Dec 11, 2019, 12:06 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
PlusPoints Polaris flight upgrade SUCCESS 2020Consider posting:
1. Route
2. Date
3. Fare class
4. Y-O, Y-J, O-J (O=PremiumPlus)
5. # of PlusPoints
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear
For Reference: GPU / PlusPoints Polaris flight upgrade SUCCESS 2019
GPU upgrade SUCCESS 2018
GPU upgrade SUCCESS 2017
GPU upgrade SUCCESS 2016
GPU upgrade SUCCESS 2015
related thread: PlusPoints non-Polaris flight upgrade SUCCESS 2020
PlusPoints Polaris flight upgrade SUCCESS 2020
Jan 6, 2020, 3:44 pm
#31
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SDF
Programs: -=- UA: GS + 3.9 Million Miler; Hilton: Diamond; Marriott: Gold; Hertz: President's Circle
Posts: 676
1. Route: ICN-SFO
2. Flight date: 1/9/2020
3. Orig fare: H
4. Upgrade: Y --> C
5. Points: 40 PlusPoints
6. Cleared at: At T-72 (3 days prior) into PN=7
Stupid company rule requires flying first 3x/year TPAC R/Ts in Y before allowing J for balance of the year.
2. Flight date: 1/9/2020
3. Orig fare: H
4. Upgrade: Y --> C
5. Points: 40 PlusPoints
6. Cleared at: At T-72 (3 days prior) into PN=7
Stupid company rule requires flying first 3x/year TPAC R/Ts in Y before allowing J for balance of the year.
Jan 6, 2020, 4:21 pm
#32
Join Date: May 2016
Location: In btw SJC & SFO
Programs: Marriott Titanium & LTP, Hilton Diamond (Aspire card), Hyatt Globalist, UA Gold (almost free agent)
Posts: 510
1. Flight: SFO-NRT
2. Date of flight: 07/02/2020
3. Date booked: 12/31/2019
4. Fare basis: V
5. Cabin upgrade: Y -> J
6. Date of upgrade: 12/31/2019 (cleared at booking)
7. Number of PlusPoints: 40
1. Flight: HKG-SFO
2. Date of flight: 07/14/2020
3. Date booked: Today
4. Fare basis: V
5. Cabin upgrade: Y -> J
6. Date of upgrade: 12/31/2019 (cleared at booking)
7. Number of PlusPoints: 40
1. Flight: SFO-NRT
2. Date of flight: 09/03/2020
3. Date booked: 12/31/2019
4. Fare basis: W
5. Cabin upgrade: Y -> J
6. Date of upgrade: 12/31/2019 (cleared at booking)
7. Number of PlusPoints: 40
1. Flight: HKG-SFO
2. Date of flight: 09/14/2020
3. Date booked: 12/31/2019
4. Fare basis: W
5. Cabin upgrade: Y -> J
6. Date of upgrade: 12/31/2019 (cleared at booking)
7. Number of PlusPoints: 40
Now 160 PP used with 200 PP left, any chance I can clear Thanksgiving or Christmas/new year TPAC flights? I have booked all this year's other award flights with UA miles except next week's flight with NH miles from Amex transfer.
2. Date of flight: 07/02/2020
3. Date booked: 12/31/2019
4. Fare basis: V
5. Cabin upgrade: Y -> J
6. Date of upgrade: 12/31/2019 (cleared at booking)
7. Number of PlusPoints: 40
1. Flight: HKG-SFO
2. Date of flight: 07/14/2020
3. Date booked: Today
4. Fare basis: V
5. Cabin upgrade: Y -> J
6. Date of upgrade: 12/31/2019 (cleared at booking)
7. Number of PlusPoints: 40
1. Flight: SFO-NRT
2. Date of flight: 09/03/2020
3. Date booked: 12/31/2019
4. Fare basis: W
5. Cabin upgrade: Y -> J
6. Date of upgrade: 12/31/2019 (cleared at booking)
7. Number of PlusPoints: 40
1. Flight: HKG-SFO
2. Date of flight: 09/14/2020
3. Date booked: 12/31/2019
4. Fare basis: W
5. Cabin upgrade: Y -> J
6. Date of upgrade: 12/31/2019 (cleared at booking)
7. Number of PlusPoints: 40
Now 160 PP used with 200 PP left, any chance I can clear Thanksgiving or Christmas/new year TPAC flights? I have booked all this year's other award flights with UA miles except next week's flight with NH miles from Amex transfer.
