Are you vying for a little more space, an extra comfortable seat, and better meals on your next United Airlines flight? If you are, upgrading to the dedicated cabin of United Premium Plus from the main cabin is the most effective solution because you get a smoother and more comfortable experience like First Class, but not at the full ticket price of First Class. To book your sweet spot in United’s Premium Plus, you can upgrade into it before or after booking the flight with multiple methods, including purchasing an upgrade with cash, miles, or plus points, and upgrading at the airport. Here, we will understand all the methods available to upgrade to Premium Plus on United Airlines step by step, so you can decide the best option for you to switch from Economy to Premium Plus.
How Do You Upgrade To Premium Plus On United Airlines?
Upgrading to Premium Plus on United Airlines has several options, as you can purchase a cash upgrade during booking, after booking, or at the gate. You can also upgrade with miles or upgrade with PlusPoints. Take a look at the steps of each method to upgrade to United Premium Plus.
1. Cash Upgrades
Upgrading to Premium Plus with cash on United Airlines is considered the best and easiest method, as it gives you a guaranteed upgrade if a seat is available when you request it, either during initial booking, after booking, at check-in, or at the departure gate. Check the steps to purchase your United Premium Plus upgrade with cash.
Upgrade During Initial Booking
When you start the process of booking your flight on United Airlines’ website or mobile app, either directly select the Premium Plus fare category or use the Upgrade Options link.
Upgrade After Booking
- Log in to your MileagePlus account.
- Go to the My Trips page and click on your upcoming flights.
- Now find an option like “Upgrade Seat”, “Change Seat”, or “View Upgrade Options”.
- If a cash upgrade to Premium Plus is available on your United flight, you can see the upgrade price. Follow the prompts and proceed to the payment page.
- Complete the payment to confirm your upgrade.
Upgrade At Check-In or At The Gate
Although the availability of an upgrade at check-in or at the departure gate can be uncertain, if it is available, you can secure your upgraded seat in the Premium Plus cabin at a considerable discount by politely asking the agent at the check-in counter or at the departure gate.
2. Upgrade with MileagePlus Miles
Whether you have achieved the elite status or not, if you are a MileagePlus member of United Airlines, you can request an upgrade to Premium Plus even without elite status, but you may need to go with the co-pay option, in which you use your miles and cash both to pay the upgrade fee. For example, you might be quoted 20,000 miles plus 350 USD to get an upgrade. If you have a higher status, you may be able to pay only with miles.
To request a United Premium Plus upgrade, you need to use the Advanced Search option during initial booking of the flight and select the MileagePlus Upgrade Awards. If you have already booked the flight, you can use your miles to move to Premium Plus by using the My Trips section on the website or app.
3. Upgrade with PlusPoints
The method to upgrade with PlusPoints on United Airlines will be available for you only if you have achieved the highest elite status of Premier Platinum or Premier 1K. If seats are not available at the time of your request, you will be added to the waiting list, but you will be the first to clear the list whenever a seat opens because PlusPoints requests are generally prioritized above all other waitlisted non-cash upgrades.
Learn more: Guide to Book Cheap United Airlines Basic Economy Tickets
United Upgrade Waitlist and Priority
When you purchase an upgrade on United Airlines using miles or points, you may be placed on the waiting list depending on the availability of seats. After this, your upgrade request can be confirmed at any time, as United Airlines considers the following aspects for upgrade priority to allot seats to the passengers:
| Rank | Priority Factor | Details |
| 1. | United Global Services | United’s highest, invite-only status. Always clears first. |
| 2. | Upgrade Type | PlusPoints and MileagePlus Upgrades are processed before complimentary upgrades (CPUs) or fare-based upgrades. |
| 3. | Premier Status Level | 1K > Platinum > Gold > Silver. |
| 4. | Original Fare Class | Higher fare classes like Y, B, and M clear before deeply discounted classes like G, K, L, T, and S. You are prioritized by how much you originally paid for your ticket. |
| 5. | Date & Time of Request | Used as the final tie-breaker. The earlier you request the upgrade, the better. |
| 6. | United Credit Card Holder | Acts as the ultimate tie-breaker if all other factors are equal. |
Conclusion
Now upgrading to Premium Plus on United Airlines should not be a hectic task for you, as you have learned all the possible methods and their process. If you are desperate for real comfort without the price of business class, you can get a confirmed upgrade to Premium Plus if you know the right way, whether you use cash, miles, or PlusPoints for it.
FAQ’s
Can United miles be used to upgrade to Premium Plus?
Yes, United Airlines allows passengers to use their miles to upgrade. You can also use your miles to upgrade to Premium Plus during initial booking or by Manage Booking if already booked.
Are all United tickets eligible for Premium Plus upgrades?
No, not all United tickets are eligible for Premium Plus upgrades because the basic economy fare and promotional or discounted fares can not be upgraded.
How can the cost to upgrade to Premium Plus be checked on the United app?
You can check the Premium Plus upgrade cost on the United app by going to My Trips, choosing your flight, and finding the Upgrade option. If seats are available for upgrade, you can also see the upgrade price, which changes with time and demand.
What is the difference between an instant upgrade and a requested upgrade?
When you get an instant confirmation of your upgrade to a higher class, it is typically an instant upgrade, while the requested upgrade usually first places you on a waitlist, and it is only confirmed if a seat becomes available and you clear the waitlist by competing with other passengers.
Is it cheaper to upgrade to United Premium Plus at the airport or online in advance?
Yes, it usually costs less to upgrade to United Premium Plus in advance, whether paid at the airport or online, than purchasing an upgrade to Premium Plus on United within 24 hours of the departure or on the same day of travel. However, last-minute upgrades can be even cheaper if seats remain unsold, but this is very rare.
Can United status members get complimentary upgrades to Premium Plus?
No, complimentary upgrades to Premium Plus are not usually offered to United status member, but they can easily get it by using their PlusPoints or MileagePlan miles.
