Looking into Jan/Feb and want to do a cheap, quick trip to HNL using only one RPU to upgrade the entire itinerary. I also want to overnight in LAX on the way out.
It appears I can construct this on a single RPU if I take the JFK-LAX afternoon flight (UA161), then the first flight LAX-HNL the following morning (UA1290). I'd land @ HNL around noon, hit the beach, and then take an overnight flight back that night.
- What are the rules to qualify for a single RPU? Does this itinerary work because 1) it is the only possible LAX connection as there is no later flight LAX-HNL that night and 2) I am taking the first one out to HNL the following morning and 3) then not overnighting in HNL?
- I only want to book this flight (which would likely be 3 or 4 segments depending on pricing HNL-EWR vs HNL-XXX-NYC on return) if I can see in advance that my RPU would get me upgraded on at least a couple of the flights. Do I just look at the R fare bucket when booking for each?
- Any suggestions as to which flights to take on the return for better plane?
You can use an RPU for any flight or combination of flights to/from Hawaii as long as you don't stop on the way. But good luck finding an agent willing to let you use the same RPU for a round trip, regardless of how long your staying. The computer won't do it. I usually have to call just to get it to take when 2 flights are involved. Others here may cite the T&C's exactly as they are written but my experience is that & a dollar will get you on the subway. I don't think you will find any agent that will upgrade a round trip on one RPU
I've used 1 RPU for LAX-SFO-HNL-LAX-JFK, but it was all same day. The same itinerary has a JFK-LAX segment arriving on the last flight the night before, but I had to use a second RPU.
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It won't happen. Also, I believe there is a layover time limit for RPUs, I am not sure if it is 4 hours or 12 hours. In the buggy old sUA system, one could use one RPU for an entire roundtrip online, but now UA has caught up.
I have done some quick turn MRs with different layover airports, but if I want to use RPUs to upgrade the entire trip, I'd have to use two.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mwix
You win. Ain't gonna happen. I had assumed a zero-night stay on ITA would allow a single RPU.
Sorry... But hey, you will be enjoying the beaches in Hawaii for a couple of hours if you go, while I will be stuck freezing my butt off in PIT
Also, Jan will be the time of the year where some people here will have excess RPUs about to expire and maybe someone will sponsor you if your trip is in Jan. JFK-LAX-HNL and v.v. is a great routing to burn RPU.
I've used 1 RPU for LAX-SFO-HNL-LAX-JFK, but it was all same day. The same itinerary has a JFK-LAX segment arriving on the last flight the night before, but I had to use a second RPU.
I was able to use 1 RPU online for JFK-SFO-HNL-IAD-LGA, all my stopovers were <2h, all departures on same day except for IAD-LGA. (Yes it's a mileage run)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hirohito888
I was able to use 1 RPU online for JFK-SFO-HNL-IAD-LGA, all my stopovers were <2h, all departures on same day except for IAD-LGA. (Yes it's a mileage run)
You applied the RPU post 3/3 on the current UA.com website?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by golfingboy
It won't happen. Also, I believe there is a layover time limit for RPUs, I am not sure if it is 4 hours or 12 hours. In the buggy old sUA system, one could use one RPU for an entire roundtrip online, but now UA has caught up.
I have done some quick turn MRs with different layover airports, but if I want to use RPUs to upgrade the entire trip, I'd have to use two.
IIRC, it was 4 hours for domestic, and 12~ for international.
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I just (2 days ago) had one GPU applied for SEA-SFO-LAX-HNL-LAX-SFO-PDX. Upgrades cleared instantly for ALL but the first (SEA-SFO) leg, due to lack of R space. This was done online using the "Redeem Upgrade" link. Total time on the ground in HNL is +/- 2:30.
So for those saying it's not going to happen -- you're wrong.
Having said that, I don't know how it works if you have an overnight in LAX.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mwix
May I conclude that the first and last airports need to be different to make this work?
Not sure if that's the case. I used to think that you couldn't transit the same city in both directions, but my itinerary definitely blows that theory out of the water...
There is another thread floating around about this somewhere, though I don't remember what it's called...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GBadger
I just (2 days ago) had one GPU applied for SEA-SFO-LAX-HNL-LAX-SFO-PDX. Upgrades cleared instantly for ALL but the first (SEA-SFO) leg, due to lack of R space. This was done online using the "Redeem Upgrade" link. Total time on the ground in HNL is +/- 2:30.
So for those saying it's not going to happen -- you're wrong.
Having said that, I don't know how it works if you have an overnight in LAX.
Maybe, I have a trip to SEA, with only 2 hours on the ground in SEA, but UA is asking for 2 RPUs online.
Sounds like the different origin/destination theory might be correct since mine starts/ends at PIT.
