Using Miles for TATL UG
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,932
Using Miles for TATL UG
I did some searching, but didn't find any concrete information. I have an ORD-FRA flight on Sunday that I decided to pay the copay and try to use miles to UG Y->C. I'm wondering if these behave the same way as RPU/GPU in that if you haven't cleared at T-24, does it drop you from the waitlist? I do plan to check right around T-24 to see if R opens up, then try and call. Right now the flight shows F2 FN2 J9 JN9 C8 D8 Z5 ZN5 R0 RN0 so I'm not holding my breath.
#2
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
I did some searching, but didn't find any concrete information. I have an ORD-FRA flight on Sunday that I decided to pay the copay and try to use miles to UG Y->C. I'm wondering if these behave the same way as RPU/GPU in that if you haven't cleared at T-24, does it drop you from the waitlist? I do plan to check right around T-24 to see if R opens up, then try and call. Right now the flight shows F2 FN2 J9 JN9 C8 D8 Z5 ZN5 R0 RN0 so I'm not holding my breath.
#3
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SIN
Programs: UA 1K MM, SQ PPS, CX Silver, Accor Platinum, Marriott Gold, SPG Silver
Posts: 679
I'm dealing with this prospect right now and asked someone this morning. My understanding is that like a GPU, the list expires at T-24. When you check in you are added to the gate standby list.
The moral of the story is check in as early as possible, as somewhere in the priorities (I believe after status and fare class) is time added to WL. Technically you can check in >24 hours out if you have a connection prior to the overseas flight
What I can't say is what happens if at T<24 seats in R open up- Can you have them reapply the upgrade and immediately confirm, similar to people applying a second GPU, then (fighting to) get the old one back later? Anyone know?
The moral of the story is check in as early as possible, as somewhere in the priorities (I believe after status and fare class) is time added to WL. Technically you can check in >24 hours out if you have a connection prior to the overseas flight
What I can't say is what happens if at T<24 seats in R open up- Can you have them reapply the upgrade and immediately confirm, similar to people applying a second GPU, then (fighting to) get the old one back later? Anyone know?
#4
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
Within 24 hours of the flight it's not possible for them to apply any instruments...this is one of the big IT issues UA is working to fix. So, you can't apply a 2nd GPU or do another mileage upgrade. My recent direct experience with this... I used a GPU for SEA-EWR-HKG. EWR-HKG cleared at booking.. SEA-EWR was waitlisted and did not clear by 24 hours out. However, the SEA-EWR flight had R space available inside 24 hours. I called and an agent manually confirmed the upgrade.. I had to argue a bit..they initially told me I'd go on the list at the airport. I said I'm not competing with other people at the airport and I'm entitled to the upgrade now with my previously applied GPU. Took a couple minutes, but they got it done. No additional instruments were taken.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,932
I'm dealing with this prospect right now and asked someone this morning. My understanding is that like a GPU, the list expires at T-24. When you check in you are added to the gate standby list.
The moral of the story is check in as early as possible, as somewhere in the priorities (I believe after status and fare class) is time added to WL. Technically you can check in >24 hours out if you have a connection prior to the overseas flight
What I can't say is what happens if at T<24 seats in R open up- Can you have them reapply the upgrade and immediately confirm, similar to people applying a second GPU, then (fighting to) get the old one back later? Anyone know?
The moral of the story is check in as early as possible, as somewhere in the priorities (I believe after status and fare class) is time added to WL. Technically you can check in >24 hours out if you have a connection prior to the overseas flight
What I can't say is what happens if at T<24 seats in R open up- Can you have them reapply the upgrade and immediately confirm, similar to people applying a second GPU, then (fighting to) get the old one back later? Anyone know?
The expiration is what I was trying to confirm. Anyone have actual data points on this?
I will, of course, check if R opens up at T-24 and call to try and confirm, then check in.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
Not entirely correct - you CAN apply an upgrade inside T-24, be it RPU or GPU, IF there is R space available (it will clear) - so presumably you could do cash + miles as well. You just can't waitlist an upgrade inside T-24 (i.e., if R=0).
#7
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,175
I thought they would still take miles + copay requests even inside T-24--it is just GPU and RPUs which have to be applied outside that window.
#8
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
From what UA Insider posted on here.. I didn't think any upgrade requests could be made within 24 hours at all... but at minimum there are no waitlist requests allowed, including for Mileage upgrades.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
No, there can be...that's the "trick" you use once T-24 hits and your waitlist inevitably expires. By calling in and "forcing" the upgrade, they're actually just taking another RPU/GPU. So then you have to call in to get the original one back, as it's in Expiry Limbo after T-24.
#10
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
No, there can be...that's the "trick" you use once T-24 hits and your waitlist inevitably expires. By calling in and "forcing" the upgrade, they're actually just taking another RPU/GPU. So then you have to call in to get the original one back, as it's in Expiry Limbo after T-24.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,172
Just wanted to emphasize the point that it is possible to make a new request inside T-24.
#13
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,425
I did some searching, but didn't find any concrete information. I have an ORD-FRA flight on Sunday that I decided to pay the copay and try to use miles to UG Y->C. I'm wondering if these behave the same way as RPU/GPU in that if you haven't cleared at T-24, does it drop you from the waitlist? I do plan to check right around T-24 to see if R opens up, then try and call. Right now the flight shows F2 FN2 J9 JN9 C8 D8 Z5 ZN5 R0 RN0 so I'm not holding my breath.
#14
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,175
Fixed that for you, taking into account the current IT snafu at UA.
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,932
Edited to add - worked exactly as I expected. Agent took a while, but confirmed the UG for me! Now to print out my reservation and the credit card statement (for copay proof).
Last edited by tods27; May 5, 2012 at 1:46 pm