flight_classUnited Upgrades
My PlusPoints upgrade is waitlisted. What determines whether it clears?
Updated
6 min readThe order United uses
United clears upgrade waitlists using a hierarchy: elite status tier comes first, so a Premier 1K member is ahead of a Platinum member regardless of when either requested. Within the same tier, the fare class you originally booked matters, since higher-priced fare classes generally sit ahead of deeply discounted ones. Request timing then breaks remaining ties, so requesting the moment you can helps within your own tier and fare class.
Does it matter whether I used PlusPoints or miles?
No. Requests made with PlusPoints and requests made with a MileagePlus miles upgrade award share the same waitlist priority logic. The currency you're paying with doesn't move you up or down the list, what matters is your status tier, fare class, and request time.
What actually helps your position
- check_circleRequest the upgrade as soon as your reservation is ticketed rather than waiting until close to departure.
- check_circleBook a higher, more flexible fare class when you have the choice, since it ranks ahead of the cheapest discount fares on the same route.
- check_circleCheck in early on the day of travel, since some remaining upgrade clearing happens close to departure.
- check_circleKeep your contact information current so United can reach you if a same-day upgrade opens up.
What doesn't help
There's no option to pay extra PlusPoints or cash to move up the waitlist once you're on it. Calling repeatedly to ask about your position doesn't change your place in line either, it just confirms status. The list clears purely by the tier, fare, and timing rules above as seats become available.
When clearing typically happens
Some waitlisted upgrades clear days before departure as other passengers change plans. Others don't clear until the gate, right before boarding, especially on close-to-full flights. If your upgrade hasn't cleared by check-in, it's still possible right up until boarding, but it becomes progressively less likely the closer you get to departure with no movement.
Common questions
Does Premier 1K always beat Platinum on the waitlist?expand_more
Yes, tier comes before fare class and request time in United's clearing order, so a 1K member ranks ahead of a Platinum member with an otherwise identical request.
Can two travelers on the same reservation have different waitlist positions?expand_more
Yes, if they hold different fare classes or elite tiers, each traveler is evaluated individually even on a shared reservation. See our guide on multiple travelers and upgrade priority for details.
Does requesting with PlusPoints clear faster than using a miles upgrade award?expand_more
No, both share the same priority rules. The payment currency doesn't affect where you sit on the waitlist.
Is there a way to see my exact waitlist position?expand_more
Your reservation typically shows your upgrade as requested or waitlisted, though the app doesn't always display a precise numeric position. Checking Manage Trip regularly is the most reliable way to track status.
Keep reading
How do I apply PlusPoints to an existing United booking?
Step by step where to click in your United account to request a PlusPoints upgrade on a booking you already made, and what confirmation to expect.
If I upgrade two travelers with PlusPoints, do they clear together?
How upgrade priority and clearing order work when PlusPoints are applied to two travelers on the same reservation, or for a companion elsewhere.
Which fare classes clear most easily with a PlusPoints upgrade?
How United's fare class, the single letter code on your ticket, affects whether and how cheaply a PlusPoints upgrade can clear.
What's the difference between a PlusPoints upgrade and using miles or a cash upgrade offer?
PlusPoints, MileagePlus miles upgrade awards, and cash upgrade offers all move you to a better cabin on United, but they work differently.