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}
#826
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,029
There IS such a thing as linked PNRs.
We frequently link different PNRs in our family, for instance if one person is on a paid ticket, another is on award travel, or one of the itinerary legs is different, or the reservations have been made at different times. We also do it when we are on the same itineraries, because separate PNRs will allow my husband to be upgraded if there is only one space available (he likes to sleep on flights, so values lie-flat seats more than I do).
Also, a non-elite status passenger on a separate PNR can be upgraded to economy plus seating by being linked to an elite member - we do this when we fly with our kids.
As far as I know, linking cannot be done online - it requires a phone call.
We frequently link different PNRs in our family, for instance if one person is on a paid ticket, another is on award travel, or one of the itinerary legs is different, or the reservations have been made at different times. We also do it when we are on the same itineraries, because separate PNRs will allow my husband to be upgraded if there is only one space available (he likes to sleep on flights, so values lie-flat seats more than I do).
Also, a non-elite status passenger on a separate PNR can be upgraded to economy plus seating by being linked to an elite member - we do this when we fly with our kids.
As far as I know, linking cannot be done online - it requires a phone call.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Jan 9, 2018 at 9:37 am
#827
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
PNRs aren’t linked. The agent just confirms the Premier’s status in order to assign E+ seats to the non-status passenger. A notation might be put in the record, but UA’s system does not see them as “linked”. You still have to check in separately for each PNR - pretty much irrefutable evidence that UA doesn’t see them as linked. Also - when you book an itinerary and then split it for upgrade purposes, they are no longer linked. UA can trace the history, but for all purposes (including IRROPs), they are separate. The hope is that an agent catches the notation, but all UA’s system processes won’t - they detect no link.
#828
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 41
It really depends on what is meant by "linked." Two separate PNRs will be formally linked together when bags are interlined across separate tix. They can also be notated as related, which may or may not be respected by agents down the line. That would be an informal rather than a formal linking of the records.
I also agree that this linking is informal, and whether it will have any significance down the line is serendipitous. But after some unhappy experiences with seat reassignments (years ago on UA and more recently on AA) I call in to have family members traveling on separate PNRs informally "linked", or if you prefer, notated as traveling together.
#829
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,029
Yes indeed - this is a terminology issue. I regarded the request to upgrade non-elite traveling companion to E+, as well as any other notation made about related travelers, to be "linking". I was not aware of the formal usage of the term (bags interlined across separate tix?), simply responding to the comment that there was no such thing as linked PNRs.
I also agree that this linking is informal, and whether it will have any significance down the line is serendipitous. But after some unhappy experiences with seat reassignments (years ago on UA and more recently on AA) I call in to have family members traveling on separate PNRs informally "linked", or if you prefer, notated as traveling together.
I also agree that this linking is informal, and whether it will have any significance down the line is serendipitous. But after some unhappy experiences with seat reassignments (years ago on UA and more recently on AA) I call in to have family members traveling on separate PNRs informally "linked", or if you prefer, notated as traveling together.
#830
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,424
I am flying today on UA1640, EWR-TPA. The upgrade list shows First as booked 19/20. The standby list shows First as available. However, the flight shows F0 when trying to book online, and the seat map shows full. Also, the flight status doesn’t say (+1 blocked)... is it truly booked or is UA holding the seat.
#831
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,301
#832
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 19
United upgrade eligibility scenarios
Three scenarios regarding United upgrades... I watch the upgrade list on my app and sometimes it doesn't make sense, especially when travelling with other premier members with known fare class.
1. Passenger is United Platinum, and is booked in economy G. Presumably, the upgrade list populates based on Premier status first, and then the fare class hierarchy?
2. Passenger is booked on an award flight. Can he or she still get upgraded based on Platinum status... are award tickets the lowest, ie would a G class get the seat before points...
3. Passenger is United Platinum and brings his wife as companion, who is only silver; do they BOTH get upgraded based on Platinum and ticket class, ie two of them would get upgrades before any golds?
4. Passenger is United Platinum travelling with partner on two different reservation, member in business, and partner with no united status in economy on points Can you ask to link those, and if so, would the economy companion upgrade based on PLATINUM?
1. Passenger is United Platinum, and is booked in economy G. Presumably, the upgrade list populates based on Premier status first, and then the fare class hierarchy?
2. Passenger is booked on an award flight. Can he or she still get upgraded based on Platinum status... are award tickets the lowest, ie would a G class get the seat before points...
3. Passenger is United Platinum and brings his wife as companion, who is only silver; do they BOTH get upgraded based on Platinum and ticket class, ie two of them would get upgrades before any golds?
