How to Maximize Your Chances of a United PlusPoints Upgrade — Practical Strategies for Loyal Flyers

Your complete guide to finding routes with upgrade space, choosing the best fare classes, tracking PlusPoints clearance, and finding alternatives if your upgrade doesn't clear.

Quick primer: What are PlusPoints?

PlusPoints are United's upgrade currency for elite MileagePlus members. They allow you to request upgrades from Economy → Premium Plus or Polaris, and Premium Plus → Polaris on select long-haul flights. The key advantage: Points are not deducted until your upgrade clears.

How PlusPoints Work: When you request an upgrade, PlusPoints are held but not deducted from your account. If your upgrade doesn't clear by departure, the points are automatically returned. This means you can request upgrades risk-free on multiple future flights.

PlusPoints are earned annually based on your Premier status level:

Premier Silver: 20 PlusPoints (+ 8 with co-branded card)
Premier Gold: 30 PlusPoints (+ 12 with co-branded card)
Premier Platinum: 40 PlusPoints (+ 16 with co-branded card)
Premier 1K: 60 PlusPoints (+ 24 with co-branded card)

Official details: United.com – PlusPoints Overview

Check upgrade availability before booking (crucial!)

This is the single most important step many travelers skip. Before you click "buy," check whether upgrade inventory is even available. Without available upgrade space (PZ/PN inventory codes), your chances drop to nearly zero regardless of your status or fare class.

Essential Tools for Checking Upgrade Space

🔍 United Upgrade Search Tool
The official place to see if your flight has PZ/PN upgrade inventory. Check this first.
📊 Seats.aero PlusPoints Finder
Scans thousands of routes for upgrade space and lets you set alerts when space opens.
✈️ ExpertFlyer
Detailed seat and upgrade availability tool with real-time inventory tracking.
📖 The Points Guy – PlusPoints Deep Dive
Comprehensive analysis and community data on upgrade success rates.

💡 Pro Tip: If you see multiple flights on the same route, choose the flight showing PZ/PN inventory (upgrade-eligible space). That alone boosts your chances dramatically. Flights without visible upgrade inventory at booking rarely open up later.

Which routes are easiest to upgrade?

Upgrade clearance varies widely based on route and demand patterns. Understanding these patterns helps you choose flights where you're most likely to succeed.

Best Routes for Upgrades

Midday and weekend flights — See fewer business travelers → more empty premium seats. Saturday and Sunday departures clear significantly better than Monday/Thursday.
Leisure routes — Hawaii, Orlando, Caribbean destinations usually clear better than corridor business routes.
Off-peak travel periods — Avoid holiday weeks, Sunday evenings, Monday mornings, and Thursday afternoons when business demand peaks.
Premium Plus to Polaris upgrades — Often clear more reliably than deep discount economy → Polaris jumps, especially on long-haul international.

Difficult Routes to Upgrade

Business corridor routes: SFO–EWR, ORD–LGA, IAH–LAX, SFO–IAD
Peak morning departures (6-8 AM) on business days
Thursday afternoon/evening "return home" flights
Routes during major conferences or events

To compare seat maps and find lighter loads: FlightConnections (Route Finder)

Fare classes that give you best upgrade priority

Your fare class determines both eligibility and your priority on the waitlist. This is often the deciding factor between clearing and staying in economy.

Understanding Upgrade Priority

Within each Premier status level, United processes upgrades by fare class. A Premier Silver in Y class may clear before a Premier Gold in H class.

Priority Tier	Fare Classes	Notes
Highest Priority	Y B M	Full-fare and high-yield economy. Clear meaningfully more than discounted fares.
Good Priority	H Q V	Mid-tier economy fares. Still upgrade-eligible with decent clear rates.
Lower Priority	W S T	Discounted economy. Clear less often but cost significantly less.
Premium Plus	R A O	Ideal if upgrading to Polaris at lower PlusPoints cost (20-40 points vs 40-80).
Not Eligible	N BASIC	Basic Economy fares cannot be upgraded under any circumstances.

