Oct 14, 2013, 10:31 am
Last edit by: mkasperzak
If the DidItClear website is going to be effective, it needs more members and trip upgrade data!
Please visit https://www.diditclear.com/ and include your trip experience with CPU's, RPU's, GPU's and any other means of upgrading available on United.
The better the data, the better the search results and experiential history.
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Please visit https://www.diditclear.com/ and include your trip experience with CPU's, RPU's, GPU's and any other means of upgrading available on United.
The better the data, the better the search results and experiential history.
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Specific GPU and RPU usage questions thread
Nov 22, 2014 | 12:30 pm
#916
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,718
I use them for TPAC. I'm 100% for this year (and for mileage upgrades). I fly midweek and usually look for R space, but even if there is none, I've gotten the upgrade. My last flights (miles and copay) had confirmed upgrades several weeks in advance.
Nov 22, 2014 | 1:28 pm
#917
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Carmel Valley(was Hawaii)
Programs: United 1K 2.7 MM
Posts: 1,188
I have always waited until I was able to find R > 2 space before booking. Now I usually need to search multiple routings and be flexible with scheduling in order to find free R inventory. For example if we're flying to Asia, I check EWR/ORD/DEN/SFO/IAH (etc.) - NRT/ICN/HKG (etc.) looking for R space. If we're flying to Europe, I'm checking EWR/IAD/ORD - LHR/FRA/BRU/MUC etc.
But so far at least, it has worked for us.
But so far at least, it has worked for us.
Out of curiosity, I have never seen R availability on TATL flights from EWR. Not that I want to connect there, but is it ever available?
Nov 22, 2014 | 1:37 pm
#918
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K2MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,318
Nov 22, 2014 | 1:38 pm
#919
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
There's plenty of R space out of EWR, but much of it opens 1 - 3 days before departure. For far forward R space, I've found BRU MUC, and AMS.
Nov 22, 2014 | 2:08 pm
#920
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA Plat, MM *G for life, AY Plat, BA Silver
Posts: 10,554
W-class is priced as W-class irrespective whether R is open or not.
W-class is anywhere from $200 to $1000 more on most routes than cheaptest coach; on some routes (BOS-SYD comes to mind) W-class might be the cheapest fare thus no upcharge.
I often book tickets without being able to confirm R; so far so good; SDC is your friend.
W-class is anywhere from $200 to $1000 more on most routes than cheaptest coach; on some routes (BOS-SYD comes to mind) W-class might be the cheapest fare thus no upcharge.
I often book tickets without being able to confirm R; so far so good; SDC is your friend.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Nov 22, 2014 at 2:18 pm Reason: getting too chippy
Nov 22, 2014 | 2:10 pm
#921
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium.;UA 1.5MM; UA Lifetime Gold (whoppee); DL Plat
Posts: 2,129
Yes. You have to book the higher fare classes and often it's a lot more money. Sometimes it's not so much more and sometimes the lower fare classes are not available anyway.
The problem then comes that very often, having bought the higher fare class, no upgrade space is available and you've wasted your money. You can get around this if you are lucky enough to see R space available when you book - but, IME, UA then prices the W class substantially higher on that particular flight.
The problem then comes that very often, having bought the higher fare class, no upgrade space is available and you've wasted your money. You can get around this if you are lucky enough to see R space available when you book - but, IME, UA then prices the W class substantially higher on that particular flight.
Nov 22, 2014 | 2:13 pm
#922
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, AS MVP Gold, MR LTT, HH Dia, IHG Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 37,477
I have many times (but not always) experienced the flight with R available selling at a significant W premium over those without R available - to the tune of $200+. And, my success rate at getting the R upgrade when not available at booking is <50%. Finally, SDC may well be my friend but not enough to get that success rate any higher than 50%.
And please show us one single instance of this R/W myth you are proposing. I can guarantee you you won't be able to ever do this. Prove me wrong please.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Nov 23, 2014 at 6:11 am
Nov 22, 2014 | 2:48 pm
#923
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CHS
Programs: UA ex-1k, now Gold bumped up from Silver
Posts: 155
Yes earlier this month I snagged 2 Rs at booking for our Xmas holiday travel next month EWR-MUC. And the W fare was only $100 higher than the S fare.
