are award tickets upgraded to premium plus (R fare) upgradable to polaris ?
Dec 7, 2023, 8:35 am
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,530
My guess is no, but I'm not sure.
In the old days, a segment with 0 PQD would be ineligible for any kind of credit (such an award ticket rebooked into full Y during IRROPS). The credit system still needs to pull the coupon for the dollar amount, at which point it finds out it was an award.
In the old days, a segment with 0 PQD would be ineligible for any kind of credit (such an award ticket rebooked into full Y during IRROPS). The credit system still needs to pull the coupon for the dollar amount, at which point it finds out it was an award.
Feb 5, 2024, 4:02 pm
#62
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 41
Upgrade economy saver ("X") Premium Plus with cash, then upgrade to Polaris Business
Hi,
I know it is not possible to upgrade an economy saver award ("X") ticket using miles. It is possible to upgrade an economy saver award ticket to premium plus using cash, however. If I do this, what will my new fare type be? Will the new fare type be upgradeable to business with miles?
Thanks!
I know it is not possible to upgrade an economy saver award ("X") ticket using miles. It is possible to upgrade an economy saver award ticket to premium plus using cash, however. If I do this, what will my new fare type be? Will the new fare type be upgradeable to business with miles?
Thanks!
Feb 5, 2024, 4:15 pm
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,609
Hi,
I know it is not possible to upgrade an economy saver award ("X") ticket using miles. It is possible to upgrade an economy saver award ticket to premium plus using cash, however. If I do this, what will my new fare type be? Will the new fare type be upgradeable to business with miles?
Thanks!
I know it is not possible to upgrade an economy saver award ("X") ticket using miles. It is possible to upgrade an economy saver award ticket to premium plus using cash, however. If I do this, what will my new fare type be? Will the new fare type be upgradeable to business with miles?
Thanks!
Feb 8, 2024, 11:36 pm
#65
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 87
Ive done this several times for my kids. I get them an X or XN ticket. The system then offers them a paid upgrade to Premium Plus mostly in R class. Then I apply PlusPoints and they are on the Polaris upgrade list. Weve been fortunate that most times they end up in Polaris, but at least theyre confirmed in Premium Plus.
I know this works online and most agents say they cant do it. But I had a technical issue a few weeks ago and at first the agent said it wouldnt work. But they were game to try and it worked for them too.
Not sure if it makes a difference but both my spouse and I are 1Ks and our kids are 1Ks as well as our Million Mile companions.
Finally, the kids got the award PQP and also the paid upgrade PQP, but no miles.
Good luck.
I know this works online and most agents say they cant do it. But I had a technical issue a few weeks ago and at first the agent said it wouldnt work. But they were game to try and it worked for them too.
Not sure if it makes a difference but both my spouse and I are 1Ks and our kids are 1Ks as well as our Million Mile companions.
Finally, the kids got the award PQP and also the paid upgrade PQP, but no miles.
Good luck.
Feb 11, 2024, 10:03 am
#68
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA PP, UA 1K/MM, WoH Globalist, HH Gold
Posts: 1,291
Another data point on this discussion. I recently bought Japan-SFO with a free award ticket (XN). Shortly after purchase I received an upgrade for cash offer to Premium Plus for $425, which I thought was a steal, so I accepted. To my surprise, this booked into R, which of course is the revenue fare bucket for Premium Plus. Using the app, I then applied 30 Plus Points and it permitted a waitlist to PZ, a further surprise.
About 5 days before the flight, PZ=2 appeared. I waited a day or two, and the waitlist did not clear. (Another common point of discussion here, namely waitlist failing to clear with PZ>0). Now for my foolish move: although I was sure the waitlist would ultimately clear, I removed the Plus Point upgrade request, thinking that I would immediately reapply it and it would clear into the open PZ space immediately. Sadly I got the message, "This ticket not eligible for upgrade," which of course is correct.I couldn't believe I tampered with an almost-sure thing and maneuvered myself out of Polaris! Tried again 2 hours later to apply the Plus Point upgrade to PZ, and it cleared immediately!
Conclusion: two of the phenomena discussed here still remain at least occasionally erratic: the PZ waitlist still does not always clear automatically when PZ>0, and XN to R with cash, followed by R to PZ with Plus Points, is still possible, at least at times.
About 5 days before the flight, PZ=2 appeared. I waited a day or two, and the waitlist did not clear. (Another common point of discussion here, namely waitlist failing to clear with PZ>0). Now for my foolish move: although I was sure the waitlist would ultimately clear, I removed the Plus Point upgrade request, thinking that I would immediately reapply it and it would clear into the open PZ space immediately. Sadly I got the message, "This ticket not eligible for upgrade," which of course is correct.I couldn't believe I tampered with an almost-sure thing and maneuvered myself out of Polaris! Tried again 2 hours later to apply the Plus Point upgrade to PZ, and it cleared immediately!
