# Upgrading to United Airlines Business/First Class

You can upgrade to United First Class using MileagePlus miles, PlusPoints, or cash upgrades during booking, check-in, or via the United mobile app.

Securing a seat in United Airlines' Business (United Polaris) or Domestic First Class cabin transforms a standard flight into a luxurious journey. The lie-flat beds, gourmet dining, and enhanced service elevate the travel experience, often justifying the pursuit of an upgrade. While a guaranteed upgrade is never truly free or simple, numerous strategic pathways exist for the savvy traveler to trade their economy ticket for a premium seat.

This guide delves into the detailed mechanisms and best practices for successfully navigating the United Airlines upgrade landscape, covering everything from mileage accrual to elite status benefits and the lesser-known loopholes.

### I. The Core Upgrade Mechanisms on United Airlines

United offers several formalized ways to move from an Economy seat to a premium cabin. Understanding these is the foundational step in your upgrade quest.

#### A. Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) and PlusPoints

For frequent flyers, the United MileagePlus program is the primary engine for upgrades.

**1. PlusPoints:**
PlusPoints are the exclusive upgrade currency for United’s Premier Elite members (Platinum and Global Services). They are earned upon achieving and maintaining these status tiers.

* **Earning:** Premier Platinum members earn 40 PlusPoints, and Premier 1K members earn 280 PlusPoints (plus additional points for every 2,000 PQP earned above the 1K threshold).
* **Usage:** PlusPoints can be used to upgrade any United or Copa Airlines flight (with some restrictions). The cost varies based on the cabin class you are upgrading from, the cabin class you are upgrading to, and the region of the flight. For example, upgrading from Economy to Polaris Business on a long-haul international flight typically costs more than a domestic upgrade.
* **Priority:** When used, PlusPoints requests are subject to the upgrade priority hierarchy (detailed below).

**2. Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) - The Cash Path:**
In some instances, a cash co-pay (often referred to as a PQP co-pay for status-earners) is required alongside an upgrade instrument (like miles or PlusPoints). However, United also allows passengers to pay a certain amount of PQP to *bypass* the PlusPoint or mileage requirement, although this is less common for standard upgrades. More relevantly, the amount of money spent on a ticket (which translates to PQP) is a significant factor in your upgrade priority.

#### B. MileagePlus Upgrades

United miles are a flexible currency and can be used to upgrade United and partner-operated flights.

* **Cost:** The cost in miles varies by the route, fare class purchased, and destination. Generally, international long-haul upgrades are more expensive than domestic ones.
* **Co-pay:** In almost all cases, a mileage upgrade requires a cash co-pay, which can range from $75 to $600+ depending on the factors listed above.
* **Ideal Use:** Mileage upgrades are often most effective for passengers without elite status who are willing to pay a modest amount of cash and miles for the premium experience.

#### C. Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs)

CPUs are the bread and butter of the United Elite status experience and are the closest thing to a "free" upgrade.

* **Eligibility:** CPUs are offered to Premier Silver, Gold, Platinum, and 1K members on eligible United and United Express flights within North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Oceania (excluding flights to/from Honolulu on the mainland U.S. and Guam).
* **Automatic Request:** If you are an eligible Elite member, your upgrade request is automatically submitted when you book an eligible flight. No miles, PlusPoints, or co-pays are required.
* **Timing:** CPUs clear in order of status hierarchy and available space. They can clear at the time of booking, or closer to the departure date (e.g., Premier 1K at 96 hours, Platinum at 72 hours, Gold at 48 hours, Silver at 24 hours).

### II. Maximizing Your Upgrade Probability: The Upgrade Priority Hierarchy

United has a strict, formalized system for determining which passenger gets an upgrade when space is limited. Understanding this hierarchy is the key to strategizing your booking.

The order of priority is as follows:

**1. Elite Status Level:**
* Global Services (Highest Priority)
* Premier 1K
* Premier Platinum
* Premier Gold
* Premier Silver
* General Member (Lowest Priority)

**2. Fare Class Purchased (P, R, Q):**
Within each status tier, United prioritizes passengers who paid more for their original Economy ticket. Fare classes are ranked from highest (most expensive, usually 'Y' or 'B') to lowest (most discounted, like 'N' or 'K').

**3. Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) Accrued in the Last 12 Months:**
If the two passengers have the same status and purchased the same fare class, the tie-breaker is the total PQP they have earned in the rolling 12 months preceding the flight's departure date.

**4. Date and Time of Request:**
As the final tie-breaker, if all else is equal, the passenger who requested the upgrade first will receive it.

