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}
#1441
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PEK & MKE
Programs: Amex-gold, Hainan-gold, Mrt-LT Titanium
Posts: 1,353
Great comments on this forum for a lowly UA silver (from Marriott) , but also see the UA point deval coming this fall. So used the info & did get a mid December business upgrade from ORD to PEK (peak Xmas travel period). Economy ticket + $450 & 30000 miles. It worked & was confirmed !. Yes
Last edited by Jiatong; Apr 19, 2019 at 6:42 am Reason: splng
#1442
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SFO/TPE
Programs: UA GS slavery, *A Gold, Marriott/SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 281
Have a question...
Does a authorize user of the "United Club card" compete head to head on a tie-breaker for upgrade list?
i.e.
Same status (GS)
Same fare class..
GPU/RPU used...
Club card vs authorized club card...
Does a authorize user of the "United Club card" compete head to head on a tie-breaker for upgrade list?
i.e.
Same status (GS)
Same fare class..
GPU/RPU used...
Club card vs authorized club card...
#1443
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,911
So I was buying LAX-EZE-LAX and wanted to pay to waitlist for EZE-LAX (PZ0). But the system wouldn't let me use my TCV, so I purchased just the econ fare and am planning to call in.
Now EZE-IAH-LAX is PZ0 but EZE-IAH is PZ9. So if I call in and pay $500/25k would I get a confirmed upgrade for EZE-IAH?
Now EZE-IAH-LAX is PZ0 but EZE-IAH is PZ9. So if I call in and pay $500/25k would I get a confirmed upgrade for EZE-IAH?
#1444
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,026
So I was buying LAX-EZE-LAX and wanted to pay to waitlist for EZE-LAX (PZ0). But the system wouldn't let me use my TCV, so I purchased just the econ fare and am planning to call in.
Now EZE-IAH-LAX is PZ0 but EZE-IAH is PZ9. So if I call in and pay $500/25k would I get a confirmed upgrade for EZE-IAH?
Now EZE-IAH-LAX is PZ0 but EZE-IAH is PZ9. So if I call in and pay $500/25k would I get a confirmed upgrade for EZE-IAH?
#1445
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
Doubt UA even knows who the authorized users are. UA is going by the MP account number linked to credit card -- the primary cardholder.
Authorized users don't get any UA benefits.
#1446
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pasadena, California
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 10,412
I realize that my question may have been asked and answered before, but I'm not sure that I'll be able to find it easily in a 1100+-post thread. So my apologies go out to anyone offended at my possibly repeating a question. I see helpful information in the Wiki about what happens when general members travel with an elite, but there's not much about multiple elites traveling with multiple general pax.
I am trying to understand how I should strategize things from an upgrade standpoint when mrs. iapetus attains 1K status (she's about 9,000 of my BIS miles from that ) and we travel with our two children. We'll typically be trying to maximize possibilities via CPU. But I understand that differences will occur when we attempt to use instruments. Our priority would typically be for all four of us to get upgraded and then for two of the four to get upgraded. If three of us make it somehow, I will sit in E+.
If we all start out on the same PNR, will the system automatically assign one each of the iapetus jrs. to be our CPU companion? Does it also automatically split the PNR, or will I have to call UA to request that? Given our prioritization, I am guessing that splitting PNRs increases our chances of at least two of us getting upgraded, yes? What other strategies should I have in mind when flying as a family, other than the typical ones that apply to anyone trying to maximize their upgrade potential? I've always been the only one to have status, and I'm looking forward to the possibility to extending those benefits further (even if the four-person CPU is few and far (maybe never?) between).
Ah, and what are the implications for our upgrade possibilities if the iapetus jrs. are flying on award tickets on in BE while mrs. iapetus and I travel on a regular Economy ticket? Can I assume that only mrs. iapetus and I would be upgrade-eligible in such a scenario?
