Plan B Discussion: Booking BusinessFirst Awards Without Availability

[yelped]

I saw that but what part? That Dan did it by making a new ticket?

It's possible, but it's not Plan B. They don't have to put at the beginning of the line at the airport if it doesn't clear before, but most agents don't do that anyways anymore (CMIIW) even if they're supposed to.

[shmooz]

Ok, since I already have a ticket, I'll take my chances that nowadays some TLV flights will have empty anyway.

But I already tried twice and they had no idea what I was talking about...

[mdv]

What are my chances getting upgraded using plan b ewr to kef for next week... as of now only 2 seats left in j

[shmooz]

Has anyone ever tried (I’m sorry if it’s discussed in the previous 125 pages) to modify an existing coach reservation to take additional miles and change the reservation to Plan B?  I’m going to try but I’d like to see if I can get confirmation that it’s possible before beating up phone agents.

It worked for me. Waitlisted and cleared days in advance to TLV. Pretty sure in normal times it would not have cleared, I'd be at end of line.
He deducted too many miles, but pretty sure I can get those back as it's documented in the chat.

[efflpetzel]

It worked for me. Waitlisted and cleared days in advance to TLV. Pretty sure in normal times it would not have cleared, I'd be at end of line.
He deducted too many miles, but pretty sure I can get those back as it's documented in the chat.

Wow that's major, how far down we're you on the wait list, any status?

[shmooz]

Wow that's major, how far down we're you on the wait list, any status?

Don't know how far down, passenger has no status

[mike]

can i do Plan B to be confirmed in premium economy and waitlisted in Business or i need to confirmed in standard economy? 

[danfan5773]

I used to do plan b on flights from TLV-EWR were the price for economy was saver award 44K and the business award price was 180K u put in a request for the saver award price of 78K and sometimes it worked...

Right now I only see availability for business class 273K can i still put in a request for plan b by booking the economy which shows available for 44K and waitlist the business by paying the saver award price for business? and what is the business saver award price now?

[nafnaf12]

I used to do plan b on flights from TLV-EWR were the price for economy was saver award 44K and the business award price was 180K u put in a request for the saver award price of 78K and sometimes it worked...

Right now I only see availability for business class 273K can i still put in a request for plan b by booking the economy which shows available for 44K and waitlist the business by paying the saver award price for business? and what is the business saver award price now?

yes
same 78 or 75 if done in advance

[danfan5773]

so tried doing Plan B for my brother (using 1k Acct so I get knowledgeable rep) yesterday, the first rep came on after 25 min wait.. she told me that u can't do something like that she has never heard of if taking 75k miles on economy save award to get a business seat if it doesn't sell.., I ask her to check in with a supervisor she came back that u could do it but only for premier members and as the traveler isn't a premier  it cant be done so I knew this was BS I told here that actually the traveler tried doing a day before and they were willing to do it so I am wondering if this is new policy maybe she can check with different supervisor and she came back that I am right and she is going to do it for me, and as she had no clue what she was doing she took my word and only deducted 75k not 78k... and it was set up correctly I saw the I waitlisted everything that needs to be done.. 8 hours later and he needs to travel from TLV to EWR on flight 85 and there were 2 seats open in business I coach him he needs to get a gate agent to put him as a PR1 so he should be the first to get an upgrade.. but at the airport once he went to ask the agent  she threw him off the list and didn't want to help him i actually tried to call in the 1K desk and ask if they can help they explained they can't put him back on the list as he isn't waiting for an upgrade, but they assured me it is listed on his ticket that he has a business class award and they even added noted so he can ask gate agents to look it up..,  but they told me even though it is listed he is not the first on the list there are members that are eligible before him and that as there is only 4 seats open (another 2 seats opened while checking in) it doesn't look like he will be upgraded he was # 8 on the list...

[efflpetzel]

so tried doing Plan B for my brother (using 1k Acct so I get knowledgeable rep) yesterday, the first rep came on after 25 min wait.. she told me that u can't do something like that she has never heard of if taking 75k miles on economy save award to get a business seat if it doesn't sell.., I ask her to check in with a supervisor she came back that u could do it but only for premier members and as the traveler isn't a premier  it cant be done so I knew this was BS I told here that actually the traveler tried doing a day before and they were willing to do it so I am wondering if this is new policy maybe she can check with different supervisor and she came back that I am right and she is going to do it for me, and as she had no clue what she was doing she took my word and only deducted 75k not 78k... and it was set up correctly I saw the I waitlisted everything that needs to be done.. 8 hours later and he needs to travel from TLV to EWR on flight 85 and there were 2 seats open in business I coach him he needs to get a gate agent to put him as a PR1 so he should be the first to get an upgrade.. but at the airport once he went to ask the agent  she threw him off the list and didn't want to help him i actually tried to call in the 1K desk and ask if they can help they explained they can't put him back on the list as he isn't waiting for an upgrade, but they assured me it is listed on his ticket that he has a business class award and they even added noted so he can ask gate agents to look it up..,  but they told me even though it is listed he is not the first on the list there are members that are eligible before him and that as there is only 4 seats open (another 2 seats opened while checking in) it doesn't look like he will be upgraded he was # 8 on the list...

Oiy

Never ask the gate agents anything if your on the list, they're clueless about plan b & will kick you off the list.

Same thing happened to me

[justmeha]

Oiy

Never ask the gate agents anything if your on the list, they're clueless about plan b & will kick you off the list.

Same thing happened to me

so who do you ask?

[efflpetzel]

so who do you ask?

You don't. At that point sitting at the gate you either clear or they kick you off the list.

Talking to gate agents just made things worse IME

[JOJO2020]

Anyone have any luck lately? The past 2 years I have done plan B successfully but last week I tried multiple times, no luck at all. Wondering if anyone was able to set it up recently.

[mmslomo]

i have plan b setup for feb 8th going to tlv im on stand by list but im #21 on list any ideas what i should do? should i go down to airport or do i have to go within 24hours of flight?

[Aerial Dag]

i have plan b setup for feb 8th going to tlv im on stand by list but im #21 on list any ideas what i should do? should i go down to airport or do i have to go within 24hours of flight?

What did you end up doing?

[normathej]

Does Plan B work anymore, or is there pretty much no such thing as Business Saver space ever?  Considering a booking beginning on January but wondering if I should just book J with a stopover on another airline…

[Dan]

Link for the write up explaining Plan G?

A: United.com
B: Waitlist while paying business saver rate
C: Booked on other airlines and fails to ticket
D: Schedule change planning
E: Weather waiver planning
F: Expanded Plat/1K IN space
G: Expanded GS PZ space or GS exception space
Cash: Hopefully with Chase or AMEX Hybrid points.
Anything else?

[zagguru]

A: United.com
B: Waitlist while paying business saver rate
C: Booked on other airlines and fails to ticket
D: Schedule change planning
E: Weather waiver planning
F: Expanded Plat/1K IN space
G: Expanded GS PZ space or GS exception space
Cash: Hopefully with Chase or AMEX Hybrid points.
Anything else?

Sounds like Plan G is really a Plan B for you. Why would you go thru B-F if you have exception space?

[mimb]

A: United.com
B: Waitlist while paying business saver rate
C: Booked on other airlines and fails to ticket
D: Schedule change planning
E: Weather waiver planning
F: Expanded Plat/1K IN space
G: Expanded GS PZ space or GS exception space
Cash: Hopefully with Chase or AMEX Hybrid points.
Anything else?

Not directly related to United but would Plan D work using AA miles to book Qsuites to Maldives? Dates I want are not available but was thinking of booking a far out date and hoping for a schedule change.