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Systemwide upgrades
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Systemwide Upgrades may be used for a one-way, one class of service upgrade on select booking classes within Region 1 (United States, Canada, Caribbean, Central America and Mexico), within Region 2 (all other United destinations) and between Region 1 and Region 2. Each Systemwide Upgrade is valid for travel on nonstop or connecting itineraries, up to the first point of stopover.

NEW! These upgrades can now be used on most Continental flights. > Learn more

FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
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Earning Systemwide Upgrades
If you earn 1K status in 2010, you will get six Systemwide Upgrades on Jan. 1, 2011, after you reach or requalify for 1K status.

If you earn 1K status in 2011, you will get six Systemwide Upgrades as soon as you reach the 100,000 elite status miles (EQM) or 120 elite status segments (EQS) threshold, rather than on Jan 1 of the next year.

No matter when you earn your 1K status, you will have the potential to earn two additional Systemwide Upgrades for every additional 50,000 EQM or 60 EQS you fly between Jan 1 and Dec 31.
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Using Systemwide Upgrades on Lufthansa
You can use your Systemwide Upgrades on Lufthansa on a standby basis by converting your banked upgrades to paper certificates.
Details
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Systemwide Upgrade quick reference guide
Upgrade availability Upgrade seats are dependent upon demand for paid premium fares and may not always be available. In general, many first or business class bookings do not occur until a week or two before departure, so upgrade seats may not be available until closer to your flight date. Upgrades may only be requested once your ticket has been issued.
Upgrade clearance times and waitlists Upgrades are processed according to your MileagePlus status.
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Upgrades will be confirmed if seats are available at time of request, otherwise, you will be placed on a waitlist. You can check the status of your request in My Itineraries.
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If upgrade space becomes available, requests will be prioritized by MileagePlus status, original booking class purchased, and by time of request in a tiebreaker situation.
How to earn If you earn 1K status in 2010, you will get six Systemwide Upgrades on Jan. 1,
null2011, after you reach or requalify for 1K status. The opportunity to earn more is
nullbased on the number of miles you fly.
If you earn 1K status in 2011, you will get six Systemwide Upgrades as soon
nullas you reach the 100,000 elite status miles (EQM) or 120 elite status
nullsegments (EQS) threshold - rather than on Jan 1 of the next year.
No matter when you earn your 1K status, you will have the potential to earn
nullmore Systemwide Upgrades based on the number of miles you fly:
  • Earn two more upgrades for every additional 50,000 EQM or 60 EQS between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31.
  • There is no limit to how many you can earn in a calendar year.
Expiration dates Systemwide Upgrades expire on the last day of the calendar month, 12 months after deposit into your upgrades bank. Flights upgraded using a Systemwide Upgrade must be flown on/before the expiration date of the upgrade.
Valid carrier Flights marketed and operated by United, United Express, Lufthansa and Continental.
Upgrades on Lufthansa are on standby basis only and may only be requested through MileagePlus Customer Service. See Obtaining Paper Certificates for Systemwide Upgrades on Lufthansa section for details.

For details about how to upgrade a Continental flight, visit mileageplusmergerupdates.com.

For flights operated by United but marketed by another airline, upgrades are permitted on a standby basis at the airport only, subject to availability.
Valid travel regions Region 1 (North America, Hawaii, Caribbean, Central America)
Region 2 (all other United destinations)
Upgrades required One Systemwide Upgrade may be used to upgrade one passenger on a
nullnonstop or connecting itinerary, up to the point of stopover.
Additional upgrades are required for itineraries with stopovers.
An itinerary with a connection of 12 hours or more is considered a stopover
nulland will require additional upgrades
If Systemwide Upgrade is used or confirmed on only a portion of a multiple
nullsegment connecting itinerary, one upgrade will still be required and no refund of
nullthe upgrade is permitted.
Upgradeable
booking classes
Within Region 1:
United Business (C,D,J)
United Economy (Y,B,M,E,H,U,Q,V,W,S,T,K,L,G)
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Within Region 2 or between Region 1 and Region 2:
United Business (C,D,J)
United Economy (Y,B,M,E,H,U,Q,V,W)
Upgrade service classes United Economy to United First (on 2-cabin aircraft)*
United Economy to United Business (on 3-cabin aircraft)
United Business to United First (on 3-cabin aircraft)
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* Double upgrades from United Economy to United First are not permitted when traveling on 3-cabin aircraft
Non-upgradeable booking classes and tickets Within Region 1:
United Business (Z)
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Within Region 2 or between Region 1 and Region 2:
United Business (Z)
United Economy (S, T, L, K, G)
Award tickets (booking classes XY, NY, XC for Saver awards and booking
nullclasses Y and C for Standard awards)
Tickets already upgraded to United Business (booking class NC)
Tickets purchased through Priceline and Hotwire, where the airline is not
nulldisclosed until after payment.
Sponsoring upgrade for another traveler/
transferability
Systemwide Upgrades are transferable to another traveler either traveling together with the sponsor, or separately.
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Visit Sponsor Upgrade and log-in using your MileagePlus number or e-mail address. Enter the traveler’s last name and six-character record locator or confirmation code.
Mileage accrual Miles earned will be based on the originally ticketed class of service, not the upgraded class of service.
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Terms and Conditions for Systemwide Upgrades
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