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Originally Posted by jsloan
(Post 31819574)
The points cannot be use for a flight that departs after their expiration date. That's the same way RPUs/GPUs worked.
VDB is always considered INVOL, because ultimately you're helping United out, and they decide whether they need you or not. Of course, if you're VDBing from an upgraded seat, you're well within your rights to request to be VDB'ed into J anyway. If you VDB into Y, I suspect that the same rules will apply that would apply with a partially-cleared upgrade; you'll get docked the number of points for the highest-cost upgrade you actually received. And if you were to do so on a StW reservation, I'd just say "can you please make sure you mark it INVOL? I want to make sure I can get my upgrade points refunded." That's a perfectly reasonable request that the agent should have no problem with. As for IRROPS, in general, you always have the choice to wait for re-accommodation in the upgraded cabin. What can be hit-or-miss (mostly miss) is trying to keep the upgrade if you're put onto another airline. On UA metal, it shouldn't be a problem. |
Had 20 plus points applied to a domestic sector (DEN-SFO) and saw PZ=1 last night. Didn't bother to call thinking it would clear overnight. It did not. This morning PZ=2 so I logged on cancelled my original plus points request and applied 20 points again and it cleared immediately. It appears the new system isn't processing the upgrades very effectively (no change there) but the ability to cancel and reapply online without calling saved me calling.
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Originally Posted by aussieinsf
(Post 31835054)
the ability to cancel and reapply online without calling saved me calling.
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Originally Posted by GBadger
(Post 31834991)
Just an update from my end on the VDB question. I did end up taking VDB and was booked on the next flight up front. Interestingly, the flight was booked in "C" and was credited accordingly (meaning that it was not credited as an upgraded fare). However, I did not get my PP back. Not saying that I should have, but I also don't think that United's computer system would be good enough to automatically connect the C-fare flight with the PP that were used to upgrade the last segment. That would seem to imply that you'd have to request a refund of your PP if VDB'd into Y.
I agree with you; I'l surprised the computer system wouldn't have refunded your points in this case, whether it was supposed to or not. (I also agree that I wouldn't write in and ask for them back, since you effectively did get upgraded :). |
I am going to hit Platinum right after xmas and want to apply my 40 Plus Points for a flight to Europe in Jan that is currently showing PZ9. I was hoping to book the flight before I qualify, however. Is it possible to book the outbound flight in W and the return in K to save on cost since I only want to upgrade the overnight segment?
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Yes, I routinely book different fares on RT trips.
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Originally Posted by findark
(Post 31834633)
By practical experience with asking agents nicely, it's transfer versus stopover which is 24h00 (international) or 4h00 (domestic/transborder) maximum. As far as the computer does it by itself, I've found it's the same as whether it draws your itinerary as one or two, and is about 12 hours.
YYZ-SFO still waitlisted thought |
Originally Posted by Say Vandelay
(Post 31836149)
Is it possible to book the outbound flight in W and the return in K to save on cost since I only want to upgrade the overnight segment?
Use advanced search to select the fare class that you want for the outbound, and then select the lowest available fare on the return. I suggest looking for all eligible fares, and consider Premium Economy as well, which can be cheaper than W. Make sure to compare the price to an all-K itinerary. PZ space can be fleeting, and it might not exist after Christmas. You could secure the upgrade now with a miles + copay request. The $550 co-pay might not be much more expensive than the fare difference from K to W. |
Originally Posted by whitethunder
(Post 31836324)
I have a YYZ-SFO-HKG fare and I have 13 Hours in SFO (In March) and it only took the one set of PP (V Fare, 40PP)
YYZ-SFO still waitlisted thought |
I have been booking several domestic trips this week for Jan / Feb, and upgrade inventory is absolutely abysmal... are most of you seeing this too? It doesn't matter if I book mid-week during the next couple months... or if I book Fridays, Saturdays.... everything is showing waitlist for PN (I can't even imagine how hard PZ will be to find if PN is this scarce)....
