How To Upgrade On United Airlines

Airlines Group Travel

You have booked your seats on United and now you are curious whether it is possible to get an upgrade. Yes, there are many ways to make a seat upgrade on United. We all want to travel in style while having business class experience, and airlines are aware of that. Only you have to know how to get a United Airlines Seat Upgrade. 

Keep reading to know exactly how to make a United Airlines Upgrade to Business Class, types of United Airlines Seat Upgrade, & other essential information you should be aware of to ensure a successful upgrade.        

Types of United Airlines Seat Upgrades

You get several options when you are looking to make an upgrade on United Airlines. Figure out in which category you fall in and make an upgrade accordingly. 

  • MileagePlus Upgrade Awards: you can use miles if you want to for any United flights to make a seat upgrade. 
  • Complimentary Upgrades: this is majorly based upon space availability on the select United-operated domestic flights for the premier elite members. 
  • PlusPoints Upgrades: these are the type of upgrade which can be purchased with PlusPoints for Premier 1K & Premier Platinum members but can be utilized on United & specific United global partner airlines. 
  • Star Alliance Upgrade Awards: on only select flights that are with Star Alliance network partners, a traveler can upgrade with miles. 
  • Instant Upgrades: these are the type of upgrades which are only granted at the ticketing time on full fare for Y economy and B fares for Premier members; Premier 1K members may get instant upgrades when purchasing M fares but it is subject to availability. 

How To Request for An Upgrade (3 ways)

The exact steps to request an upgrade are as follows. You can choose three routes at your convenience. 

United Airlines Upgarde via Official website

  • Visit the official United Airlines website. 
  • Sign in to your MileagePlus account. 
  • Go to your existing reservation tab.
  • Request for an upgrade. 
  • If you are applicable, you will receive the upgrade as per terms & conditions. 

United Airlines Upgrade Via Airline Representative 

  • Dial United Airlines reservations number (1-800-864-8331)
  • Share your request about an upgrade with the representative. 
  • Mention your booking number. 
  • Your seat is eligible for an upgrade then you can go ahead with the process. 

United Upgrade At the Airport

This is another way to upgrade United Airlines Seat that is applicable if you are within 24 hours of the time of departure. 

  • Reach the check-in counter or customer support. 
  • Request a seat upgrade with a United representative. 
  • Based on availability, you may receive an upgrade instantly. 

Can I Upgrade to Business Class United Airlines?

Below are best ways if you want to make an upgrade to business class on United Airlines. The precise ways to get the upgrade or increase your chances of getting the upgrade are laid out below. 

  • You can earn PlusPoints by getting Premier Platinum or United Premier 1K elite status and using them for upgrades. 
  • A passenger can buy a Y-fare class ticket or a discounted B-fare full-fare economy ticket to get an instant upgrade on the select flights. Whereas, premier 1K members are allowed to purchase an M fare and get an immediate upgrade. However, these are subject to availability. 
  • Do check for discounted business class airfares before using miles or making an upgrade from economy. 
  • You can directly use United MileagePlus miles to secure a reservation on business or first class. 
  • If you don’t have an elite status, it is recommended to go for an upgrade-eligible ticket right from the start. This greatly elevates your chances to upgrade. 
  • Further, If you possess “United MileagePlus Frequent Flyer” miles, you can purchase upgrade-eligible ones and use miles to secure business seats instantly. 
  • When making a reservation, check for all the classes and make a proper comparison. Sometimes when you are booking business class (or even first class), you may get an amazing deal that may turn out to be less expensive than an economy! 
  • Lastly, make sure you request the upgrade early. Along with you, many others are applying for a request, naturally, the preference would be given to whoever has applied for the request first. 

Cost of MileagePlus Upgrade Award?

The exact price of the MileagePlus Upgrade Award depends upon the region of travel, fare class, seat type requested, and premier states of the redeeming account at the time of making the request. 

Conclusion

Thus, you have realized all the important pointers on how to make an upgrade to Business Class on United Airlines. A traveler can select from the three routes to make the upgrade. Do go through the various types of upgrades to find the one that best suits your booking case. So, go ahead and upgrade your booking to the preferred one for an enjoyable journey!  

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