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}
Jul 13, 2017, 2:15 pm
#601
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Jul 13, 2017, 2:19 pm
#602
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
Jul 20, 2017, 1:42 pm
#603
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 287
This is a very helpful and clear WIKI about a process that seems somewhat less so ....
I posted a query about upgrade chances for an upcoming flight elsewhere, but here I'm trying to understand what to expect until then and when we come to the check in process.
We are waitlisted for mileage + cash upgrades LAX-LHR on Aug 6. Using the flight status tool (another new thing I found on FT; thanks!), I can see that there are currently 25/48 seats booked in business.
I'm Platinum; my husband (no status) is on the same PNR.
So, if I understand things correctly, any of the following could happen:
- We get upgraded before check in ever starts. Is this possible? likely? is there any pattern to when it happens? (i.e., Tuesday mornings at 3 am; 10 days before a flight; at T72 for Platinum, etc). In that case, we don't have to do anything but enjoy.
-- I find R availability on the flight and call in and we are manually cleared. Unlikely? who knows? The WIKI also says we could be confirmed without R status available or showing. Also, does one need to check more than once a day?
-- Check in starts, and we still haven't cleared. But until 3 hours or so before departure, we still have a chance to get cleared from the "invisible" list. Do we have a better chance of getting upgraded this way than if we check in at T24? If I understand the WIKI correctly, once we check in, we are removed from the "invisible" list, is that right? Check in time matters to break a tie, as it were, if status, fare class, and time of request (February in our case) are the same. It seems, then, that the chances that check in time decides upgrade are relatively small (higher status and fare class will clear before us anyway). So it seems that we are better off delaying check in.
Thanks for any clarifications or corrections!
I posted a query about upgrade chances for an upcoming flight elsewhere, but here I'm trying to understand what to expect until then and when we come to the check in process.
We are waitlisted for mileage + cash upgrades LAX-LHR on Aug 6. Using the flight status tool (another new thing I found on FT; thanks!), I can see that there are currently 25/48 seats booked in business.
I'm Platinum; my husband (no status) is on the same PNR.
So, if I understand things correctly, any of the following could happen:
- We get upgraded before check in ever starts. Is this possible? likely? is there any pattern to when it happens? (i.e., Tuesday mornings at 3 am; 10 days before a flight; at T72 for Platinum, etc). In that case, we don't have to do anything but enjoy.
-- I find R availability on the flight and call in and we are manually cleared. Unlikely? who knows? The WIKI also says we could be confirmed without R status available or showing. Also, does one need to check more than once a day?
-- Check in starts, and we still haven't cleared. But until 3 hours or so before departure, we still have a chance to get cleared from the "invisible" list. Do we have a better chance of getting upgraded this way than if we check in at T24? If I understand the WIKI correctly, once we check in, we are removed from the "invisible" list, is that right? Check in time matters to break a tie, as it were, if status, fare class, and time of request (February in our case) are the same. It seems, then, that the chances that check in time decides upgrade are relatively small (higher status and fare class will clear before us anyway). So it seems that we are better off delaying check in.
Thanks for any clarifications or corrections!
Jul 20, 2017, 2:02 pm
#604
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,026
You might get upgraded anytime between now and date of flight (which is?)..
You won't be upgraded without R being made available. R might be populated (R>0), an upgrade sweep runs, and your upgrades cleared with you not seeing R go positive (like when you're asleep).
Or R can be populated and you see it before a sweep - that's when you call.
You won't be upgraded without R being made available. R might be populated (R>0), an upgrade sweep runs, and your upgrades cleared with you not seeing R go positive (like when you're asleep).
Or R can be populated and you see it before a sweep - that's when you call.
Jul 20, 2017, 2:08 pm
#605
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,423
You are likely to clear during periods when Revenue Management adjusts inventory for the flight. This can happen at any time, but I have generally found it likely to occur around 3am Central Time on Wednesday mornings, and multiples of 7 days prior to your flight (up to 3 weeks). Note this is speculation and not a hard rule; adjustments can and do happen at any other time as well.
-- Check in starts, and we still haven't cleared. But until 3 hours or so before departure, we still have a chance to get cleared from the "invisible" list. Do we have a better chance of getting upgraded this way than if we check in at T24? If I understand the WIKI correctly, once we check in, we are removed from the "invisible" list, is that right? Check in time matters to break a tie, as it were, if status, fare class, and time of request (February in our case) are the same. It seems, then, that the chances that check in time decides upgrade are relatively small (higher status and fare class will clear before us anyway). So it seems that we are better off delaying check in.
If you want to maximize the probability that at least one person is upgraded, you should check in immediately and split the PNR. You may end up split between cabins.
If you want to maximize the chances of sitting together, you should delay check-in as long as possible. You will continue to clear from the invisible list as a pair until you check in.
If you absolutely do not want to get split up, you should probably delay check-in to the airport, and ask the agent not to split the PNR explicitly. This will prevent you from being upgraded at the gate, but will ensure you do not get separated.
