Apr 27, 2020, 1:00 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Types of Upgrades
UA's Upgrades overview
UA has multiple methods for upgrading to a higher cabin. Examples include: Economy to Domestic First, Economy to International Business or Business (ex-p.s. flights) or Economy to Premium Economy ("Premium Plus").
In this regard, seating in Economy Plus is considered Economy.
Not all upgrade methods are available on all flights (see table).
Paid/cash upgrades are a different mechanism and are only available if confirmable -- no waitlisting. Depending on methods, paid upgrades can clear into almost any fare class. If the class would otherwise be used for upgrades, the cash upsell can show up on the cleared upgrade list.
Plus Points and MUA (also called "miles+cash upgrades") are collectively referred to as instrument-supported upgrades, as they are considered with equal priority once applied. They may also be used on Copa (CM), Lufthansa (LH), and ANA (NH) flights.
Waitlisting for a premium cabin award and all forms of Economy Plus are not considered upgrades.
Upgrade Priority and Required Inventory
All upgrades other than CPU may clear immediately if the required inventory class is available. If you request an upgrade when there is not inventory to confirm your upgrade immediately, you will be added to the upgrade waitlist. The required inventory classes are as follows:
RN class is required for all upgrades to Premium Economy (United Premium Plus)
PN class is required for Instant Upgrades to Business/First from Y, B, and M fares for Premier 1K members, and for all upgrades to Business/First of any type for Global Services members.
PZ class is required for all other upgrades to Business/First except CPUs.
Note: The display of the upgrade lists is rather complicated at the moment. There seems to be more information available than usual, but its accuracy is disputed. The following is how it has historically functioned in terms of public visibility.
Passengers with unconfirmed upgrade requests will be added to the upgrade waitlist. This is not the same as the upgrade standby list which you can see on the Flight Status page. You cannot see this list by any means. The ordering of the upgrade waitlist is as follows:
Recent announced modification
United will periodically run sweeps from this list. The required inventory class for your upgrade does not need to be available in order to be upgraded from the standby list; passengers on the list will be upgraded at the discretion of United's systems. (You can also think of it as space was opened and then you immediately took it.)
Once check-in starts a new waitlist will be generated for use at the gate. The pre-gate list will continue to process until the flight goes to the gate, typically one to three hours prior to departure. This new list is the visible one on the Flight Status page. Generally they will have the same order, but there can be some differences in priority ordering of the two lists -- usually due to the time tiebreaker -- which is time of request for the pre-gate list and time of check-in (sequence number) for gate list. The visible (upgrade standby) list has only checked-in passengers and is not used until the flight is under gate control and the gate agent manually processes an upgrade.
The upgrade list sometimes also shows passengers who have been upgraded. Advance-cleared upgrades will not show on the gate list as cleared -- only passengers who clear after they check in will display with a green checkmark. Some paid Premium Economy fares may show as a confirmed upgrade to Premium Economy.
For both cases, display cleared upgrades will appear in alphabetic order and regardless if checked-in (as long as a seat has been assigned). Uncleared, waitlisted requests will appear, once checked in, in priority order. But until all have checked in, the visible gate waitlist is incomplete.
Upgrades and Companions
Main article: Comprehensive Companion Upgrade Questions
The following applies ONLY to the invisible upgrade list.
Up to one companion on the same PNR as you is entitled to a CPU based on your status. However, because PNRs must consist only of passengers with the same itinerary, you will only be eligible for an upgrade if all passengers on your PNR have the same upgrade eligibility. For CPUs, you may extend your CPU status to one companion, and then the system will take the status of the lowest passenger on the reservation.
