PlusPoints Polaris flight upgrade SUCCESS 2022
Jul 17, 22, 4:13 am
#47
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: middle of nowhere, formerly TYO/EWR
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 213
I was very lucky, I had foot surgery a few weeks ago and was still non-weight bearing on my foot. I had a work trip to Europe and decided to still go there rather than mope around the office. I got the upgrade at the very last second, only person to get off the upgrade list! 
1, SFO ->ZRH
2. 07/17/22
3. O Fare
4. O -> J
5. 30
6. Roughly two months
7. 10 minutes before boarding.
1, SFO ->ZRH
2. 07/17/22
3. O Fare
4. O -> J
5. 30
6. Roughly two months
7. 10 minutes before boarding.
Jul 19, 22, 10:33 am
#48
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Healdsburg CA and Provincetown MA
Posts: 116
Should be 80 from K+, 40 from W+ and 30 from R+
Jul 23, 22, 5:03 pm
#49
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA Global Services 3.0 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Platinum
Posts: 2,337
I’m sure my friend (#1 with my PPs) will clear, but at T-1:20, UA still waiting. Just think of the savings by avoiding giving my friend PL access, plus the chance that a couple of last-minute kettle check-ins could net an additional $600 in HODs!
EDIT: upgraded at gate, so it's:
IAH-FRA
July 23
Booked unknown
XN>J
PP Applied July 19
Cleared at gate
EDIT: upgraded at gate, so it's:
IAH-FRA
July 23
Booked unknown
XN>J
PP Applied July 19
Cleared at gate
Last edited by st530; Jul 24, 22 at 8:48 am
Jul 23, 22, 6:01 pm
#50
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,169
This is definitely what I've seen lately too when I've applied PP to friends' reservations: 4-5 seats fill during check-in, and they finish at the top of the waitlist. It definitely limits the value of these PP.
Jul 23, 22, 7:25 pm
#51
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 59,797
SIN-SFO
21 July
R Fare (Prem Plus) purchased
Purchased End of March (3.5 months in advance)
2 1K, one no status on single PNR party of 3
Mine cleared 50 minutes before departure (47 of 48)
Spouse cleared 20 minutes before departure at gate, after final boarding call (48/48)
3rd passenger stayed in Prem Plus
Even as 1K buying Prem Plus, sweating these to the gate (or dying 1/2/3 on the WL as happened to me in the outbound) definitely makes the Plus Points seem less likely to be consumed before expiration
Thank goodness the aircraft wasnt swapped for a 2 class ghetto 789!
21 July
R Fare (Prem Plus) purchased
Purchased End of March (3.5 months in advance)
2 1K, one no status on single PNR party of 3
Mine cleared 50 minutes before departure (47 of 48)
Spouse cleared 20 minutes before departure at gate, after final boarding call (48/48)
3rd passenger stayed in Prem Plus
Even as 1K buying Prem Plus, sweating these to the gate (or dying 1/2/3 on the WL as happened to me in the outbound) definitely makes the Plus Points seem less likely to be consumed before expiration
Thank goodness the aircraft wasnt swapped for a 2 class ghetto 789!
Jul 25, 22, 7:14 pm
#52
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PBI / FLL / YUL
Programs: UA 1K, Delta Gold, AA Plat, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Courtesy Card
Posts: 1,982
1. Route: IAD-BCN
2. Date: 9 August 2022
3. Fare Class: A (Premium Plus)
4. O-J
5. # of PlusPoints: 30
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 22 Days
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: 19 Days
First time I've ever cleared a PlusPoints upgrade - nice one to hit. The domestic connection has not cleared.
2. Date: 9 August 2022
3. Fare Class: A (Premium Plus)
4. O-J
5. # of PlusPoints: 30
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 22 Days
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: 19 Days
First time I've ever cleared a PlusPoints upgrade - nice one to hit. The domestic connection has not cleared.
Jul 25, 22, 7:58 pm
#53
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: PHX
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 144
1. Route: EWR-KEF
2. Date: 7/20
3. Fare Class: S
4. Y-J
5. # of PlusPoints: 80
6. PP applied on 4/13
7. Cleared at gate 1 hour before departure
Had some points to burn and applied them to a friends trip. Didnt think it would clear due to it being a 752, but it looks like a couple of J pax didnt show up for the flight.
2. Date: 7/20
3. Fare Class: S
4. Y-J
5. # of PlusPoints: 80
6. PP applied on 4/13
7. Cleared at gate 1 hour before departure
Had some points to burn and applied them to a friends trip. Didnt think it would clear due to it being a 752, but it looks like a couple of J pax didnt show up for the flight.