**The Strategic Takeaway:**
If you are a Premier Gold member, you are *always* prioritized above a Premier Silver member, regardless of when the Silver member requested their upgrade or what fare they purchased. The single best way to ensure an upgrade is to **earn the highest possible Premier status.**

### III. The Strategic Traveler's Checklist: Six Ways to Boost Your Chances

Beyond simply having status, certain booking and travel behaviors can significantly increase your odds of success.

#### 1. Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates and Times

Upgrade inventory is a zero-sum game. If you are flying at peak business times (Monday mornings, Friday evenings) or on popular routes (SFO to EWR, LAX to LHR), the competition for a limited number of premium seats will be fierce.

* **Strategy:** Fly on Tuesdays or Saturdays, choose midday flights, or travel during the off-peak season. These flights often have fewer business travelers and a greater chance of open premium seats.

#### 2. Choose Flights with Multiple Premium Cabins

For long-haul international travel, aim for aircraft types that feature a larger Business/First Class cabin. The Boeing 777-300ER, for example, often has a much larger Polaris cabin than a Boeing 787-8 or 767-300. More seats in the front means more upgrade opportunities.

#### 3. Purchase a Higher Economy Fare Class

As mentioned, fare class is the second most important factor. If you are booking a short, domestic flight and really want the upgrade, consider skipping the ultra-discounted Basic Economy ('N') or deeply discounted Economy ('K', 'L', 'T') fares. Opting for a higher-tier fare like 'M' or 'H' might add a little cost to your ticket but will push you significantly higher on the upgrade priority list, potentially over a dozen other passengers with the same status.

#### 4. The Buddy Upgrade: Using PlusPoints for Others

If you have Premier Platinum or 1K status, you can use your PlusPoints to upgrade a companion traveling with you, even if you are not on the same reservation. Furthermore, you can use PlusPoints to upgrade *anyone*—even if you are not flying with them. This is a powerful, yet often underutilized, benefit that can be used to secure a premium seat for a family member or friend.

#### 5. Monitor Upgrade Inventory (R and I Class)

Upgrades are tied to specific, un-sold fare classes:

* **"R" Class:** The inventory bucket for domestic First Class and international Business Class (Polaris) upgrades using PlusPoints or CPUs.
* **"I" Class:** The inventory bucket for upgrades specifically from Premium Plus (United’s Premium Economy product) to Business Class (Polaris).

Savvy travelers use third-party tools or expert-level fare searches to check if "R" space is open *before* requesting an upgrade. If "R" space is available, the upgrade is generally instantaneous. If it's not, your request goes onto the waitlist.

#### 6. Consider the Premium Plus to Polaris Strategy

United’s Premium Plus (Premium Economy) is a cabin positioned between Economy and Polaris Business. If you purchase a Premium Plus ticket, the cost to upgrade to Polaris using miles or PlusPoints is significantly lower than upgrading directly from standard Economy.

* **The Logic:** Paying slightly more for a Premium Plus ticket often makes the upgrade co-pay/mileage/PlusPoints cost more economical, and the competition for "I" class upgrade space is often less intense than the competition for "R" class space from standard Economy.

### IV. Avoiding Common Upgrade Pitfalls

* **Do Not Buy Basic Economy:** Basic Economy ('N' fare class) tickets are **not eligible** for complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs) and are severely restricted for PlusPoints and mileage upgrades. Always purchase a standard Economy ticket if you hope to upgrade.
* **Be Mindful of Partner Flights:** Upgrading on a Star Alliance partner like Lufthansa or Swiss is a complex process. You must use United miles, and the process is often manual and subject to the partner's limited upgrade space. Focus your upgrade efforts on United-operated flights for the highest success rate.
* **No Downgrade Strategy:** Showing up at the airport hoping to be "volunteered" an upgrade by taking an earlier or later flight (a technique called "involuntary denied boarding") is **not** a reliable upgrade strategy and should be avoided.

### V. The Final Hour: Airport Strategy

If your upgrade hasn't cleared by the time you reach the gate, there are a few final steps you can take:

**1. Check the Waitlist on the United App:**
The United app and gate display screen will show the standby list and the upgrade list. Verify your name is present and your position is correct based on your status.

**2. Be Polite to the Gate Agent:**
The gate agent is the final arbiter of who gets the last-minute seats. A polite, friendly inquiry about the likelihood of the upgrade clearing and a thank you (regardless of the outcome) can go a long way. They are simply following a pre-set list, but they handle the technical processing.

### Conclusion

The journey to the front of the plane on United Airlines is one of strategy, status, and sometimes, a little luck. By prioritizing the accumulation of Premier Elite status, understanding the strict upgrade hierarchy, and strategically selecting your flights and fare classes, you can dramatically increase your chances of experiencing the comfort and luxury of United Business/First Class. It is an investment in your travel experience that truly pays off on long-haul and overnight flights, turning a routine journey into a memorable start or finish to your trip.