I switched over to UA last year (I'm a lowly 2P), and have accumulated enough 500 milers to start using them on some longer legs. My TA booked some travel for me, so I asked her to request upgrades on some of the legs.

The UA website shows that one one leg I'm "waitlisted" for the upgraded (though confirmed in E+), but the other two legs shows my upgrade is "Pending".

What does "pending" mean and how is that different from "waitlisted"?

A search would provide you with the answers, but none the less.

An upgrade is considered "pending" if you are using 500 milers and outside your upgrade window. Thus the upgrade can't be applied, and is "pending" until your window opens. Once your window opens, your upgrade will be applied, and if there is availability you will be confirmed in the next class of service.

If there is no availability, currently, you will be waitlisted. You can only be waitlisted when you are in your upgrade window, if using 500 milers.

If using a confirmed instrument (miles, CR-1's, SWU's) then you can be waitlisted whenever, since the upgrade can be applied as soon as you book your ticket, regardless of your window.

Why's the sky blue? LOL

Seriously though -- there are many types of upgrades and, if you're an expert flyer -- you'll know about the exceptions.

Generally "waitlisted" upgrades are those that can be confirmed outside of the time-to-departure windows..."pending" upgrades are the opposite -- the 500 milers that are applied within 48, 72, 100, and 120 hours...

You beat me to this.

Great explanation! ^

Ok, i'll ask a somewhat follow on question to all of this. At what point can you use an SWU? My travel agency for work confirms the ticket at the time travel orders are placed but the ticket is not bought until 72 hours before the flight. Can I put in for an upgrade when the ticket is confirmed or do I have to wait until the ticket is purchased?

These are all important question, and it's good that every once in a while thewy are raised, even if they have been raised in the past.

(If anyone has links to past discussions, it would be helpful, as a search for these categories often returns overly broad results).

In direct answer to this follow up question, the ticket must be purchased in order to use the SWU. Once upon a time (5-6 years ago?), UA didn't require purchase.

Thank you, zrs70, for understanding how threads sometimes come up that could be answered by doing a search. There are some that immediately go into a don't-you-know-any-better mode when a thread comes up that has been answered in the past.

As anyone who has used the search feature knows, you can type in "RCC" and get dozens of threads and then have to wade through them all when it's simpler to post a question and see if someone can answer it in specific terms.

The only point I would make is that everyone should read the stickies first and that answers many of the perennial questions that come up.

Thank you to those who answered my question.

One more, if you don't mind:

I've checked in on-line and printed boarding cards for my two legs for tomorrow. Mr. Online Chicken also gave me a "departure management card" that has the cryptic instruction: "Please wait in the gate area to obtain your seat assignment or your upgrade."

I've already gotten a seat assignment in E+ on my boarding pass. I assume UA, like most airlines, releases upgrades 10-20 minutes before departure. I'm unwilling to risk a gate check and, given my lowly 2P status, I'd be very surprised if my wait-listed upgrade cleared. This an SFO to ORD flight. I've also got a window seat, and don't want to force two people to "un-nest" so that I can get to my seat.

Is there any point in waiting until the last minute to board? Does UA ever fetch an upgradee from coach (CO, my former preferred carrier, does this routinely)?

Is it frying pan (missing a possible upgrade) or fire (gate checking carry on) for me?

This is a question that can ba answered by the Gate Agent-- and at SFO and ORD can be answered by EasyInfo. Look in the lower-left hand corner of the EasyInfo screen for "Passengers with the following seat assignments should remain in the gate area for the possibility of an upgrade. . ." If you see your seat, the course of action is clear. If you do not see your seat or do not see this message, ask the GA "should I board or wait?"

I am not 100% sure, so I must preface this remark by saying "I think" boarding tells the computer to take you off of the UGDG list. A GA may fetch you onboard for an unpgrade, but I don't think those situations are related to uncleared upgrades as much as they are to op-ups.

To follow up on Ari's comments, on these elite-heavy hub-to-hub routes, GAs are quite good at not letting pax wait unnecessarily for a potential upgrade. I second the suggestion that you approach the podium as soon as you can to get a sense of where you stand.

Also, be aware of announcements like "if you are standing by for an upgrade, we'd like to inform you that FC has checked in full," or "pax X, and Y, please stay in the gate area for the possibility of an UG; all other pax standing by for an UG, please board the aircraft at this time."

Should your UG clear once you're onboard, they'll come get you. FWIW, I rarely see that. Good luck and enjoy your trip.

To add a bit to what others have said:

I was just in that position last weekend. Had requested u/g for SFO-IAD but was waitlisted past my 48 hour window and right up to arrival at the gate. Found my seat listed on the screen above the podium and the advisory to "stay near the boarding area for possible seat upgrade." I introduced myself to the GA, who told me it looked pretty good, but when they started boarding he announced that "except for passenger xxxxx (not me ,) the FC cabin has checked in full. All others should board for their assigned seats."

They won't leave you hanging. You just need to listen to the announcements. If the u/g doesn't clear, your assigned Y seat is still good.

JR

I've seen quite a few people get upgraded on board. I've already had 2 instances of "will mr. XYZ please collect their belongings & move up to first class."

If you have to wait in the boarding area, how long before you'll know? It would suck to not get your upgrade, and lose out on overhead space.

I've never had to wait longer than the start of FC boarding. They usually make the announcement just before or just after announcing the boarding call for FC, so if the UG doesn't clear, you just board with your normal seating number as if the UG request was never made.

JR

I appreciate the questions. I have been lurking for some time and have yet to see answers to these basic questions before. Thanks to FT, I have realized I have missed tens of thousands of potential miles due to uninformed traveling! This is a great forum! Cheers!