PlusPoints, the 2019 successor for the Global Premier Upgrades and Regional Premier Upgrades, are familiar to United's top elite Premier Platinum, 1K, and Global Services members.
In essence, collecting PlusPoints is simple; redeeming them is more difficult - particularly strategically.
You will receive 40 PlusPoints for every year that you qualify for Premier Platinum.
When you reach Premier 1K, you'll receive an extra 280 PlusPoints.
Then, for every 2,000 Premier qualifying points you achieve, you'll get an extra 20 PlusPoints.
Every year, as a Premier 1K member, I earn 320 PlusPoints.
I try to use them wisely to get upgrades on flights that are either a good deal or would be uncomfortable in coach otherwise.
I've learnt a few ways over the years that allow me to confirm upgrades before leaving and complete the year with no PlusPoints unused.
While you can use your PlusPoints on ANA, Copa, and Lufthansa for higher (more costly) rates, here's how many PlusPoints you'll need to upgrade on United metal.
Short-haul international flights within the United States and North America
10 PlusPoints for Premium Plus to business or first.
20 PlusPoints from Economy to Premium Plus.
20 PlusPoints from economy to business or first.
Flights to other overseas destinations
20 PlusPoints from Economy to Premium Plus.
Polaris Premium Plus: 30 PlusPoints
40 PlusPoints for Economy to Polaris (fares Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W)
70 PlusPoints from Economy to Premium Plus (Skip Waitlist).
Economy to Polaris (seriously discounted S, T, L, K, G fares): 80 PlusPoints
110 PlusPoints from Economy to Polaris (Skip Waitlist).
If your PlusPoints are about to expire, it might be a good idea to use them on the "Skip Waitlist" service.
But, aside from that, I recommend avoiding it at all costs.
On some routes, 110 PlusPoints for one upgrade is roughly equivalent to three standard economy-to-Polaris upgrades.
Upgrades that have been confirmed
When you purchase a flight on United and seek an upgrade to business or first class (domestic or international), at least 90% of the time you will be placed on a waitlist.
When booking a flight, using PlusPoints to confirm a business- or first-class seat is rare.
Short-haul domestic flights, particularly United Express flights, occasionally have verified upgrades.
While this is a good way to earn an upgrade, I don't think it's a good use of PlusPoints for three reasons:
You don't want to squander your PlusPoints on a flight where you might already get an upgrade (as a Complimentary Premier Upgrade) as a Premier member.
These flights are usually short and provide similar (or identical) service to that of economy class.
On United Express jets, United First seats aren't much of a step above than Economy Plus (no lie-flat seat).
Long-haul flights occasionally have RN prices.
This means you may book any economy fare and have a Premium Plus seat confirmed. The Premium Plus seat is comparable to the domestic United First seat in terms of size.
So on a long-haul flight, I'd happily pay 20 PlusPoints to upgrade from economy to Premium Plus.
After all, a short-haul domestic flight upgrade to United First costs 20 PlusPoints.
It's a no-brainer when you can get a similar seat on a long-haul trip with better service and food for the same number of PlusPoints as a domestic upgrade.
United is making a major change to its newest long-haul market, with seven implications.
Upgrades are on a waiting list.
It's now time to continue the narrative of United's endlessly convoluted upgrade list.
Long-distance international flights
Passengers in Premium Plus will notice that they are first in line for upgrades to business or first class.
Consider the following scenario for an international long-haul flight:
1 A member of United's Global Services programme (who most certainly spends six figures per year with United) has requested a 40 PlusPoint upgrade to Polaris business class (the price for an upgrade from economy class to Polaris).
2 A United Premier Platinum elite member has a Premium Plus reservation and has requested a 30 PlusPoint upgrade to Polaris business class (the price for an upgrade from Premium Plus to Polaris).
There is only one seat available.
Who's going to get the best seat in the house?
Isn't it the highest-ranking member?
You'd assume so, but no, because the Premier Platinum member is in a higher cabin, they'd be upgraded.
This "secret" allows me to jump ahead on the upgrade list.
Premium Plus is a compact cabin with a maximum of 24 seats.
By reserving Premium Plus and requesting a Polaris upgrade, you can be assured that you will be among the first passengers in line for a Polaris seat.
I had booked economy class on a 16-hour journey from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and sought an upgrade to Polaris (40 PlusPoints).
When I checked the upgrade list the day before the flight, I was 19th in line for an upgrade, and there were five seats left in Polaris.
To put it another way, I wasn't going to get a promotion.
So I paid $287 for a Premium Plus upgrade and requested a Polaris upgrade (30 PlusPoints).
I was now second on the upgrade list and received an upgrade upon check-in.
I was ecstatic to get upgraded with my PlusPoints, and the change from Premium Plus to Polaris cost only 10 less PlusPoints than the upgrade from economy to Polaris would have taken (if the economy-to-Polaris upgrade had cleared).
Oh, and a $5,690 Polaris upgrade was available for purchase, which was a terrific way to save money.
PlusPoints provide a wonderful value in this case.
Domestic flights of a short distance
I flew United for work last month between Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Denver International Airport (DEN).
I was second in line for an upgrade a few hours before the flight (not using PlusPoints, just a typical Premier 1K gratis upgrade), however only one seat was available.
I called United and asked for PlusPoints to be added to my reservation in the hopes of getting first priority for the upgrade.
Because I had previously checked in for my flight, the phone representative had to uncheck me out before they could apply PlusPoints to my reservation.
The PlusPoints were added, and I noticed that my upgrade had been cleared when I rechecked in for my flight!
I recommend just using your PlusPoints on flights that would not otherwise be upgraded.
So, if you don't get a free upgrade, phone United and ask to be unchecked for your flight so you can add PlusPoints to your reservation even if you're already at the airport.
That should move you up the upgrading list a few slots, and who knows, if you're anything like me, you might start getting some more surprising upgrades.
Final thoughts
You can use your PlusPoints in any way you like.
The most important thing to avoid is using your PlusPoints on a flight where you would have been upgraded otherwise.
You will leapfrog any economy-class clients who are already on the queue by paying for Premium Plus, even if their status and fare are greater than yours.
This year, I've spent 100 PlusPoints (60 for two Premium Plus-to-Polaris upgrades and 40 for two domestic first-class upgrades), and I have 220 PlusPoints that expire on Jan. 31, 2023.
In the future months, I want to book discounted Premium Plus fares and request Polaris business class upgrades.
After all, using 320 PlusPoints and a high waiting position each time is a terrific strategy to acquire 10-plus Polaris upgrades.
FACEBOOK