Specific GPU and RPU usage questions thread

Those are peak paid premium travel days and less likely to have R space than non-peak days. UA will endeavor to sell the seats first and then if that fails open them up for up graders. Willingness to travel on non-peak business days greatly improves your chances for upgrades.

Rule No. 1 is you have to search segment by segment to get a true R reading. Otherwise the domestic connector (which is almost always R0 these days) will zero you out.

To find TPACs with available R, search HKG-EWR. HKG-ORD. HKG-SFO. Same with NRT, except you can add in IAH, DEN, and LAX. TPE-SFO. ICN-SFO. HND-SFO. If you don't mind a China routing, you could also search from PEK, PVG, and CTU.

Monday to Wednesday are the easiest days to upgrade the eastbound routing.

If you don't find anything today, search again tomorrow. And the next day. And the next . . . .

Thank you. These are the sort of tips that I was looking for when I made my original post. I do have a few questions, so bear with me.

1) If I see a refundable W fare one-way IAD-SGN with R availability, should I lock it down now, and try to book a one way SGN-IAD later? Or would the potentially high price of a return one-way negate any savings I think I'm getting.

2) It makes sense to search segment buy segment to see R availability for the long haul flights specifically. Domestic upgrades aren't important to me. So if I find a HKG-EWR flight with R availability for example, would I then try to find a reasonably priced SGN-HKG-EWR-IAD itinerary with that particular HKG-EWR flight (in W, V, Q class, etc.)?

I appreciate the help.

3) Lastly, is there a service out there that will do all of this searching for me (for a nominal fee?)

Try pricing the one-way, but in most cases for international fares you will not find a one-way to be a good value. (And UA selling, say, a W fare as part of a roundtrip does not mean they publish a W fare for the one-way, FWIW.)


Exactly.


Unfortunately, UA prevents ExpertFlyer from searching their award & upgrade inventory any longer. They also went after several other services with cease & desist letters...

Typically not viable on long-haul international, but the HKG routes can be an exception to the general rule, with reasonably priced one-way Ws often on offer. I've never done it that way, but I know several members here do.

Is Miles+$ equivalent to using a RPU, given identical parameters? ie. Does using an RPU put you in a higher pecking order than Miles+$ or vice versa?

UA make not mention of any prioritization difference between GPU/RPU/miles+copay. The common wisdom on FT is there is no difference.

Ok peoples, I need your expert opinion.

I found a RT itinerary IAD-EWR-HKG-SGN, SGN-PEK-EWR-BOS for $1800 in W with R6 on the outbound (EWR-HKG) and R1 on the return (PEK-EWR). I also have a $350 travel cert, bringing down the out of pocket cost to $1450. Now I have a few questions.

1) Is this a good deal for this sort of itinerary?

Preface for second question: I am expected to qualify for 1K on December 22nd, receiving 6 GPUs. I wish I had them now so I could just book this and guarantee the upgrade while it's still available.

2) Should I book this refundable itinerary now, and then call to apply the GPUs on December 22nd (assuming they are still available)? Or should I just hold off until I have the GPUs "in hand".

3) If the GPUs are not available when I call on December 22nd, is the whole ticket truly refundable? How does the refund work? Is it hassle-free?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

1. It's okay. It would probably be cheaper without the CA segment on the return (i.e., UA via HKG or NH via TYO).
2. I would not with R1 on the return. Too risky IMO.
3. There are some flexible W fares out there, but at best it's going to have a $300 fee to cancel or change. Check the fare rules.

I am trying to use 3 GPU's before they expire on January 31st. Currently 1K but will only be Platinum next year, so they won't extend them. Trying to fly from IAH to either London, Amsterdam or Munich on a Thursday thru Sunday or Monday but although some flights have many open seats, I can't find a round trip that I can confirm the upgrade. Mostly wait listed. Any ideas?
Thanks.

I was in the same situation a few weeks and decided to upgraded with $$ and points instead of waiting 2 weeks for my GPUs to post.

usually there is a separate thread about extending GPU's, anyone heard anything about this yet, I have re-qualified for 1K and don't have any travel planned for a while, if I remember last year there was an announcement by now..

I searched and didn't see the thread sorry if this is a dup question

Thanks

In which case you don't need the expensive W fare @:-)

I booked a flight: CLE-EWR-SFO for the spring 2016. I would like to use a RPU on my flight, specifically EWR-SFO. When I go to redeem upgrade, it says CLE-EWR available, EWR-SFO waitlisted. So here are my questions:

1) Is one RPU used for entire flight CLE-EWR-SFO? or do I need to use 2 RPUs?
2) If it is just one RPR, which is my guess, and if only CLE-EWR clears (which I really don't care about first class for that flight) and EWR-SFO does not upgrade, did I just loose an RPU because CLE-EWR cleared or will it be redeposited into my account?

FYI: class fare: W, EWR-SFO is United BusinessFirst and not eligible for CPU. Connection time at EWR is 3 hours.

Thanks