Sorry if this has been asked previously -- this is a LONG thread.

Booked YYZ-EWR-HNL. EWR-HNL of course is not eligible for CPU.

Applied an RPU. YYZ-EWR cleared immediately, and EWR-HNL is waitlisted.

If I fly YYZ-EWR up front, but EWR-HNL never clears, can I get the RPU back?

I'm assuming "yes" because the fine print said that if using an RPU for a First Class upgrade, the RPU would be refunded if no legs upgrade to First. Since the front cabin of YYZ-EWR is marketed as Business rather than First, it could be argued that I didn't get any upgrade to F.

But I don't know if United sees it the same way I do!