4. Passenger is United Platinum travelling with partner on two different reservation, member in business, and partner with no united status in economy on points Can you ask to link those, and if so, would the economy companion upgrade based on PLATINUM?
#833
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,419
Three scenarios regarding United upgrades... I watch the upgrade list on my app and sometimes it doesn't make sense, especially when travelling with other premier members with known fare class.
1. Passenger is United Platinum, and is booked in economy G. Presumably, the upgrade list populates based on Premier status first, and then the fare class hierarchy?
2. Passenger is booked on an award flight. Can he or she still get upgraded based on Platinum status... are award tickets the lowest, ie would a G class get the seat before points...
3. Passenger is United Platinum and brings his wife as companion, who is only silver; do they BOTH get upgraded based on Platinum and ticket class, ie two of them would get upgrades before any golds?
4. Passenger is United Platinum travelling with partner on two different reservation, member in business, and partner with no united status in economy on points Can you ask to link those, and if so, would the economy companion upgrade based on PLATINUM?
1. Passenger is United Platinum, and is booked in economy G. Presumably, the upgrade list populates based on Premier status first, and then the fare class hierarchy?
2. Passenger is booked on an award flight. Can he or she still get upgraded based on Platinum status... are award tickets the lowest, ie would a G class get the seat before points...
3. Passenger is United Platinum and brings his wife as companion, who is only silver; do they BOTH get upgraded based on Platinum and ticket class, ie two of them would get upgrades before any golds?
4. Passenger is United Platinum travelling with partner on two different reservation, member in business, and partner with no united status in economy on points Can you ask to link those, and if so, would the economy companion upgrade based on PLATINUM?
Briefly:
1 - Correct
2 - Only if the Platinum member is the primary cardholder of an eligible credit card (MileagePlus Club / MileagePlus Explorer / old Presidential Plus, I think)
3 - Yes, prior to the gate; YMMV at the gate (and it may depend upon when the reservations may split)
4 - No
Note that only members who have checked in are on the visible waiting list, and that the visible list is only used at the gate. Prior to the gate, a hidden list is used, and it's subtly different, as described in the other thread.
#834
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,020
1. Passenger is United Platinum, and is booked in economy G. Presumably, the upgrade list populates based on Premier status first, and then the fare class hierarchy?
2. Passenger is booked on an award flight. Can he or she still get upgraded based on Platinum status... are award tickets the lowest, ie would a G class get the seat before points...
3. Passenger is United Platinum and brings his wife as companion, who is only silver; do they BOTH get upgraded based on Platinum and ticket class, ie two of them would get upgrades before any golds?
4. Passenger is United Platinum travelling with partner on two different reservation, member in business, and partner with no united status in economy on points Can you ask to link those, and if so, would the economy companion upgrade based on PLATINUM?
#835
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: DL Gold, UA nothing (ex-GS), Marriott lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 920
I’m a GS on a domestic, CPU-eligible flight in M class that is currently PN0 R0 and likely to stay that way.
Are my upgrade odds improved or hurt if a 1K coworker applies a GPU to my reservation? Will that make my reservation only clear into R and not PN?
Are my upgrade odds improved or hurt if a 1K coworker applies a GPU to my reservation? Will that make my reservation only clear into R and not PN?
#836
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
Yes an 1K's GPU clears into R, not PN.
However, even if you could get a GS agent to change it to PN, a GS on a GPU on a CPU flight IS LOWER than GS in M. Reports suggest that applying a GPUR or RPU will lower your priority in this case.
#837
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,424
Given the technical limitations of the system, I believe a GS with a GS GPU on a CPU eligible flight has identical priority to a GS on a CPU eligible flight with no GPU applied (at the gate, anyway).
Definitely do not add the 1K instrument, as an R waitlist could only hurt you.
Definitely do not add the 1K instrument, as an R waitlist could only hurt you.
#838
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 2
If boarding starts and no one clears, is it better to wait to be the last one to board in case of any last minute no shows? Presumably those above you have boarded already
Thanks!
Thanks!
#839
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,419
No, it won't help you to be last to board. If there are no-shows, the agents will go onto the plane and upgrade starting from the first person on the list. Boarding the plane does not forfeit the right to an upgrade -- I've been upgraded after boarding on several occasions.
#840
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
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Welcome to FlyerTalk!
No, it won't help you to be last to board. If there are no-shows, the agents will go onto the plane and upgrade starting from the first person on the list. Boarding the plane does not forfeit the right to an upgrade -- I've been upgraded after boarding on several occasions.
No, it won't help you to be last to board. If there are no-shows, the agents will go onto the plane and upgrade starting from the first person on the list. Boarding the plane does not forfeit the right to an upgrade -- I've been upgraded after boarding on several occasions.