How To Get Upgraded On United Airlines

How To Get Upgraded On United Airlines

United Airlines provides numerous upgrade options across its various fare tiers. It can seem impossible to secure a front-row seat if you aren’t part of the elite, but that’s not necessarily the case. Learn more about the many United Airlines upgrades, how to get on the upgrade queue, the value of elite status, and more by reading this detailed guide.

Required PlusPoints upgrades Pricing Listed Below:

United Premium Plus to United Business on short-haul10 points
United Premium Plus to United Polaris business class on long-haul30 Points
United Economy to United First or United Business on short-haul20 Points
United Economy to United Polaris business class on long-haul40 Points
Discounted economy to United Polaris business class on long-haul80 Points

Can United miles be used for an upgrade?

If you have enough United MileagePlus Frequent Flyer miles, the airline will let you upgrade your seat. United Airlines allows you to request a seat upgrade when making a reservation or after the fact. 

Here’s how you can pay using a United upgrade with miles: 

  • To get started, go to United’s official website and use the Advanced Search feature. Finding flights that can be upgraded using United miles and cash is now easier with this tool.
  • After inputting your departure, destination, and travel dates, navigates to the Upgrades, certificates, and promotion codes section. Select MileagePlus Upgrade Awards from the menu.
  • Check out the various obtainable enhancements. If you are not a Premier Elite member, you may be able to pay for an upgrade with miles alone or choose to pay the difference. There are two possible fare tier upgrades, from economy to business and first class.
  • Let’s say the price of an economy ticket is $1,217. United requires 25,000 miles in addition to a 125 USD per person, per direction seat upgrade cost to move to business class.

How to Upgrade an Existing Reservation with Miles?

If you’ve already purchased your ticket but would like to go up to the next service level, here’s what you need to do: 

⦁ Digital

To view your current reservation, please sign in to your MileagePlus account. Click on Redeem to explore your options. Here, you can pay for a premium cabin upgrade, use PlusPoints (if available), or combine miles and cash to produce for the promotion.

⦁ Reach Out to United Airlines –  

If you’d like to upgrade your current United Airlines reservation, you can do so by calling the airline directly.

⦁ Improved Airports – 

Ask for premium cabin upgrades when you check in at the airport.

Can you upgrade your seat when flying with United Airlines?

To avoid any confusion, passengers are encouraged to read the following United Airlines seat upgrade policy before requesting a seat upgrade:

  • To receive a gratis premium upgrade, a United Airlines passenger must be a premier member with a higher rank than you.
  • United Airlines requires that all requests for seat upgrades be made at the airport or online at least 24 hours before departure.
  • Any ticket or cabin class can be upgraded using a MileagePlus Upgrade award.
  • Customers using MileagePlus upgrade awards might expect few choices.

How do you upgrade a seat on United?

Customers of United Airlines who have recently purchased economy class tickets are increasingly interested in switching to a more luxurious cabin class. As a result, you heard conversations about “how to get upgraded on United” for booking. In this case, you can upgrade your seat through the “manage booking” section of the airline’s website. Please complete the tasks outlined in the online instructions below.

  • The first thing to do is to go to United Airlines’ main website.
  • Click on the link that says “My Trips” to continue.
  • Then, input your reservation information, including the confirmation number and full name.
  • Information about your United Airlines ticket should now be shown.
  • Then, choose the “change your seat/upgrade your seat” option.
  • Seat assignments are displayed on a map, and you must select the one that best suits your needs.
  • Then, based on your desired cabin, you can inquire about the seat upgrade charge.
  • Finish the procedure to upgrade your seat.
  • You will receive a confirmation email from United Airlines.

United Airlines complimentary premier upgrades:

Flights inside the continental United States (excluding premium transcontinental flights), to/from Alaska, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America are the only ones where CPUs can be approved in the sequence given above.

You might be used to seeing United complimentary premier upgrades displayed on airport boarding gate screens, but you could already know you’re getting one. All Y and B fare class (highest economy) bookings made by Elite members of any tier, as well as Premier 1K and Global Services M fare class bookings, are automatically confirmed if space is available.

1K Members can begin confirming upgrades 96 hours before departure, Platinum Members 72 hours, Gold Members 48 hours, and Silver Members on the day of departure. Importantly, if you travel on an Award ticket but have a co-brand credit card, you and a companion on the same PNR are eligible for upgrades.

