I normally give it about one week to redposit automatically. I'm 50/50 from an admitiedly small sample size (4x) of encountering this exact situation in the past year and a half. YMMV.

-FlyerBeek

You sure that's a Seinfeld? I've seen every episode about 800 times, and that doesn't ring a bell. :)

You will not be able to use a GPU to upgrade. If flying to Europe then upgrades are not applicable for the following fare classes - Z, P, S, T, K, L, G or N.

It's worth it to spend a few $100 more and book a higher fareclass so that you can upgrade.

Anyone else having difficulty searching for R/RN inventory on ExpertFlyer? I keep receiving error messages - even on flights that UA ExpertMode shows R available. It's been happening for a few hours.

-FlyerBeek

OP meant Frasier.

Yeah, I just searched, same issue

When PS rebrands to BusinessFirst
 

After the PS rebranding, for connecting international travel with one leg on PS service, does anyone definitively know the treatment of a GPU when just the transcontinental leg clears?

Pretty soon, United will rebrand PS business to BF, and the language in the upgrade rules (I think) suggests you will now burn the GPU even when you fly coach over the water. And how will it work if you use miles and money? Surely, United won't keep 30,000 miles plus $400-600 for just clearing the domestic leg.

Not sure if this should be asked in GPU forum or PS forum. Mod may move.

Thanks.

Since PS is already "elevated" service, I'm guessing your GPU is considered used if you clear JFK-LAX but fail LAX-SYD, for example. Would love to be proven wrong though.

At a minimum, United should allow a post flight substitution of the GPU with an RPU or miles. And I can't believe they will potentially keep MP award upgrade consideration (30k miles plus up to $600). Few will want to upgrade PS service without the international leg clearing in advance. UA Insider said the upgrade rules won't change. Hope they make a change here.

I won't be at all surprised. It would be consistent with treating ps as a non-CPU route. And at 5-6 hours, the flight is really not materially different from an east coast TATL.

Hi Sammyindc,

My travel dates are somewhat flexible but not anymore because they've already been booked. I looked into booking a higher fare class but W was the only fare class available. On the way there, I'm flying IAH -- ORD -- CDG on October 3rd (UA1087/UA987)and on the way back I leave October 13th and fly from LHR --> IAH (UA 971). Both tickets W fare and I requested to use my upgrade and was put on the waitlist 9/16.

Now when I go to my United Ticket to the "Redeem Upgrade" section it says "Upgrade Not Available" even under the section to Buy Up to United First...is it showing this because I already requested to use my GPUs OR because there are not any upgrades available?

Thank You!

I searched a few weeks ago and wasn't able to see either. Has United removed that option from the site entirely?

I'm guessing there are data points on FT of JFK-SFO/LAX-SYD/Asia itins, where PS C cleared but not Int'l BF. Maybe someone can chime in what happened WRT their UG instrument...

Yes, once a GPU has been applied you will see "upgrade not available" when you click on a redeem upgrade.

Keep checking the flights for R/RN and when it changes from 0 to 1,2,... It should clear your upgrade automatically but if it doesn't contact UA and they will manually clear it.

Don't think that will help. I do not believe the official PS BF rebranding has occurred even on newly configured birds. I am on one in 2 weeks and it is still called "business" on my itinerary. So, until the rebranding you get the GPU or miles/copay back if your intl leg fails to clear. I bet when the last PS bird is reconfigured, you will see the rebranding. What happens after that is apparently unknown.

How do I check for R/RN? I've been trying to find it on the United site for the past week and it doesn't seem like they offer that option anymore to view next to Fare Class. Where should I be looking?