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flight_classUnited Upgrades

How do I apply PlusPoints to an existing United booking?

Updated

6 min read

Before you start

You need Premier Platinum or Premier 1K status with a PlusPoints balance, and your ticket needs to be on an eligible fare class, not basic economy. Have your confirmation number ready even if you're logged in, since some upgrade flows ask you to re-verify the reservation.

Step by step on united.com or the app

  • check_circleLog into your MileagePlus account.
  • check_circleGo to My Trips and select the reservation you want to upgrade.
  • check_circleClick Manage Trip.
  • check_circleSelect Upgrade Cabin near the top of the booking details.
  • check_circleChoose PlusPoints as the payment method for the upgrade, as opposed to miles or a cash offer.
  • check_circleReview the PlusPoints cost shown for your specific flight and cabin before confirming.
  • check_circleSubmit the request.

What confirmation looks like

If there's open space in the higher cabin, the system confirms the upgrade immediately and updates your reservation to show the new cabin along with the PlusPoints deducted from your balance.

If there's no space yet, your reservation shows the upgrade as requested or waitlisted rather than confirmed. You can check your position and status by returning to Manage Trip on the same reservation. PlusPoints for a United-operated flight aren't deducted from your balance until the waitlisted upgrade actually clears.

Applying it to a specific segment

If your itinerary has a connection, the Upgrade Cabin flow generally lets you request the upgrade across the whole itinerary at once, and United prices connecting segments together rather than adding each leg's cost. If you only want to upgrade one leg, look for the option to select an individual segment within the upgrade flow rather than the full itinerary.

If you don't see the option

If Upgrade Cabin or a PlusPoints option isn't showing on your reservation, the most common reasons are an ineligible fare class (basic economy is always excluded), a fare that's already in the top cabin offered on that route, or a partner-operated segment that needs to be requested differently. See our guide on fare classes that qualify for PlusPoints, and our guide on applying PlusPoints to partner flights, for those specific cases.

Tip:If the online flow won't let you request the upgrade, calling United Premier or Global Services reservations directly can sometimes process requests the website doesn't show, especially for partner-operated segments.

Common questions

Can I request a PlusPoints upgrade before I finish booking?expand_more

This process is for upgrading a reservation you already have. If you're still shopping, United sometimes shows upgrade options during the initial booking flow, but the Manage Trip method described here is for existing bookings.

How do I check if my upgrade request is still waitlisted?expand_more

Go back to My Trips, open the reservation, and check the upgrade status under Manage Trip. It will show as requested, waitlisted, or confirmed.

Can I cancel a pending PlusPoints upgrade request?expand_more

Yes, you can typically remove a waitlisted request from Manage Trip if you change your mind, and since points for United-operated flights aren't deducted until it clears, you won't have spent anything.

Does the app work the same way as the website?expand_more

Yes, the United app mirrors the Manage Trip flow on the website, including Upgrade Cabin and the PlusPoints option.