⚠️ Important: Avoid Basic Economy fares if you want to use PlusPoints. Even Premier 1K members cannot upgrade Basic Economy tickets. The small savings aren't worth losing upgrade eligibility.

Full official fare class chart: United – Upgrade Fare Class Eligibility

💡 Strategy: If a Y-class fare is only $50-100 more than an H-class fare on a long international flight, the upgrade priority boost is often worth it. Calculate the fare difference divided by flight hours to determine value.

When upgrades typically clear

United processes PlusPoints upgrades as inventory opens, not on a fixed timeline. However, patterns emerge based on thousands of traveler reports.

Typical Upgrade Clearance Timeline

At booking (immediate): Some upgrades clear instantly if PZ/PN seats are wide open and you're in a high fare class. This is most common on leisure routes with light loads.
5-7 days before departure: United's revenue management system releases additional upgrade inventory as paid premium cabin sales finalize.
48-72 hours out: Many upgrades clear in this window as the flight picture becomes clearer and United opens more upgrade space.
Check-in (24 hours): Another wave of clearances happens when check-in opens. Some upgrades auto-clear at this point.
At the gate: Last-minute clearances occur when no-shows free up premium seats or when agents manually process the upgrade list.

Track your position in real-time: Open the United app → Your Trips → Select your flight → "Upgrade Standby List." Your relative position and how many people are ahead of you are shown.

Detailed timing guide: Upgraded Points – United Upgrade Chart & Timing

Understanding Your Waitlist Position: The number shown (e.g., "5 of 12") indicates your position among all upgrade requests, not just PlusPoints users. Higher status members and higher fare classes appear higher on the list within each Premier tier.

Day-of-flight strategies to increase upgrade chances

Don't give up if your upgrade hasn't cleared yet. Several tactical moves on departure day can still get you into a premium cabin.

24 Hours Before Departure

Check in exactly when the window opens — Set an alarm for 24 hours before departure. Some upgrades auto-clear the moment check-in begins.
Verify your PlusPoints request is active — Occasionally requests drop off due to schedule changes. Re-request if needed.
Check the seat map — If premium cabins are still mostly full, your odds are lower. If many seats remain, you have a good chance.

At the Airport

Arrive early and check the gate monitors — Upgrade lists are sometimes displayed at the gate or on airport monitors.
Politely ask the gate agent — About 30 minutes before boarding, you can politely inquire about your upgrade status. Don't be pushy; agents remember difficult passengers.
Watch the standby list in the app — Your relative position matters. If you're #2 and there are 3 open seats, you're likely clearing.
Stay near the gate during final boarding — Late no-shows often trigger last-second seat releases. Agents sometimes call names for final upgrades.

💡 Gate Agent Tip: Instead of asking "Will I get upgraded?", try "I see I'm on the upgrade list—is there anything I should know about my position?" This shows you're informed and respectful of their time.

If your PlusPoints don't clear — use them instead of letting them expire

PlusPoints expire 12 months after deposit. If you're approaching expiration or simply can't find good upgrade opportunities, United offers several alternatives.

Alternative Uses for PlusPoints

Convert to TravelBank Cash
Redeemable for future United flights at full value. Good option if you have trips planned but no upgrade opportunities.
Convert to MileagePlus miles
Helpful when topping up for an award booking. Conversion rates vary but typically 1 PlusPoint = 500-1,000 miles.
Occasional PQP/PQF conversion offers
During status promotions, United sometimes allows conversion to Premier Qualifying Points or Flights.
Gift Premier status
Some targeted programs allow using PlusPoints to gift Silver status to family/friends.

Official info on PlusPoints policies: United – PlusPoints Rules & Expiration

⚠️ Expiration Warning: Unlike miles, PlusPoints cannot be extended. Set a calendar reminder 60 days before expiration to ensure you use or convert them. Once expired, they're gone permanently.

