One would think, right? No one quite knows how the system works, but there are plenty of cases of upgrade space opening up and the waiting list not triggering. It seems to be a batch job and not triggered by inventory changes. It puts those of us with ExpertFlyer or other tools at at huge advantage since we can essentially jump the line.

How long does it take for a GPU to be returned to your account if it did not clear ?

Unless you call, it is never returned, IME.

Well, that would not surprise me in the slightest. I can't wait for this call.

A 1K friend of mine gave me one of his GPUs and I am currently waitlisted. Will I clear according to his status or am I at the bottom of the waitlist?

You are wait listed according to the your 1K buddy's status. Good Luck!

Thanks BetsyF!

I had two GPUs re-deposited by .bomb after I was upgraded for 2 UA segments on a multi-airline itinerary. One segment was SFO-SYD. Not surprisingly those were the two flights that did not automatically post EQM or RDM and required a call to obtain a manual posting.

Anybody know the current max stopover for a GPU to carry over?
 

I'm on an upcoming Europe-IAD-Western US transit in January. Due to the length of the first intra-Europe leg, there are no itineraries that would allow the entire transit to be accomplished without at least a bit of stopover of some kind. UA.com offered various options from 6 hours in the middle of the night at SFO to 18 hours in FRA. One of the options was for an 12:05 stopover at IAD. I elected instead to stopover at IAD for 16:40 to get some rest.

An agent at the 1K desk told me that a a stopover of less than 24 hours will still permit a single GPU to work across the stopover. I was surprised to hear this, thinking that 12 hours was the rule.

When I applied one online it only allowed the FRA-IAD leg. There is R space on the domestic legs after IAD. Anybody know what the current rules are? Should I call in to see if they can manually extend the GPU to cover the remaining part of journey?

I've had a single RPU used on either side of a 16 hour layover at SFO between HNL and JFK. That way I got First on two day flights, one of which was PS.

After purchasing DAL-IAH-SEA-NRT applied GPU, but because (I assume) 12+ hour layover in SEA it did not allow u/g on domestic portion.

But it is a forced overnight with next available flight to NRT, so a simple phone call put me into first on domestic flight as well ^

Just an update: called the MP service centre and got the GPU back into my account immediately once I had confirmed date, and confirmation number.

Question and a Poll.

Question: on the airport standby list, assuming equal status and equal booking class, does a GPU trump an RPU? ie. is a GPU more valuable than an RPU or the sole difference is its ability to be applied on International itineraries?

Poll: Is a mileage run (say ~$250-$300) worth the effort to rack up 7000 EQM to earn two extra GPUs? (from 143,000 to 150,000 annual EQM?) Note that I will most likely use the extra GPUs on a domestic/Cariibbean itinerary as I do not usually buy up to W and above internationally

you will actually earn two RPU and two GPU by going over 150k, so my vote is yes

to fly 7k extra miles to surpass only an RPU threshold (eg, 125k or 175k) my vote is no