This is a little complicated. Here are some example PNRs:
1K and non-status companion: both are eligible to CPU as 1Ks
1K and two non-status companions: no one is eligible to CPU
1K, Gold, and non-status companion: the companion gets "1K CPU status" but the Gold cannot, so all three pax have Gold priority
The situation for instrument supported upgrades is slightly different. Waitlisting an instrument is also all-or-nothing on the PNR. Either all pax must have a waitlisted upgrade, or none may. If you have a waitlisted upgrade for a multiple passenger PNR, it will have the priority of the highest Premier status on the reservation. Thus:
1K and non-status companion, 2x GPU applied: both are eligible as 1Ks with GPU
1K and three non-status companions, 4x GPU applied: all four are eligible as 1Ks with GPU
Multi-pax PNR upgrades are all or nothing - you may (or may not) be skipped over if there are fewer available seats than members in your party. If you do not like the treatment of your PNR, you may split it into smaller pieces at any time and be treated as smaller groups or individuals.
Now, what happens if you haven't cleared by check-in?
Multiple pax PNRs are not eligible for the (visible) upgrade standby list. If you wish to be added to the list, you must split the PNR at check-in. This often happens even if you didn't intend to. Note, however, that the hidden list is active until 3 hours before departure and splitting your PNR changes it. Therefore, you may wish to delay check-in until the airport. On the other hand, the tiebreak for the gate list is time of check-in, so you may wish to do so immediately. It depends on your situation.
Companions may be eligible for the upgrade standby list even after splitting the PNR, if it is split at check-in. The behavior of your companion(s) depends on whether the reservation had instruments applied. You may have one CPU companion, who will be waitlisted with your Premier priority but with an effective fare class below X (namely, last). If your companion was on a different PNR originally, or you want to designate a different companion, an airport agent can do that for you. Therefore, the list of 1Ks might be:
1) 1K on an S fare (you)
2) 1K on a K fare
3) Your no-status companion
4) Plat on a B fare
If your reservation had instruments applied, however, this process is different. In this case, if the reservation is auto-split at check-in, all travelers will have your Premier priority with their fare class. Say you are a 1K with three non-status companions, all with GPUs applied. Then you have
1) 1K on a V fare, GPU applied
2..5) you (1K) and your three companions on W fares, ordered by sequence number
6) Plat on a Q fare, miles+cash applied
Frequently Asked Questions
I was #1 on the upgrade list, but someone else got the upgrade instead. What happened?
The most likely answer is that the upgraded passenger was not checked in. Remember that the upgrade standby list (the visible list) only shows passengers who have checked in.
I'm #1 on the upgrade list but seats in the forward cabin keep disappearing. No one is being upgraded. What's going on?
There are two major sources of this. First, once your flight is within 24 hours of departure, it is eligible for SDC. Passengers with paid premium tickets can change to your flight and take seats. Many experienced flyers, especially FT members, underestimate the volatility of flight loads on the day of departure. Additionally, United usually makes a time-of-departure upsell offer available at check-in. Purchasers of this upgrade may often appear similar to last-minute revenue bookings.
I was waitlisted for I (or IN) class and did not clear. Am I now eligible for an upgrade?
"Upgrade" is the wrong terminology. You should be automatically placed on the standy list for business or first (whichever applies). Historically there have been problems with this occurring automatically, but that seems to have mostly been fixed. The exact priority compared to passengers who are waitlisted for an upgrade is unclear and a matter of some dispute. See discussion of GG ONESTANDBY lines 32-55.
Who are these people who are on standby lists for both Business and First?
These are non-revs (i.e., UA employees and family members) - either NRPS (non-rev positive space) or NRSA (non-rev standby). Non-revs can list for any cabin. NRPS are traveling on company business (e.g., deadheading pilots) and will clear into open space ahead of upgraders. NRSA travel standby and will be last in priority after all paid passengers. Why would someone be listed on both standby & upgrade list(s)?
Can you have one companion on a different PNR?
Yes, but only at the airport/gate and some agents are not familiar with the process. They are at the bottom of your status group.
Related threads
Ever see (+X blocked) in booked column on upgrade list?
Consolidated "Waitlist for Award Seats Questions/Issues"
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight
Decoding the alphabet soup - fare buckets for UA
Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively [Archive]
UA's Upgrades overview
UA has multiple methods for upgrading to a higher cabin. Examples include: Economy to Domestic First, Economy to International Business or Business (ex-p.s. flights) or Economy to Premium Economy ("Premium Plus").
