MileagePlus® upgrades are a valuable feature of your membership that can make your flight experience that much more comfortable and luxurious. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about upgrading your flight.
On most paid tickets for flights operated by United and United Express, you can use your miles to upgrade your seat. Request an upgrade as you purchase your ticket or after. Find more information on how to request an upgrade.
The miles required for a MileagePlus Upgrade Award are based on where you’re traveling, seat type, fare class and your Premier status. If you’ve booked a ticket in O, Y, or B class, you won’t be charged a co-pay, but most other fare classes will require a co-pay.
Premier members and others who are traveling on a Premier sponsor’s miles are exempt from any co-pay when traveling the following routes:
| If you’re traveling between | and | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland U.S., Alaska and Canada | Mainland U.S., Alaska and Canada | Co-pay still required on Premium Transcontinental routes |
| Mainland U.S., Alaska and Canada | Hawaii | Co-pay still required when travel includes a nonstop segment between Hawaii and Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Houston Intercontinental, New York/Newark or Washington Dulles |
| Mainland U.S., Alaska and Canada | Mexico | None |
| Mainland U.S., Alaska and Canada | Central America | None |
| Mainland U.S., Alaska and Canada | Caribbean | None |
| Oceania | Oceania | Co-pay still required between Hawaii and Guam |
*Premium transcontinental routes include flights between New York (Newark or John F. Kennedy) and Los Angeles or New York (Newark or John F. Kennedy) and San Francisco.
Miles and co-pay are due at time of request, even if you’re waitlisted, but you’ll be automatically refunded if none of your flights are upgraded. If some segments of your trip were upgraded, but not all, you can review the refund policy in our FAQs
Complimentary Premier Upgrades are free, space-available upgrades on select United- and United Express-operated flights. For information on where these upgrades are available, see our eligible upgrade destinations.
If you’ve booked a full-fare Economy ticket in these fare classes, you may be eligible for an upgrade as soon as your flight is ticketed:
| Fare type | Silver | Gold | Platinum | 1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Y- and B-class fares |  Available | Available | Available | Available |
| M-class fares | Not available | Not available | Not available | Available |
You may be able to receive a Complimentary Premier Upgrade for your award travel if you’re a MileagePlus member with Premier status and a primary Cardmember of any of the following Chase-issued MileagePlus credit cards:
The confirmation windows for Complimentary Premier Upgrades, by published Premier level, are:
| MileagePlus Premier level | Confirmation (as early as) |
|---|---|
| 1K | 96 hours / 4 days |
| Platinum | 72 hours / 3 days |
| Gold | 48 hours / 2 days |
| Silver | Day of departure |
*Upgrade processing may begin earlier for some customers with an unpublished Premier level.
Instant upgrades are confirmable at time of ticketing, if space is available. If a seat is not available at time of ticketing, these upgrades will be processed automatically starting at the five-day window. Instant upgrades are subject to capacity controls.
PlusPoints are a flexible upgrade benefit for Platinum and 1K members that can be used anywhere United flies. Learn more
You can use the miles you’ve earned for upgrade awards on many of our Star Alliance™ member airlines and enjoy benefits like priority check-in, lounge access and more personal service onboard. Learn more about Star Alliance upgrade awards
Business class C and D fares and Economy class Y and B can be upgraded, and other fare types may also be eligible depending on the airline.
