United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Longest route with a RPU

In the spirit of this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileage-plus-pre-merger/859929-longest-region-1-flight.html

I'm wondering what the longest possible itinerary that could be upgraded with a single RPU. And to paraphrase bhmlurker:

Upgradable with one RPU by everyday UA customers, no super circular routes, no zig zags, just a normal routing that UA call center would sell you. No weird routing that'd cause select UA employees to curse you out Oh yeah, the whole route must have F or C of some sort.

Is LIM-EWR RPU eligible? Otherwise what S. America origin gets you the longest RPU eligible flight to EWR (BOG? Quito only goes to IAH).

Then on to Hawaii. Does the single RPU then continue to be eligible on the island hopper flights?

You could probably add on extra segments within CONUS - but how about something like HNL-SFO-IAD-STT or somewhere else in the Caribbean

Or - HNL-SFO-SEA-ANC-IAH-ORD-IAD-EWR-AUA :D

BOG-EWR-HNL-MAJ-KWA-KSA-PNI-TKK-GUM-HKG-SIN...

GCMapper (http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=BOG-EWR-HNL-MAJ-KWA-KSA-PNI-TKK-GUM-hkg-sin)

However, I am not too sure if it is permissible under the fare rules... They might force you to buy BOG-IAH-NRT-SIN or BOG-EWR-HKG-SIN.

BOG-EWR-HNL-MAJ-KWA-KSA-PNI-TKK-GUM-HKG-SIN...

GCMapper (http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=BOG-EWR-HNL-MAJ-KWA-KSA-PNI-TKK-GUM-hkg-sin)

However, I am not too sure if it is permissible under the fare rules... They might force you to buy BOG-IAH-NRT-SIN or BOG-EWR-HKG-SIN.

The idea of using one RPU to get to SIN is pretty amazing, if permissable.

The idea of using one RPU to get to SIN is pretty amazing, if permissable.

It is :p

We have CO Mike to thank for making this possible ;)

The challenge will be trying to book the island Hopper between HNL and GUM..

Routing rules:

/VIA THE PACIFIC/
DOM ROUTE VALIDATION APPLIES WITHIN ORIG/DEST COUNTRIES
1. BOG-CM/UA-PTY-CO/UA-CHI/CLE/DEN/EWR/HOU/WAS-CO/UA-CHI/EWR/
LAX/NYC/SEA/SFO/SNA/WAS-CO/UA-HNL-CO/UA-GUM-CO/UA-HKG-UA-
SIN

RPUs are valid on CM, too, so you should be able to start even further south and route via PTY on the trip. :-:

RPUs are valid on CM, too, so you should be able to start even further south and route via PTY on the trip. :-:

Was not sure about that, so I stuck with UA :p

Nice to know, but they don't clear in advance?? Or you can upgrade in advance or waitlist on Copa flights? That means the furthest starting point will be EZE :D

EZE-PTY-EWR-HNL-GUM-HKG-SIN... Epic!

ETA: EZE is not possible due to routing rules...

BUE-CO/UA-CHI/CLE/DEN/EWR/HOU/WAS-CO/UA-CHI/EWR/LAX/NYC/
SEA/SFO/SNA/WAS-CO/UA-HNL-CO/UA-GUM-CO/UA-HKG-UA-SIN

Good answers here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileageplus-consolidated/1262932-ft-challenge-2012-maximizing-rpu.html

Here is one I actually did under the old UA system with a GPU (FKA SWU).....(I realize this is a RPU question)

LHR-ORD-SFO-SYD-MEL-LAX-IAD-FRA


27,943

GCM (http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=LHR-ORD-SFO-SYD-MEL-LAX-IAD-FRA)

RPUs are valid on CM, too, so you should be able to start even further south and route via PTY on the trip. :-:

When you use an RPU and mix COPA and UA, the UA rules then apply.

For example, you could use an RPU on an all-COPA routing for EZE-PTY-ORD. You could not use an RPU for EZE-PTY-IAH-ORD because the legs on UA would force you to use a GPU.

When you use an RPU and mix COPA and UA, the UA rules then apply.

For example, you could use an RPU on an all-COPA routing for EZE-PTY-ORD. You could not use an RPU for EZE-PTY-IAH-ORD because the legs on UA would force you to use a GPU.

I do not believe this is accurate. The eligibility of the upgrade is based on the segment to which it is being applied, and for flights ex-PTY the RPUs are valid.

BOG-EWR-HNL-MAJ-KWA-KSA-PNI-TKK-GUM-HKG-SIN...

GCMapper (http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=BOG-EWR-HNL-MAJ-KWA-KSA-PNI-TKK-GUM-hkg-sin)

However, I am not too sure if it is permissible under the fare rules... They might force you to buy BOG-IAH-NRT-SIN or BOG-EWR-HKG-SIN.

As someone who has taken the island hopper (upgraded to F upon booking) and spent some time in Kwajalein and Ebeye, I'd have to say this flight is definitely one to take just as an experience. A daylong flight with 6 stops full of local islanders, many whom have never flown before, getting on and off the plane at each stop. The runways on these islands are a little two short for the 737 and the plane definitely goes hard on the brakes and reverse thrust on each touchdown. There is a mechanic onboard who the flight in coach who gets off and checks the plane at each stop as well...

Nice to know, but they don't clear in advance?? Or you can upgrade in advance or waitlist on Copa flights? That means the furthest starting point will be EZE :D


They don't clear as far in advance so Uncle $misek can offer upgrades for cash.

I do not believe this is accurate. The eligibility of the upgrade is based on the segment to which it is being applied, and for flights ex-PTY the RPUs are valid.

You are correct, but I was talking about going all the way from EZE to ORD on one RPU.

You could use an RPU on UA for PTY-IAH-ORD. However, if you tried to use it for the full routing EZE-PTY-IAH-ORD you will get shot down. The UA reservation system will see that as a deep South America routing and require a GPU. This would be true even if you book through COPA with codeshares.

You are correct, but I was talking about going all the way from EZE to ORD on one RPU.

You could use an RPU on UA for PTY-IAH-ORD. However, if you tried to use it for the full routing EZE-PTY-IAH-ORD you will get shot down. The UA reservation system will see that as a deep South America routing and require a GPU. This would be true even if you book through COPA with codeshares.

I still maintain that this is incorrect. RPUs are valid for EZE-PTY and PTY-anywhere. The online system might choke on it but an agent should be able to push it through without issue.

Apologies if this belongs in a different (or new) thread, but this one looks relevant enough. Question is this: can you use an upgrade instrument on the Island Hopper under the new COdbaUA regime if you're going through from HNL to GUM? I have such an itin reserved (K fare) and both the website and the 1K line are telling me No. I thought the RPU/GPU exception was for the direct HNL-GUM flight only. Anyone have different (recent) experience?