Does anyone know for sure what fare classes GPU and RPU upgrades clear into? Lately the system seems completely broken.

I am on a flight tomorrow night from IAH to FRA and my GPU has not cleared. The flight is R9 and is wide open in business first. I called and got into a big argument with a supervisor who said she can't manually clear GPUs and the system needs to do it.

On another flight from BOS to DEN in a couple of weeks I used a RPU and thought it would clear since the flight is PN8 (it is R0). They said that RPU only clears into R.

1K GPUs and RPUs clear into R. Period.

Call back about the flight that's R9. Don't argue with them, that's a huge mistake. Just keep calling until someone clears it. Alternatively, if you're more than 24 hours out, just have them pull the GPU then re-apply it to the open R.

Since I usually travel on business solo, I plead "selfish", as those are the trips I look for CPUs.

That's not true at least for paid tickets. And I would be surprised if GS can't use RPU/GPU for non GS award tickets. But I guess we'll see after 4/15.

On using GPU for a non-GS on award tickets after 4/15, the agent said the rule is I must be on the same flight which is easy.

Are you basing that solely on your reading of the footnote on the upgrade page? Because I'm not sure that reading is correct. The way UA is already handling these, it seems the critical date may well be the date of flight departure, not the date the request for an upgrade is made.

Note also that for purposes of upgrade priority on the standby list, the "request" for an upgrade is made at check-in. So for purposes of that list, the new rule will almost certainly be in effect for all flights beginning April 15.

Unfortunately no, Island Hopper can only clear as a single segment (since it has the same flight number)... and TKK-GUM is the leg that always causes problems.

Somewhere (either a TR or the Island Hopper thread) there was a story along these lines where even a GA was unable to clear segments (resulting in NRSA and/or empty seats). I believe the FA did something for the poster but when the cabin was filled with NRSA they didn't boot them.

I used two RPU for non GS yesterday on a paid ticket after 4-15 with no issue. So that's why I'm saying if PN is available I don't know why that would be an issue to use for anyone. On award ticket I suppose they could block usage of GPU/RPU but if it's GS miles that is going beyond getting rid of inherited benefits. Waitlist and standby priority is one thing but giving upgrades should be allowable to anyone regardless of status.

I wonder if that's for RPU also.

They definitely still have the capability to do it, in that there is not anything in their system that automatically blocks it. (Though that might change on 4/15.)

I booked my daughter's flight only about a week ago and had absolutely no problem using the GPU. She isn't flying until May.

Perhaps there is some internal confusion with regard to the changes and what they are permitted to do. I don't know whether I got lucky and the agent didn't know she wasn't supposed to do it, or if the other poster got someone who mistakenly thought they couldn't.

And I'm the spouse of the GS member. I see it as he earned the privileges on those miles and if he wants to transfer the miles and privileges he should be able to do so.

I just used RPUs on a pair of post-4/15 OW award tickets and upgrades were confirmed into PN. The rule as told to me was after 4/15, you can still use GPU/RPU on revenue tickets but not on award tickets unless you are on the same flight.

Can an RPU be used on any fare to upgrade a flight to Central America or does it need to be W or greater?

Any fare. Central America is treated like domestic for upgrade purposes, including CPU and RPU.

Thank you.

Sorry if this has been asked previously -- this is a LONG thread.

Booked YYZ-EWR-HNL. EWR-HNL of course is not eligible for CPU.

Applied an RPU. YYZ-EWR cleared immediately, and EWR-HNL is waitlisted.

If I fly YYZ-EWR up front, but EWR-HNL never clears, can I get the RPU back?

I'm assuming "yes" because the fine print said that if using an RPU for a First Class upgrade, the RPU would be refunded if no legs upgrade to First. Since the front cabin of YYZ-EWR is marketed as Business rather than First, it could be argued that I didn't get any upgrade to F.

But I don't know if United sees it the same way I do!