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All you need to know:
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/38212

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/mileageplus/awards/travel/types.aspx
Click on "United air travel award rules:"
"You may redeem miles for travel in United Global FirstSM, United First®, United Business® or United BusinessFirst® , even if the space is not available. In these cases, United Economy in the same award type must be confirmed, and the front cabin will be waitlisted. For example, a Saver United First award must be confirmed in Saver United Economy to be eligible for waitlisting. If the courtesy waitlist does not clear, it will expire 24 hours before itinerary departure, and you will automatically be added to the airport upgrade standby list upon check-in. In these cases, you will be confirmed on a space-available basis by a United airport representative at the gate once the flight has closed for check-in. For United BusinessFirst and United Business travel awards, the difference in miles will be refunded when the United BusinessFirst or United Business class segment of the trip could not be confirmed. Waitlist requests may only be made over the phone with your local United Reservations office"


« Last edited by HolyNyc on February 02, 2015, 08:51:46 AM »

Author Topic: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability  (Read 507396 times)

Offline Dan

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Before 24 hours is passengers name supposed to be on the upgrade standby list?
I think that may need to be manually added by someone at the airport.
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Offline aussiebochur

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Yay! Upgraded to BF!

But I'm still not sure how it works. Checked the itinerary online at 23 hours out and it said upgrade available.
I'm not sure when it cleared.

Booked into O class and on pda.co doesn't show as upgraded so I'm guessing a seat opened.

Shame, gonna miss all the fun at the airport quoting gg lines...
Boy, was I dreading that...

Would love to know the exact mechanics (which seem a little obscure) but just happy that its confirmed in BF.:)

Offline Dan

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Yay! Upgraded to BF!

But I'm still not sure how it works. Checked the itinerary online at 23 hours out and it said upgrade available.
I'm not sure when it cleared.

Booked into O class and on pda.co doesn't show as upgraded so I'm guessing a seat opened.

Shame, gonna miss all the fun at the airport quoting gg lines...
Boy, was I dreading that...

Would love to know the exact mechanics (which seem a little obscure) but just happy that its confirmed in BF.:)
Congrats!
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Offline sky121

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Hey - I booked a trip for my mother with CO Business to tel aviv and coach on the way home ( there was no business available) -  Now I learned about this plan B option - Do you think there would be a way to call in and have them book it "plan B" style? As of the moment there are no coach tickets available either..but she is already booked with one.. Would that work? Any ideas?
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline EliH

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first time trying plan B- 5/2 CO84 - Question, do I start calling to inquire/push, if yes how far in advance? How does one see the wait list more than 3 days in advance?
Thanks in advance,
Eli

Offline EliH

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Correct that, to this Thursday, 6/2

Offline MLM

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Isnt o class only for Plats?

Offline EliH

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My reservation still shows "This flight segment is waitlisted. "
There seem to be 37 out of 50 biz seats booked. (6/2 #84) How/when do I find out if I will get it before getting to the airport?
Any advice?

Offline EliH

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I got the upgrade. Thanks for sharing Plan B info.
Shabbat Shalom

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I got the upgrade. Thanks for sharing Plan B info.
Shabbat Shalom
Congrats!  When did the upgrade clear?

How was seat 11E, is that one with a large footwell cutout or small footwell cutout?
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Offline Yordai Dooma

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Would this work for a connecting domestic flight.

Such as JFK-DFW-FRA where the JFK-DFW flight is a UA flight and only economy is available. The DFW-FRA is in F on LH. So you pay anyway the cost of F but end up with one leg in economy...

Offline Dan

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Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Yordai Dooma

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Sure
So would i need to call and get put on a waitlist or is that done automatically?

Offline aussiebochur

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So would i need to call and get put on a waitlist or is that done automatically?
Gotta call to waitlist.

You have a pretty good chance, we are 2/2 here...

Offline SPGCont

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Can you do the reverse? i.e. book a continental mileage ticket in business because no availability in coach and later switch to coach if it become available for miles?
If that is allowed, would that incur any fees to make the change and get the extra miles paid refunded?   

Thanks!

Offline EliH

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I/we all cleared 1 hour before the flight. 11E -small footwell compared to 8D/E

I was # 4 on standby list, and not the only "displaced" passenger

Offline shmiel

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Could I be waitlisted for a BF direct flight EWR-TLV even though they only have connection(EWR-FRA-TLV) available at the saver level? I assume the answer is no, just want to confirm.

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Could I be waitlisted for a BF direct flight EWR-TLV even though they only have connection(EWR-FRA-TLV) available at the saver level? I assume the answer is no, just want to confirm.
Nope, but you can keep checking daily for it to open.  If there are extra seats it may even open just hours before the flight.
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Offline goodenglewood

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i thought as long as there is a saverpass in business avilable with a partner, you can waitlist on the CO flight direct from EWR ???

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Let me chime in. Used Plan B for my parents 4 months ago cleared both ways!