My Strategy To Using United Airlines PlusPoints
Intro
As someone who is an avid Reddit user and reader, I constantly hear complaints about how PlusPoints are useless and that they always go to waste. Considering that a lot of people have trouble using them, I wanted to share my insight into how I get the best use out of my PlusPoints in hopes that this might be able to benefit you.
I would like to add that I am fortunate enough to have an adaptable schedule, unlike many business travelers. With that in mind, I will try to add a couple of small details for those who don't have much of a choice.
What Are PlusPoints?
First and foremost, what are PlusPoints? PlusPoints are essentially free upgrades (for the time being) for those that reach either Platinum, Premier 1K or Global Services. From United Airlines, this is exactly how to earn PlusPoints:
Once you meet the qualification requirements for Premier Platinum or Premier 1K, you’ll immediately receive PlusPoints based on your status: 40 PlusPoints when you reach Premier Platinum and 280 more when you reach Premier 1K.
You can earn even more PlusPoints after you reach Premier 1K status. For every 3,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) you get beyond 22,000, you’ll earn 20 more PlusPoints.
Once you see fare class "PZ" open up (which can be found through an expert search on United), you will be eligible to instantly upgrade. There are reports of clearing without PZ space opening, but who knows how United's system works?
My Strategies
The first strategy I have for you is to be flexible when it comes to booking. For example, if in any way possible, try to fly midweek. Checking this week from Los Angeles to Hong Kong, there seems to be PZ space on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but Thursday and Friday do not have any PZ space available on the double redeyes.
This brings me to my second strategy: taking the least favorable of the flights that are offered. We'll keep using Los Angeles to Hong as the example since there is a morning flight and an afternoon flight. Using that Friday as an example, many business travelers do not want to skip a whole meeting and thus decide to take the redeye when possible. Hence, there is one seat available with the PZ fare class at 11 am and JN1 available (no PZ) at 10:55 pm.
I know it sucks, but if you can make the commitment, it is worth it.
This brings me to my third strategy: AVOID San Francisco and Houston when connecting, if possible. For example, I recently cleared into Polaris from Chicago to Sao Paulo. However, before that,t I had been monitoring which routes I was most likely to clear on, and it was clear that Houston was the least likely (IAD was second, Newark third). These are uncompetitive hubs, as no other long-haul airlines are based out of there, thus causing most Global Services members to be based in these two hubs (Newark is almost as bad from experience). When we look at the hubs of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Newark (JFK included here), there are plenty of options for people to be loyal to different carriers.
This brings me to the fourth and final strategy: you have to do the research. Perhaps the most important part of clearing with PlusPoints is doing the research. For example, last week, I flew on a 787-9 from Washington DC to Los Angeles, and 5 hours before departure, they released a seat in the PZ fare class, with only two available business class seats (I don't understand the algorithm).
Say you are on one of the two redeyes from Los Angeles to Washington, and while you are having a whiskey at the Club, you notice the other flight opens up PZ space. Head over to the desk, and they can sort out the flight change upgrade. Alternatively, you can also just call the 1K/GS line.
Final Thoughts
If I can leave you with a final thought, it is this: I know a lot of you like to try and book in advance for a vacation to Europe during the summer or perhaps a scheduled business trip. If you follow the steps outlined above, I guarantee that you will have a better chance at clearing an upgrade with PlusPoints than if you didn't. It's hard to find PZ space in advance (PN is a touch easier), so you have to be slightly patient. However, I would check every morning/evening on other flights (if there are other options) just in case United decides to do a PZ dump.
I might not use all of my PlusPoints this year. Not because I can't, but because I find very attractive fares in Business Class 😅. Mahe-Addis Ababa-London-Montreal-Los Angeles-Montreal-London-Addis Ababa for 3K USD in Business: not bad.
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