Using Miles to Upgrade on United (MUA)
 

I'm reading the FAQ on UA's website and it says:

"If an upgrade seat becomes available, waitlisted customers are confirmed automatically based on the Premier status of the traveler first, followed by fare class, Chase United MileagePlus Club cardholders, United Corporate Preferred participants, and lastly by the date and time of request."

Does that mean the waitlist is shared between Mileage Upgrade Awards, Plus Points, and CPUs (i.e. a 1K would clear on a CPU before a Gold using a mileage award)? Or is there a hierarchy between upgrade types (i.e. PP's always clear before CPUs, etc)?

I'm asking because I'm a lowly silver looking to use miles on a LAX-EWR segment, but there will almost certainly be dozens of elites ahead of me on that flight and I want to get a sense of where I'd be on the pecking order using miles.

Miles and PP are prioritized above CPUs (except GS CPsU I believe?) Within that, priority is based on status (so gold PP>silver PP>platinum CPU).

LAX/EWR isn't eligible for CPUs though.

​​​​​

Hoping someone can please shed some light on my dilemma: a few months ago I requested an upgrade solely with points. Now that the possibility that my direct intl flight may get replaced by connecting flights, I requested the upgrade retracted (via chat on the app). The agent clears my upgrade however said miles will not be de deposited until the flight is taken or canceled (flight is in April). From conversations above I believed I’d get my miles redeposited once the upgrade request was removed. What did I do wrong?

**Miles, not points**

This was my recent experience. Ended up taking 2+ weeks and over 10 phone calls to get the miles back after I took my flight.

Trying to make sure I understand this chart correctly. I am currently in A/R on an upcoming RDU - LHR trip and am looking to move to one day earlier for my return flight (which is booked in R). PZ9 on the flights I'm looking at so MUA should clear immediately.

When I go to change my ticket to one day earlier, its a +$0 add/collect to go back to Economy in a U fare (not surprising since my original ticket is in A outbound and R return) and then it's a $50 add/collect to change to the earlier flight into the same R fare.

But then I go to look at the MUA chart and it seems to suggest that it's actually a co-pay (with the same mileage) on the U fare than on the R fare? Is that right? So I should just change to the U fare with the $0 add/collect since I'll be able to then clear the MUA immediately up to Polaris based on the PZ9? I'm confused -- obviously I want to save money on the co-pay so why wouldn't I do that but it just seems counterintuitive. I'm in the midst of a Platinum challenge so don't have any PlusPoints to use for a PP to Polaris upgrade.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...36cbfcbca5.png

Using points to upgrade.
 

Is there a specific process for doing this? Or is there some random aspect?
Do I need to book a flight first?

I've got 400,000+ points but was bumped back to no-status from Silver last year. (From what I can see.)

I'm trying to develop a strategy to get to Gold this year but don't want to impose Economy Basic on my dear wife.

Plus Points or miles? If PP, that would be a new world record, I would assume miles.

Yes you book the flight first and then you apply the award miles (points) and copay. You will most likely be waitlisted and need to realize the chances for a general member to clear is not high, depending on the route.
Basic Economy is a ticket type, and does not apply to all of economy. You may want to consider purchasing an annual subscript to Economy Plus which is a regular economy seat with more leg space.
Pretty obvious miles, as a general member. It is common to use the words miles and points interchangeable.

Just to add my 2 cents as well. You can do an advanced search on United.com and search on upgrades on the flights you’re looking at. Under the “upgrades, certificates and promotion codes” drop down menu select “MileagePlus Upgrade Award” and hit search. It will show you if that particular flight is waitlisted or if the upgrade is available at booking as well as the price of upgrading depending on if you buy Economy and want to upgrade to Premium Economy (if available on flight), or buy PE and upgrade to Polaris/business. Kind of a needle in the haystack search since you’ll have to play with the dates and destinations. Upgrades are per leg.

Polaris Upgrade - points + cash - what are people seeing?
 

Hi folks - recently, I've been using points + cash to upgrade to polaris on international flights. Last year, I was seeing I think points (20K+ and up) + $300 for upgrades to Polaris from econ. I'm currently seeing $550 now (plus points). Is this what others are seeing? Also does this fee move around with time? I think sometimes the points part can move, (as well as the availability). Thanks!

The fee varies by fare class paid.

Welcome to FT!, nuprinn123

Nothing has changed (except you are purchasing lower fare classes). It all depends on the route and purchased fare class. The rates for a particular route at a specific fare class has not changed. The miles and copay has been unchanged for years.

see https://www.united.com/en/us/upgrade-awards

Thank you!!

Great thanks~

I'm looking at upgrading a flight w miles + cash. One of my flights has the option to upgrade but I can't select each leg individually. Does that mean if the upgrade clears, it will apply to the entire trip (Lis to erw and erw to sfo) or is it possible only one leg will clear?

When I've done this before usually I see a (?) with the different possible outcomes but that's only been for pp or Polaris, not for multiple legs. this is my first time dealing w this would love people's insight.




https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b26c9c11e8.jpg

Unless you have higher status (1K or GS), it is very likely you will not get the EWR-SFO upgrade. If you do get only the LIS-EWR upgrade, no refund will be forthcoming.

Related question for the same itin. Is there a way to get a miles-based upgrade for just the EWR-SFO segment? If booked separately, it's available at $250+17.5k miles. I'd rather not use my Plus Points for it, since that's my only chance of upgrading an LH flight into Premium Economy (from an H fare) if I understand things correctly. Thanks!