Smart strategies to maximize upgrade success

Combining all these insights into a cohesive strategy dramatically improves your upgrade success rate. Here's your game plan:

Before Booking

Pick flights with visible PZ/PN inventory — This is the #1 predictor of success. No inventory = no upgrade, regardless of your status.
Use Seats.aero alerts — Set alerts for your preferred routes to catch upgrade space when it opens.
Target off-peak times — Midday Saturday departures clear far more reliably than Monday 7 AM flights.
Consider Premium Plus bookings — The upgrade cost to Polaris is 50% less, and you still enjoy a premium cabin if upgrades don't clear.

When Booking

Book upgrade-friendly fare classes — If budget allows, Y/B/M classes clear significantly more often.
Request upgrades immediately — Submit your PlusPoints request right after booking to secure the best waitlist position.
Book refundable if uncertain — If upgrade availability is marginal, book a refundable fare so you can cancel if better options appear.

After Booking

Monitor inventory changes — Check ExpertFlyer or Seats.aero weekly. If upgrade space opens on a better flight, change your booking.
Set calendar reminders — 7 days out, 3 days out, and 24 hours before to check upgrade status.
Have a backup plan — If the upgrade matters greatly, consider booking Premium Plus as backup.

Strategic Route Selection

Route Type	Best Days	Best Times	Upgrade Success Rate
Leisure (Hawaii, Caribbean)	Tue, Wed, Sat	Midday	High (60-80%)
Transcon (SFO-EWR)	Sat, Sun	10am-2pm	Medium (40-60%)
Business Corridor	Sat	Midday only	Low-Medium (30-50%)
International Long-haul	Tue-Thu	Evening departures	Medium-High (50-70%)

Success rates are estimates based on community data and vary by season, fare class, and Premier status level.

Before you book: Final pre-purchase checklist

✅ Search your route on United's upgrade tool to verify PZ/PN inventory exists.
✅ Check Seats.aero for open upgrade space and set alerts if none currently available.
✅ Verify your ticket fare class is upgrade-eligible (avoid Basic Economy at all costs).
✅ Compare multiple flights on the same day — look for lighter loads and better inventory.
✅ If possible, book Y/B/M fare classes for highest upgrade priority.
✅ Consider booking Premium Plus if upgrade to Polaris is your goal (lower PlusPoints cost).
✅ Submit your PlusPoints upgrade request immediately after booking completes.
✅ Set calendar reminders to check upgrade status at 7 days, 3 days, and 24 hours before departure.
✅ Review your PlusPoints balance and expiration dates in your MileagePlus account.

Final Thought: PlusPoints upgrades are part art, part science. Even with perfect execution, some routes and times simply don't clear. The key is maximizing your odds through smart route selection, fare class choices, and timing—then being pleasantly surprised when upgrades clear, rather than disappointed when they don't.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use PlusPoints for someone else's ticket?

No, PlusPoints can only upgrade your own ticket. However, if traveling with companions on the same reservation, you can use your PlusPoints to upgrade everyone, but it costs PlusPoints for each traveler.

What happens if I cancel a flight with a pending PlusPoints upgrade?

Your PlusPoints are immediately returned to your account. There's no penalty for canceling upgrade requests.

Can I combine PlusPoints with Global Premier Upgrades?

No, you must choose one upgrade instrument per segment. However, you can use different instruments on different segments of the same trip.

Do PlusPoints work on partner airlines like Lufthansa or ANA?

No, PlusPoints are only valid on United-operated flights (flight numbers starting with UA).

Is it worth holding a United co-branded credit card just for bonus PlusPoints?

If you're Premier Silver or Gold, the bonus PlusPoints (8-12 additional) combined with free checked bags, priority boarding, and statement credits often justify the annual fee if you take 3-4+ United flights annually.