United Airlines Seat Upgrade For A Luxury Travel 2024

United Airlines Seat Upgrade options can help you shift to a premium cabin for a more comfortable and luxurious experience. There are numerous ways available to passengers through which they can upgrade their seats. You may use either money or miles to buy the higher-cabin seat while booking or adding to the already booked ticket.  This page provides you with an overview of different ways to upgrade seats on United Airlines. The acceptance is granted depending on your MileagePlus status level, membership, and purchased fare. Promoting to upper cabin seats is free for MileagePlus members. Thus, join now if you aren’t one. 

Types Of Seat Upgrades On United Airlines

As previously mentioned, the airline offers several ways to upgrade seats on United Airlines flights. Firstly, passengers have to have a MileagePlus or United Global Services membership for an easy upgrade to a seat in a higher cabin. You may upgrade your seat in exchange for miles or co-pay by simply requesting one at the time of ticket reservation or after. On the other hand, some members are eligible for a complimentary upgrade due to their elite status. Find more on this page:

1. When MileagePlus Members Upgrade United Airlines Seat

MileagePlus members in Economy Class are eligible to upgrade seats on United Airlines to a premium cabin, Mileage Travel Award, or Mileage Upgrade Award. The decision is subject to change depending on various factors. One of them is the point of purchase, whether you request for upgradation during booking or at the time of check-in. Check out the condition for seat elevation based on the following factors:

During Flight Reservation

Upgrading Already Booked Ticket

During Check-In and At the Gate

In case you decide to upgrade seats on United Airlines during check-in, you have two options: Economy Plus and Premium cabin seating offers. You may request using the mobile application, the official website, the check-in kiosk, or the assistance of an airline representative. If you wish to get a MileagePlus Upgrade Award upgrade, you will have to talk to the airline’s employee at the counter. 

The same condition persists for passengers requesting higher-cabin seat upgrades at the gate before departure. They are also eligible for Economy Plus and Premium cabin seating offers. However, some restrictions may apply.

2. When Premier Members Upgrade Seats On United Airlines

MileagePlus Premier members are eligible for extra benefits compared to other members. Such perks include complimentary premier upgrade, priority travel services, fee exemption, etc. These members can request to upgrade the United Airlines seat to premium cabin seating. This depends on at what time you make the request. Carefully go through the table to get a clear picture:

3. United Airlines Seat Upgrade For Non-Members

Passengers without any membership are eligible to purchase Economy Plus seats or get the advantage of premium cabin seating offers. However, to get upgraded, you must get a MileagePlus membership. If you are not, sign up on the official website and get the benefits of seat upgrades on United Airlines. 

How To Upgrade United Airlines Seats?

MileagePlus members can request seat upgrades in a few easy steps. Make sure you have your account credentials as well as booking details. Passengers can upgrade their seats in three ways. Firstly, by logging into their MileagePlus account and submitting the request online. Secondly, contact the United Reservation at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) you may also get in touch with a United Airlines HQ Representative for more details. Third and lastly, 24 hours before the scheduled departure at the check-in counter or gate. Once you submit the request, the airline will put you on a waiting list. 

The easiest way to apply for a seat upgrade is online through the official website. It saves you time, and you can complete the procedure in the comfort of your home. 

Steps To Request Higher-Cabin Seat Online

1. Go to the official website and open your MileagePlus account by entering the sign-in ID and passwords. 
2. Select “Advanced search options.”
3. Choose “MileagePlus Upgrade Awards” as your upgrade type.
4. The page will display the upgrade availability for your existing flights. 

United Upgrade Waitlist Priority 

Once you submit the United Airlines seat upgrade request, the airline will list you in the waiting line. You do not need to do anything afterward. The airline’s upgrade system will clear the request up until three hours before departure. For this, the airline will refer to the following United Upgrade Waitlist Priority:

1. Global Services program members’ requests

These passengers are those who get an invitation-only elite status, which is given to only top-tier of the United MileagePlus program. Requests of these passengers are cleared first. 

2. PlusPoints upgrades and MileagePlus Upgrade Awards

Afterwards, passengers who redeem their miles or rewards for seat upgradation are considered second in the line. The airline will check the status and eligibility. 

3. Passengers with premier status

If you are a frequent flyer or hold a higher status, you are next in line. As soon as the first two groups of passengers are seated, the airline will review your requests.

4. Fareclass

If you are not a frequent flyer but bought an expensive ticket, you still get higher priority. You are fourth in line. This solely depends on your fare conditions, as there are many restrictions as well.

The remaining list is based on the following conditions or status of the passengers. 

5. Holders of Chase United MileagePlus Club and Presidential Plus 
6. United Corporate Preferred participants
7. Cardmembers of United Chase with $25,000 annual spending
8. Date and time of request

How To Get On United Upgrade List?

As we all know, not every passenger is eligible for a seat upgrade on United Airlines. Also, not all of us will get an invitation to the United Global Service program. Thus, we have stated other ways through which you can increase your chances of getting a place on the airline upgrade list. 

1. Get Elite Status

There is more than one reason for earning top status on United Airlines if you want to get upgraded to a higher cabin. Passengers with elite status, including those with entry-level status, are entitled to United Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs). With this, you can shift from economy class to first class free of charge. However, the chances are very low for silver elite passengers. 

2. Purchase a higher fare.

Every airline has a fixed number of tickets for different classes of fares. The prices of tickets vary depending on the level of fare class. This implies that the higher the fare, the more expensive the ticket. As mentioned under the waiting list as well, preference is given to passengers in higher-fare classes when clearing upgrade requests. For economy-class tickets, the order of clearance looks like this: Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W, S, T, L, K, and G. However, remember that the fare class does not count if the passenger has elite status.

3. Shift To United Credit Card

Enroll for United credit cards and purchase the ticket with it. If you do so, the airline will put you on the higher-order of priority list. The chances of scoring in a good position are higher when you have an expensive United card. Along with this, you are entitled to get an upgrade on award tickets. Generally, the airline does not permit seat upgrades solely on award tickets. However, if you hold elite status and a credit card from the airline, you can easily unlock the option. 

4. Select Premium Economy Ticket

Last on the list is the recommendation to book a Premium Plus seat to get upgraded to United Polaris. Passengers holding Premium Plus tickets are first in order to upgrade on flights equipped with premium economy seats. Once the upgrade list of all the elite members is cleared and sought, the airline begins to clear one in the economy. And right there, you will score your chance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)