Nov 22, 2014 | 7:00 pm
#924
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
And no buy-ups to a higher fare to use your systemwides, no matter where you're going, domestic or international. AA offers all its EXP flyers a free alcoholic beverage and snack in coach. I used those benefits flying to DCA this weekend on a coach award ticket.
Nov 22, 2014 | 11:03 pm
#925
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: United 1K, *wood LT Plat
Posts: 909
My last year as a 1K was 2013 and it was so bad that I could not even clear GPUs on domestic flights. I burned 2 on a domestic flight that cleared into R at booking then had to throw away the other 2 because I could not even clear them on CPU eligible domestic flights through a waitlist. Out of the 6 GPUs I had, I was only able to use 2 for an international flight, and that was booked straight into R class that was open at booking. So, for OP, don't waste your time on this rigged game of hoping they will let you upgrade later. Find a flight with R space, and book into that. Paying for W then upgrading into R is a good value. Paying for W then sitting in Y then throwing away unused GPUs is awful.
Nov 23, 2014 | 3:23 am
#926
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA Plat, MM *G for life, AY Plat, BA Silver
Posts: 10,554
For the benefit of people who are trying to determine the real value proposition of GPUs. Perhaps you have not experienced it but it regularly (perhaps 30% of the time) occurs on flights ex-LHR to SFO. The non-stops are often more expensive than the flights via LAX, whichever day you search. When you put W fare class minimum in, then broadly all the flights are similarly priced. Usually there's no R availability at all. If there is R availability it will be on only one of the days, usually through LAX. And it will be that one flight which will price at 100-200 more than any of the others in W. Take the W class out of the equation and they all price similarly in S or whatever.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Nov 23, 2014 at 6:14 am Reason: Please let's keep the dialogue civil
Nov 23, 2014 | 7:38 pm
#927
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 41,216
I believe to be somewhat flexible in my travel plans but I have never ever seen upgrade inventory.
Nov 23, 2014 | 8:07 pm
#928
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CHS
Programs: UA ex-1k, now Gold bumped up from Silver
Posts: 155
That would not surprise me one bit. Can't give a 'free upgrade' to a stinkin over-entitled elite after all.
I have zero success rate on my last few segments on Pacific routes. And that was from full fares. GPU are worth zilch on good approximation.
I believe to be somewhat flexible in my travel plans but I have never ever seen upgrade inventory.
I have zero success rate on my last few segments on Pacific routes. And that was from full fares. GPU are worth zilch on good approximation.
I believe to be somewhat flexible in my travel plans but I have never ever seen upgrade inventory.
Despite all the peevish puling I see here, it's not hard from where I sit ...
Nov 23, 2014 | 8:49 pm
#929
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,449
I agree.
Agree.
I've been 1k for the past two years. That gave me 12 GPUs.
Last year, I threw all 6 in the garbage because of lack of R availability.
This year, I will throw 4 in the garbage and I have used two for SFO_BOS, also because of lack of R availability.
I don't ever get upgraded anymore with UDUs, so what's the point?
I'm done with this 1K B.S. It's just a scam. The GPUs are useless, the UDUs rarely happen (and if it does, it's for SFO-LAS or some bogus flight like that), and platinum gets me my economy plus exit rows just the same.
I'm just done with this whole airline mileage thing. It's not worth it anymore.
I've been 1k for the past two years. That gave me 12 GPUs.
Last year, I threw all 6 in the garbage because of lack of R availability.
This year, I will throw 4 in the garbage and I have used two for SFO_BOS, also because of lack of R availability.
I don't ever get upgraded anymore with UDUs, so what's the point?
I'm done with this 1K B.S. It's just a scam. The GPUs are useless, the UDUs rarely happen (and if it does, it's for SFO-LAS or some bogus flight like that), and platinum gets me my economy plus exit rows just the same.
I'm just done with this whole airline mileage thing. It's not worth it anymore.
Nov 23, 2014 | 8:53 pm
#930
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,449
Agree.
Try doing the same search from SFO to: FRA, LHR, ZRH, MUC, or CDG and see what you get.
Well as a reality check ... I just scouted our next Asia trip which I haven't bothered to book yet because I was confident I could find TPAC R inventory ... so my first choice was SFO-ICN on Jan. 20 and I found R9.
Despite all the peevish puling I see here, it's not hard from where I sit ...
Despite all the peevish puling I see here, it's not hard from where I sit ...