In this regard, seating in Economy Plus is considered Economy.
Not all upgrade methods are available on all flights (see table).
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPU) are available for most North American flights, Central America flights, and some select Oceania flights.
"ex-PS" flights (EWR-SFO/LAX, BOS-SFO and v.v.) and Hawaii-EWR, IAD, ORD, IAH, DEN, GUM, MAJ and v.v. are not CPU eligible. CPUs are available for all paid fares and in some cases on award tickets with certain credit cards. A CPU is requested automatically for all elites as long as there is a maximum of one non-Premier as only one companion on the same PNR is also eligible for CPU. CPUs cannot be confirmed until inside the particular window:Global Services: 120 hours
Premier 1K: 96 hours
Premier Platinum: 72 hours
Premier Gold: 48 hours
Premier Silver: 24 hours- Plus Points (provided to Plats and above) are the upgrade currency of United elites. This wiki of this thread has more details about pricing of various Plus Points upgrades.
- Mileage Upgrade Awards (MUA) can be requested for all UA flights with a higher cabin on all paid fares. This a varying amount of miles and a $ copay (elites are exempt from the co-pay for CPU eligible flights) -- see UA award chart for details Note the miles and copay are due at time of the request and will be returned if unsuccessful.
- Instant Upgrades are space available for all elites on Y & B fares for CPU-eligible flights at booking. For Plats and below these require PZ space. For 1Ks and GS, this can be done on Y, B & M fares and requires PN space. 1K & GS, if not cleared at booking, will be waitlisted.
- Plus Points (provided to Plats and above) are the upgrade currency of United elites. This wiki of this thread has more details about pricing of various Plus Points upgrades.
Paid/cash upgrades are a different mechanism and are only available if confirmable -- no waitlisting. Depending on methods, paid upgrades can clear into almost any fare class. If the class would otherwise be used for upgrades, the cash upsell can show up on the cleared upgrade list.
Plus Points and MUA (also called "miles+cash upgrades") are collectively referred to as instrument-supported upgrades, as they are considered with equal priority once applied. They may also be used on Copa (CM), Lufthansa (LH), and ANA (NH) flights.
Waitlisting for a premium cabin award and all forms of Economy Plus are not considered upgrades.
Upgrade Priority and Required Inventory
All upgrades other than CPU may clear immediately if the required inventory class is available. If you request an upgrade when there is not inventory to confirm your upgrade immediately, you will be added to the upgrade waitlist. The required inventory classes are as follows:
RN class is required for all upgrades to Premium Economy (United Premium Plus)
PN class is required for Instant Upgrades to Business/First from Y, B, and M fares for Premier 1K members, and for all upgrades to Business/First of any type for Global Services members.
PZ class is required for all other upgrades to Business/First except CPUs.
Note: The display of the upgrade lists is rather complicated at the moment. There seems to be more information available than usual, but its accuracy is disputed. The following is how it has historically functioned in terms of public visibility.
Passengers with unconfirmed upgrade requests will be added to the upgrade waitlist. This is not the same as the upgrade standby list which you can see on the Flight Status page. You cannot see this list by any means. The ordering of the upgrade waitlist is as follows:
- All Global Services members (presumably prioritized similar to other members below), including those awaiting a CPU.
- For CPU eligible flights, Premier 1K members on eligible Y-, B- and M-class fares that were not cleared at time of booking are prioritized by fare class and then time of request.
- All travelers on waitlisted instrument-supported upgrades: Prioritized by Premier status of the traveler, then fare class and then time of request. There is no priority difference between types of instruments.
- For CPU eligible flights all remaining Premier members: Prioritized by Premier status of the traveler and fare class (award tickets are considered the lowest fare class)
Recent announced modification
Effective August 14, 2018, upgrade waitlists are processed in the following priority order:
- Premier status of the traveler
- Fare class
- Chase United MileagePlus Club cardholder
- United Corporate Preferred participant
- Time of request
Once check-in starts a new waitlist will be generated for use at the gate. The pre-gate list will continue to process until the flight goes to the gate, typically one to three hours prior to departure. This new list is the visible one on the Flight Status page. Generally they will have the same order, but there can be some differences in priority ordering of the two lists -- usually due to the time tiebreaker -- which is time of request for the pre-gate list and time of check-in (sequence number) for gate list. The visible (upgrade standby) list has only checked-in passengers and is not used until the flight is under gate control and the gate agent manually processes an upgrade.