I am trying to understand how I should strategize things from an upgrade standpoint when mrs. iapetus attains 1K status (she's about 9,000 of my BIS miles from that ) and we travel with our two children. We'll typically be trying to maximize possibilities via CPU. But I understand that differences will occur when we attempt to use instruments. Our priority would typically be for all four of us to get upgraded and then for two of the four to get upgraded. If three of us make it somehow, I will sit in E+.
If we all start out on the same PNR, will the system automatically assign one each of the iapetus jrs. to be our CPU companion? Does it also automatically split the PNR, or will I have to call UA to request that? Given our prioritization, I am guessing that splitting PNRs increases our chances of at least two of us getting upgraded, yes? What other strategies should I have in mind when flying as a family, other than the typical ones that apply to anyone trying to maximize their upgrade potential? I've always been the only one to have status, and I'm looking forward to the possibility to extending those benefits further (even if the four-person CPU is few and far (maybe never?) between).
Ah, and what are the implications for our upgrade possibilities if the iapetus jrs. are flying on award tickets on in BE while mrs. iapetus and I travel on a regular Economy ticket? Can I assume that only mrs. iapetus and I would be upgrade-eligible in such a scenario?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 24, 2019 at 6:17 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
#1447
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
The PNR will automatically split at check-in to the individual level (opt-out possible if CPU, not possible if an instrument waitlist is present - you would have to remove the waitlist before T-25h to departure).
Given our prioritization, I am guessing that splitting PNRs increases our chances of at least two of us getting upgraded, yes? What other strategies should I have in mind when flying as a family, other than the typical ones that apply to anyone trying to maximize their upgrade potential? I've always been the only one to have status, and I'm looking forward to the possibility to extending those benefits further (even if the four-person CPU is few and far (maybe never?) between).
Award tickets will be on a separate PNR from your paid ticket and will not be upgrade-eligible (unless both miles and instrument or pax are GS).
#1448
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pasadena, California
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 10,412
Thanks for the response! ^
#1449
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,415
See, I think that this is the part, as well as its ramifications, that I don't get for some reason. So, if we didn't clear ahead of time, would we find ourselves in a situation where each one of us would be upgraded individually? It sounds as though I'd have to call to have this automatic split at T-24h reversed each time if we wanted to clear in pairs at that point.
#1450
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
Just to expand, UA's reservation system (SHARES, the former CO system) cannot process a multi-passenger upgrade after check-in. That system limitation is the cause of the whole PNR-splitting-to-upgrade thing.
#1451
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pasadena, California
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 10,412
Just to be sure that I understand what is written there, I'd like to ask one more question: if mrs. iapetus and I were flying paid Economy and the kids were in BE (which puts us on two separate PNRs, right?), I could ask that one of each of our children be our CPU companions and get them added to the upgrade list at check-in, though they would then be the last among those with 1K status to clear. Is that right?
In practice, I can't see doing that. But if the answer to my question above is 'yes', then I think I understand how the companion upgrade works a little better than I did.
#1452
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,415
Technically, passengers on a BE ticket aren't supposed to be eligible for an upgrade. But, other than that, you have the process correct.
There was a report from a passenger who used that strategy to get an upgrade for a companion on an award ticket, although I think that is also outside the official policy. (1K pax with purchased ticket, companion with award).
#1453
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
See, I think that this is the part, as well as its ramifications, that I don't get for some reason. So, if we didn't clear ahead of time, would we find ourselves in a situation where each one of us would be upgraded individually? It sounds as though I'd have to call to have this automatic split at T-24h reversed each time if we wanted to clear in pairs at that point. And the iapetus jrs., as general members, would clear last if their upgrade wasn't tied to my wife or me?
If you do not split the PNR, you remain eligible to clear all-or-none (per PNR) from the invisible list up until the point where the GA manually runs the upgrade list when standing at the podium. However, in order to check in without splitting the PNR, you usually need to remove your eligibility. You can do this during check-in for CPUs (there is a check box on the page), but must call if your upgrade is instrument-supported (a sweep runs around T-24h which adds an SSR tag to all waitlisted reservations to add to the visible upgrade list on checkin - you need to remove the waitlist before this happens or an agent will have to remove the tag; most don't know how to do that).
