Making sure I am thinking of this correctly:

Currently Plat (Status Match) but will def make 1K next year easily (2016)
Want to take Family to Hawaii for vacation (2017)
If we go CHS-EWR-HNL, can I use a single RPU each way? seems there is no fare class restriction.
Can I use a GPU as a RPU in this case as well, with no fare class restriction? or can I use it, but still maintain the fare restriction?

This trip will be in Jun/Jul/Aug 2017 for my Sons senior trip (He was born in Hawaii) and I did a trial and looked at 2016 tickets and when I used the "Upgrade" with miles option, every trip said waitlist for upgrade. I have no way to check for a RPU cause I don't have any yet, but I assume it will be the same (PN=0 and RN=0)

If I make these plans and tickets 10-12 months out, when will I know if the RPU clears? (Will it wait until T-24) or some arbitrary time when RN > 0 depending on some IT nerd playing with the computer?

OK, that should do it for my first round of questions


Basically looking at this option vs just straight award tickets