The upgrade list sometimes also shows passengers who have been upgraded. Advance-cleared upgrades will not show on the gate list as cleared -- only passengers who clear after they check in will display with a green checkmark. Some paid Premium Economy fares may show as a confirmed upgrade to Premium Economy.
For both cases, display cleared upgrades will appear in alphabetic order and regardless if checked-in (as long as a seat has been assigned). Uncleared, waitlisted requests will appear, once checked in, in priority order. But until all have checked in, the visible gate waitlist is incomplete.
Upgrades and Companions
Main article: Comprehensive Companion Upgrade Questions
The following applies ONLY to the invisible upgrade list.
Up to one companion on the same PNR as you is entitled to a CPU based on your status. However, because PNRs must consist only of passengers with the same itinerary, you will only be eligible for an upgrade if all passengers on your PNR have the same upgrade eligibility. For CPUs, you may extend your CPU status to one companion, and then the system will take the status of the lowest passenger on the reservation.
This is a little complicated. Here are some example PNRs:
1K and non-status companion: both are eligible to CPU as 1Ks
1K and two non-status companions: no one is eligible to CPU
1K, Gold, and non-status companion: the companion gets "1K CPU status" but the Gold cannot, so all three pax have Gold priority
The situation for instrument supported upgrades is slightly different. Waitlisting an instrument is also all-or-nothing on the PNR. Either all pax must have a waitlisted upgrade, or none may. If you have a waitlisted upgrade for a multiple passenger PNR, it will have the priority of the highest Premier status on the reservation. Thus:
1K and non-status companion, 2x GPU applied: both are eligible as 1Ks with GPU
1K and three non-status companions, 4x GPU applied: all four are eligible as 1Ks with GPU
Multi-pax PNR upgrades are all or nothing - you may (or may not) be skipped over if there are fewer available seats than members in your party. If you do not like the treatment of your PNR, you may split it into smaller pieces at any time and be treated as smaller groups or individuals.
Now, what happens if you haven't cleared by check-in?
Multiple pax PNRs are not eligible for the (visible) upgrade standby list. If you wish to be added to the list, you must split the PNR at check-in. This often happens even if you didn't intend to. Note, however, that the hidden list is active until 3 hours before departure and splitting your PNR changes it. Therefore, you may wish to delay check-in until the airport. On the other hand, the tiebreak for the gate list is time of check-in, so you may wish to do so immediately. It depends on your situation.
Companions may be eligible for the upgrade standby list even after splitting the PNR, if it is split at check-in. The behavior of your companion(s) depends on whether the reservation had instruments applied. You may have one CPU companion, who will be waitlisted with your Premier priority but with an effective fare class below X (namely, last). If your companion was on a different PNR originally, or you want to designate a different companion, an airport agent can do that for you. Therefore, the list of 1Ks might be:
1) 1K on an S fare (you)
2) 1K on a K fare
3) Your no-status companion
4) Plat on a B fare
If your reservation had instruments applied, however, this process is different. In this case, if the reservation is auto-split at check-in, all travelers will have your Premier priority with their fare class. Say you are a 1K with three non-status companions, all with GPUs applied. Then you have
1) 1K on a V fare, GPU applied
2..5) you (1K) and your three companions on W fares, ordered by sequence number
6) Plat on a Q fare, miles+cash applied
Frequently Asked Questions
I was #1 on the upgrade list, but someone else got the upgrade instead. What happened?
The most likely answer is that the upgraded passenger was not checked in. Remember that the upgrade standby list (the visible list) only shows passengers who have checked in.
I'm #1 on the upgrade list but seats in the forward cabin keep disappearing. No one is being upgraded. What's going on?
