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Premier® members may take advantage of a range of benefits when using miles for upgrades and award travel. Learn more about Premier status.
Better award availability
Premier members have unrestricted access to United® Standard Awards. If there’s a United seat for sale, these members can get it with award miles, guaranteed, even if it’s the last seat on the airplane.
Premier members also have better access to Saver Awards in United Economy®. Additionally, Premier Platinum and Premier 1K® members have better access to Saver Awards in United Business®, United BusinessFirst®, and United First® on 2-cabin aircraft. This benefit is also available for Saver Awards in United First and United Global FirstSM on 3-cabin aircraft until January 31, 2013. To get the best award search results, Premier members should sign in to united.com with their MileagePlus® number and PIN when searching for travel awards.
Priority waitlisting for award travel
Premier members may ask to be placed on a waitlist if award seating is unavailable on United at the time of booking. As additional award seats become available, they will be allocated to Premier members first according to Premier status.
On most United Global First and United BusinessFirst flights, waitlists for premium cabin upgrades are not permitted within 24 hours prior to departure. Waitlisted segments not confirmed on these flights 24 hours prior to departure are automatically added to the airport standby list at check-in.
Standby for international awards
Premier members who have used miles for award travel in United Global FirstSM, United First® or United Business®, but can only confirm seats on some segments in United Economy®, may stand by for the higher cabin at the airport within two hours of departure. Premier members should simply notify the airport agent upon check-in. For unused United Global First or United Business awards, the mileage difference between United Economy and the higher cabin may be re-deposited free of charge. This benefit only applies to United Airlines and Copa Airlines flights.
Co-pay waiver for MileagePlus Upgrade Awards on select flights
When requesting a MileagePlus Upgrade Award on certain United Economy or United Business tickets, members may have to supplement the miles for the premium cabin experience with a co-pay. Premier members are exempt from the co-pay when flying within the 49 United States and Canada, and between the 49 states/Canada and Hawaii, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean and Northern South America.
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