Jun 30, 2013, 9:22 am
Last edit by: PTahCha
I am flying on LH, but the ticket was not issued by LH; it is a code share. May I use a paper GPU?
Yes, the terms and conditions printed on the paper GPU are explicit on this point. Note that starting in 2014, when PQD-based elite qualification starts for 2015, flights on LH metal but not on UA 016 ticket stock earn zero PQDs, so we hope these terms and conditions continue.
How soon should I attempt to request to be added to the upgrade wait list (aka as the grading list)?
Because LH policy is to not upgrade a pax if there are not enough meals for that cabin, and because catering, even in FRA, requires as much as three hours notice, you should plan to present your request 3.5 hours before the flight departs.
I am traveling from AAA-BBB-CCC, how many GPUs do I need?
Two.
I am traveling from AAA-BBB-CCC. When I check in at AAA, can I be added to the upgrade list for BBB-CCC?
Policy says no. There have been exceptions reported.
Can I be added to the upgrade list over the phone?
Policy says no.
I am traveling from AAA-BBB-CCC. When I check in at AAA, can the LH people there alert catering in BBB that I intend to upgrade BBB-CCC?
Policy says yes. In practice, it rarely works. There have been exceptions reported.
I am traveling from AAA-BBB-CCC. AAA-BBB is not LH metal, BBB-CCC is LH metal. When I arrive in BBB there won't be any LH people airside to request addition to the grading list. What should I do?
Exit the airside area of BBB 3.5 hours before the next LH flight from BBB departs and head to the LH check in counter.
I have reserved a special meal. May I use a GPU and eat my special meal?
Policy says no. A special meal will prevent you from being upgraded.
As a pax departing in F on LH metal may I use the LH FCL or FCT?
Yes.
As a pax arriving in F on LH metal may I use the LH FCL?
Yes.
As a pax departing in F on LH metal may I use the UA GFL?
Yes if not departing from IAD. In IAD you may be directed to the LH Senators Lounge , which is contrary to the Star Alliance lounge access policy and may not be official; see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20895856-post36.html .
As a pax arriving in F on LH metal may I use the UA GFL?
No.
If I am connecting in a station that has an FCT, and I am departing on LH metal in F, may I use the FCT?
Yes.
What are my chances upgrading from J to F on LH metal?
In general, very good. The earlier you try, the better.
If I go to the airport the night before departure, can I be added to the grading list?
Policy says no, but there have been exceptions reported, such as someone who has an overnight layover.
If I go to the airport the day of departure, but before I am ready to check bags, can I be added to upgrade list?
Yes.
I am traveling on a fare class that is not explicitly listed as permitted or prohibited on the paper GPU. May I use my GPU?
If the fare class prices out to less than any one of the prohibited fare classes, then assume no.
If the fare class prices out to more than any one of the permitted_ fare classes, then assume yes.
Does the person who sponsored the upgrade have to be present when the upgraded is requested?
No.
Does the person who sponsored the upgrade have to be traveling on the same flight?
No.
Do I call the 1K desk or the MileagePlus service center to get a paper GPU?
The latter. If you try the former, it is likely the 1K agent will confuse this request with a Star Alliance upgrade request, and then tell you that your fare class is prohibited. Keep in mind that outside of M+, few UA employees have ever seen a paper GPU for use on LH.
What is the number of the MileagePlus service center?
See http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/contact/mileageplus/contact.aspx .
Or call the GS/1K phone line and select the "MileagePlus Servicing" option.
I called that the MileagePlus service center and the agent had no idea what I was talking about.
Call again.
The new policy requiring the paper GPU certificate to match an LH flight number and pax name means I cannot have any "on hand" when flying a TATL on UA metal to and from Germany in case of irrops and rebooked to LH metal, right?
According to new policy, correct. However, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20728446-post248.html documents a case where the LH employee only cared about the pax name on the GPU matching the name on the ticket.
Are flights operated by Privatair dba LH eligible to use a LH GPU Certificate?
According to, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21655941-post362.html, yes.
Yes, the terms and conditions printed on the paper GPU are explicit on this point. Note that starting in 2014, when PQD-based elite qualification starts for 2015, flights on LH metal but not on UA 016 ticket stock earn zero PQDs, so we hope these terms and conditions continue.
How soon should I attempt to request to be added to the upgrade wait list (aka as the grading list)?
Because LH policy is to not upgrade a pax if there are not enough meals for that cabin, and because catering, even in FRA, requires as much as three hours notice, you should plan to present your request 3.5 hours before the flight departs.
I am traveling from AAA-BBB-CCC, how many GPUs do I need?
Two.
I am traveling from AAA-BBB-CCC. When I check in at AAA, can I be added to the upgrade list for BBB-CCC?
Policy says no. There have been exceptions reported.
Can I be added to the upgrade list over the phone?
Policy says no.
I am traveling from AAA-BBB-CCC. When I check in at AAA, can the LH people there alert catering in BBB that I intend to upgrade BBB-CCC?
