Topic Wiki

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 507461 times)

Offline LAXtraveler

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 1070
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: LAX
  • Programs: AAdvantage, DL Skymiles, SPG Gold, Hyatt Platinum, Avis Preferred, National Executive, Hertz #1 Club Gold
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1340 on: May 14, 2015, 01:24:30 PM »

Sounds right. Can you post a screen shot?

Will do that when I get back to my computer. Thanks.

Offline LAXtraveler

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 1070
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: LAX
  • Programs: AAdvantage, DL Skymiles, SPG Gold, Hyatt Platinum, Avis Preferred, National Executive, Hertz #1 Club Gold
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1341 on: May 14, 2015, 04:04:10 PM »
Sounds right. Can you post a screen shot?

See below for my set up.  Let me know if you think it is OK.  Thanks.

Offline D93

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jul 2014
  • Posts: 8791
  • Total likes: 21
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
    • View Profile
  • Location: PHL - TLV
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1342 on: May 14, 2015, 05:19:21 PM »
See below for my set up.  Let me know if you think it is OK.  Thanks.

Looks perfect.

Offline LAXtraveler

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 1070
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: LAX
  • Programs: AAdvantage, DL Skymiles, SPG Gold, Hyatt Platinum, Avis Preferred, National Executive, Hertz #1 Club Gold
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1343 on: May 14, 2015, 05:21:08 PM »
Looks perfect.

Excellent, thanks.

Offline LAXtraveler

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 1070
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: LAX
  • Programs: AAdvantage, DL Skymiles, SPG Gold, Hyatt Platinum, Avis Preferred, National Executive, Hertz #1 Club Gold
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1344 on: May 19, 2015, 03:40:44 PM »
Update: already confirmed on one of the flights that were waitlisted.  Didn't even have to call up - automatically got moved up and then went to the reservation just pick a seat.

Online Moishebatchy

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 7278
  • Total likes: 150
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 23
    • View Profile
  • Location: Jerusalem
  • Programs: Arzei Makolet Platinum, Yossi's Makolet Silver, Yesh! Gold, Rav Kav Dirt
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1345 on: May 19, 2015, 03:48:42 PM »
Looks perfect.

It's not a "genuine" Plan B, though. It's simply a regular case of the feeder legs being waitlisted for the front cabin.

Offline LAXtraveler

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 1070
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: LAX
  • Programs: AAdvantage, DL Skymiles, SPG Gold, Hyatt Platinum, Avis Preferred, National Executive, Hertz #1 Club Gold
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1346 on: May 19, 2015, 03:49:26 PM »
It's not a "genuine" Plan B, though. It's simply a regular case of the feeder legs being waitlisted for the front cabin.

Correct, but it still needs to be manually put in as a Plan B would be.  The agent said it would not be automatic unless I requested as I did - would have just been a mixed-cabin award.

Online Moishebatchy

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 7278
  • Total likes: 150
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 23
    • View Profile
  • Location: Jerusalem
  • Programs: Arzei Makolet Platinum, Yossi's Makolet Silver, Yesh! Gold, Rav Kav Dirt
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1347 on: May 19, 2015, 03:56:38 PM »
Exactly. But 1) the full biz miles were already deducted anyway, regardless of the upgrade request, and 2) you wouldn't be entitled to any sort of refund even if the upgrade doesn't clear. Hence my observation. Feel free to ignore it, perhaps I'm old and senile. ;)

Offline moneyman

  • Dansdeals Bronze Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 26
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: israel
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1348 on: May 19, 2015, 07:28:27 PM »
If i booked this ticket about a month ago on a saaver economy reward, can i still do plan B since its still months before the flight or is it too late since i already booked it? Sorry for being a novice. Thanx in advance!!

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Day, Date   Flight   Class   Departure City and Time   Arrival City and Time   Aircraft   Meal
Mon, 10AUG15   UA1165   XN   LOS ANGELES, CA
(LAX) 10:25 PM   NEWARK, NJ
(EWR - LIBERTY) 6:29 AM      
Tue, 11AUG15   UA84   XN   NEWARK, NJ
(EWR - LIBERTY) 4:40 PM   TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
(TLV) 10:15 AM (12AUG)   777-200   Dinner

Offline LAXtraveler

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 1070
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: LAX
  • Programs: AAdvantage, DL Skymiles, SPG Gold, Hyatt Platinum, Avis Preferred, National Executive, Hertz #1 Club Gold
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1349 on: May 19, 2015, 07:28:33 PM »
Exactly. But 1) the full biz miles were already deducted anyway, regardless of the upgrade request, and 2) you wouldn't be entitled to any sort of refund even if the upgrade doesn't clear. Hence my observation. Feel free to ignore it, perhaps I'm old and senile. ;)

I know that feeling...  :D

Online Moishebatchy

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 7278
  • Total likes: 150
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 23
    • View Profile
  • Location: Jerusalem
  • Programs: Arzei Makolet Platinum, Yossi's Makolet Silver, Yesh! Gold, Rav Kav Dirt
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1350 on: May 20, 2015, 04:11:04 AM »
If i booked this ticket about a month ago on a saaver economy reward, can i still do plan B since its still months before the flight or is it too late since i already booked it? Sorry for being a novice. Thanx in advance!!

