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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 577117 times)

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1780 on: November 30, 2015, 02:12:50 PM »
Since when does UA operate a 4 row J ex-TLV?
It was ex-LAX.

Offline D93

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Offline itsyehuda

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1782 on: November 30, 2015, 02:27:55 PM »

And took the other bed? The FAs allowed that since you were ticketed in Y?

Well we had moved one kid to coach, instead of my wife. It was exit row, so they moved him up to second row coach, and then we just had him come forward and lie down once the cabin was dark.

They didn't discuss it at all - either because they didn't notice, or because they were sympathetic, or whatever.
I remember when a coke was a nickel, and you could buy VRs in OD.

Offline ilherman

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1783 on: November 30, 2015, 02:53:00 PM »
Well we had moved one kid to coach, instead of my wife. It was exit row, so they moved him up to second row coach, and then we just had him come forward and lie down once the cabin was dark.

They didn't discuss it at all - either because they didn't notice, or because they were sympathetic, or whatever.
I am confused? I thought everyone ended up in coach.

In any case, you know that this has nothing to do with Plan B....
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1784 on: November 30, 2015, 02:53:28 PM »
Well we had moved one kid to coach, instead of my wife. It was exit row, so they moved him up to second row coach, and then we just had him come forward and lie down once the cabin was dark.

They didn't discuss it at all - either because they didn't notice, or because they were sympathetic, or whatever.
Nice! Glad it worked.

Offline itsyehuda

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1785 on: November 30, 2015, 05:13:38 PM »

I am confused? I thought everyone ended up in coach.

In any case, you know that this has nothing to do with Plan B....

Everyone ended in business. One ticket was in Y and got PR-1 because I asked the agent specifically to, due to being a displaced business class passenger - because there was no business availability on the flight THEY SWITCHED ME TO. Again all of this because of my knowledge of the procedure from plan B posts/ thread.

If you have a thread more suited to this discussion, do share.
I remember when a coke was a nickel, and you could buy VRs in OD.

Offline ilherman

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1786 on: November 30, 2015, 08:40:15 PM »
Everyone ended in business. One ticket was in Y and got PR-1 because I asked the agent specifically to, due to being a displaced business class passenger - because there was no business availability on the flight THEY SWITCHED ME TO. Again all of this because of my knowledge of the procedure from plan B posts/ thread.

If you have a thread more suited to this discussion, do share.
I didn't mind that you posted here, just wanna make sure no on thinks that this means you can do Plan B with non UA ticket stock.

But still I am confused you said that every one ended up in J and here you said otherwise. What am I missing?
Did you end up in J in the end?
Sadly, no. Was a small cabin, just 4 rows. But I doubled up two kids in one bed after takeoff.
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline itsyehuda

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1787 on: November 30, 2015, 08:47:21 PM »

I didn't mind that you posted here, just wanna make sure no on thinks that this means you can do Plan B with non UA ticket stock.

But still I am confused you said that every one ended up in J and here you said otherwise. What am I missing?

Everyone had a business class ticket, but two people were on a different flight. I had them switched to a separate flight on which there was no I, IN, or even J available for the last PAX.

So one passenger was booked on the flight in Y (on the LH Business award ticket) and placed on top of upgrade list with PR-1 status.

That aspect - having PR-1 status when switching to another flight that doesn't have business availability, is similar to plan B and may help members in a similar situation.

The same way when plan b doesn't clear on its own 24 hours before flight, at the airport you can get on top of the list, so too, when switching flights at the airport, within 24 hours, from a business ticket to a flight without business availability, you may be able to obtain PR-1 status.

I remember when a coke was a nickel, and you could buy VRs in OD.

Offline iwlw2

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1788 on: December 02, 2015, 08:31:26 AM »
I had a question, was wondering if more experienced Plan B-ers might know, if on United expert mode there shows Y9 (which as I understand it means at least 9 seats available in Business class) right up until the day of the flight, does that usually mean there will be that many seats available to upgrade into (meaning even if United does not turn them into I class availability)?

Offline itsyehuda

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Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1789 on: December 02, 2015, 08:31:50 AM »
I had a question, was wondering if more experienced Plan B-ers might know, if on United expert mode there shows Y9 (which as I understand it means at least 9 seats available in Business class) right up until the day of the flight, does that usually mean there will be that many seats available to upgrade into?

Y is full fare coach

J is business.
I remember when a coke was a nickel, and you could buy VRs in OD.

Offline iwlw2

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1790 on: December 02, 2015, 08:33:15 AM »
Sorry, meant J class   ;D

Offline itsyehuda

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1791 on: December 02, 2015, 09:47:26 AM »

Sorry, meant J class   ;D

Then the answer is yes.
I remember when a coke was a nickel, and you could buy VRs in OD.

Offline rileywiles23

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1792 on: December 07, 2015, 09:15:57 AM »
Can I set up a plan b for J, and F with the same waitlist,  where if one of them opens up, I'll get it. or do I have to set up each one separately ?
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Offline itsyehuda

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1793 on: December 07, 2015, 09:17:05 AM »

Can I set up a plan b for J, and F with the same waitlist,  where if one of them opens up, I'll get it. or do I have to set up each one separately ?

It's United three class?
I remember when a coke was a nickel, and you could buy VRs in OD.

Offline rileywiles23

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1794 on: December 07, 2015, 09:17:47 AM »

It's United three class?
Yes. The NYC-LHR route.
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Offline D93

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1795 on: December 07, 2015, 11:15:36 AM »
Can I set up a plan b for J, and F with the same waitlist,  where if one of them opens up, I'll get it. or do I have to set up each one separately ?

Need to make 2 seperate reservations

Offline rileywiles23

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1796 on: December 07, 2015, 01:09:03 PM »

Need to make 2 seperate reservations
Ugh, that's a lot of UA miles, that I don't have.
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Offline rileywiles23

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1797 on: December 10, 2015, 08:45:47 AM »
I don't think there is a answer to this Q, but why not ask.
Which route would have a better chance of a plan B success, EWR-LHR, or LHR-EWR ?
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Offline iwlw2

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1798 on: December 10, 2015, 09:07:39 AM »
And more in the random questions category...
Having booked a plan B tlv-ewr on 12/27, I find myself obsessively checking availability  ;D. Using Dan's hacking united mobile's site trick, I see that only 28 seats were booked in BF for that flight. Am I wrong in saying that seems very low for this flight or is that normal, most other dates I check in the range of the next couple of weeks seem to have upwards of 40 booked....

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Re: Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability
« Reply #1799 on: December 10, 2015, 10:01:25 AM »
And more in the random questions category...
Having booked a plan B tlv-ewr on 12/27, I find myself obsessively checking availability  ;D. Using Dan's hacking united mobile's site trick, I see that only 28 seats were booked in BF for that flight. Am I wrong in saying that seems very low for this flight or is that normal, most other dates I check in the range of the next couple of weeks seem to have upwards of 40 booked....
Link?
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