There are two major sources of this. First, once your flight is within 24 hours of departure, it is eligible for SDC. Passengers with paid premium tickets can change to your flight and take seats. Many experienced flyers, especially FT members, underestimate the volatility of flight loads on the day of departure. Additionally, United usually makes a time-of-departure upsell offer available at check-in. Purchasers of this upgrade may often appear similar to last-minute revenue bookings.
I was waitlisted for I (or IN) class and did not clear. Am I now eligible for an upgrade?
"Upgrade" is the wrong terminology. You should be automatically placed on the standy list for business or first (whichever applies). Historically there have been problems with this occurring automatically, but that seems to have mostly been fixed. The exact priority compared to passengers who are waitlisted for an upgrade is unclear and a matter of some dispute. See discussion of GG ONESTANDBY lines 32-55.
Who are these people who are on standby lists for both Business and First?
These are non-revs (i.e., UA employees and family members) - either NRPS (non-rev positive space) or NRSA (non-rev standby). Non-revs can list for any cabin. NRPS are traveling on company business (e.g., deadheading pilots) and will clear into open space ahead of upgraders. NRSA travel standby and will be last in priority after all paid passengers. Why would someone be listed on both standby & upgrade list(s)?
Can you have one companion on a different PNR?
Yes, but only at the airport/gate and some agents are not familiar with the process. They are at the bottom of your status group.
Related threads
Ever see (+X blocked) in booked column on upgrade list?
Consolidated "Waitlist for Award Seats Questions/Issues"
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight
Decoding the alphabet soup - fare buckets for UA
Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively [Archive]
Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively {Archive}
Oct 15, 2013, 11:10 am
#46
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: ewr pbi
Programs: Premier 1K (Former CO Plat)
Posts: 135
RPU vc CPU (and a GPU question)
I am a 1K (and million miler). Therefore, I am entitled to a space available upgrade. Is there an advantage to using a RPU, or should I give them away?
ALSO, can a GPU be used with any published coach fare?
ALSO, can a GPU be used with any published coach fare?
Oct 15, 2013, 11:16 am
#47
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
RPU will give you higher priority in the queue and can confirm outside the CPU window.
GPUs are valid on all fares in some markets. Other markets (mostly those with the BusinessFirst cabin) require a W fare or higher.
More details here: https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...e/default.aspx
GPUs are valid on all fares in some markets. Other markets (mostly those with the BusinessFirst cabin) require a W fare or higher.
More details here: https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...e/default.aspx
Oct 15, 2013, 11:22 am
#48
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
RPU's are needed to upgrade on P.S. flights, and EWR/IAD/IAH to HNL. Those routes are the best use for RPU's.
SunLover
SunLover
Oct 20, 2013, 7:29 pm
#49
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAS - I'm All In!
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott PP
Posts: 3,639
Upgrade Priority and possible involuntary downgrade
So I just had an interesting discussion with my wife. We went to upgrade her a few weeks ago on a LAS-ORD flight today with a RPU. She was #1 on the list today and had a shot at upgrade. Oddly, I went to look if my wife cleared and on her online reservation it said fare class R (upgraded F) and she was in seat 7F. Very weird, until she landed I couldn't know for sure what was going on.
I am not 100% sure what happened at the airport other than what I have been told by my wife, what I see in the online reservation and what I have now heard for a phone rep. What my wife is telling me is that the GA gave away her seat to a standby passenger and went to upgrade her. At that time the GA saw there was a GS on the wait-list. After seeing this she seated my wife in the GS's seat and gave the GS the last F seat. The kicker is, my wife was on a RPU and not CPU so that was still pulled from the account.
My first question: Is a GS on a CPU ahead of others on the confirmed instrument/miles list? If so, why would my wife have been #1 on the list? If not, I assume this was an involuntary downgrade situation.
So I'm going to be at the airport tomorrow for a flight myself and would like to talk to a service director or a UC rep about what happened. I'd like to make sure I have my ducks in a row. I assume, if it was an invol situation then GG OVS DOWNGRADE is still accurate and we just look up what it is for a 1514 mile flight?
