How does PlusPoints / Mileage Upgrade waitlist for business work with PremiumPlus?
 

Greetings.
Apologies if this has been discussed before. Today, while searching for upgrade space I came across something ominous. UA was offering me to upgrade from E+ to PE for TPAC at the cost of one GPU (and space was available for instant confirmation).
At the same time it was also quoting one GPU to upgrade from E+ to J (but only WL). Could this be a preview of things to come where you will need a GPU to upgrade from E to PE and a second one (or a PE fare) to get into J?
BTW: given that the difference between E and PE in this trip was ~$200, this is an exceedingly bad use of a GPU)

Safe travels.

- MileagePlus members seated in United Economy can use a single Global Premier Upgrade request to move to a United® Premium Plus seat or upgrade to the United Polaris® business class cabin.

- If you’d like to be considered for a move to a United® Premium Plus seat or an upgrade to the United Polaris business class cabin, we’ll move you to the first available seat. If the first available seat is a United® Premium Plus seat, we’ll continue to look for space in the United Polaris business class cabin without requiring an additional Global Premier Upgrade.

From: https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...-upgrades.html

Policy is already out, but in a nutshell: a GPU is valid for E to J. If PP is available at the time of booking, you'll move there but still be waitlisted for J (waitlisted behind those who already had paid PP). One GPU is burned whichever cabin you end up in, but you're still eligible for J. If you don't think it's worth the GPU for PP, just make sure you switch back to E+ before departure.

Lose E+ seat assignment when applying GPU?
 

I can't imagine this hasn't already been discussed, but I can't seem to find it anywhere:

I understand that under the new system, if I apply a GPU on a flight with Premium Plus available but Polaris waitlist only, the system will first upgrade me from Economy Plus to Premium Plus, and then waitlist me for Polaris. The annoying thing about this is that I would prefer to have my normal E+ exit row seat over a non-exit-row Premium Plus seat - I prefer the exit row legroom over the apparently nearly identical Premium Plus seat. I read that the solution to that is to simply remove the GPU later on (eg. by calling in or asking at the gate to be downgraded). But if I want to wait for a waitlist upgrade at the gate, by the time I ask to downgrade from Premium Plus to Economy Plus, my exit row seat will likely be gone (along with most decent Economy Plus seats) so I don't see how this is a reasonable option.

Is there any way to request a GPU upgrade for Polaris only (not have the system upgrade to Premium Plus)?

It has. You have the option to list for Polaris only. This is explained both on the UA website and the threads discussing GPU upgrades after the introduction of Premium Plus.

Thanks. I must be blind, but I just re-read the United GPU terms page and still can't find a clear statement about whether this is possible or not. And the only forum post I found on this advised the impractical practice of accepting the Premium Plus upgrade, and then un-waitlisting before departure if you didn't want to keep the Premium Plus upgrade. Thanks for your clear answer.

It's in the FAQ. They say it pretty clearly there. I agree the T&C are a bit vague.

upgrades to premium plus
 

Hello all. Some UA aircraft now have Biz first, premium plus, and economy. For an upcoming flight on such an aircraft I ahve requested upgrade using a global systems upgrade. Typically this upgrade is to biz first. But is the premium plus also included as a possible upgrade?

thanks

From UA -

Thanks very much!!

Caveat of course is that if you clear into PP and not into Polaris, the GPU is still considered used.

OK, so let me get this straight - as long as I don't book basic economy, I can GPU in PP, but not to Polaris
If I want to go Econ-> PP -> Polaris - you still have to purchase a W or higher fare
There is no fare restriction to GPU from PP to Polaris

How many fare class does PP have? R? is there any other?

What is the fare class required for instant upgrade from econ -> PP?

O, A & R (the lowest)

The is no Instant Upgrade concept for PP.
RN is the fare class for upgrades.

ON is award space for PP (presently just this fare class -- no separate Saver / EveryDay

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...uckets-ua.html

Poor choice of words on my part, I meant if fare class XX > 1 and you applied a GPU, would end up in an instant upgrade

I knew R was fare class for PP, and kinda thought RN was for the upgrade, but wanted to confirm

Thanks

FWIW, most airlines that have had a Premium Economy section for some time (SQ, QF, NZ are three that I've flown in Premium Economy) only allow one-class upgrades using any instrument. Since it's a separate class of service, the upgrades are one-class upgrades. I think it's a pretty safe bet that UA will have a very similar system in the future - if you want to upgrade to Polaris using any instrument, you'll have to purchase PP if it's available on that aircraft. Otherwise, your upgrade from E+ will be to PP.