How To Upgrade On Your Next United Airlines Flight (2024)

Quick Links

  • The three types of upgrades
  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades
  • MileagePlus Upgrade Awards
  • PlusPoints
  • Skipping the Waitlist with PlusPoints
  • The benefits of the upgraded cabin

Summary

  • United MileagePlus offers three types of upgrades: CPUs, PlusPoints, and MileagePlus.
  • Upgrade priority is determined by status level, fare class, and more.
  • PlusPoints can be used for Polaris upgrades, but be aware of restrictions and expiration dates.

Good value, or even free, cabin upgrading is one of the most desirable perks of loyalty programs. Miles or points collected in the program can usually be used towards upgrades, and elite status can lead to free upgrades.

United Airlines offers different ways to upgrade for its MileagePlus members. This is possible on both domestic and regional flights, as well as on long-haul flights into the excellent Polaris business class cabin. The system is a bit complicated when decoding complementary, PlusPoints, and MileagePlus upgrades, all with a different clearing order. So here's your guide to upgrading on your next United flight.

The three types of upgrades

With a program as big and complex as MileagePlus, it is no surprise that there are different ways for members to upgrade. In summary, United Airlines has three different types of upgrades.

How To Upgrade On Your Next United Airlines Flight (1)

Photo: Vincenzo Pace| Simple Flying

  • The first is Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs), available on domestic US, Canadian, and Mexican routes, excluding premium transcontinental flights (Newark to San Francisco and Los Angeles). These don't require any additional payment and are cleared in order of status, depending on the fare class.
  • The second type is upgrades through PlusPoints. PlusPoints are awarded to Premier Platinum and 1K members only. These points can then be used to apply for upgrades, which are confirmed depending on availability.
  • Thirdly, there are MileagePlus Upgrades. As the name suggests, this allows travelers to use miles to apply for a move to the next cabin, depending on availability. These are available on all United routes and may require a cash co-pay.
How To Upgrade On Your Next United Airlines Flight (2)

Photo: United Airlines

All upgrade requests are determined based on the following priority:

  • United Global Services member requests.
  • United Premier Plus passengers (where available).
  • PlusPoints and MileagePlus request upgrades.
  • Premier status level (in descending order: 1K, Platinum, Gold, Silver).
  • Fare class (Y, B, and M fare classes are eligible for instant upgrades, for example).
  • Chase United MileagePlus credit card and Presidential Plus cardholders.
  • United Corporate Preferred members.
  • United Chase Card members with $25,000 in annual spending.
  • Date and time of request.

Complimentary Premier Upgrades

Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs) are cleared in the order listed above but are only available on flights within the mainland US (excluding premium transcontinental ones) to or from Alaska, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.

You may be used to seeing these upgrades on the boarding gate screens at airports, but you could be confirmed for an upgrade well before that. Elite members on any tier booked into the Y and B fare classes (highest economy fares) are instantly confirmed if there is space onboard, as well as M fare class travelers who are Premier 1K or Global Services.

How To Upgrade On Your Next United Airlines Flight (3)

Photo: United Airlines

Upgrades begin confirming 96 hours before travel for 1K Members, 72 hours before for Platinum, 48 hours before for Gold, and on the day of departure for Silver members. Notably, upgrades also apply to one companion on the same PNR, and those traveling on Award tickets are eligible but only if they hold a co-brand credit card.

MileagePlus Upgrade Awards

If you don't wish to rely on availability, don't hold top-tier United status, or are flying outside the Americas, MileagePlus Upgrade Awards (MUAs) are the next best way to move up a class. These upgrades are available on all routes and clear in the same order as listed above, outranking complimentary requests. Within MUAs, the order is determined by status level, fare class, and so on.

How To Upgrade On Your Next United Airlines Flight (4)

Photo:Angel DiBilio | Shutterstock

United has an online tool to determine how many miles you need, which can vary from as little as 7,000 to 30,000 on long-haul flights. These upgrades also require a co-pay, so be prepared to pay anywhere from $75 to $600, depending on the route. Premier members of any tier flying within the continental US (no premium transcontinental), Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, Alaska, and from the West Coast to Hawaii don't have to pay a co-pay.

How To Upgrade On Your Next United Airlines Flight (5)

Photo: United Airlines

Of course, these awards are much harder to come by since the airline reserves most seats for revenue travelers. To see availability, click on Advanced Search and then select Upgrades > MileagePlus Upgrades. This will show the available upgrade options and if routes are waitlisted or not.

