Most people will say that GPUs are more valuable than RPUs since one can upgrade international flights with them. Certainly the effect on revenue for W-to-R is much larger than for G-to-F. Not true!
1. The present earning rate means that one will have to exceed 175K miles to accumulate more RPUs than GPUs. The math is given below. I assume that there are many more flyers below 175K than above that. So, RPUs are more RARE than GPUs in the system. This is in stark contrast to the old pmUA days of earning 2 RPU each quarter with 10K BIS miles plus 2 RPU for being MMiler.
75K - 2 RPU
100K - 4 RPU + 6 GPU
125K - 6 RPU + 6 GPU
150K - 8 RPU + 8 GPU
175K - 10 RPU + 8 GPU
200K - 12 RPU + 10 GPU
2. For domestic flights, you still need W+ fare to use a GPU whereas RPUs are good for all revenue tickets.
3. RPUs have a higher success rate simply because there are more R and RN seats on domestic flights and many more routings from A to B. No upgrade = no value.
What is fair? Well, UA can start by giving 6 RPU when customers qualify for Platinum, i.e. at 75K. This will parallel the 6 GPU "gift" with 1K qualification. The rest of the earning rates need not change. Now that the flood of extra GPUs and RPUs from merging UA and CO accounts are expiring, perhaps UA will listen.
Programs: SPG(PLT), Hyatt(Platinum), Hertz(5*), UA(1K), AA (EXP), Amtrak(S+)
Posts: 995
I did always find it curious that when I hit 1K, I'm handed six international upgrades and four domestic. One would assume (I'm just guessing since I don't have detailed financial information) that domestic upgrades are worth less to UA than international ones. My hunch says that a Y->BF or BF->GF upgrade would cost UA more money than a domestic Y->F upgrade, all things equal. Personally it's not something that I'm going to complain about given that I do a fair bit of international travel and my Y->BF success rate is very high... But I'd be lying if I said I didn't find it a bit odd all the same.
I am a little envious about the 8 that AA EXP's get without a fare class restriction though... That's huge for me. If AA just gave me them up front to me during the big 1K poaching last year, I'd probably be flying AA still now, but they instead gave me the challenge during a lull in work for a quarter and I couldn't make it. I digress though.
Most people will say that GPUs are more valuable than RPUs since one can upgrade international flights with them. Certainly the effect on revenue for W-to-R is much larger than for G-to-F. Not true!
1. The present earning rate means that one will have to exceed 175K miles to accumulate more RPUs than GPUs. The math is given below. I assume that there are many more flyers below 175K than above that. So, RPUs are more RARE than GPUs in the system. This is in stark contrast to the old pmUA days of earning 2 RPU each quarter with 10K BIS miles plus 2 RPU for being MMiler.
75K - 2 RPU
100K - 4 RPU + 6 GPU
125K - 6 RPU + 6 GPU
150K - 8 RPU + 8 GPU
175K - 10 RPU + 8 GPU
200K - 12 RPU + 10 GPU
2. For domestic flights, you still need W+ fare to use a GPU whereas RPUs are good for all revenue tickets.
3. RPUs have a higher success rate simply because there are more R and RN seats on domestic flights and many more routings from A to B. No upgrade = no value.
What is fair? Well, UA can start by giving 6 RPU when customers qualify for Platinum, i.e. at 75K. This will parallel the 6 GPU "gift" with 1K qualification. The rest of the earning rates need not change. Now that the flood of extra GPUs and RPUs from merging UA and CO accounts are expiring, perhaps UA will listen.
I'm not sure where you got point #2, that's simply not true.
As for me, I would value RPUs more than GPUs anyday, but that's just because of the routes I tend to fly.
"Fair"? UA is a business. Fair is maximizing return to shareholders.
Certs for domestic travel become a reason not to purchase Y/B/M which upgrade with the same priority as certs. So, an incentive to purchase a cheaper fare and still get the UG. Bad deal for UA, good reason not to dole out too many.
2. For domestic flights, you still need W+ fare to use a GPU whereas RPUs are good for all revenue tickets.
This is untrue. You can apply a GPU to any domestic ticket fare class, and using a GPU domestically places you higher in the upgrade queue than those using an RPU.
Programs: UA O-E 1K 0.98MM, AA EXP, SPG Plat (Ambassador), Hertz 5*
Posts: 10,524
Quote:
Originally Posted by Often1
Certs for domestic travel become a reason not to purchase Y/B/M which upgrade with the same priority as certs. So, an incentive to purchase a cheaper fare and still get the UG. Bad deal for UA, good reason not to dole out too many.
Not sure why you say this, as you often like to point out that YBMs are above certs/miles and CPU
The following is the order of priority, within five days, on flights that are eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades:
Premier members on eligible Y- and B-class fares, as well as Premier 1K members on M-class fares: Instant upgrades that weren't confirmed in advance, sorted by fare class, then Premier status
All travelers on waitlisted Global Premier Upgrades, Regional Premier Upgrades, and MileagePlus Upgrade Awards: Sorted by Premier status of the redeeming account, then fare class and time of request
All remaining Premier members using Complimentary Premier Upgrades**: Sorted by Premier status, then fare class and award travel***
Quote:
Originally Posted by SunLover
You can apply a GPU to any domestic ticket fare class, and using a GPU domestically places you higher in the upgrade queue than those using an RPU.
Where exactly did you get this from?!!? This definitely isn't true. Those two plus miles all come out of the R bucket - there's no rank order.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Jan 13, 13 at 7:17 pm..
Reason: merge
GPU trumps RPU clearing a domestic waitlist upgrade queue. Your statement assumes that R fare class is always available at booking.
SunLover
I dont think so - they are treated equally as an instrument and same as mileage upgrades.
*All travelers on waitlisted Global Premier Upgrades, Regional Premier Upgrades, and MileagePlus Upgrade Awards: Sorted by Premier status of the redeeming account, then fare class and time of request
GPU trumps RPU clearing a domestic waitlist upgrade queue. Your statement assumes that R fare class is always available at booking.
SunLover
What's your source for that info? I believe the RPU and GPU are equal for domestic waitlisted upgrades.
Does anyone have real evidence?
On a related note: Some people consider the relative value to be 2 RPU
= 1 GPU. It would be awesome if UA let us turn one GPU into two RPU and vice-versa. That would let everyone adjust their upgrade portfolio to match travel patterns.
3. RPUs have a higher success rate simply because there are more R and RN seats on domestic flights and many more routings from A to B. No upgrade = no value.
No. Both RPUs and GPUs can be used to claim R and RN seats.
