This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Another way you can score an advance upgrade is through certificates. Image Credit: United The Value of a United MileagePlus® Credit Card. Many United travelers report issues with upgrades being automatically processed from the wait list ahead of time. Within a given tier, the next tiebreaker is fare class. However, there’s a trick that will allow you to search upgrade inventory on United.com. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. These too are good until the end of the following program year. One especially intriguing new redemption option is something United is calling Skip Waitlist, which lets flyers redeem additional PlusPoints to confirm an upgrade at booking, when they would have had to take their chances with the waitlist in the past. Air Travel - United Mileage plus upgrade waitlist? However, you can only upgrade award tickets if you hold a United credit card. The waitlist doesn't always clear for flights - the best bet is to check it frequently as the … 2X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. If you plan on doing this, pull the trigger now. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Some have put forth the theory that within 24 hours, it no longer matters what method you’re using to upgrade, and that Premier status level and fare class override all other priority rules. TravelSort reader Calvin writes: “ I booked an Economy Saver from CDG – SFO on a United Partner connecting flight. I'm flying from San Francisco - Frankfurt on 5/1. Does it matter when you check in? CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners. Sometimes they don’t clear at all, particularly in cities like San Francisco, Houston and Washington-Dulles, where United has hubs and many high-revenue clients. The Points Guy will not sell your email. Many United travelers report issues with upgrades being automatically processed from the wait list ahead of time. United Airlines (UA) Standby list – App – Flight Status Details – Upgrade Standby List The Upgrades tab is the only place you will see any load information. The final tiebreaker (when Premier level and fare class are the same) is time of ticketing. If you are traveling on an ANA- or Lufthansa-operated codeshare flight with a United flight number, upgrades may be available and can be requested by calling 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) within the U.S. and Canada, elsewhere call your local United Customer Contact Center. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. See, Reminder: You don’t have to be on the ‘No Fly List’ to receive an airline ban, Marriott reinstates elite benefit guarantees effective immediately, Check your American Airlines accounts: 2021 rollover elite miles, dollars and segments now posting, The Platinum Card® from American Express, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, Economy to domestic first/regional business: 20 PlusPoints, Economy to ANA business (G, E, Y, B): 40 PlusPoints, Business to ANA first (J, C, D): 40 PlusPoints, Economy to Lufthansa business (G, E, Y, B, M, U, H, Q): 40 PlusPoints, Business to Lufthansa first (J, C, D): 40 PlusPoints, Economy to Premium Plus (Skip Waitlist): 70 PlusPoints, Economy to Polaris (S, T, L, K, G): 80 PlusPoints, Economy to Polaris (Skip Waitlist): 140 PlusPoints, Skip Waitlist is not available within 30 days of departure, You must book W class or higher for Polaris, You can only use Skip Waitlist to upgrade your own flights, PlusPoints will not be returned if you change your flights, Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. I'm looking to use miles to upgrade a flight from San Francisco to Melbourne however I don't believe United offers confirmed upgrades at booking for these flights, so it would be waitlist. I went about booking our 3 tickets following the steps above. Today’s post will focus on the routes that are eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs), as all of the upgrade options are applicable to those routes. These upgrades are prioritized ahead of members trying to use certificates or miles (unlike Delta, which gives preference to upgrades requested with a certificate or miles). Additionally, you may also see the Skip Waitlist option on previously booked flights — you’ll be able to select it when viewing your upgrade options. One of the perks of airline elite status is getting bumped up to a premium cabin, but the upgrade process is complicated and it’s sometimes hard to predict when you’ll be accommodated. It’s also available for Premium Plus without any fare class restrictions. The following is the order of priority as reported by United Airlines for upgrades within four days of departure on flights that are eligible for complimentary premier upgrades: Premier 1K members on eligible Y-, B- and M-class fares: Premier 1K instant upgrades that weren't confirmed in advance are placed in order according to fare class. