Nope, GPU behaves the same as an RPU when applied in this manner.

To clarify, what matters is the class(es) you trying to upgrade to. If there is a segment where you're upgrading to BusinessFirst or Business from Y then the instrument is only used if one of those segments clear (regardless of whether the [domestic] First segments clear). In this case since you have all First upgrades the UG is used as soon as one flight clears. Someone else can answer better about taking back a cleared instrument, you may be able to a few days before the flight.

Thanks

I suspected as much, but it couldnt hurt to ask. I am pretty sure that the instrument isnt USED until the flight, so I should be able to pull it back before flying if they R me into the short flight and the long one doesnt clear. Will report results on diditclear one way or the other

Only International BF not clearing qualifies for refund of GPU or miles. International Business (but not BF) does not qualify.

To downgrade a cleared R segment, the original fare class in economy needs to be available. For discount fares this may not be true until day of travel, if ever. So upgrades are not always (but usually) reversible. Additionally the seating selecting can be limited when the conditions are met for downgrading.

Best to apply the RPU to the segment you want (need to call to do this) and not to the other segment. Then if the preferred segment clears, call and add the other segment(s).

I asked this a year or so ago for my purposes, but now I have a friend in the same situation, and I believe the answer is the same:

He has another friend who is a GS who said he will sponsor him on a gpu upgrade on a mileage award ticket. I said it's not possible UNLESS the miles came from the GS account (how it was last time I asked). This is still the case, right? For clarity - my friend X used his non-GS miles for a ticket, and now his friend, Y, said he would sponsor a GS GPU since GS can upgrade award tickets. This still can't be done and has not changed, right?

Reports suggest this was possible at one point but the requirements have tighten up and is no longer possible. So understandable the GS friend might think this was possible.
Some discussion in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-q-2014-a.html

Agreed. OP should consider now what the $ will cost for W (plus cost of redeposit of miles) on that trip versus the value of miles used. If he/she buys a revenue ticket W or higher, GPUs can be applied.

No usage per se but I just logged into my account to OLCI for a flight tomorrow and I noticed I had 2 additional GPUs.
I thought sh!t did I just loose the upgrade on the flight I was checking in for?
Nope that wasn't the case.

A flight just cleared which put me over $10,000 PQD and my PQMs are just over 65k. The 2 GPUs expire on 1/31/15 which is the date the one existing GPU I already had in my account does.

I know that you can get 2 additional GPUs for each 50k PQM or 60 segments you fly. But I thought that meant it was in the same qualifying year...as if in 2013 you flew 150k PQM you'd get 8 GPUs, 200k PQM 10 etc.

I booked JFK-SFO-NRT-SIN-NRT-SFO-JFK as a mileage run. Upgraded with a GPU and required 2 which seems normal. Then cancelled, booked JFK-SFO-NRT-SIN-HKG-SFO-JFK and it only took 1 GPU roundtrip - legit? Layover in Sin under 24 hours. UA metal.

Applied to the entire itin, Would have expected JFK....HKG would have been one. Typically with no true destination or stop, the city before the first repeated city breaks the GPU string.

Nice. I don't know what's more amazing, that it only took one GPU or that you found R on all those flights.

I am 5 out of 6 segments upgraded thus far. Think I have a 50/50 shot at the last one. It's not a transpac portion so I don't mind much...:D

I did a similar run earlier this year... PBI-EWR-HKG-SIN-NRT-EWR-PBI... one cert. Everything upgraded except the SIN-EWR.

Spent the night in the singapore lounge. Not bad.

Hard time with RPU, on same type flight?
 

I fly EWR to MNL alot and usually take the long, all United route

On the return, I usually apply a RPU and it covers most, if not all legs

The return is:
MNL to GUM
GUM to HNL
HNL to EWR

I am most concerned with HNL to EWR. But in the past 4 or 5 time I flew this route, the GUM to HNL confirmed as well. The MNL to GUM is a short flight, so I dont really mind either way.

technically the GUM to HNL is not eligible for a RPU upgrade. But like the last few flights it always filled. The Rep on the 1k line, usually submits for it, telling me it might not fill, but it seems to always confirm right away.

So this time, I called like before. The rep said it is NOT eligible. I said I realize this, but can you submit it and try? He refused. I asked for a supervisor and she claimed it is NOT eligible and read me the same line over and over again. She claimed there was NO way to submit it. I explained that the last few times the reps all tried and it confirmed. I asked if she could look. She claimed there was no way to look. I said I can provide Confirmation numbers. She said, if that was the case, she would be forced to report all the Reps who overrode the system to give me an upgrade, when they are not suppose to.
I tried explaining that there is NO way 4-5 reps all did an illegal override. But at this point it seemed pointless and I didnt want to continue and possibly cause a handful of considerate reps to get in possible trouble.:mad:

Is it possible that all the previous Reps overrode the system to give me an upgrade??? Seems unlikely??

Sorry for the gripe

HNL-GUM is not supposed to RPU eligible — see the carve-out documented at http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...e/default.aspx .

That's great for you to hear that phone agents have sometimes applied an upgrade cert in an un-advertised way that helped you out, but it's not supposed to work.

a good agent can use a single RPU to upgrade MNL-GUM and HNL-EWR. i have no idea how they were upgrading you with an RPU for GUM-HNL as it's a GPU route, but it's not supposed to happen and continuing to press your luck will probably be frivolous.