for personal and one for Business) to differentiate the expenses. But you don't get twice the signing bonus.

Last edited by StuckinITH; Oct 21, 2018 at 5:32 am

Oct 22, 2018, 10:07 am

#1476

kale73

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2012

Posts: 19,508

I booked two itineraries using the United.com website last night.

First, a revenue ticket (PHX-LAX-IAH-SJU & SJU-EWR-MSY)
Then 9 minutes later an award ticket (MSY-IAH-PHX)

I received the usual "processing" emails for both bookings almost immediately, and the "receipt and confirmation" email for the award ticket within minutes. I still have not received an email indicating confirmation of the revenue ticket. I can see the receipt on the website, and there is an 016 ticket number, but no email. Also, on the "Manage Reservations" page, both reservations bear the "This reservation has been ticketed and confirmed" text. I've been waiting on the confirmation email before making hotal reervations in San Juan (I'm staying with friends in New Orleans).

My questions:
Is the lack of a confirmation email on the first reservation likely nothing more than a "glitch"?
If so, is it something I worry about?
Am I being overly paranoid about this?

Oct 22, 2018, 10:10 am

#1477

findark

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2014

Location: MSP

Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found

Posts: 14,419

If you have a ticket number for both, you should be set. You can email the receipt for the missing one by requesting it online.

Oct 22, 2018, 10:12 am

#1478

StuckinITH

Join Date: Nov 2012

Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum

Posts: 3,477

Quote:

Originally Posted by kale73

From time to time, the UA web site has that glitch and does not send the confirmation e-mail in a timely fashion. When that happens, I do like you. I enter in my reservation, see that the reservation is ticketed and confirmed, then send myself a copy of the receipt. I never had a problem when I did this.

Oct 22, 2018, 1:12 pm

#1479

Lefleur

Join Date: Jul 2010

Posts: 139

Just hit gold. Dumbest question ever. Why does my digital Mileageplus card in the app say valid through 1/2019. Shouldn’t it be valid through 1/20? Or does it refresh in January to say that?

Oct 22, 2018, 1:20 pm

#1480

EmailKid

Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now

Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold

Posts: 14,429

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lefleur

Just hit gold. Dumbest question ever. Why does my digital Mileageplus card in the app say valid through 1/2019. Shouldn’t it be valid through 1/20? Or does it refresh in January to say that?

Yes.

Oct 23, 2018, 3:19 am

#1481

CDG1

Join Date: Apr 2002

Location: The sky is my home

Programs: Concorde Mach 2 -UAMM- First to Fly A380/B787/B747-8i/FlyingHonu

Posts: 3,029

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuckinITH

I can't log in to my MIleage Plus account.

I made a number of attempts. I thought I was putting in the wrong password so I requested a password change. The same thing is happening with the new password. I am running out of patience.

I keep getting the following error message:

Internal Server Error - Read

The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request.

I need to access my account.

How can I log in? This is an eons of years old account. I joined MP when they started the program.

Anyone else having the same problem?

I am getting tired of United discrepancies. The old United was so much better.
The new UA keeps getting worse by the day.

Oct 23, 2018, 3:52 am

#1482

EmailKid

Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2002

Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now

Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold

Posts: 14,429

Previously posted suggestions:

Clear cookies, use in private browser, try different browser, restart computer, use different device.

Oct 23, 2018, 4:17 am

#1483

salisboss

Join Date: Nov 2012

Location: Morris Plains, NJ

Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Gold

Posts: 138

I am #1 on the upgrade list for two flights today and very early tomorrow morning (inside T-24). I am silver and both flights have tons of first class space on a leisure route (EWR-BQN). Why don't they process the upgrades?

Oct 23, 2018, 4:31 am

#1484

Kacee

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2013

Location: PHX

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

Posts: 56,461

Quote:

Originally Posted by salisboss

Why don't they process the upgrades?

So they can sell them out from under you

Oct 23, 2018, 4:34 am

#1485

salisboss

Join Date: Nov 2012

Location: Morris Plains, NJ

Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Gold

Posts: 138

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

So they can sell them out from under you

Do they randomly take this tactic? When I fly to TPA I almost always get upgraded right at T-24.