I can understand wanting to take care of a GS, however, the few times a year my wife flies I want to make sure she is upgraded. I have to play by the terms of the upgrade list on the 90+ flights I've already flown this year; so for it to be ignored when it hurt my wife really, really upsets me.
I am not 100% sure what happened at the airport other than what I have been told by my wife, what I see in the online reservation and what I have now heard for a phone rep. What my wife is telling me is that the GA gave away her seat to a standby passenger and went to upgrade her. At that time the GA saw there was a GS on the wait-list. After seeing this she seated my wife in the GS's seat and gave the GS the last F seat. The kicker is, my wife was on a RPU and not CPU so that was still pulled from the account.
My first question: Is a GS on a CPU ahead of others on the confirmed instrument/miles list? If so, why would my wife have been #1 on the list? If not, I assume this was an involuntary downgrade situation.
So I'm going to be at the airport tomorrow for a flight myself and would like to talk to a service director or a UC rep about what happened. I'd like to make sure I have my ducks in a row. I assume, if it was an invol situation then GG OVS DOWNGRADE is still accurate and we just look up what it is for a 1514 mile flight?
I can understand wanting to take care of a GS, however, the few times a year my wife flies I want to make sure she is upgraded. I have to play by the terms of the upgrade list on the 90+ flights I've already flown this year; so for it to be ignored when it hurt my wife really, really upsets me.
Oct 20, 2013, 7:47 pm
#50
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Minneapolis, MN (MSP)
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K MM, Subway Club Member
Posts: 1,988
So I just had an interesting discussion with my wife. We went to upgrade her a few weeks ago on a LAS-ORD flight today with a RPU. She was #1 on the list today and had a shot at upgrade. Oddly, I went to look if my wife cleared and on her online reservation it said fare class R (upgraded F) and she was in seat 7F. Very weird, until she landed I couldn't know for sure what was going on.
I am not 100% sure what happened at the airport other than what I have been told by my wife, what I see in the online reservation and what I have now heard for a phone rep. What my wife is telling me is that the GA gave away her seat to a standby passenger and went to upgrade her. At that time the GA saw there was a GS on the wait-list. After seeing this she seated my wife in the GS's seat and gave the GS the last F seat. The kicker is, my wife was on a RPU and not CPU so that was still pulled from the account.
My first question: Is a GS on a CPU ahead of others on the confirmed instrument/miles list? If so, why would my wife have been #1 on the list? If not, I assume this was an involuntary downgrade situation.
So I'm going to be at the airport tomorrow for a flight myself and would like to talk to a service director or a UC rep about what happened. I'd like to make sure I have my ducks in a row. I assume, if it was an invol situation then GG OVS DOWNGRADE is still accurate and we just look up what it is for a 1514 mile flight?
I can understand wanting to take care of a GS, however, the few times a year my wife flies I want to make sure she is upgraded. I have to play by the terms of the upgrade list on the 90+ flights I've already flown this year; so for it to be ignored when it hurt my wife really, really upsets me.
I am not 100% sure what happened at the airport other than what I have been told by my wife, what I see in the online reservation and what I have now heard for a phone rep. What my wife is telling me is that the GA gave away her seat to a standby passenger and went to upgrade her. At that time the GA saw there was a GS on the wait-list. After seeing this she seated my wife in the GS's seat and gave the GS the last F seat. The kicker is, my wife was on a RPU and not CPU so that was still pulled from the account.
My first question: Is a GS on a CPU ahead of others on the confirmed instrument/miles list? If so, why would my wife have been #1 on the list? If not, I assume this was an involuntary downgrade situation.
So I'm going to be at the airport tomorrow for a flight myself and would like to talk to a service director or a UC rep about what happened. I'd like to make sure I have my ducks in a row. I assume, if it was an invol situation then GG OVS DOWNGRADE is still accurate and we just look up what it is for a 1514 mile flight?
I can understand wanting to take care of a GS, however, the few times a year my wife flies I want to make sure she is upgraded. I have to play by the terms of the upgrade list on the 90+ flights I've already flown this year; so for it to be ignored when it hurt my wife really, really upsets me.
