PlusPoints Polaris flight upgrade SUCCESS 2022
Aug 25, 22, 12:44 pm
#61
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH, YYC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 722
1. Route: SYD-SFO
2. Date: 11/28/2022
3. Fare class: W
4. Y-->J
5. # of PlusPoints: 40 (x2 people)
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 5 months
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: Originally booked the direct SYD-IAH for that day. When I saw two mileage award seats available (but no PZ) on SYD-SFO, I took the risk and switched our flights to SYD-SFO-IAH. Upgrade cleared a day or so later
2. Date: 11/28/2022
3. Fare class: W
4. Y-->J
5. # of PlusPoints: 40 (x2 people)
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 5 months
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: Originally booked the direct SYD-IAH for that day. When I saw two mileage award seats available (but no PZ) on SYD-SFO, I took the risk and switched our flights to SYD-SFO-IAH. Upgrade cleared a day or so later
Aug 25, 22, 2:38 pm
#62
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 4,600
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, 3:15 pm
#63
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 5,772
Aug 25, 22, 3:17 pm
#64
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: Former UA1K transitioning to WFBF mentality
Posts: 702
1. Route: IAD-FRA
2. Date: 10/6/2022
3. Fare class: S
4. Y-->J
5. # of PlusPoints: 80 - could upfare for $400 and save 40 PlusPoints, but I'd rather have the cash
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 45 days
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: at booking - flight was PZ3 / IN3 / I1
2. Date: 10/6/2022
3. Fare class: S
4. Y-->J
5. # of PlusPoints: 80 - could upfare for $400 and save 40 PlusPoints, but I'd rather have the cash
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 45 days
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: at booking - flight was PZ3 / IN3 / I1
Aug 25, 22, 4:02 pm
#65
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 82
1. Route: EWR-NCE
2. Date: July 2022
3. Fare class: A
4. W-->J
5. # of PlusPoints: 30 (x4 people)
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 3 months
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: 2 cleared 24 hours ahead, 2 cleared day of travel. We got super lucky.
2. Date: July 2022
3. Fare class: A
4. W-->J
5. # of PlusPoints: 30 (x4 people)
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 3 months
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: 2 cleared 24 hours ahead, 2 cleared day of travel. We got super lucky.
Aug 26, 22, 10:41 am
#66
Join Date: Aug 2022
Posts: 4
PlusPoint Success for 6!
1. Route- MUC-ORD
2. Date- 20Aug2022
3. Fare Class- W
4. Y-J
5. # PlusPoints - 40 per person- 240 total
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased- 5 months
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear- 24 hrs before departure they cleared
Sad that no upgrades on outbound BRU-ORD, but shocked that I got all 6 of me and family upgraded on the way home!
2. Date- 20Aug2022
3. Fare Class- W
4. Y-J
5. # PlusPoints - 40 per person- 240 total
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased- 5 months
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear- 24 hrs before departure they cleared
Sad that no upgrades on outbound BRU-ORD, but shocked that I got all 6 of me and family upgraded on the way home!
Aug 28, 22, 11:55 am
#67
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: DCA, IAD (not BWI if I can help it)
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist, status-free on AA, AS, B6, DL, WN, Amtrak, etc.
Posts: 1,455
1. IAD-ZRH
2. 8/29/2022
3. A
4. O-J
5. 30
6. Seven and a half weeks
7. 11 days
Flight status for UA 52 still shows multiple seats open in Premium Plus and Polaris, so maybe I did not need to spend that extra $200 over economy. OTOH, having the upgrade clear that early allowed me a good choice of odd-numbered window seats.
2. 8/29/2022
3. A
4. O-J
5. 30
6. Seven and a half weeks
7. 11 days
Flight status for UA 52 still shows multiple seats open in Premium Plus and Polaris, so maybe I did not need to spend that extra $200 over economy. OTOH, having the upgrade clear that early allowed me a good choice of odd-numbered window seats.
Aug 28, 22, 4:13 pm
#68
Join Date: Oct 2002
Programs: United Premier 1K
Posts: 1,230
Now I just need my upgrade TO LHR to clear!
1. Route: LHR-IAD
2. Date: Sept 24, 2022
3. Fare class: A
4. O-->J
5. # of PlusPoints: 30
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 7 weeks
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: 28 days
1. Route: LHR-IAD
2. Date: Sept 24, 2022
3. Fare class: A
4. O-->J
5. # of PlusPoints: 30
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 7 weeks
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: 28 days
Aug 28, 22, 7:32 pm
#69
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: ORD
Programs: United Premier 1K , Marriot Titanium, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 106
Coming in late but Japan is currently off limits to most folks so I thought I should chime in. There was hardly anyone on the plane.
Being Platinum I think a Gold status with leftover points from 2 years ago could have got the upgrade.
1. Route: ORD-HND
2. Date: Aug 05, 2022
3. Fare class: Y
4. Y-->J
5. # of PlusPoints: 40
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 4 weeks
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: 4 weeks, it was same day that I booked.
Being Platinum I think a Gold status with leftover points from 2 years ago could have got the upgrade.
1. Route: ORD-HND
2. Date: Aug 05, 2022
3. Fare class: Y
4. Y-->J
5. # of PlusPoints: 40
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 4 weeks
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: 4 weeks, it was same day that I booked.
Aug 30, 22, 8:00 pm
#70
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SFO-OAK-SJC
Programs: UA MM/1K; Marriott Au; Hyatt Dsc
Posts: 443
1. Route: SFO-SIN (UA1)
2. Date: 08/30/2022
3. Fare class: Purchased L, instant buy up to R
4. Y-O, Y-J, O-J (O=PremiumPlus), J-F (for LH/NH): L->R->PZ
5. # of PlusPoints: 30
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 4 weeks
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: 24 hours
But.... UA1 on 8/30/2022 was CX for MX :-( Never got to fly this.
2. Date: 08/30/2022
3. Fare class: Purchased L, instant buy up to R
4. Y-O, Y-J, O-J (O=PremiumPlus), J-F (for LH/NH): L->R->PZ
5. # of PlusPoints: 30
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 4 weeks
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: 24 hours
But.... UA1 on 8/30/2022 was CX for MX :-( Never got to fly this.
Sep 2, 22, 4:04 am
#71
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 7
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
Sep 2, 22, 11:14 am
#72
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 5,772
Sep 5, 22, 8:39 am
#74
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: UA Platinum, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 188
2 waitlisted upgrades for parents visiting. Both just cleared the outbound into PN space as we applied GS PP. Still no PZ space available
1. LHR-IAH
2. Nov 8
3. R
4. O->J
5. 30PP (total 60)
6. 7 months
7. 2 months
1. LHR-IAH
2. Nov 8
3. R
4. O->J
5. 30PP (total 60)
6. 7 months
7. 2 months
Last edited by mattg85; Sep 5, 22 at 8:40 am Reason: Formatting
Sep 6, 22, 10:32 am
#75
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: Former UA1K transitioning to WFBF mentality
Posts: 702
1. Route: EWR-LHR
2. Date: 10/05/2022
3. Fare class: W
4. Y-O, Y-J, O-J (O=PremiumPlus), J-F (for LH/NH): W->PZ
5. # of PlusPoints: 40
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 4 weeks
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: at booking (PZ9!)
2. Date: 10/05/2022
3. Fare class: W
4. Y-O, Y-J, O-J (O=PremiumPlus), J-F (for LH/NH): W->PZ
5. # of PlusPoints: 40
6. How many days/weeks in advance ticket was purchased: 4 weeks
7. How many hours/days/weeks before departure did upgrade clear: at booking (PZ9!)