Jul 25, 22, 8:30 pm
#54
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K 1.4 MM, AA EX PLAT 1MM
Posts: 570
1. ORD-BOS-LHR
2. Oct 4
3. Fare class: K
4. Y-J
5. # of PlusPoints: 80 x 2 people
6. ~ 11 weeks
7. BOS-LHR cleared at booking; ORD-BOS waitlisted (but that's fine)
1. LHR-IAD-ORD
2. Oct 11
3. Fare class: L
4. Y-J
5. # of PlusPoints: 80 x 2 people
6. ~ 12 weeks
7. LHR-IAD cleared at booking; IAD-ORD waitlisted (and that's fine, too)
2. Oct 4
3. Fare class: K
4. Y-J
5. # of PlusPoints: 80 x 2 people
6. ~ 11 weeks
7. BOS-LHR cleared at booking; ORD-BOS waitlisted (but that's fine)
1. LHR-IAD-ORD
2. Oct 11
3. Fare class: L
4. Y-J
5. # of PlusPoints: 80 x 2 people
6. ~ 12 weeks
7. LHR-IAD cleared at booking; IAD-ORD waitlisted (and that's fine, too)
Jul 27, 22, 12:02 am
#55
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
Been tardy on this.
1. FRA-ORD on Lufthansa
2. June 13
3. Fare class: D
4. J to F
5. # of PlusPoints: 40
6. Booked 2 months ahead
7. Cleared 2 weeks before departure from waitlist
1. ORD - FRA on Lufthansa
2. July 12
3. Fare class: C
4. J to F
5. # of PlusPoints: 40
6. Booked 3 months prior
7. Cleared 2 weeks after booking
1. FRA-ORD on Lufthansa
2. June 13
3. Fare class: D
4. J to F
5. # of PlusPoints: 40
6. Booked 2 months ahead
7. Cleared 2 weeks before departure from waitlist
1. ORD - FRA on Lufthansa
2. July 12
3. Fare class: C
4. J to F
5. # of PlusPoints: 40
6. Booked 3 months prior
7. Cleared 2 weeks after booking
Jul 30, 22, 10:11 am
#56
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 1
4 passengers on a single booking, booked in early June for August, one 1K passenger, 4x30 points for each flight, both cleared exactly 28 days before the flight
1. Route: EWR-NRT
2. Date: 08/07/22
3. Fare class: R
4. O-->J (R-PZ)
5. # of PlusPoints: 30
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 2 months
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: 28 days
1. Route: NRT-IAH
2. Date: 8/21/22
3. Fare class: R
4. O-->J (R-PZ)
5. # of PlusPoints: 30
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 4 months
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: 28 days
1. Route: EWR-NRT
2. Date: 08/07/22
3. Fare class: R
4. O-->J (R-PZ)
5. # of PlusPoints: 30
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 2 months
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: 28 days
1. Route: NRT-IAH
2. Date: 8/21/22
3. Fare class: R
4. O-->J (R-PZ)
5. # of PlusPoints: 30
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 4 months
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: 28 days
Jul 30, 22, 10:50 am
#57
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: UA 1K, MM
Posts: 384
1. Route FRA-ORD
2. Date 25 August
3. Fare class R
4. O-J
5. # of PlusPoints 30
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased 8
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear 7
Given it's a heavily traveled route, I was surprised and pleased it cleared pretty far in advance.
**
Edit after flying: It actually went out with empty Polaris seats. Everyone waiting for an upgrade had cleared. (I'm not sure about Premium Economy seats/waitlist).
2. Date 25 August
3. Fare class R
4. O-J
5. # of PlusPoints 30
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased 8
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear 7
Given it's a heavily traveled route, I was surprised and pleased it cleared pretty far in advance.
**
Edit after flying: It actually went out with empty Polaris seats. Everyone waiting for an upgrade had cleared. (I'm not sure about Premium Economy seats/waitlist).
Last edited by lancelot21; Aug 31, 22 at 1:54 pm
Jul 30, 22, 10:35 pm
#58
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 18
I was REALLY surprised by this one, scoring an upgrade on a cheap economy ticket 5 days in advance on SFO-FRA is something I thought was only possible during the deepest covid times.
1. Route: SFO-FRA
2. Date: 08/01/22
3. Fare class: L
4. Y-->J
5. # of PlusPoints: 80
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: ~1 month
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: 5 days
1. Route: SFO-FRA
2. Date: 08/01/22
3. Fare class: L
4. Y-->J
5. # of PlusPoints: 80
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: ~1 month
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: 5 days
Last edited by bodik; Jul 30, 22 at 11:30 pm
Aug 25, 22, 11:57 am
#59
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 5,772
I'm clearing upgrades all over the place. The only thing I kept an eye out for was to fly on the date or time with the most empty seats displayed in the seatmap. Booked Premium Economy, am a 1K (barely), and used PlusPoints:
August 19, EWR-LAX
August 30, SYD-SFO
September 6, EWR-BRU
September 11, LHR-EWR
August 19, EWR-LAX
August 30, SYD-SFO
September 6, EWR-BRU
September 11, LHR-EWR
Aug 25, 22, 12:02 pm
#60
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: UA GS, HH LT Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,631
1. Route: LAX-EWR-ATH
2. Date: 08/25/22
3. Fare class: U
4. Y-->J
5. # of PlusPoints: 80
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: ~3 month
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: At the gate LAX-EWR GS forced UG on the EWR-ATH segment one day prior
2. Date: 08/25/22
3. Fare class: U
4. Y-->J
5. # of PlusPoints: 80
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: ~3 month
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: At the gate LAX-EWR GS forced UG on the EWR-ATH segment one day prior
