"Online upgrade not available".
Oct 17, 2012, 6:20 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: IAH
Programs: *AG, Choice Privileges Elite Diamond, SPG Gold, La Quinta Returns Gold, Wyndham Rewards Gold
Posts: 466
"Online upgrade not available".
I received an allotment of new RPUs and GPUs today. I logged in to try to apply them to several upcoming reservations.
I actually was able to apply one of the RPUs. But for all the rest of the reservations, I am getting this bogus message now:
"Online upgrade not available."
What does this message mean? I can see open spots on this flights. I know there is first class inventory. So why can't we apply instruments to these spots? At a minimum, we should be able to waitlist these instruments for any open spot; is this not even permissible anymore?
God, flying on this airline is frustrating as h*ll.
I actually was able to apply one of the RPUs. But for all the rest of the reservations, I am getting this bogus message now:
"Online upgrade not available."
What does this message mean? I can see open spots on this flights. I know there is first class inventory. So why can't we apply instruments to these spots? At a minimum, we should be able to waitlist these instruments for any open spot; is this not even permissible anymore?
God, flying on this airline is frustrating as h*ll.
Oct 17, 2012, 7:05 pm
#2
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Oct 17, 2012, 9:09 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, CO Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 23
Had the same issue as you where the flight segments stated that "Online upgrade not available" but allows for either a RPU or GPU to be applied. I applied an instrument, and it allowed for the upgrade. The subsequent screen tells you which flights actually has the ability for the upgrade before you fully commit to using the RPU/GPU. Good luck.
Mar 16, 2017, 6:50 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,163
Upcoming reservation DEN-SNA-DEN showed 'upgrade to united first for $58 or 15000 miles' in View Reservations on united.com. When clicking on the offer, the dollar upfare is unavailable - I tried several times. Web support was able to replicate the situation but claims this is all well and good because the mileage upgrade part of the offer happens to be available. Isn't UA on the hook to honor the dollar upgrade? If so, how does one compel UA to do so?
(Closest thread I could find - if incorrect, please move post.)
(Closest thread I could find - if incorrect, please move post.)
Mar 16, 2017, 6:55 pm
#5
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Mar 16, 2017, 7:12 pm
#6
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Mar 16, 2017, 7:15 pm
#7
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Mar 17, 2017, 12:29 am
#8
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SLC
Programs: United Gold, Hilton Silver, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 768
Actually, it is an offer. I've had this happen several times, and when I've spoken to web support, they have always honored the offer. Make sure you're talking with web support and explain. If they can see the offer, they should honor it.
Mar 17, 2017, 6:08 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HSV
Programs: Silver MileagePlus, Diamond Hilton
Posts: 672
I've had similar experience once before. After ticketing saw and offer to upgrade to f on a 752 to MCO for only $29 and when you click said online not available. I called and they did it.
Mar 17, 2017, 7:45 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, DL 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 115
Read through some of the threads in the AA and DL forums. Same themes as here in the UA forum - selling upgrades to non-elites, lack of PDBs, declining value of elite status, website bugs, etc.
It's not UA. It's travel in general . . . airlines, hotels, and frankly travelers with sense of entitlement.
It's not UA. It's travel in general . . . airlines, hotels, and frankly travelers with sense of entitlement.
Mar 6, 2018, 9:25 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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I've been trying for the past 3 days (since booking) to upgrade a reservation using RPU's. Instead of the typical "Waitlist only," the option is "Online upgrade not available." .bomb allows me to select the RPU's, but not complete the purchase. (If I want to fork over $450+ in each direction, it will gladly allow me to complete that purchase. 
)
Has anybody else successfully applied RPU's or GPU's in the past 3 days? Ordinarily I would just call, but with the weather waiver and impending Nor'Easter, I would prefer not to exhaust phone resources for a trip in June. On the other hand, the sooner I waitlist, the sooner I can delude myself into thinking that if R availability opens up, my RPU's will clear.
)Has anybody else successfully applied RPU's or GPU's in the past 3 days? Ordinarily I would just call, but with the weather waiver and impending Nor'Easter, I would prefer not to exhaust phone resources for a trip in June. On the other hand, the sooner I waitlist, the sooner I can delude myself into thinking that if R availability opens up, my RPU's will clear.
Mar 6, 2018, 1:13 pm
#13
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Has anybody else successfully applied RPU's or GPU's in the past 3 days? Ordinarily I would just call, but with the weather waiver and impending Nor'Easter, I would prefer not to exhaust phone resources for a trip in June. On the other hand, the sooner I waitlist, the sooner I can delude myself into thinking that if R availability opens up, my RPU's will clear.
Mar 6, 2018, 1:43 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
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Posts: 3,622
I've been trying for the past 3 days (since booking) to upgrade a reservation using RPU's. Instead of the typical "Waitlist only," the option is "Online upgrade not available." .bomb allows me to select the RPU's, but not complete the purchase. (If I want to fork over $450+ in each direction, it will gladly allow me to complete that purchase. )
Has anybody else successfully applied RPU's or GPU's in the past 3 days? Ordinarily I would just call, but with the weather waiver and impending Nor'Easter, I would prefer not to exhaust phone resources for a trip in June. On the other hand, the sooner I waitlist, the sooner I can delude myself into thinking that if R availability opens up, my RPU's will clear.
)Has anybody else successfully applied RPU's or GPU's in the past 3 days? Ordinarily I would just call, but with the weather waiver and impending Nor'Easter, I would prefer not to exhaust phone resources for a trip in June. On the other hand, the sooner I waitlist, the sooner I can delude myself into thinking that if R availability opens up, my RPU's will clear.