Ahh great, thanks!!

jonk, so we get upgraded then change to UA MP at the gate or online? (as an aside used your GRU Bus to SP and worked like aa charm)..

oh nice!! but yeah, that's what i'm thinking. i will have to do it several times because i haven't been able to use a certificate to upgrade my return PTY-SFO (inventory not available, it says). so right now my CM number is there and my plan is, hoping my PTY-LIM complimentary clears at 3 days out, then change to MP for earning, then, hopefully change back to CM after my outbound flights for the PTY-SFO upgrade, then change to MP before actual flight for earning.

idk if that'll work or not though...i hope!

Wow! and I was just considering 1 leg PTY-LAX :) Good luck and keep us posted. My flights are in a few weeks..

Also, if you have a short trip, the original flights might post back to the CM when you change it back. I'm not sure if FF# applies to PNR or ticket. But I know that (in some instances) they can be changed post flight - since I had UA change my US Airways number to UA the day after a flight when I started a status challenge with them.

Also, if they don't clear, make sure to bring your Copa card to the gate agent. For me they were happy to put me on the upgrade list and leave my UA number in the system.

ahh good to know. i have about a week between my flights so hopefully if i (try and) change a day before my return it'll be ok. thanks for the heads up!

If you matched with 1K, you should have a longer upgrade window, so just change it back as soon as the miles post to your UA account. For me it took 2-3 days for the CM flights to post to UA.

ah thanks again for that data point -- yeah i finish my outbound flights on sunday and return saturday night; i'm thinking i'll change friday or so before i check in.

I've tried matching my AirBerling Gold first, got a reply that they don't match with that airline, send my AirFrance card (also gold) and got same response, called them, was told that they only match with the airlines from the region, so I send them my American Airlines Platinum Card and the account statement screenshot. Two weeks later and still no reply.

My girlfriend send the American Airlines Platinum Card and was matched in 6 days. I have no idea what's going on with them and to be honest - I'm not gonna try anymore.

It looks like they have unofficially stopped matching for the time being. And plan to offer some kind of revamped match/challenge around the end of the year.

Source: multiple reports from readers.

Well, I have no idea what's going there, but I've just received an status match confirmation, gold level granted, it's not much, but meh, it works for me.

CM & UA Gold

Booked S fare CM flight at T-47 on CM stock & website. Upgrade email received ~2 hours later. Upgraded into Z fare bucket. Checked in at T-24 and kept the CM number on account, which is displayed on boarding pass.

No issues on the day or at gate. Changed FF number to UA number while boarding the plane in the "Update Personal Data and Trip Preferences" in "Manage your Booking".

Miles & PQM credited correctly to UA account 3.5 days later (S fare bucket).

Changed FF number back to CM and I hope there will be no issue with the upgrade in a couple of days at T-48

just to let everyone know how i've dealt with my upcoming flights:

i have four segments on CM plus one on AM, some of which i applied PreferMiles regional upgrades. i've kept my ConnectMiles number in the reservation throughout.

* LAX-MEX (AM) - bid for an upgrade using Plusgrade
* MEX-PTY - easy application of RPU couple months out
* PTY-LIM - waited for complimentary upgrade, cleared at T-2 days (tho Platinum, window at T-3)
* LIM-PTY - easy application of RPU couple months out
* PTY-SFO - Z inventory finally opened up around T-10 days, applied RPU

i tried to apply a UA RPU that i have to PTY-LIM but i was informed by the agent (1K agent transferred me this MEX call center agent) that the ticket was in a state that didn't allow her to work on it and i'd have to call CM. i called them, they said everything is fine. i gave up because i had to work, then just got the CPU notification.

i'll change my FFP to UA MP now since i've cleared everything i need to clear -- for the record, viewing the reservation using the full website is never correct; only the mobile site seems to have the latest info.

looks like copa has stopped its status match offer?

http://www.statusmatcher.com/report/53550

I wonder if Copa will catch on to people abusing the program for upgrades like this.