Conclusion: two of the phenomena discussed here still remain at least occasionally erratic: the PZ waitlist still does not always clear automatically when PZ>0, and XN to R with cash, followed by R to PZ with Plus Points, is still possible, at least at times.
Feb 11, 2024, 10:54 am
#69
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NorCal - 1K 2MM
Posts: 2,090
Not sure I follow. I spent $425 cash (which I believe is nonrefundable) to u/g the award to P+. The second u/g to J cost me nothing other than PlusPoints which I generally find tough to use, and thus assign little or no value. Thus in my view I got a Polaris transpac for $425, which is pretty darn good. How could purchasing W and then upgrading be a better deal?
Feb 11, 2024, 11:51 am
#70
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,897
Feb 11, 2024, 12:01 pm
#71
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA PP, UA 1K/MM, WoH Globalist, HH Gold
Posts: 1,291
Not sure I follow. I spent $425 cash (which I believe is nonrefundable) to u/g the award to P+. The second u/g to J cost me nothing other than PlusPoints which I generally find tough to use, and thus assign little or no value. Thus in my view I got a Polaris transpac for $425, which is pretty darn good. How could purchasing W and then upgrading be a better deal?
Also I assumed the upgrade fee would be refundable if you cancelled the itinerary, but if not, perhaps ~50k miles and $425 + 30 PP is a good deal.
Feb 11, 2024, 12:23 pm
#72
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NorCal - 1K 2MM
Posts: 2,090
I assume you also used some miles (~50k?) and depending on how much the W fares are and how much you value your United miles, it may or may not be worth it.
Also I assumed the upgrade fee would be refundable if you cancelled the itinerary, but if not, perhaps ~50k miles and $425 + 30 PP is a good deal.
Also I assumed the upgrade fee would be refundable if you cancelled the itinerary, but if not, perhaps ~50k miles and $425 + 30 PP is a good deal.
Feb 13, 2024, 9:52 am
#73
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott LTT
Posts: 63
Adding an anecdotal example from today.
Saw a flight I'm taking this week that had PZ=1 with buy up to Premium Plus priced at $379 on an XN ticket with a lap infant. I bought the upgrade and tried to do it online and said it wasn't eligible for an upgrade using PP. This reservation has a confirmed upgrade to Polaris using the same method on the return, which I did 3 weeks ago.
I've had oddities with tickets with lap child, so I called (I know, I know, but I've done it without issue in the past with one agent saying explicitly that was allowed). She tried to push it through but said that the system won't let her proceed. Has there been a change made to their systems?
Saw a flight I'm taking this week that had PZ=1 with buy up to Premium Plus priced at $379 on an XN ticket with a lap infant. I bought the upgrade and tried to do it online and said it wasn't eligible for an upgrade using PP. This reservation has a confirmed upgrade to Polaris using the same method on the return, which I did 3 weeks ago.
I've had oddities with tickets with lap child, so I called (I know, I know, but I've done it without issue in the past with one agent saying explicitly that was allowed). She tried to push it through but said that the system won't let her proceed. Has there been a change made to their systems?
Feb 13, 2024, 10:07 am
#74
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New York, London, Sydney
Programs: United GS/2MM, DL*P, VS*G, AA*EXP, Avis CHM, Hertz Platinum, Sixt*D, HH*D, HGP*P, Starwood*P
Posts: 9,849
Adding an anecdotal example from today.
Saw a flight I'm taking this week that had PZ=1 with buy up to Premium Plus priced at $379 on an XN ticket with a lap infant. I bought the upgrade and tried to do it online and said it wasn't eligible for an upgrade using PP. This reservation has a confirmed upgrade to Polaris using the same method on the return, which I did 3 weeks ago.
I've had oddities with tickets with lap child, so I called (I know, I know, but I've done it without issue in the past with one agent saying explicitly that was allowed). She tried to push it through but said that the system won't let her proceed. Has there been a change made to their systems?
Saw a flight I'm taking this week that had PZ=1 with buy up to Premium Plus priced at $379 on an XN ticket with a lap infant. I bought the upgrade and tried to do it online and said it wasn't eligible for an upgrade using PP. This reservation has a confirmed upgrade to Polaris using the same method on the return, which I did 3 weeks ago.
I've had oddities with tickets with lap child, so I called (I know, I know, but I've done it without issue in the past with one agent saying explicitly that was allowed). She tried to push it through but said that the system won't let her proceed. Has there been a change made to their systems?