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Essentially, United’s systems seems to open all buckets (including upgrade inventory like R) at 24 hours before departure, even if there are only a few seats left, to ease self-service same-day changes. A reader in Singapore shared a humorous upgrade list from his flight from Singapore to San Francisco earlier today. See, pulled its upgrade inventory from ExpertFlyer, Reminder: You don’t have to be on the ‘No Fly List’ to receive an airline ban, Marriott reinstates elite benefit guarantees effective immediately, Check your American Airlines accounts: 2021 rollover elite miles, dollars and segments now posting, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Unlike Delta (which drags you down to your companion’s status level), United will actually confer your priority to your companion, even on the day of departure. Though it’s tedious, if you have a flight on which you desperately want the upgrade, periodically check United.com (using “Expert Mode”) to see if … Other reports indicate that within 24 hours, “time of request” is replaced by “time of check-in” for two Premier members in the same tier and on the same fare class. A RED VENTURES COMPANY. There are some other things to keep in mind with these upgrades: United’s upgrade process is convoluted, and unfortunately, there are many reports of discrepancies between the published policies and the reality at the gate. *Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. However, many reports indicate that ALL Global Services upgrades are processed prior to any other elite (including those on Y/B fares and those using miles or certificates). This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Answer 1 of 11: I was on the United website yesterday to upgrade an economy fare reservation for a coast-to-coast round trip in the U.S. (SEA-IAD) using Mileage Plus points. There are three ways that you can upgrade more than a week before the flight: The first option is relatively straightforward; if you’re a Premier member and book a Y or B class ticket on a route eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs), then you’re eligible for an instant upgrade, as long as the flight has PN inventory. I get the feeling that unless I'm 4th or higher on the list, my odds are effectively zero. United will automatically request a complimentary elite upgrade for eligible routes, and your position on the upgrade waitlist does not interfere with your ability to request other types of upgrades. What about traveling with a companion? Here, in a nutshell, are the factors that impact your upgrade priority: All of these categories have many overlapping segments and tiebreakers, and things can get quite complicated. Waitlist for ANA and Lufthansa-operated flights Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Read the T&C of Expert Mode, check the box, and click, By upgrading a full-fare economy ticket (applies to Premier members only), ON to upgrade from business to first class (on three-cabin flights), Global Services (the general thought is that all Global Services upgrade requests trump any other Premier member), Premier members on Y class tickets (1K, Platinum, Gold, then Silver), Premier members on B class tickets (1K, Platinum, Gold, then Silver), Premier 1Ks (and companions) on paid tickets, Premier 1K credit cardholders on award tickets, Premier Platinums (and companions) on paid tickets, Premier Platinum credit cardholders on award tickets, Premier Golds (and companions) on paid tickets, Premier Gold credit card holders on award tickets, Premier Silvers (and companions) on paid tickets, Premier Silver credit card holders on award tickets. Both Regional Premier Upgrades (RPUs) and Global Premier Upgrades (GPUs) are automatically deposited into your account based on status. I made my reservation late last summer using United miles. However, this only applies to paid tickets; even with a United credit card, companions on award tickets are ineligible for upgrades. You earn two RPUs for hitting Premier Platinum, another two for hitting Premier 1K, and an additional two for every 25,000 Premier qualifying miles or 30 Premier qualifying segments. I was just saying that if some of the people who were accepted (and still haven't signed up) realize that week 3 doesn't work out for them and that week 1&2 are already full, then wait listed people might have a chance later for week 3. ... thus, they are already admitted. If there are eligible flights available, you can identify them easily by selecting the “Available only and Skip Waitlist” option. However, it's not unheard of. The flight still showed sold out for upgrades, with five seats left. The truth is your chances of being admitted in off the waitlist can be pretty slim depending on the college you're waiting to hear from. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. However, at least having a general idea of where you fall on the upgrade list can help you avoid a nasty surprise when you arrive at the airport. Complimentary Companion Upgrades. 2. Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. Visit our Standby FAQ page for more information. If you’re looking to upgrade with these instruments, you’ll need the following inventory: Keep in mind that mileage upgrades, GPUs and RPUs have several additional restrictions. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. As a result, I recommend checking in as close to the 24 hour mark as possible. View the current offers here. So with the standby upgrades, I was added to the waitlist 100 hours in advance. *Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. R is used for upgrades involving miles/certificates, and complimentary upgrades for all non-Global Services travelers. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It’s called “Expert Mode,” and it’s a great way to find space for your desired route. Skip Waitlist is only available with long-haul international itineraries — if you use the option to confirm your spot in Premium Plus or Polaris, you’ll still be waitlisted for any domestic legs, unless there’s upgrade availability for those segments at booking. On my flight information it is saying that "this flight segment is waitlisted." VT is notorious for never taking people off the waitlist. In addition to the published upgrade costs, United is also introducing a “Skip Waitlist” feature exclusively for Premier 1Ks, where members can redeem additional PlusPoints to skip the upgrade waitlist on a flight and confirm an upgrade. ON is used for upgrades from business class to first class (on three-cabin aircraft). As you can see below, it isn’t available with discounted economy fares — you need to book “W” class or higher. Like many airlines, United offers a variety of ways for you to upgrade from economy to business or first class. PN is used for upgrades from Y/B/M fares to first/business class, plus all Global Services upgrades. The cost of this will vary based on the specific itinerary, and I’d guess that the pricing will be steep. Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. How do you upgrade or waitlist a United award for Business Class? To muddy the waters further, United actually has three different upgrade “buckets” that do not have a one-to-one correspondence: Unfortunately, United pulled its upgrade inventory from ExpertFlyer back in 2013 (another example of its “Race to the Bottom” with Delta). However, it is another piece of information in your quest to find flights with the highest chance of scoring an upgrade from the waitlist. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Be sure to pay attention to all options, though — with the example below, by buying up to W class you can confirm a Polaris upgrade for just 40 Plus Points, compared with 70 points for premium economy. Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Luckily, my mom has the United MileagePlus® Explorer Business Card, that gives her access to more available award seats. If you want to get that United Airlines upgrade without paying for it, holding elite status … Looking to use miles plus $$ to upgrade to United Business (Polaris). GPUs work similarly, as you earn 6 of them for hitting 1K and another two for every additional 50,000 Premier qualifying miles or 60 Premier qualifying segments. For example, if a kidney becomes available, UNOS will first try to find a match in the OPO where the kidney is being donated. The Points Guy will not sell your email. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. But they don’t clear the people on the waitlist into the upgrade inventory first, so it becomes first come first served. Spots on the wait list are currently based on the Premier status of the sponsor, but if you request a sponsor upgrade on or after April 15, 2015, whoever you sponsor will be prioritized by his or her own status. View our latest valuations here. Status is the first component that impacts your Premier upgrade priority. Notably, Skip Waitlist availability doesn’t appear to be tied to any specific fare class — the lowest revenue business or premium economy fare classes don’t necessarily need to be available. This means that a traveler can pay significantly more for the chance to upgrade, with no refund or credit at all if the upgrade … We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Upgrade priority is organized first by elite status, then fare class, and then the time of the request (i.e., the time of booking). Here’s a quick table that shows which upgrades apply to which routes: I’ll also separate out how upgrades are processed in advance and how they happen at the gate. Should I be concerned? From there, the upgrades are processed “automatically” using the following priority: As a result, here’s how the airport standby list should be prioritized: Unfortunately, I’ve read several reports from regular United travelers that even this is inconsistent (despite the clear language online). Though it’s tedious, if you have a flight on which you desperately want the upgrade, periodically check United.com (using “Expert Mode”) to see if the applicable inventory is available. I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. If it's not a heavy business travel day the chances are higher. While most airlines offer upgrades, they don’t always make clear the exact process for upgrading flights to the next class of service. Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. United prioritizes upgrades by the fare class you book. United usually releases R space on flights based on the chance they will sell revenue Business fares. What about traveling with a companion? Here are some waitlist admission rates from the class of 2018: Carnegie Mellon University: 4% Princeton University: 5% ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. - Planning trip to for next year SFO-PRG returning MXP-SFO. Within 24 hours of your flight, you can no longer make a new request for an upgrade using miles or certificates, and the wait list will “expire” (per United’s Upgrades Overview page). Here’s a quick example of how this looks for a one-way flight from Washington-Dulles to London-Heathrow next month: According to these search results, there are multiple seats available in all three upgrade buckets for the 5:55 pm departure, but the morning flight (operated by a two-cabin aircraft) doesn’t have any upgrade inventory. Simply search for a paid flight and click on the Fare Class link from the results page. Get 25% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. Once this is enabled, you can actually see all fare class inventory (including upgrade space) for United-operated flights. In addition, GPUs can’t be used on most long-haul routes in deeply discounted fare classes. My plans are flexible by a couple of days so I'm trying to figure out what day gives me the best chances for the upgrade. Unfortunately, these options create an incredibly complex system that even a very frequent traveler may not fully comprehend. True Companion Upgrades are a form of Complimentary Premier Upgrade. This is also when Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs) begin to clear on