How to Get an Upgrade on United Airlines?

Here is the process of upgrade United Flight:

  • To use your United upgrade miles or certificate, you must have a ticket in a qualifying fare class.
  • Check the United Airlines website or contact customer care to see if your preferred flight offers upgrade options.
  • Upgrade requests can be submitted via the United website app or by calling +1-800-548-3192.
  • If your upgrade request is approved, you will receive a confirmation email or message.
  • Co-payments and fare variances may be required, depending on your fare class and upgrade type.
  • Once your upgrade has been processed, you will be entitled to all the comforts and services of the higher fare during your flight.
  • Always double-check with United Airlines for the latest and most accurate information, as the particular steps and processes may change.

How do I get on the list to be upgraded on United Airlines?

You must know for how to get on United upgrade list. Flying with United Airlines will be an experience you will remember. Their website and app allow you to view up-to-date trip details and deals. Travelling in style and comfort is a goal for all passengers.

If you book a flight in the economy or a cheaper fare category, you can pay more for more luxurious seats. United Airlines’ upgrade list is only accessible to subscribers of the airline’s mileage plus programme. Up to 24 hours before your flight, you’ll find everything you need to upgrade your experience here.

Details on United Airlines’ upgrading policy are as follows:

  • Passengers can upgrade their travel by the mileage points to gain priority on the upgrade waiting list. To accomplish this, familiarise yourself with the upgrade’s specific requirements and guidelines outlined in this section.
  • United Airlines will prioritise your upgrade request if you make it within the preceding 24 hours. 
  • At the time-of-flight check-in, if you have not confirmed the upgrade, you will be automatically added to the upgrade list. 
  • Process of your online upgrade request will be done three hours before departure, and all other upgrades will be completed at the gates. 
  • First, they dealt with the premium passengers’ requests for seats in United Polaris’ business class or on the business class waiting list.
  • You can request the mileage plus upgrades on United Airlines to most of the fare kinds and not on the discounted airline tickets. 
  • If the reservation is successful, the upgrade will be processed immediately. 
  • Upgrades through mileage accrual or loyalty programmes must be purchased at the same fare level as the initial ticket. 
  • Those on the waiting list will be upgraded to the next available seat in their fare class. 
  • United Airlines will issue a full refund if you change your reservation from business class to premium plus and then change your mind. 

How to apply to be on the waiting list for a United Airlines upgrade?

Once you’ve familiarised yourself with the criteria for requesting a flight upgrade, you can do it electronically. Here are the steps you may take to get started in the right direction.

  • It would help if you started by visiting United Airlines’ main website.
  • Then, in the upper right corner, you’ll see a sign-in button.
  • A valid United MileagePlus account number and password will grant access to your account.
  • Information on how to submit your flight search parameters and obtain a curated list will be provided. 
  • Select “get an upgrade” from the menu that appears. 
  • Choose the fare class that you’ll be upgrading to. 
  • The list of available upgrades will be displayed once you click the search button. 
  • From the offered seat map, you can choose the preferred seats and go ahead. 
  • There, you can provide both the total requested mileage and the total available mileage. 
  • At long last, you must examine the pertinent information and set up a waiting list.
  • United Airlines will let you know once the upgrade is ready to be issued and the waiting list has been removed. 
  • Although a list of your destination airports is available when you check in for your travel. 

Best way to get a United First-Class upgrade:

There are methods to get a free United First-Class upgrade. You should know appropriate details for how to upgrade to first class on United Airlines. You can upgrade your ticket with frequent flyer miles or PlusPoints. You can also get a promotion for free on a domestic flight if you reach the elite level.

united airlines seat upgrade points

If you arrive early for check-in, you can inquire about any available upgrades with the counter or gate agent. Keep in mind, however, that upgrades are never assured and are always subject to supply and demand. Finally, if you frequently receive free upgrades and priority boarding, apply for a United credit card.  

In addition to the online form, you can contact a representative. You can count on them to guide you toward viable solutions. United Airlines’ customer service number is 1-800-548-3192 call that number and proceed with the prompts. Get on the United Airlines upgrade once you’ve spoken with the pros. When you make a reservation, they will show you the available seats in your selected cabin.