PlusPoints

The last method to upgrade is using PlusPoints. MileagePlus members who reach Premier Platinum are given 40 PlusPoints, and 1K members receive another 280 PlusPoints for upgrades. The graphic below shows how many points you need to upgrade in each cabin.

How To Upgrade On Your Next United Airlines Flight (6)

Photo: United Airlines

As you can see in the priority listing above, PlusPoints sit right after Global Service member requests and, therefore, are a valuable way to upgrade. Unlike MUAs, PlusPoints spent on United are only deducted when your upgrade clears, allowing you to book multiple upgrade requests and remove them if the highest one clears.

For upgrades to Polaris business class, United only charges 30 PlusPoints from Premium Plus and 40 from Economy, so it can be worth booking a higher fare economy class if considering an upgrade. PlusPoints also expire at the end of the program year, in which you reach Premier Platinum or 1K, so they must be spent.

Related

The Different Tiers Of United Airlines' MileagePlus Program

Elite status brings benefits when flying United Airlines and across the Star Alliance.

Skipping the Waitlist with PlusPoints

To make PlusPoints upgrades even more lucrative, United introduced "Skip Waitlist" awards. On select international flights, Premier 1K members can spend double the PlusPoints to confirm the upgrade instantly.

However, there's a huge catch (in addition to the points needed) - these awards cannot be changed and must be booked 30 days in advance. Additionally, they have an even more limited scope of use.

Read more about United Airlines MileagePlus, its rule, and perks in our comprehensive guide.

The benefits of the upgraded cabin

Upgrading is always welcome, but it is important to know what you are getting when you do this. As is common with many large international airlines, United offers two different business/first class products. The domestic and regional first class products on narrowbody and some widebody aircraft are typical of the main US legacy airlines. It offers:

  • More spacious dedicated 2-2 seating on narrowbody aircraft.
  • Onboard catering.
  • Lounge access is not offered based on cabin. This will depend on the the travelers' status or lounge membership.
How To Upgrade On Your Next United Airlines Flight (8)

Photo:EQRoy| Shutterstock

The long-haul product found on most international routes and widebody aircraft is very different. United brands this as Polaris. Over time, the new seating has been installed on most (but not quite all) widebody aircraft. Polaris offers:

  • Lie flat seats/beds, mostly with aisle access. The product differs between aircraft types.
  • Enhanced onboard service, meals, bedding, and amenities.
  • Polaris lounge access is available at major airports, including Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington Dulles. At other locations, you will get United or partner lounge access.

Related

Review: United Boeing 777 Polaris Business Class, London - Washington

Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today.

Do you regularly upgrade cabins with United? Which method do you use, and how do you find the process and upgraded cabin experience? Let us know in the comments section below.

  • How To Upgrade On Your Next United Airlines Flight (10)
    MileagePlus

    Participating Airlines:
    United Airlines

    Owner:
    United Airlines

    Region:
    North America

    Countries:
    United States

    Established Date:
    1981-05-00
  • How To Upgrade On Your Next United Airlines Flight (11)
    United Airlines

    Region:
    North America

    Loyalty Program:
    MileagePlus
How To Upgrade On Your Next United Airlines Flight (2024)

FAQs

How To Upgrade On Your Next United Airlines Flight? ›

Pick your flight

How to ask for an upgrade on United Airlines? ›

Call United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) or your designated Premier service line. Once you're within 24 hours of departure, you can make your request at the check-in counter or at the gate with a United representative.

How does United decide who gets upgraded? ›

If an upgrade seat becomes available, waitlisted customers are confirmed automatically based on the Premier status of the traveler first, followed by fare class, Chase United MileagePlus Club cardholders, United Corporate Preferred participants, and lastly by the date and time of request.

How to get upgraded without paying on United? ›

Complimentary Premier Upgrades are free, space-available upgrades for Premier members on select United and United Express flights*. Premier members who are cardholders may be able to use this type of upgrade on award flights**. On some flights, you can get a Complimentary Premier Upgrade for one travel companion.

How do I ask for a free flight upgrade? ›

  1. JOIN THE AIRLINE'S FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM.
  2. GET TO THE AIRPORT EARLY.
  3. IF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL OCCASION, ADVERTISE IT.
  4. ASK THE GATE AGENTS (NICELY)
  5. IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, BE REALLY NICE TO THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS.

