This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on
NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not
been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
If you’ve ever booked an economy ticket and wondered how you can upgrade to the front of the plane, you’re not alone. The idea seems appealing to many travelers, and airlines don’t always explain the process clearly, so there’s a lot of ambiguity in how mileage upgrades work. As a general rule, it’s better to book the exact seat that you want rather than buying a cheaper fare and hoping for an upgrade.
Each airline treats upgrades differently, not all fares are eligible, and often, if you do get an upgrade, you may end up paying more, resulting in a poorer use of your miles. But there are times when upgrades can make sense.
In this article, we’ll go over what you need to know about upgrading your ticket with miles and how the process works across the major U.S. carriers.
How upgrading with miles works
While each airline has its own rules, the general process typically includes:
-
Booking an eligible ticket: If you think you may want to upgrade, check whether your fare is eligible before you book. Not all fares qualify. For example, most airlines do not allow travelers to upgrade basic economy or award tickets. Some airlines may allow upgrades for basic economy but only for members with elite status.
-
Requesting an upgrade using miles: This can be done during the booking phase or after purchase.
-
Paying miles (and possibly a copay): Some airlines require a cash payment in addition to paying miles. On some airlines, having elite status exempts you from paying a copay.
-
Waiting for confirmation: Some upgrades can be confirmed immediately if space is available. Others require you to request an upgrade and wait for it to clear, which may happen closer to departure, or not at all, since upgrade space is limited. Depending on the airline, some offer instant upgrades, while others rely on waitlists.
Airlines that let you upgrade with miles
United offers two main ways to upgrade a flight using miles: buying a confirmed upgrade (called a Paid Cabin Upgrade) or requesting one using miles (MileagePlus Upgrade Award).
|
Paid Cabin Upgrade (PCU) |
MileagePlus Upgrade Award (MUA) |
|
|---|---|---|
|
How it works |
Buy an upgrade with miles or cash. |
Request an upgrade using miles. |
|
Waitlist |
No, instant confirmation. |
Yes. |
|
Payment type |
Fixed price (miles or cash). |
Miles + possible copay. |
|
Airlines |
United and United Express. |
United and select partner airlines. |
Paid Cabin Upgrades
These upgrades are the most straightforward. To check if they are available, find your flight in the “My Trips” section of your United account and look for an available seat in a higher cabin. If there is upgrade space, you can use miles to book the upgrade.
These upgrades take priority over MUAs, and because they are confirmed immediately, they may require more miles than an MUA.
MileagePlus Upgrade Awards
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Those with Premier Elite status have access to other upgrade options, including complimentary upgrades and PlusPoints. See our guides to PlusPoints and United’s upgrade priority order for more details.
Miles can typically be used for upgrades up to 24 hours before departure, while cash upgrades may be available anytime before departure.
Similar to the other airlines, Delta allows you to upgrade eligible tickets with miles. If an upgrade is available, you can confirm it immediately using miles. For tickets that have already been booked, the upgrade option will appear in your reservation under “My Trips” when selecting your seat.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
If you’re a Delta Medallion elite, you also have access to additional upgrade options, including complimentary upgrades and upgrade certificates.
When using miles to upgrade makes sense
Using miles to upgrade can make sense when there’s a large gap between the cash price of economy and premium cabins, but the mileage cost to upgrade is relatively reasonable.
For example, let’s say an economy ticket from Los Angeles to Chicago costs $200 (or 20,000 miles) in economy and $400 (or 40,000 miles) in first class. If you book the economy ticket for $200 and then get an upgrade offer for 10,000 miles to first class, that can be a worthwhile redemption. However, if your upgrade offer is 30,000 miles, that can be a poor value.
While checking the math makes sense, there’s also a bit of a judgement call in this process. For example, let’s say you’re going on a work trip and your ticket was paid by your employer. If you want to use your miles for the upgrade, you may give yourself more leeway on how many miles you’d be willing to spend for the more comfortable experience.
When upgrading with miles doesn’t make sense
On the flip side, there are many instances when upgrading with miles is a bad idea. If you want a guaranteed premium cabin seat, it’s usually better to book an award ticket outright. This is especially true on popular routes where upgrade space is limited or unlikely to clear.
If you’re flying a short distance, upgrading your ticket with miles may not be worth it. Upgrades also aren’t available on all tickets. For example, basic economy fares are generally not eligible for upgrades, which means you won’t be able to use miles even if upgrade space exists.
Because upgrade pricing can be dynamic, the value you get can vary widely. In some cases, you may get a reasonable deal, but in others, you may end up overpaying in miles compared to booking an award ticket directly. If you get an upgrade offer that’s a poor value, you’re better off saving your miles for another time.
Should you upgrade with miles or book an award flight instead?
In most cases, booking an award flight outright will provide better value for your miles, especially for premium cabins on long-haul routes. You’ll also guarantee your seat and won’t have to hope and pray that you get an upgrade offer.
However, sometimes award tickets may not be available at a saver level in a premium cabin, so in those cases, purchasing a cash ticket and upgrading with miles can be a way to get yourself into a premium seat.
The best option depends on availability, pricing and your travel flexibility.
Upgrading with miles can be a convenient way to improve your flight experience, but it often comes at a lower value than booking an award ticket outright. If you can confirm the upgrade immediately or are upgrading an existing ticket, it may be worth considering. Otherwise, booking a premium cabin award is usually the better use of miles.