I tried to do this this week. It was R2 on IAD-SFO about 2 hours before flight.
I tried to apply the RPU before checking in, could not do it online.
Phone agent tried, but it would re-issue. She said, within 24 hours, it has to be done at the airport. UC agent said, oh we cant do anything about mileage plus...

Same story after checking in.

I believe that's correct as a SHARES limitation.

Agree to all.

My general approach is to make the call instrument vs. CPU somewhere before T-24, as the T-24 sweep often fills all available F seats.

How does E+ look on this flight? That can be an indicator as to number of elite pax.

No no no no no. Bad agents.

I have applied many RPUs inside of T-24.

item #1 yes, when possible i agree...but it should not matter because... item #2 i also agree, i regularly upgrade Mrs PV or myself on Tcons inside T-24 when R opens and CPU doesn't run/clear us.

You must be on some very elite-light flights. I don't think I have ever seen that happen.

I don't understand this comment.

The T-24 CPU sweep often fills all previously available F seats. I don't fly a ton of CPU routes, but they are always in or out of SFO, so certainly no shortage of elites.

If the seats are available, why RPU? Why not just wait until you get to the gate and get upgraded free?

Bc there are more ppl ahead of you on the gate waitlist than seats available in F...???:confused:

I'm always in the waitlist for SFO-EWR with a seat or two open at T24 but I'm not naive enough to think i will get it by just showing up.

Seriously?

Because UA not infrequently runs CPU sweeps only at T-120 and then T-24. Which means there could be 50 or more pax waitlisted for the CPU at T-24.

And because others using instruments may grab any open R.

And because UA starts selling buy-ups at online check-in, i.e., at T-24.

All of which means that 5, 10, 15, or even 20 F seats can all get taken while you die on the waitlist.

Same theme, slightly different use case
 

I am on tomorrow's SFO-IAD flight that shows F2 and only has a handful of open seats in Y. I applied an RPU at the time of purchase a couple months back and it has held steady at R0.

Question: Is it wise to call in and cancel the RPU before T-24 so I can take my chances at a CPU? I have been upgraded with my RPU within the T-24 period, and I always wondered if that was a waste of an RPU because I would have had a chance at a CPU. Maybe that is only true when there are a bunch of open F seats? Or, is it best to cancel the RPU within the T-24, check in online and then hope for the best assuming that if there was no R availability within T-24, then it never will open up?

Thanks for your thoughts. I've always thought about this but hadn't shared with the experts. :D

if you are on UA400 and you have a waitlisted RPU, you should be calling IMMEDIATELY to request that it be cleared. if the agent does not cooperate, say "okay, i'll take my chances" and HUACA.

R=2

note that to "withdraw" an RPU, your original fare class must be available.

clearing SFO-IAD via CPU on a fare less than H is a tricky proposition, IMO, YMMV. this is one of those routes where if you want F, buy F, or use an RPU.

I have not heard this before. I cant just withdraw an upgrade cert and sit in coach in my current seat?

(Not doubting you, just wanting to understand.)

My experience is that often seats are held out til the end for paid upgrade offers. I love it if they filled F seats with at T-24 from those seeking to use GPU, RPU or miles. But it seems to me that they hold 2-3 seats until boarding hoping to get people to pay to upgrade when they check in at the airport for their flights.

On the day of departure, you can go back to Coach on any fare. Before that, there must be availability in your original fare bucket.

Note this is for cleared upgrades, not waitlisted upgrades.

Got it. Thanks for the clarification.