Jul 20, 2017, 2:11 pm
#606
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
And in your case, I'd say yes, delay check-in. You'd still be below all 1Ks so why split the reservation (which you'd have to) and then demote your flying partner to a lower priority.
Jul 20, 2017, 2:22 pm
#607
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 287
Thanks for the responses.
What I'm curious about is how in the world everyone figured all this out.
What I'm curious about is how in the world everyone figured all this out.
Jul 20, 2017, 2:33 pm
#608
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,423
Jul 20, 2017, 3:51 pm
#609
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 287
I'm glad to know that I don't need to check more than once a day ...
Jul 23, 2017, 11:15 pm
#610
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 114
Here is an upgrade list mystery...
I am waitlisted with an RPU. First class is booked full, the upgrade waitlist looks like this:
1. XXX, A
2. XXX, B
3. YYY
4. austinpilot
+ another 10 names or so
The flight is delayed by several hours. As often happens in these cases, a few seats in first become available. About 6 hours prior to the new departure time, I am unexpectedly upgraded. The new upgrade list looks like this:
Check: austinpilot
1. XXX, A
2. XXX, B
3. YYY
+ same 10 names
Why did I jump three people on the list? I understand jumping over 1 and 2 - maybe it's a party of two traveling together and only one seat was available for an upgrade. But why did I jump over YYY?
I thought the only case in which this could happen if YYY and I have tickets in the same fare class but YYY checked in before me (and thus has higher priority for gate upgrades, as reflected by the visible list) but I submitted my RPU request earlier (and thus have higher priority for invisible automatic upgrades). This is not the case here. I know I checked in before YYY: my sequence number is 3 and after I checked in, I was the only person on the list.
So, why was YYY listed above me on the list but the system automatically upgraded me when a spot became available? Not that I am complaining This was a much needed and very appreciated upgrade.
I am waitlisted with an RPU. First class is booked full, the upgrade waitlist looks like this:
1. XXX, A
2. XXX, B
3. YYY
4. austinpilot
+ another 10 names or so
The flight is delayed by several hours. As often happens in these cases, a few seats in first become available. About 6 hours prior to the new departure time, I am unexpectedly upgraded. The new upgrade list looks like this:
Check: austinpilot
1. XXX, A
2. XXX, B
3. YYY
+ same 10 names
Why did I jump three people on the list? I understand jumping over 1 and 2 - maybe it's a party of two traveling together and only one seat was available for an upgrade. But why did I jump over YYY?
I thought the only case in which this could happen if YYY and I have tickets in the same fare class but YYY checked in before me (and thus has higher priority for gate upgrades, as reflected by the visible list) but I submitted my RPU request earlier (and thus have higher priority for invisible automatic upgrades). This is not the case here. I know I checked in before YYY: my sequence number is 3 and after I checked in, I was the only person on the list.
So, why was YYY listed above me on the list but the system automatically upgraded me when a spot became available? Not that I am complaining
This was a much needed and very appreciated upgrade.
Jul 23, 2017, 11:25 pm
#611
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: 66,859
A bit of a stretch but such as you were waitlisted for R and if the others were waitlisted for I, then they would show up ahead of you on the gatelist. But if R opened (& I did not) and the flight was not yet on airport control, you would clear off the invisible list of those waiting for R.
Did you happen to notice if R did open? and did you notice if I did not open?
Need to think a bit if there are any other cases that might yield this result.
Another but highly unlikely case -- the others were waitlisted for PN (GS or 1K on YBM fare) and R openned but PN did not. This is possible but highly unusual.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 23, 2017 at 11:42 pm Reason: Comment on pre-gate lists and consoldiated gate waitlist
Jul 23, 2017, 11:44 pm
#612
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 114
A bit of a stretch but you were waitlisted for R and if the others were waitlisted for I, then they would show up ahead of you on the gatelist. But if R opened and the flight was not yet on airport control, you would clear off the invisible list of those waiting for R.
Actually, on this particular route, I would not be surprised if a lot of people waitlist for I.
Did you happen to decide if R did open? and did you notice if I did not open?
Jul 24, 2017, 12:06 am
#613
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,346
UA tends to release "R" more often than "I" so those using instruments and/or miles+cash will get the upgrade before someone who used the appropriate miles to fly in first/business.
I'd bet money that "R" did in fact open up on your flight but you didn't notice it because an upgrade sweep happened and you got moved to "R". Were any of the other 10 passengers who were listed after you upgraded around the same time (if you noticed)?
-RM
Jul 26, 2017, 1:09 pm
#614
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Well it cleared now, two weeks later, and two weeks or so before the flight. I'm the only one with a seat in the F cabin. I don't get it, but ok.
Jul 26, 2017, 9:24 pm
#615
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,346
This isn't some conspiracy or plot against you.
I'm GS and currently waitlisted for five segments from X/XN to PN. Four of the segments are US domestic and one is the ULH SFO-SIN. But the flights aren't until later this year. Oh, and not one first class seat taken on any of the domestic legs and only 2 of 48 seats taken on the ULH. I'm sure my upgrades will come through though.
-RM