As a follow-up to using these certificates:
I am currently 1 hour and 26 minutes into a call (I called the # on the back of the 1 K card) and got a fatantisic agent who is working with a supervisor.
Basically, I am trying to use a 'ROEET' for 2 people to go TPA-EWR-HKG-EWR-TPA next Feb for the Chinese New Year in HKG. The certificate for 2 people and says "R" class must be available. Check. R Class is available. When I input all the info, including the promo code (11ER81), it defaults to a screen that says 'no seats are available, call UA'. So I called. After explaning, the agent called in a supervisor and they have been working on it for over an hour.
Some of the things she told me:
1. Even though the certificate is for 2 people, it must be done one person at a time.
2. Do not enter a FF#, as the system assumes you want to earn miles.
Hopefully, these tips will help someone. Note that I was told that there was no longer a 'specialty desk' that used to handle these situations.
Edited to add: success at 1 hour and 40 minutes, including seat assignments.