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Day, Date   Flight   Class   Departure City and Time   Arrival City and Time   Aircraft   Meal
Mon, 10AUG15   UA1165   XN   LOS ANGELES, CA
(LAX) 10:25 PM   NEWARK, NJ
(EWR - LIBERTY) 6:29 AM      
Tue, 11AUG15   UA84   XN   NEWARK, NJ
(EWR - LIBERTY) 4:40 PM   TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
(TLV) 10:15 AM (12AUG)   777-200   Dinner

Should be fine, give it a try.

Offline moneyman

  • Dansdeals Bronze Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 26
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: israel
Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1351 on: May 20, 2015, 10:30:38 AM »
Moishybatchy- thanx. I tried and she was able to do it. Only thing is when I booked the saver economy i had th cc so i got xn class now that I don't have it any more i only got "i class requested" instead of "IN class". Does it make a difference, meaning is there a better chance of getting business class with "in" than "i".  If yes then could I sign up for the card again and have them change it to "in"? Thanx in advance!!

Offline ilherman

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2013
  • Posts: 8935
  • Total likes: 227
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 35
    • View Profile
  • Location: Brooklyn
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1352 on: May 20, 2015, 10:45:57 AM »
IN does have a better chance. The CC does not give you IN only XN.
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline moneyman

  • Dansdeals Bronze Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 26
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: israel
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1353 on: May 20, 2015, 06:32:13 PM »
Quote
IN does have a better chance. The CC does not give you IN only XN.

Thanx

Offline username

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 4530
  • Total likes: 602
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: C Heights
  • Programs: ┌──────────────────┐ │───> Ữ₴ΣЯИΛΜӘ <─── │ └──────────────────┘
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1354 on: May 20, 2015, 07:06:28 PM »
Forgive me if this has been asked.
When doing a plan B, and you have a domestic short flight, and then the long international flight, can you go to the airport 24 hours before your domestic flight and be put on the top of the list for the international flight?
^^^

Online Moishebatchy

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 7278
  • Total likes: 150
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 23
    • View Profile
  • Location: Jerusalem
  • Programs: Arzei Makolet Platinum, Yossi's Makolet Silver, Yesh! Gold, Rav Kav Dirt
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1355 on: May 21, 2015, 02:28:45 AM »
Forgive me if this has been asked.
When doing a plan B, and you have a domestic short flight, and then the long international flight, can you go to the airport 24 hours before your domestic flight and be put on the top of the list for the international flight?

With enough persistence, I think so.

Offline MillValleyMom

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: May 2015
  • Posts: 3
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Mill Valley, CA
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1356 on: May 22, 2015, 01:10:25 PM »
Ticketed reservation in XN class from SFO to FRA, then X class from FRA to IST on TK. Question, can I Plan B on the SFO to FRA segment by confirming I class on the TK leg (which has availability)? Will I risk losing the additional miles if the SFO segment does not clear, since I will have confirmed the TK leg? I did call UA to see about doing this, but was told they no longer offered waitlist options. Based on other posters, I'm assuming this is a HUCA situation?  Thanks for your help!

Offline Yehoshua

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 10172
  • Total likes: 213
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1357 on: May 22, 2015, 01:13:57 PM »
Ticketed reservation in XN class from SFO to FRA, then X class from FRA to IST on TK. Question, can I Plan B on the SFO to FRA segment by confirming I class on the TK leg (which has availability)? Will I risk losing the additional miles if the SFO segment does not clear, since I will have confirmed the TK leg? I did call UA to see about doing this, but was told they no longer offered waitlist options. Based on other posters, I'm assuming this is a HUCA situation?  Thanks for your help!
Welcome to the forums! You're correct. UA will not refund miles if I doesn't clear SFO-FRA if you confirm J on FRA-IST. If you don't confirm J on the second leg and I doesn't clear you'll get the miles back. If I clears SFO-FRA and J is still available FRA-IST you could have UA confirm you in J on TK after you're already confirmed in I on UA.

Offline MillValleyMom

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: May 2015
  • Posts: 3
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Mill Valley, CA
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1358 on: May 22, 2015, 06:08:59 PM »
Welcome to the forums! You're correct. UA will not refund miles if I doesn't clear SFO-FRA if you confirm J on FRA-IST. If you don't confirm J on the second leg and I doesn't clear you'll get the miles back. If I clears SFO-FRA and J is still available FRA-IST you could have UA confirm you in J on TK after you're already confirmed in I on UA.

Thanks so much, Yehoshua! Are you saying that I can waitlist on the SFO-FRA leg? I thought at least one leg of the trip had to be ticketed in J to do so. How would I go about doing this? Every single agent I've spoken to says that it's not possible to waitlist any longer. Thanks again!

Offline Yehoshua

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 10172
  • Total likes: 213
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1359 on: May 22, 2015, 06:11:14 PM »
Thanks so much, Yehoshua! Are you saying that I can waitlist on the SFO-FRA leg? I thought at least one leg of the trip had to be ticketed in J to do so. How would I go about doing this? Every single agent I've spoken to says that it's not possible to waitlist any longer. Thanks again!
When's the flight?