DW and I booked one-way United Saver Award Business Class tickets from LAX to AMS for October. When we made the reservation the only flight that popped up was LAX-IAD-AMS and the LAX-IAD leg was a 2-class aircarft putting us in Economy.
There is an earlier flight on a 777 from LAX to IAD where the seat map shows the Biz section wide open. When I called United to see about getting the earlier flight the agent said all they could do was put me on a wait list.
My question: Should I call again in hopes that another agent would make the change or should I just wait to see what United does?

UA will put you in first for the domestic legs of an international business class ticket. If they didn't do it for this ticket, they didn't have award availability in first for the LAX-IAD leg, but you should be waitlisted for upgrade. Ask to confirm this.

What kind of plane is LAX-IAD? If it's an A320 or A319, the first-class cabins are small, so the likelihood of upgrades are smaller. If it's a B757, then the chances are better. Switching to a 777 should get you an immediate confirmation.

Also, you have to understand that the LAX-IAD leg is really too far out to be predictable about equipment or schedule. Anything you do now might get undone, but having confirmed seats in first might give you better protection.

Waitlist for the 777 and then check for NC (business class award seat) availability regularly between now and October.

There was no NC availability on that flight on the day that you booked the award but seats may (probably will) become available.

I would not wait to see what United does. In theory, you might expect that if a seat becomes available that you will automatically get it because you are on the waitlist. I would not make that assumption. It might happen, but until/ it does I would keep an eye on the availability and immediately call to get the seat if one appeared.

The 777 LAX-IAD that you are referring to is UA 947. You will notice on your res that your IAD-AMS leg is also UA 947. UA 947 is a direct flight LAX-AMS with one stop - at IAD. That flight, and the return flight UA 946, have been on the UA schedule and have used a 3-cabin 777 for years.

I was wondering what flight you must be on if it was later than UA 946, but now I see that UA 966 LAX-IAD also is a 3-cabin 777 (on March 26) and it is earlier than 946.

So the flight you have booked must be UA 106? Your booking class should show NF, for a first class award. If it says NY then you have a problem because that is coach.

On October 1, the Flight Info for UA 966 says business class is available, but the equipment is an A319 so it will only be first class. I would expect that to not change and I would expect that 947 will be the 3-cabin 777.

The first class seats on the A319 and 757 flights are fine, but I would prefer the business class on the 777. I think you understand the difference.

You can call to check for NC availability on your flight or you can look for it online.

What flight are you on? What is your booking class?

I meant to write: "... and I would expect that 946 will be the 3-cabin 777". On Oct 1, that is.

I just realized that you would be waitlisted for the biz class seat while holding a first class seat on a different flight. Not waitlisted for a different seat on the same flight. I am not sure but I would think that you wouldn't get off the waitlist until maybe the day of the flight. Not to worry, though, you will be in F. My point is that I really would keep checking for availability.

I had a similar experience last May with flights from ORD-LAX-SYD. I had booked saver first for my wife and myself but we were in E+ for the ORD-LAX and the LAX-ORD return. I checked frequently but was told that the first class part was just for LAX-SYD and return MEL-SYD-LAX. I was told I could be on the FFCC waitlist but I think they were kidding. I also noticed that although there was a flight number that went from ORD-SYD my flights had different numbers. I suspect, but don't know, that they did this so I couldn't get first as these were different flights. Same thing on the return.
I still enjoyed the trip and E+, while not the same as first, was still OK for four hours.

I think you want to be looking for "XF" on the two-class plane or "XC" on the three-class plane. Those are the codes for mileage award tickets. "NC" is for upgrades to business on a paid economy ticket.

As explained above, United probably hasn't opened any first/business award space on those flights at this point, and it may or may not. I'd call and make sure you're on the waiting lists--both for first on your current flight and for business on the earlier flight.

RonDace, we had the same thing happen with the domestic segment going from ORD to Australia, although we eventually cleared from the waiting list for domestic first on the way back.

Oh, yes, ms_go is write. I am always looking for NC and had that in mind.

It is XC and XF for premium cabin awards. And XY for economy (I think). OP needs to check the existing booking to make sure it is XF, not XY.