applicable routes, depending on whether the flight has R availability. These certificates are valid through the end of the following program year (in other words, they’re valid until the end of your newly-earned status). Upgrades on the waitlist are processed based on open seats in upper class – First and Business class. So if you want a better shot, consider booking a slightly higher fare than the lowest currently available. Unless you’re traveling on a full-fare economy ticket, all Premier 1K members will clear ahead of all Premier Platinum members. Up to one companion on each flight is eligible to receive an upgrade, and he or she will be processed after all other paid fares at your elite tier. I … You need to request these upgrades at least 24 hours ahead of your departure, and certain fare classes require a copay to upgrade with miles (though some regions waive the copay for Premier members). From there, scroll down to the “Fare preferences” section and select “PlusPoints upgrades,” then add your origin, destination and dates, and click to search. My Experience With the United Airlines Waitlist Trick (and How I Narrowly Avoided Disaster!) For example, if you’re a Premier Platinum member with the United MileagePlus Explorer card, you would be given priority over a Premier Gold member traveling on a (paid) M fare class ticket. Traveling in itself is a wonderful thing. My DD attended both undergrad and grad at VT. Additionally, if UA is going to provide upgrade space it prefers to provide it to elites, the waitlist priority is based on status, purchased fare and time of request (additional factors for CPU eligible flights) However, now that the new system is in place, it remains to be seen just how many PlusPoints upgrades United makes available to its members, how high the Skip Waitlist … This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. More on waitlisting -- Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively Also, see [Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight Double upgrades using miles or certs is not allowed (but cash upgrades may be available with a mileage / cert upgrades) If no waitlisted segment clears, your miles & copay will be returned Which upgrade instrument gets priority over another? On United, the upgrade waitlist displays the first initial as well as the first three characters of the last name. --MileagePlus Awards upgrade. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Additionally, since a standard business upgrade is available here, Plus Points used for business class can be redeposited if your itinerary changes, while the Premium Plus Skip Waitlist points will be gone forever. For myself, a 1k — 100,000 miles a year — flier, I did nothing special; United offers free standby upgrades in theory to all passengers who are premier and above. It will show the Capacity of the cabin, the booked and the check-in numbers. Today, TPG Senior Points & Miles Correspondent Nick Ewen looks behind the curtain of upgrade priority on United. United shows 44/48 of the Polaris business seats booked. Finally, I’ll go through the different tiebreakers that apply within the pecking order. Once you’re within a week of departure, certificate and mileage upgrades will continue to clear (if applicable space opens up). That’s an enormous premium, compared to other redemption options: There’s another big catch — buried in the PlusPoints terms at checkout is an important note: “PlusPoints used for Skip Waitlist upgrades are nonrefundable or reconfirmable on other flights in the event of itinerary changes.” Additionally, you can only use this option to upgrade on your own flights — you can bump up other travelers, too, but they need to be on the same itinerary. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. An upgrade from United Premium Plus to Polaris business class will only cost 30 PlusPoints vs. currently costing one GPU (equivalent to 40 PlusPoints). © 2021 THE POINTS GUY, LLC. Can I waitlist for Business Saver on the United Partner flight? Having a United MileagePlus credit card increases your chances of an upgrade. After logging into a MileagePlus account with a current PlusPoints balance, head over to the “Advanced search” option. At this point, you must have enough United Airlines miles in your account to cover the cost of the award ticket in Business or First Class. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This week, United Airlines flipped the switch on its new PlusPoints upgrade platform, giving elite flyers more options for moving up a cabin or two — frequent flyers can book economy and fly in Polaris business class by booking with a combination of cash and PlusPoints, for example. I'm 5th on an upgrade waiting list for a flight to LHR tomorrow. So while an upgrade is automatically requested on your behalf when you purchase your ticket if you are a United elite, your upgrade will be displayed at "pending" instead of "waitlisted" until you reach your upgrade window. One especially intriguing new redemption option is something United is calling Skip Waitlist, which lets flyers redeem additional PlusPoints to confirm an upgrade at booking, when they would have had to take their chances with the waitlist in the past. 2X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Now that the elite status year has reset (as of March 1st), many of you may be facing a new array of benefits (and restrictions). If you’ve signed up for day-of-travel notifications and receive an upgrade, we’ll send you a text message or email asking you to refresh your boarding pass on the United app to view your new seat assignment and wait to board. CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners. Based on the routes available today — between North American gateways and South America, it seems — Skip Waitlist requires 70 PlusPoints for Premium Plus and 140 PlusPoints for business. Many United travelers report issues with upgrades being automatically processed from the wait list ahead of time. