From what I understand, the PPs that already cleared won’t get redeposited until that flight leaves, even though you’re not on it anymore.

I would call in. In theory they should get re-deposited, though the number of changes and the fact that it was done through Amex all lead to the automatic process not being reliable. But policy wise since you have "cancelled" the upgraded segment (as in, no longer flying on that routing) you are entitled to have the PP back immediately.

Soon to be new 1K, new to PPs, question about using them long-haul for Premium Plus.

When I search for flights with PP-eligible upgrades, the fare under "Buy Economy Upgrade to Premium Economy" is higher than the plain "Buy Economy" fare even though they are both the same fare class (revealed when I click on "Flight Details"). Since all Economy fares are upgradeable to Premium Economy with 20 PPs, I could just get the cheaper, "Buy Economy" fare and then apply PPs, right? Is it different if the higher "Buy Economy Upgrade to Premium Economy" fare shows a confirmed upgrade, not a waitlist? Since both fares show the same class, exactly what am I paying for with the higher "Buy Economy Upgrade to Premium Economy" fare? Is there a waitlist benefit? Something else?

Sorry if this has already been answered in this monster thread - if it has, I couldn't find it. Thanks.

I guess that you searched the basic economy vs. regular economy tickets. The former is not eligible for upgrade to Premium economy, but the latter is. What was the price difference? $150-300 for an international trip?

Well, that price difference has disappeared. Wasn't Basic Economy (which was cheaper), and both buckets showed the same fare class. Typical UA IT glitch?

But now another strange observation. Paying for Premium Economy is a lot more when on a normal search than when I search for PP-upgradeable Premium Economy flights (with an additional 30 PPs for Polaris). Talking $800 difference one way (looking EWR-LHR). Maybe today just isn't a good IT day for United.

Basic Economy can be in the same fare class as regular economy.

Can you give an example date? That’s quite odd.

Right now, if I am looking at a round trip EWR-LHR November 21-27, for the basic search, daytime flight on way there, noon flight on return, I get the following fares:
$1276 Economy
$2296 Premium Economy

When I run the same search and same flights eligible for PlusPoints upgrades with Advanced Search, I get:
$1276 Economy
$1171 & 20 PP due now, $121 & 20 PP due later for Premium Economy confirmed on outbound and waitlisted on return
$1846 due now & 60 PP due later for Premium Economy waitlisted for Polaris

So:
1. It seems off that choosing a PP upgrade I get a fare that is lower than Economy when Premium Economy confirmed on-way, and it seems if I get PE on the other leg, the fare is more than Economy. Is this a tax thing?
2. It's a few hundred dollars cheaper to get Premium Economy when I put in for a PP upgrade (waitlisted) to Polaris.

On top of this. with Advanced Search looking for PP upgrades, each browser can seemingly do the search once. Then after the first search, it get's stuck when getting flights for the second leg. I can complete a new search for both legs on a new browser. Quitting and restarting the browser doesn't help.

So confused.

Unfortunately, since I do not have any PlusPoints at the moment, I’m not able to reproduce the exact same searches. I did try them using Miles + Copay and I was not able to reproduce what you’re seeing; I saw the same fare whether I had the upgrade or not. If you’re still able to reproduce it, click through to the confirmation page, where it’ s going to start you into the purchase flow. There should be a link near the bottom of the page to view the fare rules. Click that and then see what fare basis codes you get in each case. If the fares are different, the fare bases should be different also, and that might give a clue as to what’s going on.

The issue with not being able to search repeatedly on United.com is widespread, sadly. There are rumors that it might be exacerbated by using an ad blocker, but I’m not sure if that’s the case or not. The app doesn’t have that problem, but it does have several other problems, like popping up an alert to remind you that you can buy an itinerary every time you try to change your search.

Are you sure you're selecting the same flights when you see a difference in fare?

I tried searching 21-Nov/27-Nov EWR-LHR round trip with no +P upgrade requests and got this for the flights you mention:
($1276 for Economy)

Then I tried searching with +P upgrades to P+ and got this for the same flights:
(same fare but with the $121 APD noted due later)

I noticed that the 10a LHR departure matches the other figure you mentioned for Y to P+ upgrade:
($1171 plus APD due later)

Also, I only see the $1846 P+ fare (RLX46ENC / AKW76ENC) offered for the 8a LHR departure; 10a & 12p are $2292 (RLX46ENC / OKW86ERC). Perhaps availability changed. But I don't see any difference with or without upgrade
(same price for P+ with or without upgrade)

Aside: appears that you might be able to save about $90 booking P+ with an OTA (all usual caveats apply), and +P can still be used with the LH codeshare for UA flights.
(Ovago P+)

if you actually click through, it will price the same. It does appear before getting to booking it displays cheaper.

Hi everyone.

EX1K here. I have a couple newbie questions as I’m confused about the new PP points

1). I had a generous FTer apply a 20PP to my domestic transcon , non Polaris flight. It is waitlistEd even though every single is available in business with J9Z9P9. . What fare class do I need open for it to clear right away?

2) if I changed my flight to one that has the required fare bucket to clear right away, does the wait listed 20PP apply to my changed flight ? Or will he apply the PP to the new flight again?

3) if the PP clears and I change my flight to another flight with the required fare bucket to clear immediately available, can I change my flight to that and be confirmed in first or will the PP have to be reapplied again?

thanks for all the help and sorry for so many questions.

PZ>0

Waitlist does not transfer, new application required

Upgrade does not transfer (on a voluntary change), new application required

thank you so much!!

one last question : how does upgrade priority work for the 20PP?

Depends on if a CPU eligible or not flight

The full detail are cover in Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively, there are a number of subcases

First , GS or GS supported waitlists need PN, not PZ. which makes them higher priority, even for CPU
For CPU flights, 1Ks on YBM fares are next
Next are PlusPoints or mileage supported upgrades ranked by status, fares, those with PresPlus/Club/Infinite cards, Corporate Preferred travelers, >$25K Chase MP cardholders, time of request
Note if a PremPlus flights, those with a paid PremPlus fare are prioritize over Economy paid fares
Then if a CPU flight, 1Ks and lower elites are ranked by the same process as supported upgrades

Again this is the simplified list

To discuss chance of upgrade, see [Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight