More specifically, if you have already re-qualified for 1K (as in flown 100,000 miles and spent more than $12,000--if based in the USA), people are reporting that UA will extend up to two GPUs until April 30--they've done this annually for many years. You just have to call Mileage Plus.

If you haven't/won't re-qualify, they won't go to April 30, but you indeed might get a sympathetic agent that might extend it for a day or two.

very doubtful you will get an agent to do this.

Don't think this is correct -- the date that matter is the date of the first segment the GPU is applied to, which appears to be post expiration in this case. But if you qualifly for the GPU extension it should be fine.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...confirmed.html

I had an itin with 1 segment cleared, 1 segment waitlisted.

I changed my reservation with an agent on the phone (.bomb errored out every time). She claimed to have redeposited the RPU.

New itin has 1 segment cleared, 1 segment waitlisted.

But, I'm down a new RPU now (and never got back the one which will be expiring in early 2016).

How should I handle this? Wait until I travel and then ask the MP Service Center to deal with it? I'm afraid if I call in now, they'll screw up the existing itin (either losing the cleared segment, a redeye, or losing my place on the waitlist for the other segment).

I had a similar issue about 2 weeks ago. It took three separate calls to 1K Desk, transfers to MP and FIVE hours on hold total before I got it resolved. The 1K Desk is the place to fix this; they should be able to move the RPUs around. You don't want to go near the MP people.

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

No fare class restriction for GPUs used to Hawaii.

Yes, it will be one GPU or RPU each way per ticket. So, (assuming) for four people, you'll need a total of 8 RPUS and GPUs.

The bad news is you are almost guaranteed unlikely to confirm 4 upgrades each way at the same time at booking. You can look for R availability in 2016 to gauge what your chances will look like in 2017. Mileage and RPU/GPU upgrades all require R. Your chances will be better if you do not insist on travelling to/from Hawaii F, Sa, or Su. You might also try IAD if the connection can be made to/from CHS.

OK, so my general thinking was right

I have IAD, IAH, ORD and EWR as my "Connections" from CHS on United

Yeah, I have been looking at 2016 to get an idea of where I may stand at 2017, but I am not seeing hardly any RN > 0 so I was hoping I made some mistake somewhere, but I guess I have to keep watching and hope RN pops up sometime.

Even during the week, and 2 stops (SFO/ORD) etc and I see a few RN = 1/2, found some with PN4, but still had RN = 0.

If I do book 10 months out, and apply the certificates, will I at least be at the front of the list?

To find R space (not RN, RN is not an active fare bucket) for the long-haul you have to search segment by segment (EWR-HNL, ORD-HNL, IAD-HNL). If you search from CHS, that will almost certainly invalidate the result.

That said, researching now for flights in 2017 is IMO pointless. No one knows what the program will look like 18 months from now.

Ohh, that might change things

CHS-EWR is only a single class plane almost always, same for IAH, but IAD and ORD have multi class fairly often

I'll check the long legs separately. I had been checking R, RN, P and PN just to make sure, but they were never not the same R/RN and P/PN.

I fully understand that United may do everything up to and including stop the program entirely, but I can't plan based on that. I will plan based on what I know and adjust as necessary later.

OK, I have found a bunch of P 1-9's, but only a very few R1 and R2, nothing higher than 2

So, where in the lineup do we stand by using certificates?

Paid tickets
GS clears into P I think, so if they use a cert, definitely will clear before we do
After this - not sure??

On EWR and IAD, priority is:

• GS instruments (clear into PN)
• Non-GS instrument upgrades, sorted by Premier status, then fare class, then time of waitlist request

So you will be behind all GS. You will also be behind 1Ks on higher fares.

On ORD and IAH, priority is:

• GS upgrades
• Y/B/M "instant" upgrades, sorted by fare class, then status
• Instrument upgrades, sorted by Premier status, then fare class, then time of waitlist request
• CPUs, sorted by Premier status, then fare class then time of purchase/check-in

So you will be behind all GS, 1Ks using instruments on higher fares, and all premiers on Y/B/M fares

WOW, thanks

How does I fare class fit in - I assume it is at the top? That is probably what I will try most likely, although I fear that method may be gone by then.

How far out "Can" we clear, or will it all wait until several days before the trip, based on the normal 96 hour upgrade window?

'I' class is an award ticket booked in business. They aren't on the wait list.

You can clear any time that R space becomes available. Note that the entire party on the reservation must clear at the same time. So, if there are 3 people on one reservation with GPU's applied, it would only clear if R >= 3.

As far as I fare, I meant the deal where you buy a saver business class ticket, even if saver isn't available and get wait listed. I didn't know if I opens up before or after or at the same time as R.

OK, second part stinks and I didn't know that. I am probably like many people here, I travel for business alone, so I never worry, or frankly care about these things, except once a year when I try and treat, at least my wife, if not the whole family to some of the perks I get to partake in all the time. Not to mention, my old, tired fat ... wants a comfy seat if I am going to travel all the way to Hawaii.

I is much less likely to open than R. R9 I0 is pretty common.

If you have flexibility, you can probably clear upgrades at booking. If you are looking to fly on specific days, you're probably going to have to sweat out the waitlist.