Can PlusPoints be used to upgrade XN fare from BOS-SFO? 20 or 40 points?

For Global Services members, yes; otherwise, no. 20 points.

Does that extend to a GS sponsored upgrade, or only if the GS member is the one traveling?

Your advice to keep the tally is sage.

I keep thinking they are trying to fix the problems and it creates more problems, especially the app. The app will initially be fine and then it just posts gibberish or blank. The website is better and I must say the PlusPoints upgrade tab seems to track okay even though it seems to bear no relevance to the app.

Your post is quite alarming. You understand the system better than most so know when it is wrong, others not as familiar will likely just accept and move on.

Screen shot of my tab and the spreadsheet is my new norm.

I’m not a GS, so I’m not speaking from personal experience, but my understanding is that the miles used for the award must come from a GS account, and then a GS instrument can be used to upgrade from XN to PN. The actual traveler can be someone else.

What’s weird is that the app appears to be using a web view, which means I’d expect it to be powered by the same source. And, yet, I’ve noticed the same thing.

Yeah, luckily I was fully expecting problems with scenario #1. It’s possible that the points would have been refunded once I actually traveled, but I wasn’t willing to wait that wrong (and I was concerned that I’d forget). I was very surprised by scenario #2, though, because I really thought short waitlisted legs would be something they’d get right, since they had so much experience with the old system. That’s a real eye-opener for people who book long legs into open PZ and then waitlist short legs (since domestic PZ is almost impossible to find).

I almost dashed off a note to 1K Voice regarding #2, but I didn’t want to risk having the upgrade removed by a zealous agent. As a result, this gives me an opportunity to see if things refund properly.

Long-haul Economy (K class) to Premium Plus to Polaris ?
 

Can Long-haul Economy (K class) upgrade to Premium Plus (20 PP), then later upgrade again with 30 or 40 PP to Polaris ?

From Wiki:
Long-haul flights, Economy (all fare classes) to Premium Plus: 20 points
Long-haul flights, Economy (Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, or W class) to Polaris: 40 points
Long-haul flights, Economy (S, T, L, K, or G class) to Polaris: 80 points
Long-haul flights, Premium Plus (all fare classes) to Polaris: 30 points

It looks to the booking class.

So if you booked O/A/R then 30 points to PZ.

If you booked K, then even if your upgrade to RN came through, the upgrade to PZ would still be 80 points.

But I like your logic!

Well the Plus Points upgrade tab has been broken.

For my double upgrade it shows 20 points deducted but there were actually 80 points deducted. The K to RN did happen (20 points) and I am waitlisted for PZ. Of course my concern is that if/when the PZ becomes available it will say insufficient points even though they have already taken the points, especially based on the issues you just had.

Oh well perhaps it will not be an issue....luckily I took the screen shot although not much use if they skip me due to insufficient points.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...13b003bedd.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ecf52ccc8b.jpg

The benefit extends if miles from the same GS member.

You are correct.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/undefinedI'm in the same boat as you. My flight is on Saturday. Confirmed into "RN" immediately and waitlisted for PZ. I will get PZ as the cabin has 44 open seats and only 32 on the waitlist. Why they refuse to process the waitlist is beyond me. Been on it for 5 days now and no movement.

Anyway, I have a ton of PlusPoints in my account so if they try to claw more for the upgrade it will succeed and I'll handle it on the back-end. But I suspect this part will work correctly. They've already deducted the 80 and shouldn't be looking for more. I also shouldn't find myself in a position of needing to get 60 back as the upgrade should clear. I'm hoping in advance so I don't have to deal with the non-UA staff at the Asia airport I'll be in.

-RM

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/undefinedFWIW, I did a K->RN (cleared at booking) -> PZ (waitlisted, has now cleared). They initially took 80 points, with 20 going to RN and haven't taken any more. The display of the points taken was similarly confusing on my end.

I have requested a PlusPoints upgrade on my flight Saturday but my strategy this year is to accrue to Aeroplan as am doing more Canadian flights. If I change my frequent flyer for my flight do I lose my PlusPoints upgrade request?

Question on using UA pts to upgrade ?
 

I am trying to use my UA pts to upgrade from EWR - SFO - NRT.

How come it is asking me 60 pts ( 40 + 20) to upgrade all the segment from EWR to NRT ?

Shouldn't 40 pts is good for one-way upgrade from EWR - SFO - NRT ?

Theoretically they will only deduct 40 points, even if you clear the whole thing. You're unlikely to clear EWR-SFO anyway.

You should ultimately be charged for the highest one that clears. If you look at confirmation page, it should tell you that you're using 40, not 60, points.

That said, I had an issue recently where they deducted more than they should have; if it's not corrected by tomorrow, I'll have to write in. So I'd pay attention to the values anyway, just to make sure UA gets it right.