I don't know what the airport staff is going to do. If I recall, they don't have access to flight information for very long after it departs. I think you're better off calling MileagePlus and getting them to put it back into your account. If the system shows she was assigned 7F at departure they should have a pretty easy time confirming that she didn't get upgraded. IME, so long as you have a reasonable story, they are usually pretty good about giving upgrade instruments back if there was a gate issue.
Oct 20, 2013, 9:21 pm
#51
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
So I'm going to be at the airport tomorrow for a flight myself and would like to talk to a service director or a UC rep about what happened. I'd like to make sure I have my ducks in a row. I assume, if it was an invol situation then GG OVS DOWNGRADE is still accurate and we just look up what it is for a 1514 mile flight?
btw, I agree with kenn023 this was probably not a downgrade since your wife never had a confirmed seat in F. Could have been handled better, but not exactly a human rights violation, either. You should get your RPU back though.
Oct 20, 2013, 9:58 pm
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,642
more than once i have seen a GS walk up (either in a standby, SDC, or fare purchase situation) and grab the last F seat even at T-30 or less. doesn't smell of shenanigans to me given my experiences.
my guess is that the GS was booked on a later flight, caught the earlier one, and scored the upgrade...as they should per policy.
that being said i do wish they would process the UG WL promptly at check-in cutoff time -- would save a lot of anxiety at the gate and also the necessity for them to move people out of seats in Y after boarding has started. dare to dream, right?
my guess is that the GS was booked on a later flight, caught the earlier one, and scored the upgrade...as they should per policy.
that being said i do wish they would process the UG WL promptly at check-in cutoff time -- would save a lot of anxiety at the gate and also the necessity for them to move people out of seats in Y after boarding has started. dare to dream, right?
Oct 21, 2013, 2:04 am
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,344
My guess is the GS was on the standby list, got cleared onto the flight and then got the upgrade. The agent was supposed to process the upgrade list first and then process standbys but sounds like they did it backwards this time.
The issue with processing the standby list is exactly what just happened: anyone on the standby list with a higher priority than any pax waiting on the upgrade list can trump those who were already waiting.
It's also possible that the GS simply SDC'd to that flight at the T-30 minute mark which would put them as #1 on the upgrade list right away.
Lastly, do GS get free upgrades on award tickets if they don't have the credit card? I thought everyone, including GS, had to have the credit card to get CPU on award tickets. If that's the case then the agent made a big error because he/she should have never upgraded that person and left them in coach while the OP's wife got moved to first class, if this is in fact what happened.
PS - I do believe the OP could get downgrade comp or miles for their trouble. The record shows they were upgraded and that's all UA needs to see. The agent processing the request from the email will see the record shows the upgrade was processed. Whether the OP's wife physically sat in the seat or not doesn't really make a difference, just makes it less egregious.
-RM
The issue with processing the standby list is exactly what just happened: anyone on the standby list with a higher priority than any pax waiting on the upgrade list can trump those who were already waiting.
It's also possible that the GS simply SDC'd to that flight at the T-30 minute mark which would put them as #1 on the upgrade list right away.
Lastly, do GS get free upgrades on award tickets if they don't have the credit card? I thought everyone, including GS, had to have the credit card to get CPU on award tickets. If that's the case then the agent made a big error because he/she should have never upgraded that person and left them in coach while the OP's wife got moved to first class, if this is in fact what happened.
PS - I do believe the OP could get downgrade comp or miles for their trouble. The record shows they were upgraded and that's all UA needs to see. The agent processing the request from the email will see the record shows the upgrade was processed. Whether the OP's wife physically sat in the seat or not doesn't really make a difference, just makes it less egregious.
-RM
Oct 21, 2013, 7:30 am
#55
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PS - I do believe the OP could get downgrade comp or miles for their trouble. The record shows they were upgraded and that's all UA needs to see. The agent processing the request from the email will see the record shows the upgrade was processed. Whether the OP's wife physically sat in the seat or not doesn't really make a difference, just makes it less egregious.