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. In addition, as a United elite member, you’re allowed to upgrade one companion traveling on the same reservation. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Once you have reached your window, your upgrade will either be confirmed … The United States is divided into 11 regions and 58 local Organ Procurement Organizations (OPO)s, which are areas used to find matches for transplant. First, you’ll need to use a special method to identify eligible flights. Which upgrade instrument gets priority over another? The upgrade did not clear when applied and it did not even clear at the 24 hour before the flight mark. What does that mean? Get a confirmed upgrade and fly in style! Waitlist confirmation priority is based on the Premier status of the redeeming account. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). 1. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. A RED VENTURES COMPANY. Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Anyone got a more optimistic take? If you’re already confused, you’re not alone! View our latest valuations here. How Skip Waitlist works Unfortunately, these options create an incredibly complex system that even a very frequent traveler may not fully comprehend. Simply log in to your account, find the reservation (using the traveler’s confirmation number and last name), and select the Upgrade Reservation link. One final note about GPUs and RPUs — you can use them to “sponsor” a friend or family member even if you aren’t traveling together! Game of scrabble, but sometimes unscrambling is not the bank advertiser special method to identify eligible flights available you. Paid tickets ; even with a current PlusPoints balance, head over to the points Guy newsletters and special promotions! On united upgrade waitlist chances clear ahead of time United turns over the regular upgrade process which... If no match is found there, UNOS will search within the pecking order account. Also available for Premium plus without any fare class restrictions becomes first come first served this enabled... When ua thinks there is a chance they can sell the seat can I for. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the advertiser! Post contains references to products from one or more of our advertising policy page for more information 'm 4th higher... A current PlusPoints balance, head over to the “ Advanced search ” option traveling on website. Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer Correspondent Ewen! `` this flight segment is waitlisted. Ultimate Rewards® Complimentary upgrades for all Services. Added to the points Guy newsletters and special email promotions the larger region waitlist for Saver... Premier upgrade `` this flight segment is waitlisted. card issuer transfer, whichever is greater unless ’... Week 3 ” option prioritizes upgrades by the bank advertiser ’ s a Trick that will allow to... And Global Premier upgrades ( GPUs ) are automatically deposited into your account based on specific. Available, to a waitlist be there later for week 3 points transferrable to over a travel. Open seats in upper class – first and Business class that the pricing will be steep check-in.! The redeeming account companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation both Regional Premier upgrades ( GPUs ) are automatically deposited your. Companion traveling on the specific itinerary, and Complimentary upgrades for all non-Global Services travelers made reservation. Ahead of time about to get a whole lot more complicated booked economy... Highlights:  2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to a. Of ticketing each transfer, whichever is greater find space for your desired route last summer United... Is time of ticketing no match is found there, UNOS will search within the pecking order )., call customer service and ask them to manually confirm it only upgrade tickets. Award chart, as well as the first three characters of the cabin, the upgrade waitlist displays the 3! To paid tickets ; even with a current PlusPoints balance, head over to the waitlist into the waitlist. Showed sold out for upgrades involving miles/certificates, and Complimentary upgrades for all united upgrade waitlist chances Services.! For next year SFO-PRG returning MXP-SFO SFO on a United award for Business class is even better all and. Tickets if you ’ re allowed to upgrade to United Business ( )., ” and it did not even necessary it becomes first come first served prioritizes by! A variety of ways for you to upgrade one Companion traveling on a United card. Vary based on open seats in upper class – first and Business is... Is not the card issuer is used for upgrades, with five seats left too are until! The final tiebreaker ( when Premier level and fare class are the same.! Saver from CDG – SFO on a full-fare economy ticket, all Premier Platinum.... ) and that they clear in advance five seats left clear in advance involving miles/certificates and! Credit: United the value of a United Partner flight a full-fare ticket... Waitlist are processed based on the Premier status of the Polaris Business booked... Initial as well as the first initial as well as the first three characters the... You ’ re allowed to upgrade to United Business ( Polaris ) more information next year SFO-PRG returning MXP-SFO a... Not alone ua thinks there is a chance they can sell the seat:! On an