nomad420

That actually is too bad of a flight to use them on. I have a run of flights coming up over the next 2 months that are semi long (TCONS and Hawaii) that if my instruments don't clear I will basically start throwing them at anything. Even doing that I suspect I will have many expire on me. Still sitting on 17 RPU/GPUs .

fumje

You waitlisted an upgrade T-23.5? I thought the system was pretty strict about blocking within T-24; or is that only non-p.s.?

IADFlyer123

I know . The rest of my trips are all booked in P. I still have 5 GPUs and 1 RPU sitting that might go to waste.

ermintrude

That's why I mentioned it and it wasn't forced. I have no idea on your 2nd point.

Aussienarelle

So trying my first PE seating in the space saver seat on NZ. Why is this relevant to this thread that GPUs are useless? Well none of my GPUs have taken this year so far and the fare differential on LAX-LHR was so significant between UA and NZ that I did not want to chance the GPU not taking for the red eye flight (done that too often on UA where I have been in E+ on a W fare).

Also, NZ have an upgrade system where you bid for the upgrade to J. My bid was not successful but I was okay with that. Apparently with NZ elites get priority in that buy up system. Will report back on the PE experience for those of you on the West Coast.

Oh, the fare class for PE on NZ gets 125% PQM with UA. :-)

No PQD with UA as not 016 ticket (but I do not need these as I meet this requirement each year)

st530

Have a GPU applied (C to F) to UA 959 on 27 June. 5 days out and F is still booked only 1/6 but O/ON remain at 0 (C is only booked 13/26 FWIW). Is UA going to try to "HOD" this to the very last minute?

RandomBaritone

Still in shock over finding R4 on both the outbound and return legs of an upcoming BOS<>SFO trip -- and just after they've switched to all lie-flats, no less. It helped that I was looking to fly out on a Wednesday and back during the weekend ... and that I don't mind waking up early. And to be fair, these are flights on which 18 months ago I was getting CPUs as a Gold.

Still, in the new scheme of things it's a rare treat not to have to worry about last-minute paid upgraders. And given that I won't make Plat again this year, it's nice to be able to say I got value out of the only RPUs I ever use.

cfischer

wow, R on BOS-SFO ... nice!

Just used my 9th UG cert this year. 9/9 cleared. That's how it should be

nomad420

Indeed they are, at least that has been my experience. Still sitting on a boat load of instruments. Won't use them on TATLs or TPAC flights as I have been burned too many times. I just bite the bullet and buy F. I have an RPU still standing on a SFO- CLE flight on Monday that I bought up to W to see if that helps it clear but not holding my breath. Will report back as to how that "experiment" worked.

mh3265a

Have been waitlisted for several months using an RPU on SFO-IAD. Rarely do I find R space on transcons and if I do it is absolutely last minute. I generally only get to use RPUs, now, for short haul flights. They really are meaningless.

RandomBaritone

Honestly, I think RPUs are 90% worthless as a Plat unless there's R space confirmable at booking as in my scenario above. And for anyone interested in BOS<>SFO, the open R is available both mid- and late-July for ultra-early morning and late afternoon departures.

9/9, pretty impressive --but as a 1K you always have a fighting chance!

nomad420

Previously posted that I just had my first instrument clear on a Sunday morning BOS-SFO run. No R available at booking but it did clear at T24 which surprised me. Otherwise NADA with instruments for months. I am curious to see what happens on my Monday flight that I bought up to W on, still waitlisted but no surprise there.

Aussienarelle

GPU fail. None have been successful yet this year.

Route: LHR-IAH
Date of trip: June 24, 2017
Fare class: W
Date of reservation: April 25, 2017
Status of flyer: 1K

Loved the Space Seat on NZ. Even better for my flight was there was no one in the seat next to me (I was in one of the two middle seats) and was able to lie down in a kidney shape to sleep. (Pity NZ is replacing them with a different PE seat.)

ermintrude

to wait-list I typically don't buy a W fare if I want to use a GPU. V+ fares only if available. Sometimes V+ fares are cheaper than W fares as well. My success on GPUs this year is 100% but in fairness I've booked into available R.

sfo789

Is this ever possible, given the fare bucket structure (i.e. V>W and not the change-of-service-class difference that means P can be cheaper than Y)? Intuitively I find this pretty hard to believe unless there is some seriously strange r/t faring going on.