Most of what I'm looking for is MCO-ORD / SFO / LAX and vice versa. Also have been looking for EWR-PVG / HKG for Feb / Mar dates. Can't even find the 20 +P upgrades to premium economy. The domestic legs are especially frustrating given how much J space is available. Anyway, will see what happens. I haven't booked any int'l yet, but am holding off using any +Points for domestic at this point until closer into departure to see if PN opens up on all legs or if I just wait for CPU at the gate. |
Originally Posted by jjmoore
(Post 31836542)
I have been booking several domestic trips this week for Jan / Feb, and upgrade inventory is absolutely abysmal... are most of you seeing this too? It doesn't matter if I book mid-week during the next couple months... or if I book Fridays, Saturdays.... everything is showing waitlist for PN (I can't even imagine how hard PZ will be to find if PN is this scarce)....
Most of what I'm looking for is MCO-ORD / SFO / LAX and vice versa. Also have been looking for EWR-PVG / HKG for Feb / Mar dates. Can't even find the 20 +P upgrades to premium economy. |
Originally Posted by jjmoore
(Post 31836542)
I have been booking several domestic trips this week for Jan / Feb, and upgrade inventory is absolutely abysmal... are most of you seeing this too? It doesn't matter if I book mid-week during the next couple months... or if I book Fridays, Saturdays.... everything is showing waitlist for PN (I can't even imagine how hard PZ will be to find if PN is this scarce)....
Most of what I'm looking for is MCO-ORD / SFO / LAX and vice versa. Also have been looking for EWR-PVG / HKG for Feb / Mar dates. Can't even find the 20 +P upgrades to premium economy. The domestic legs are especially frustrating given how much J space is available. Anyway, will see what happens. I haven't booked any int'l yet, but am holding off using any +Points for domestic at this point until closer into departure to see if PN opens up on all legs or if I just wait for CPU at the gate. Absolutely but I would add that without flexibility and flying at peak or semi-peak times this even goes back into most of 2019. As a GS I was unable to book even ONE flight directly into PN. International was a joke at least for my destinations and times, I stopped even trying to find PN and just booked Polaris directly. I know others have has better luck mid week and off season destinations. Looking at first Q domestic flights I have coming up I see tons of J space and ZERO PN. I have said this before, the days of far advance instrument upgrades is basically over. I have applied instruments on numerous domestic flights this year obviously and several going forward the next 3 months with better success at clearing them as a GS this year (probably 60%) but as I have posted before nearly everyone was cleared T sub 24 hours or even after boarding. Good Luck going forward. |
Originally Posted by findark
(Post 31836579)
As with most of these complaints, I suspect there are rather many more constraints on your travel than you describe. E.g. the very first MCO-ORD flight I looked at had not only PN space but IN space (25-Jan in the morning) and the very first EWR-PVG was PN9 (25-Feb).
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Originally Posted by Say Vandelay
(Post 31836149)
I am going to hit Platinum right after xmas and want to apply my 40 Plus Points for a flight to Europe in Jan that is currently showing PZ9. I was hoping to book the flight before I qualify, however. Is it possible to book the outbound flight in W and the return in K to save on cost since I only want to upgrade the overnight segment?
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Hello, I apologize if the answer to this question is already in the thread. Tomorrow I am traveling from Paris CDG to EWR in economy plus. I am currently platinum so only have 40 plus points and cannot upgrade to Polaris (costs 80). Buy up to PP is 659 and buy up to Polaris is 829. I am wondering if anyone has done either of the following and/or if it is possible to do so:
1. If I use plus points and am given a confirmed seat in premium, can I still buy up to Polaris? And is it cheaper? 2. If I buy up to premium, can I use plus points to upgrade to Polaris? Give the cost of getting into premium, I suppose 2) is not the best option, as I would maybe be better served doing miles+550 copay and saving the plus points. I am already going to hit 1k before the end of the year so the fare class difference/mileage earning difference isn't so important to me. Thanks in advance. |
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