Same Day Change with RPU
 

Hi Folks,
I've searched around and was not able to find an exact answer to my question so I figured I would ask.

I have a flight today from SFO to EWR that has a weight-listed RPU. Currently with this RPU I am #3 on the list with only 1 seat open so I'm pretty confident I'm not getting it.

If I SDC to another flight I know the RPU will be lost and I will be added to the list as a regular CPU. My question is, can I call up and have an agent reapply that RPU to help me move up in the queue?

Nope. I believe you can only apply an RPU without upgrade space available outside of 24 hours. No waitlisting with an RPU inside of 24 hours.

Correct.

However, were there to be R availability on another flight, I imagine you should be able to get the RPU cleared immediately on the new flight, right? (at least that's how it worked with a miles upgrade when I flew EWR-SEA earlier this year and SDC'ed onto a flight w/R=1)

Yes.

Hmm, I just assumed that if you had an used an RPU you are higher in the queue than a person who is just on the list due to CPU. No?

R availability is tough to come by on a Sunday SFO - EWR flight and I would be surprised if there wereany available today. It doesn't hurt to get on the waitlist but these flights are so elite heavy that I think you will be too low on the list to clear - even as a 1K. There will be 1Ks who already got on the waitlist.

RPU will put you higher than CPU and at the same level as GPUs and miles-based upgrades. It's then ordered by fare class and time of request.

That's the theory, but I don't know if it's ever been completely proven. And we know that the upgrade system doesn't always work as it should anyway (like when there's R inventory and nobody gets cleared).

Oh that's interesting... it hasn't been proven vs CPUs? I thought it was vs miles upgrades that it was unproven.

If the R stream gets stuck, CPUs will definitely clear before RPU/GPU. And even with no R inventory, I've had RPUs bypassed by CPU. Since there are so many bugs, there's no way to really tell how it's all supposed to work together.

If they really try, an agent CAN apply a RPU within 24 hours and get you to your rightful spot on the waitlist. I have had this done in the past. I believe it involves unchecking you in and then rechecking you in, and I'm sure a few other buttons along the way. You have to find the right person. This happened to me recently after doing a SDC at the airport and, upon arriving at the gate, I explained the situation to the GA who then unchecked me in and did something that made me #1 on the upgrade list.

I've expressed my doubts on this before as well, but after seeing my no-status GF show-up at #4 on a very long upgrade list SFO-ATL using my RPU, I can confirm that RPU does (or at least can) have priority over elite CPUs.

This is just flat-out wrong in multiple respects (in addition to what mahasamatman has already pointed out).

Instant (Y/B/M) upgrades come before instruments. A silver on a B fare beats a 1K using a RPU or GPU.

Otherwise, Premier status comes ahead of fare class for upgrade priority.

And a non-GS will never be on the "same level" as a GS for upgrades.

Thanks. This was very helpful. First class was sold out on my new flight, so I didn't bother trying to apply an RPU. I'm happy overall that I'm going to get to my destination 3 hours earlier and in an aisle seat, so I won't cry too hard about my RPU not clearing. Here's hoping it redeposits on its own, so I don't have to waste time calling customer service. Thanks again.

OK, a way out flight, but HKG-SFO with R=0 since purchase a couple or three months ago.

Well, paranoid me check at least once a day, and all of sudden I see R=8 :eek:

So I call, agent thinks a bit, then goes ahead and does u/g ^

An hour or two later, it's R=0 again, and on seatmap I see EXACTLY one less Biz seat taken :rolleyes: Hard to belive I was the only one on u/g list :(

Now for MY QUESTION:

Withdrew my RPU for DFW-OGG, but now that my DFW-LAX cleared via CPU, am I safe in applying RPU and having it redeposited when it does not clear, since it's F=1 three days out.