Just to be sure that I understand what is written there, I'd like to ask one more question: if mrs. iapetus and I were flying paid Economy and the kids were in BE (which puts us on two separate PNRs, right?), I could ask that one of each of our children be our CPU companions and get them added to the upgrade list at check-in, though they would then be the last among those with 1K status to clear. Is that right?
In practice, I can't see doing that. But if the answer to my question above is 'yes', then I think I understand how the companion upgrade works a little better than I did.
In practice, I can't see doing that. But if the answer to my question above is 'yes', then I think I understand how the companion upgrade works a little better than I did.
#1454
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: EWR
Programs: UA 1.65M , Platinum, 1K Emeritus, UC Lifetime , HHonors Gold, Presidential Plus card holder
Posts: 697
Effective December 12, 2018, upgrade waitlists are processed in the following priority order:
1.Premier status of the traveler
2.Fare class Footnote 1
3.Chase United MileagePlus Club cardholders and Presidential Plus cardholders
4.United Corporate Preferred participant
5.Chase United MileagePlus cardholders with $25,000 annual spend Footnote 2
6.Time of request
So according to the website the answer is yes if it is between Club card and Explorer card otherwise no. If one is not the primary cardholder then they probably would not get the improvement in tiebreaker.
Last edited by 8MiHi; Apr 26, 2019 at 12:24 pm
#1455
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
Interesting data points
A large group of us flew from YYZ-SYD on W fares and the transpac segments were upgraded with GPUs at time of booking. The transcon segments however were not except for 3 people who were upgraded shortly after booking. We had some major schedule changes but everyone was in identical fare classes (W) when all was said and done.
Outbound was YYZ-EWR-SFO-SYD.
Return was SYD-IAH-YYZ.
On the EWR-SFO flight, I chose a flight that was an hour later than everyone else as I thought we'd have a better chance of upgrading since all my friends were on the earlier flight. There was just my girlfriend and me on EWR-SFO. She has no status (with any Star Alliance carrier) while I am 1K. I checked in first. When I checked the upgrade list, she was ahead of me on the waitlist. In the end neither of us cleared.
On the IAH-YYZ flight, the entire group was on the same flight and all on W fares, so it was interesting to see their standings on the waitlist:
1) Non-status
2) Non-status (my girlfriend)
3) 1K member
4) 1K member with 2MM LT miles
5) 1K member (me)
6) 1K member with 1MM LT miles
7) Non-status
8) Former Gold member who lost status in Feb 2019
There were a few others but I think they were all non-status. This is all my screenshot would hold.
If I remember the check-in order correctly, it was 4, 7, 8, 5, 2, 6, 3, 1.
Once again, no one cleared, but how does UA prioritize the waitlist???
Outbound was YYZ-EWR-SFO-SYD.
Return was SYD-IAH-YYZ.
On the EWR-SFO flight, I chose a flight that was an hour later than everyone else as I thought we'd have a better chance of upgrading since all my friends were on the earlier flight. There was just my girlfriend and me on EWR-SFO. She has no status (with any Star Alliance carrier) while I am 1K. I checked in first. When I checked the upgrade list, she was ahead of me on the waitlist. In the end neither of us cleared.
On the IAH-YYZ flight, the entire group was on the same flight and all on W fares, so it was interesting to see their standings on the waitlist:
1) Non-status
2) Non-status (my girlfriend)
3) 1K member
4) 1K member with 2MM LT miles
5) 1K member (me)
6) 1K member with 1MM LT miles
7) Non-status
8) Former Gold member who lost status in Feb 2019
There were a few others but I think they were all non-status. This is all my screenshot would hold.
If I remember the check-in order correctly, it was 4, 7, 8, 5, 2, 6, 3, 1.
Once again, no one cleared, but how does UA prioritize the waitlist???
Last edited by margarita girl; Apr 28, 2019 at 4:03 am Reason: Typo. Meant to say IAH, not IAD.