Who doesn’t want to fly First Class? The majority of us do. If you’re traveling with United Airlines and are interested in upgrading to first-class or a similar option, you can utilize their seat upgrade service. The United Airlines Seat Upgrade service enables you to switch to a higher cabin for an additional fee. To submit a seat upgrade request, you must follow the specific United Airlines seat selection guidelines. By reading this blog, you will acquire comprehensive information regarding the procedure for reserving your preferred seat on United Airlines.
Who Is Eligible For United Airlines Seat Upgrades?
Anyone who booked a United Airlines or United Express flight is eligible to upgrade their seats as long as they pay a certain fee. The process and time for requesting an upgrade totally depend on your United Premier status level. Here is a simple introduction for your reference:
Premier Members
If you are a premier member with a proper status level on United Airlines, you can upgrade your seats at any time up until you board. You can even request a seat upgrade onboard depending on some conditions. If no seat assignments are available, you can check back closer to the departure date or ask a gate representative to assist you in upgrading your seats with United.
Non-Premier Members
If you are not a member of United Premier, you can purchase an Economy Plus seat directly or upgrade to this cabin at the time of booking flights. In case, you have a Basic Economy booking, you can only purchase a Plus seat while checking in for your United Airlines flight booking.
United Airlines Seat Upgrade Types and Conditions
United Airlines offers a variety of upgrades, and your Premier status level determines when and how you can take advantage of them. You can enjoy free upgrades with your MileagePlus rewards, as well as paid or complimentary upgrades for select customers. Check out the table below to get a clear understanding of all the available options and how to request an upgrade for your seats with United Airlines.
Want to upgrade your flight with United Airlines? You’ve got plenty of options. You can upgrade to Economy Plus or a Premium Cabin anytime before your flight through United.com, their app, or by chatting with a gate agent. If you have a MileagePlus Travel Award, you can easily request upgrades during or after booking. MileagePlus Upgrade Awards are available at booking, check-in, or the gate, making it convenient for you.
Premier Members are lucky to enjoy automatic complimentary upgrades on eligible flights, adding to their comfort. If you have Plus Points as a Premier Platinum or Premier 1K member, upgrading on United flights and select partner airlines is a breeze, even for someone not on your reservation. It’s a fantastic way to enhance your travel experience and make it even more enjoyable.
How To Upgrade My United Airlines Flight Seats?
To upgrade your flight seats with United Airlines and get a higher cabin booking with advanced services, you have plenty of options. Here are the details:
Via United MileagePlus Account
- Open the United Airlines Booking website.
- Sign in to your MileagePlus Account.
- Choose the flight you wish to upgrade seats on.
- You will see an Upgrade reservation option if you are eligible for it.
- Make your request online by following the screen prompts.
- If you have an upgrade priority, your request will be processed immediately.
- Otherwise, you’d be put on the waiting list.
- As soon as your selected upgrade becomes available, you will receive a notification.
- Use the email you received to process your upgrade.
After completing these steps, you will receive new ticket details, which you can use to download your boarding pass and prepare for your flight.
Via Customer Service Number
- Find and dial the United Airlines customer service number.
- You can even call the Premier Priority Desk number on your digital membership card.
- Follow the IVR menu to connect to a live person at United.
- Once the call connects, you can share your upgrade requirements with the airline.
- After that, the agent will ask for your flight details.
- Share your personal information with him as well.
- The agent will check your upgrade eligibility and even help you upgrade your seats.
If you decide to request a new seat in a higher cabin with United Airlines, there will be a small seat upgrade fee. This fee is required when you’re making that transition from a lower cabin to a higher one.
How to make Paid Upgrades on United Airlines flights?
If you are not a MileagePlus member and do not have any awards for complimentary upgrades, you can also request paid upgrades. To upgrade your United flight, simply log in to your MileagePlus account and select the flight you wish to upgrade. Then, follow the prompts to redeem your Plus Points for an upgrade. You can also call United’s customer service for assistance with the upgrade process. Here are the simple steps to follow:
- Visit the United Airlines official website.
- Search and select your flights using your flight number & last name.
- Check if you see a Seat Upgrade option on the flight you wish to upgrade.
- If you are eligible, make your request.
- Follow the screen instructions to make your request.
- Wait for the response from the airline.
- Process your upgrade and make payments.
- Confirm and get ready for your departure with an upgraded seat.
Also Read: Can You Choose Your Seat On Delta Flights?
How Does the United Airlines Upgrade Waitlist Priority Work?
Seat upgrade requests are processed by United Airlines until three hours before departure. If you need to make any other requests, you must visit a gate agent at your departure gate. The airline also puts you on a priority waitlist that decreases in priority:
1. MileagePlus Upgrade Rewards
2. PlusPoints Upgrades
3. Premier Status Travelers
4. Upgrades from a higher fare cabin to a higher fare cabin, and from a lower fare cabin to a higher fare cabin.
5. United Club Infinite Card Holders
6. United Presidential Plus Card Holders
7. Participants in the United Corporate Preferred Program
8. United Chase Cardholders if annual spending is above $25000
9. Date and Time of your Upgrade Request
If your seat upgrade request does not get confirmed until you check in the airline adds you to an upgrade standby list. On eligible flights, you can fly on standby with your upgrade request as long as the seats become available later.
Conclusion
United Airlines does not charge a fee for requesting award upgrades. However, if you request a paid upgrade, a fee will apply, which depends on several factors. For more information about this option, please contact United Airlines customer service or connect with our travel experts for real-time assistance. Reach out to our travel experts to easily upgrade your flight seats without any hassle.