Jan 6, 2020, 5:38 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Marriott Ti/LTP
Posts: 1,329
Early to mid Thanksgiving week is usually a cakewalk for upgrades..
Jan 7, 2020, 9:52 am
#34
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: United Plat
Posts: 498
1. Flight: SFO-HKG
2. Date of flight: 19JAN2020
3. Date booked: 01JAN2020
4. Fare basis: W
5. Cabin upgrade: Y -> J
6. Date of upgrade: 01JAN2020 (Had to change a ticket. Saw PZ>0 before changing. Applied right after booking)
7. Number of PlusPoints: 40
2. Date of flight: 19JAN2020
3. Date booked: 01JAN2020
4. Fare basis: W
5. Cabin upgrade: Y -> J
6. Date of upgrade: 01JAN2020 (Had to change a ticket. Saw PZ>0 before changing. Applied right after booking)
7. Number of PlusPoints: 40
Jan 7, 2020, 10:06 am
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,288
1. Flight: DEN-SFO-TPE
2. Date of flight: JAN
3. Date booked: DEC
4. Fare basis: W
5. Cabin upgrade: Y -> J
6. Date of upgrade: booking for SFO-TPE, 2 weeks before flight for DEN-SFO
7. Number of PlusPoints: 40
2. Date of flight: JAN
3. Date booked: DEC
4. Fare basis: W
5. Cabin upgrade: Y -> J
6. Date of upgrade: booking for SFO-TPE, 2 weeks before flight for DEN-SFO
7. Number of PlusPoints: 40
Jan 7, 2020, 10:29 am
#36
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, IHG Silver, Hilton Silver, Hertz PC, National Exec Elite, Avis PC
Posts: 1,281
1. Flight: IAD-LHR
2. Date of flight: Late January
3. Date booked: 12/16/19
4. Fare basis: W
5. Cabin upgrade: Y -> J
6. Date of upgrade: 12/27/19 (Points applied and upgrade cleared same day I made Plat)
7. Number of PlusPoints: 40
2. Date of flight: Late January
3. Date booked: 12/16/19
4. Fare basis: W
5. Cabin upgrade: Y -> J
6. Date of upgrade: 12/27/19 (Points applied and upgrade cleared same day I made Plat)
7. Number of PlusPoints: 40
Jan 7, 2020, 10:39 am
#37
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Healdsburg CA and Provincetown MA
Programs: UA 1K and MM.
Posts: 135
1. SFO to CDG (2 seats)
2. 1/04/2020
3. Fare class K
4. K-J
5. 80 PlusPoints, each
6. Purchased months in advance
7. Upgrade cleared 48 hours before departure
2. 1/04/2020
3. Fare class K
4. K-J
5. 80 PlusPoints, each
6. Purchased months in advance
7. Upgrade cleared 48 hours before departure
Jan 7, 2020, 11:43 am
#38
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The City/Honolulu
Programs: UA 3MM; Hyatt Glob*****; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,473
Consider posting:
1. MUC-ORD
2. January 5, 2020
3. Q
4. Y-J
5. 40 PlusPoints
6. Purchased December 16, 2019 (20 days in advance)
7. January 4, 2019 at 11:36 AM local time received email notice (10 minutes into the 24-hour prior to flight)
I specifically purchased this route because I thought it had the greatest likelihood of upgrade. It was J9 at booking and was originally the 3-class 777. I was able to get a seat in what would be the Premium Economy cabin if the plane was changed. 48 hours prior to flight it changed to a Polaris 772 and my seat in the Premium Economy section stuck. I was upgraded from there to the business cabin.
1. MUC-ORD
2. January 5, 2020
3. Q
4. Y-J
5. 40 PlusPoints
6. Purchased December 16, 2019 (20 days in advance)
7. January 4, 2019 at 11:36 AM local time received email notice (10 minutes into the 24-hour prior to flight)
I specifically purchased this route because I thought it had the greatest likelihood of upgrade. It was J9 at booking and was originally the 3-class 777. I was able to get a seat in what would be the Premium Economy cabin if the plane was changed. 48 hours prior to flight it changed to a Polaris 772 and my seat in the Premium Economy section stuck. I was upgraded from there to the business cabin.
Jan 8, 2020, 2:12 pm
#39
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 256
1. EWR-LHR (8 PM)
2. 3/28/20
3. U
4. Y-J
5. 40 PlusPoints
6. Purchased 1/8/20
7. cleared at purchase
1. LHR-IAD (noon)
2. 4/2/20
3. H
4. Y-J
5. 40 PlusPoints
6. Purchased 1/8/20
7. cleared at purchase
I think I cleared one GPU at purchase in 2019, and the others were off the waitlist (or not at all), so clearing both ways at purchase is pretty amazing.
