Effective 8/21, United will no longer offer elite members free instant upgrades when booking Y, B, or M economy fares.
You can still try your luck for a Complimentary Premier Upgrades in the days leading up to a flight, but short of playing upgrade roulette, there won’t be any more free upgrades, even on higher fare classes.
It’s amazing to see how much more expensive it has become to earn elite status in recent years, while benefits for all elite tiers have been whittled down so far.
Delta even recently bragged to investors about how they have moved from selling just 14% of domestic first class seats to selling 88% of them. Airlines are clearly untethering elite status from upgrades. With other benefits like award redeposits now free for even non-elites, the perks of status have never been fewer.
And yet, airlines have more elite members than ever, so they must be doing something right!
In other bad news, United will get rid of their upgrade award charts on 11/24/25.
United got rid of their award charts for United flights in 2019 and for partner flights in 2020, but charts for upgrades lived on.
But as of 11/24, the only way to get mileage upgrade pricing will be to search for a flight with advanced search, click on Upgrade Awards, and search for flights. The miles required will then be displayed. If you have an existing booking, you can just click on upgrade to see the cost.
Interestingly, upgrade rates haven’t changed much from the original 2019 mileage award and upgrade charts.
Here are 2025 mileage upgrade charts from the mainland US for future reference, before they’re deleted. It remains to be seen how dynamic mileage upgrade prices will be going forward.
Mainland US:
Hawaii:
Mexico:
Caribbean:
Central America:
Northern South America:
Southern South America:
Europe:
Middle East:
Central and Southern Africa:
Northern Africa:
Australia and New Zealand:
Oceania:
Japan:
North Asia:
Central Asia:
South Asia:
What do you think of these changes? Do you still chase after airline elite status?
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4 Comments On "Goodbye To United Upgrade Award Charts And Instant Upgrades"
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I’v seen flights recently with over 40 ppl on upgrade list (not cpu) so it make sense they can charge more..
@dan plus points changing as well?
“And yet, airlines have more elite members than ever, so they must be doing something right!”
With cash tickets earning alot more PQP’s than award travel, of course there will be more elite members if you need to book business to fly it.
Elite/Upgrades are at this point at longshots. Vote your wallet.