-RM
-RM
Oct 21, 2013, 9:20 am
#56
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-RM
Nov 18, 2013, 7:51 am
#57
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What Trumps What for R class?
I was looking for a quick answer to this but didn't see it....
So, what trumps what for R class waitlist? I am trying to figure out if I have a shot in h$ll of my upgrade... are higher elites with GPUs ahead of me?
I am a gold and bought up with cash/miles. This is IAD-LHR flight. There is NO R class available at the moment. Flight is about 5 weeks away.
So, am I at the wayway-back of this line? And when do they open up R class? Do they just wait until the last second and see if they can actually sell those seats? I would assume so, but I keep seeing people talking about R class "appearing" and that just seems counter-intuitive.
Thank you.
So, what trumps what for R class waitlist? I am trying to figure out if I have a shot in h$ll of my upgrade... are higher elites with GPUs ahead of me?
I am a gold and bought up with cash/miles. This is IAD-LHR flight. There is NO R class available at the moment. Flight is about 5 weeks away.
So, am I at the wayway-back of this line? And when do they open up R class? Do they just wait until the last second and see if they can actually sell those seats? I would assume so, but I keep seeing people talking about R class "appearing" and that just seems counter-intuitive.
Thank you.
Nov 18, 2013, 8:03 am
#58
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I don't know the specifics of how the internal system prioritizes one instrument over the other. Typically would be organized by elite level and original fare class paid, but I don't know if mileage upgrades are put ahead of RPUs/GPUS or visa versa.
With that being said, the person quickest to call the elite line is who will trump other people waiting for R space. If R space opens up, call in and most agents will just clear it for you, even if there are people technically ahead of you on the list. There are pages upon pages in another thread about this...
With that being said, the person quickest to call the elite line is who will trump other people waiting for R space. If R space opens up, call in and most agents will just clear it for you, even if there are people technically ahead of you on the list. There are pages upon pages in another thread about this...
Nov 18, 2013, 8:07 am
#59
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Well, cash trumps all, let's make that clear...they'll happily sell a HOD first vs. clearing a GPU or a miles+money UG.
Nov 18, 2013, 8:17 am
#60
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I was looking for a quick answer to this but didn't see it....
So, what trumps what for R class waitlist? I am trying to figure out if I have a shot in h$ll of my upgrade... are higher elites with GPUs ahead of me?
I am a gold and bought up with cash/miles. This is IAD-LHR flight. There is NO R class available at the moment. Flight is about 5 weeks away.
So, am I at the wayway-back of this line? And when do they open up R class? Do they just wait until the last second and see if they can actually sell those seats? I would assume so, but I keep seeing people talking about R class "appearing" and that just seems counter-intuitive.
Thank you.
So, what trumps what for R class waitlist? I am trying to figure out if I have a shot in h$ll of my upgrade... are higher elites with GPUs ahead of me?
I am a gold and bought up with cash/miles. This is IAD-LHR flight. There is NO R class available at the moment. Flight is about 5 weeks away.
So, am I at the wayway-back of this line? And when do they open up R class? Do they just wait until the last second and see if they can actually sell those seats? I would assume so, but I keep seeing people talking about R class "appearing" and that just seems counter-intuitive.
Thank you.
Here is a link which 'officially' answers your question. https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...grade/mua.aspx
And here is the part that answers your question
Confirmation priority
The upgrade waitlist clears as upgrade space becomes available. Requests are processed automatically based on the Premier status of the redeeming account, then fare class, then time of request. New waitlist requests for MileagePlus Upgrade Awards can be made until 24 hours prior to departure. For more details on upgrade priority, refer to the “Upgrade Confirmation Priority” section on the Upgrades Overview page.
The upgrade waitlist clears as upgrade space becomes available. Requests are processed automatically based on the Premier status of the redeeming account, then fare class, then time of request. New waitlist requests for MileagePlus Upgrade Awards can be made until 24 hours prior to departure. For more details on upgrade priority, refer to the “Upgrade Confirmation Priority” section on the Upgrades Overview page.
Last edited by Michael D; Nov 18, 2013 at 9:14 am Reason: Clarification of personal opinion