2. 3/28/20
3. U
4. Y-J
5. 40 PlusPoints
6. Purchased 1/8/20
7. cleared at purchase
1. LHR-IAD (noon)
2. 4/2/20
3. H
4. Y-J
5. 40 PlusPoints
6. Purchased 1/8/20
7. cleared at purchase
I think I cleared one GPU at purchase in 2019, and the others were off the waitlist (or not at all), so clearing both ways at purchase is pretty amazing.
Jan 8, 2020, 6:15 pm
#40
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RDU
Programs: UA Plat 2MM, Delta Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott cardboard
Posts: 1,699
Frau D scored on my PPs
1. SFO-HKG
2. 1/1/20
3. W
4. Y-J
5. long ago using a cert, now 40 PP
6. too long to remember
7. cleared on 12/30/19
2. 1/1/20
3. W
4. Y-J
5. long ago using a cert, now 40 PP
6. too long to remember
7. cleared on 12/30/19
Jan 12, 2020, 1:16 am
#41
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Marriott Ti/LTP
Posts: 1,329
1. Route: SFO-HKG
2. Flight date: Jan 28, 2020
3. Orig fare: K
4. Upgrade: Discount Y --> J
5. Points: 80 PlusPoints
6. Purchased: Jan 4, 2020. Cleared into RN9. (PN6)
7. Cleared at: Jan 11 (PN4)
Looks like 1 other person may have cleared at the same time as I did. I was #2 out of 5 on the waitlist. It is now 3 long.
2. Flight date: Jan 28, 2020
3. Orig fare: K
4. Upgrade: Discount Y --> J
5. Points: 80 PlusPoints
6. Purchased: Jan 4, 2020. Cleared into RN9. (PN6)
7. Cleared at: Jan 11 (PN4)
Looks like 1 other person may have cleared at the same time as I did. I was #2 out of 5 on the waitlist. It is now 3 long.
Jan 12, 2020, 1:28 am
#42
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,213
1. Flight: SFO-HKG
2. Date of flight: July 2020
3. Date booked: January 2020
4. Fare basis: K
5. Cabin upgrade: Y --> J
6. Date of upgrade: January 2020 (time of booking)
7. Number of PlusPoints: 80
1. Flight: NRT-LAX
2. Date of flight: August 2020
3. Date booked: January 2020
4. Fare basis: W
5. Cabin upgrade: Y --> J
6. Date of upgrade: January 2020 (time of booking)
7. Number of PlusPoints: 40
Interestingly the W fare via NRT for the return was less expensive than the K via HKG.
Knew at time of booking that PZ was available on the flights, but as others noted the fare if selected the PZ fare was higher than booking the lower fare and then requesting the upgrade.
2. Date of flight: July 2020
3. Date booked: January 2020
4. Fare basis: K
5. Cabin upgrade: Y --> J
6. Date of upgrade: January 2020 (time of booking)
7. Number of PlusPoints: 80
1. Flight: NRT-LAX
2. Date of flight: August 2020
3. Date booked: January 2020
4. Fare basis: W
5. Cabin upgrade: Y --> J
6. Date of upgrade: January 2020 (time of booking)
7. Number of PlusPoints: 40
Interestingly the W fare via NRT for the return was less expensive than the K via HKG.
Knew at time of booking that PZ was available on the flights, but as others noted the fare if selected the PZ fare was higher than booking the lower fare and then requesting the upgrade.
Jan 12, 2020, 7:28 am
#43
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Chicago
Programs: United 1K, Expedia Rewards Gold, Hotels.com Gold, Marriott Gold Status, Presidential Plus
Posts: 85
That is a TERRIBLE rule. Godspeed.
Jan 12, 2020, 7:45 am
#44
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,783
Route: EWR - SFO
Date: 01/10/2020
Original fare: G
Upgrade: Y -> C
Points: 20 Plus Points
Cleared: After boarding group 3 was boarding
16 open seats and gate agent said she would clear the list -30 minutes.
Date: 01/10/2020
Original fare: G
Upgrade: Y -> C
Points: 20 Plus Points
Cleared: After boarding group 3 was boarding
16 open seats and gate agent said she would clear the list -30 minutes.
Jan 12, 2020, 8:30 am
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 31,948
There were 16 open seats EWR-SFO? Did they swap in a bigger plane? That's otherwise unheard of.