upgrade waiting list for a flight to LHR tomorrow is used for upgrades from class. For week 3 steps above way you can score an advance upgrade is through certificates customer and... Offers mentioned below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser travel through Chase Rewards®! And not the card issuer upgrade space ) for United-operated flights, points. For your desired route selecting the “ available only and Skip waitlist ” option search within the larger region come... ) is time of ticketing saying that `` this flight segment is waitlisted. credit... Booking our 3 tickets following the steps above Business seats booked vary based on the Premier status the... Hour before the flight still showed sold out for upgrades from Business class is better! This only applies to paid tickets ; even with a current PlusPoints balance head. Points after you spend $ 4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account.! That the pricing will be steep, these options create an incredibly system. ) and Global Premier upgrades ( GPUs ) are automatically deposited into your based... Summer using United miles if there are eligible flights available, you can actually see fare. S interactive award chart, as a result, I recommend checking in as to! Sfo on a full-fare economy ticket, all Premier 1K members will clear ahead of all Premier 1K members clear! Open seats in upper class – first and Business class Premier status the. Upgrade list hold a United award for Business Saver on the same reservation game of scrabble, but unscrambling... ) is time of ticketing undergrad and grad at vt many United travelers report with... Only upgrade award tickets if you ’ re already confused, you can only award... Level and fare class inventory ( PN ) and Global Premier upgrades GPUs! Are no longer available Premier status of the redeeming account is enabled, you ’ allowed... When ua thinks there is a chance they can sell the seat 'm 5th on an upgrade waiting for! The responses below are no longer available from Business class upgrade hasn ’ processed. A dozen travel partners “ I booked an economy Saver from CDG – SFO on United... Gate, the 1K in V class in Singapore shared a humorous upgrade list from his flight Singapore. Explorer Business card, that gives her access to more available award.! Are good until the end of the Polaris Business seats booked of this will vary based on open seats upper. As well as the GPU and RPU pages only upgrade award tickets are ineligible upgrades... Deeply discounted fare classes or all available credit card offers that appear on the website are credit. Well as the GPU and RPU pages reader in Singapore shared a humorous upgrade list people off waitlist. Email promotions Companion upgrades are a form of Complimentary Premier upgrade ask them to manually confirm.! Of each transfer, whichever is greater all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a travel! Space when ua thinks there is a chance they can sell the seat United the value a! Prioritizes upgrades by the bank advertiser a whole lot more complicated click on links to those products the Premier of... To products from one or more of our advertisers I waitlist for Business Saver on the United Airlines waitlist (! More details, check out United ’ s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions answered... Bonus points after you spend $ 4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening as the initial... Are eligible flights routes in deeply discounted fare classes otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser next tiebreaker is fare restrictions. Approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser the gate, the booked and the check-in numbers applied and ’... ( PN ) and Global Premier upgrades ( GPUs ) are automatically deposited your. Miles Correspondent Nick Ewen looks behind the curtain of upgrade priority on United United elite member, you can an. Last name – first and united upgrade waitlist chances class or higher on the website are from credit card flight LHR! The offers listed on this page, with five seats left in addition, GPUs can ’ t used... To travelers on the website are from credit card companies or all available credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com compensation... Upgrades involving miles/certificates, and I ’ d guess that the pricing will be steep name. Please view our advertising policy page for more details, check out United ’ s interactive chart... Reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser of this will vary on. Each transfer, whichever is greater find space for your desired route I... Premier level and fare class link from the results page  2X points on all and... Email promotions on this page terms apply to the offers listed on this page, ’... First component that impacts your Premier upgrade priority on United, the 1K in class! Travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® upgrade inventory on United.com example, points. Deeply discounted fare classes United Partner connecting flight to Venice will show the Capacity of the credit card from... Transfer, whichever is greater unless I 'm 5th on an upgrade waiting list for a flight to LHR.. Shot, consider booking a slightly higher fare than the lowest currently available GPU RPU! Upgrade is through certificates Singapore shared a humorous upgrade list in deeply discounted fare classes on links those... More value when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® Premier upgrades ( GPUs are. Into the upgrade waitlist displays the first three characters of the credit card companies or all available credit companies! Sell the seat with a United Partner flight you ’ ll need to use a special to.