What do you say when asking for an upgrade? ›

Don't be afraid to simply ask for an upgrade — just be polite, respectful and kind. Of course they can always say no, but what have you got to lose? If you don't try, you'll never know.

How far in advance will United upgrade you? ›

If you aren't upgraded instantly — or are booked into a lower fare class — complimentary upgrades, in theory, begin to clear based on your elite status at the following windows: Premier 1K: 96 hours/four days before departure. Premier Platinum: 72 hours/three days before departure.

Why do I never get upgraded on United? ›

Not everyone who books a United flight can be upgraded. There are certain fare classes that aren't eligible — such as basic economy — and certain limitations, like upgrades for award tickets. That being said, there are ways to upgrade nearly every flight except for seats in basic economy.

What fare class can be upgraded on United? ›

Business class C and D fares and Economy class Y and B can be upgraded, and other fare types may also be eligible depending on the airline.

Do airlines actually give free upgrades? ›

On almost every flight, the passengers who get upgrades are either the ones who pay for them (whether in dollars or miles) in advance or frequent fliers with elite status who receive complimentary upgrades as part of their perks. There are very few exceptions, so don't expect to score a free upgrade by just asking.

How do you increase your chances of getting upgraded on a flight? ›

The surest way to get upgraded for free on a flight is to have elite status with the airline. Frequent fliers with airline loyalty will always get priority when there are empty seats to be filled in first class or business class.

How to get bumped to first class? ›

Generally, the greater your frequent flyer status, the more likely you are to get upgraded to First Class. But even if you don't have top-tier status, there are ways to increase your chances, such as arriving early for check-in, dressing professionally, and politely asking the gate agent if any upgrades are available.

Can you get bumped up to first class for free? ›

While the best way to get upgraded to first class for free is to earn elite airline status, there are other instances when you may be able to swing it. All major airlines offer the possibility of upgrades for frequent fliers, though not necessarily on every route.

How do airlines choose who to upgrade? ›

Nowadays, the majority of upgrades are done via an airline's computer system, which will typically generate a list of who should be offered an upgrade based on a combination of data (rewards program membership, affiliated credit cards, etc.)

Can a flight attendant upgrade you for free? ›

According to two former flight crew members, travelers very rarely are given a free upgrade to a better seat — with the exception of frequent flyers with elite status — but they can ask to pay for one, per Travel + Leisure.

Are last minute flight upgrades cheaper? ›

So, many airlines offer very affordable paid upgrades to travelers close to departure. Keep an eye out for upgrade offers in the days before your flight — and especially during the check-in process. To turn a paid upgrade into a free upgrade, you'll need to charge it to the right credit card.

How do I ask my flight attendant for an upgrade? ›

Flight attendants revealed that passengers who want to upgrade their seats should submit their request at the boarding door as soon as possible.

How do I request an upgrade on a flight seat? ›

7 ways to get upgraded on a flight
  1. Earn airline elite status. ...
  2. Fly with someone who has airline elite status. ...
  3. Ask an elite member for their unused upgrades. ...
  4. Volunteer for an oversold flight. ...
  5. Purchase upgrades with the right credit card. ...
  6. Use miles to upgrade. ...
  7. Pay for a last-minute upgrade.
Jan 11, 2024

Can you ask an airline for an upgrade? ›

You can always ask nicely - and preferably talk to a supervisor that MAY have the authorisation to do a complimentary upgrade. It will always be a plus the higher your status is with the airline. However - do not get your hopes up. There has to be a specific situation / reason for the upgrade.

How do you bid for an upgrade on flights? ›

You can go to the airline's website and see if your flight is eligible. Airlines that offer bid upgrades typically have dedicated pages on their websites where passengers can provide their booking details to find out if they are eligible to bid for an upgrade.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Lidia Grady

Last Updated:

Views: 5235

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (45 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Lidia Grady

Birthday: 1992-01-22

Address: Suite 493 356 Dale Fall, New Wanda, RI 52485

Phone: +29914464387516

Job: Customer Engineer

Hobby: Cryptography, Writing, Dowsing, Stand-up comedy, Calligraphy, Web surfing, Ghost hunting

Introduction: My name is Lidia Grady, I am a thankful, fine, glamorous, lucky, lively, pleasant, shiny person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.