Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability

[traveler915]

Waitlisted = Requested

Thanks, hopefully I'll clear.  Has anyone tried doing Plan B on this specific route? (SFO->CDG)

[gswannabe]

My recent experience using plan B.
In EWR the agent had no idea what I was talking about. When the supervisor came over, I explained that I was a displaced business class passenger and therefore entitled to PR1 status on the wait list.
She told me PR1 is only for passengers that were actually confirmed in business class and that I never was so she could only give me PR2 status.
She claimed that she could get in trouble if I was given PR1.
Even after I told her to look up GG one standby ( Who told you about that ? she asked me) she didn't budge.
I didn't argue too much as I saw that I was number 1 on the wait list.
But I never cleared
On the return (from GRU-EWR) they couldn't help me at the checkin kiosk and sent me to the ticket counter.
After explaining that I should be given PR1 status (thats what they told me on the phone..... I said) lo and behold within 2 minutes I was on the top of the wait list of 18 people !
1 seat in business opened up and I sat in the front of the plane

[iwlw2]

Does anybody have specific experiences using Plan B successfully in EWR to recommend who the best person to talk to is and where? Also, while were at it, has anybody successfully done it in TLV and who would be the right person to talk to there (e.g. check in, gate, etc.)? Thanks!

[ilherman]

My recent experience using plan B.
In EWR the agent had no idea what I was talking about. When the supervisor came over, I explained that I was a displaced business class passenger and therefore entitled to PR1 status on the wait list.
She told me PR1 is only for passengers that were actually confirmed in business class and that I never was so she could only give me PR2 status.
She claimed that she could get in trouble if I was given PR1.
Even after I told her to look up GG one standby ( Who told you about that ? she asked me) she didn't budge.
I didn't argue too much as I saw that I was number 1 on the wait list.
But I never cleared
On the return (from GRU-EWR) they couldn't help me at the checkin kiosk and sent me to the ticket counter.
After explaining that I should be given PR1 status (thats what they told me on the phone..... I said) lo and behold within 2 minutes I was on the top of the wait list of 18 people !
1 seat in business opened up and I sat in the front of the plane

Awesome! How many people were on the list on the outbound where you were number 1?

[rileywiles23]

Does anybody have specific experiences using Plan B successfully in EWR to recommend who the best person to talk to is and where? Also, while were at it, has anybody successfully done it in TLV and who would be the right person to talk to there (e.g. check in, gate, etc.)? Thanks!

I wish I remembered the woman who helped me. She actually knew what I was talking about. She just needed to call the rewards desk to confirm that I paid the business amount of points.
She was probably In her high 40's low 50's, and had dirty blonde, cropped hair.
Don't know how much that helps, but that's all I can remember.

[gswannabe]

Awesome! How many people were on the list on the outbound where you were number 1?

There were 4 people after me on the list.

[ilherman]

There were 4 people after me on the list.

I would guess some of them are elites and with PR-2 you were still on top of the list. Seems that PR-2 still puts you ahead of elites.

[D93]

Does anybody have specific experiences using Plan B successfully in EWR to recommend who the best person to talk to is and where?

The club is more helpful than the check in agents.

Also, while were at it, has anybody successfully done it in TLV and who would be the right person to talk to there (e.g. check in, gate, etc.)? Thanks!

There's no one to talk to in TLV.

[MI]

Does it help to use the call back link to be placed in PR-1 Status, or must it be done in the airport?

[iwlw2]

does anyone know if the callback # has been successfully used for the pr-1 status?
Also, I booked a united economy (YN class) one way from Newark to Tel Aviv as there was no saver availability, I called and asked to be waitlisted into business and it shows that I am waitlisted for I class, obviously thats not plan b, but is it worth anything (beyond the remote possibility of an upgrade) I do have the mileage plus credit card if that makes a difference but no status on my mileage plus account.... Thanks!

[iwlw2]

I wish I remembered the woman who helped me. She actually knew what I was talking about. She just needed to call the rewards desk to confirm that I paid the business amount of points.
She was probably In her high 40's low 50's, and had dirty blonde, cropped hair.
Don't know how much that helps, but that's all I can remember.

Where was she, check-in, gate, lounge?

[rileywiles23]

Where was she, check-in, gate, lounge?

She was the supervisor at check in.

[ilherman]

does anyone know if the callback # has been successfully used for the pr-1 status?
Also, I booked a united economy (YN class) one way from Newark to Tel Aviv as there was no saver availability, I called and asked to be waitlisted into business and it shows that I am waitlisted for I class, obviously thats not plan b, but is it worth anything (beyond the remote possibility of an upgrade) I do have the mileage plus credit card if that makes a difference but no status on my mileage plus account.... Thanks!

If you are wait-listed for I class the I class should automatically come in to your reservation if/when it becomes available. You will then have to call in to have it properly reissued. 

[KidOOO]

So i just did this with the call back agent, who claimed she couldn't see the XN seats i was seeing. she told me to book it online and then she will debit the rest of the miles for I class and waitlist me. Now it does say correct miles debited for I class price, and I class requested. Any idea why it does not say IN requested?

Below is a screenshot can anyone confirm this is done correctly?

[mmm740]

So i just did this with the call back agent, who claimed she couldn't see the XN seats i was seeing. she told me to book it online and then she will debit the rest of the miles for I class and waitlist me. Now it does say correct miles debited for I class price, and I class requested. Any idea why it does not say IN requested?

Below is a screenshot can anyone confirm this is done correctly?

IN is expanded saver business class award space for Platinums/1Ks/Global Services.

[KidOOO]

IN is expanded saver business class award space for Platinums/1Ks/Global Services.

Figured if i got XN should get IN as well...

[mmm740]

Figured if i got XN should get IN as well...

If you have the the United cc you can get XN but not IN.

[KidOOO]

If you have the the United cc you can get XN but not IN.

Gotcha. so my set up is good though?

[coralsnake]

Gotcha. so my set up is good though?

Yup

[mawmaw]

what should i book? plan B  Tlv-NYC or LX I (what are the adds of plan B clearing from Tlv mid Jan)