Policy says yes. In practice, it rarely works. There have been exceptions reported.
I am traveling from AAA-BBB-CCC. AAA-BBB is not LH metal, BBB-CCC is LH metal. When I arrive in BBB there won't be any LH people airside to request addition to the grading list. What should I do?
Exit the airside area of BBB 3.5 hours before the next LH flight from BBB departs and head to the LH check in counter.
I have reserved a special meal. May I use a GPU and eat my special meal?
Policy says no. A special meal will prevent you from being upgraded.
As a pax departing in F on LH metal may I use the LH FCL or FCT?
Yes.
As a pax arriving in F on LH metal may I use the LH FCL?
Yes.
As a pax departing in F on LH metal may I use the UA GFL?
Yes if not departing from IAD. In IAD you may be directed to the LH Senators Lounge , which is contrary to the Star Alliance lounge access policy and may not be official; see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20895856-post36.html .
As a pax arriving in F on LH metal may I use the UA GFL?
No.
If I am connecting in a station that has an FCT, and I am departing on LH metal in F, may I use the FCT?
Yes.
What are my chances upgrading from J to F on LH metal?
In general, very good. The earlier you try, the better.
If I go to the airport the night before departure, can I be added to the grading list?
Policy says no, but there have been exceptions reported, such as someone who has an overnight layover.
If I go to the airport the day of departure, but before I am ready to check bags, can I be added to upgrade list?
Yes.
I am traveling on a fare class that is not explicitly listed as permitted or prohibited on the paper GPU. May I use my GPU?
If the fare class prices out to less than any one of the prohibited fare classes, then assume no.
If the fare class prices out to more than any one of the permitted_ fare classes, then assume yes.
Does the person who sponsored the upgrade have to be present when the upgraded is requested?
No.
Does the person who sponsored the upgrade have to be traveling on the same flight?
No.
Do I call the 1K desk or the MileagePlus service center to get a paper GPU?
The latter. If you try the former, it is likely the 1K agent will confuse this request with a Star Alliance upgrade request, and then tell you that your fare class is prohibited. Keep in mind that outside of M+, few UA employees have ever seen a paper GPU for use on LH.
What is the number of the MileagePlus service center?
See http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/contact/mileageplus/contact.aspx .
Or call the GS/1K phone line and select the "MileagePlus Servicing" option.
I called that the MileagePlus service center and the agent had no idea what I was talking about.
Call again.
The new policy requiring the paper GPU certificate to match an LH flight number and pax name means I cannot have any "on hand" when flying a TATL on UA metal to and from Germany in case of irrops and rebooked to LH metal, right?
According to new policy, correct. However, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20728446-post248.html documents a case where the LH employee only cared about the pax name on the GPU matching the name on the ticket.
Are flights operated by Privatair dba LH eligible to use a LH GPU Certificate?
According to, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21655941-post362.html, yes.
Update to Lufthansa (LH) GPU Certificate Request Process
Feb 18, 2013 | 8:24 pm
#166
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Siesta Key, Florida
Programs: UA GS4Life, AF/KL Lifetime Plat, BA Gold, AA 1MM, IC Diamond RA, Hyatt Humorist, Bonv Plat, et alia
Posts: 2,741
Well if this is a bridge to an electronic confirmable product, and if you can reuse a certificate for another LH flight assuming your upgrade didn't clear, then it's not a big deal.
Kind of awkwardly presented, however ...
Kind of awkwardly presented, however ...
Feb 19, 2013 | 2:18 am
#167
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: VCE
Posts: 14,165
The electronic certificate "aka E voucher" has been around with Lufthansa for 10 years.
Feb 19, 2013 | 5:45 am
#168
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
Some ex-1K and ex-GS have GPUs that have had extended validity periods that have a later expiration date than the 1K/GS status expiration date.
Feb 19, 2013 | 8:39 am
#169
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,176
Many are given out to travel agents or part of corporate contracts as well.
Feb 19, 2013 | 12:06 pm
#170
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 4,270
Dear UA Insider,
Thanks for the update but the question still remains, does UA/LH plan on working with those certificates that have already been issued without the routing and date? Do they expect us to send them back? Understandably fraud is a concern; but as others have noted, if the traveler's name is already matched to the certificate, I don't see how much more fraud can be perpetrated.
Thanks for the update but the question still remains, does UA/LH plan on working with those certificates that have already been issued without the routing and date? Do they expect us to send them back? Understandably fraud is a concern; but as others have noted, if the traveler's name is already matched to the certificate, I don't see how much more fraud can be perpetrated.
Feb 23, 2013 | 2:09 am
#171
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 930
Scrambling to get some clean paper before Armageddon, called mp to request multiple lh gpu's. Nice agent, but they requested the flight info before they could send. Indicated that I was traveling on flex C tickets. Disappeared for 10 minutes. Came back and still requested flight data. Questioned the 1 March date, again. Finally, nice agent agreed that they could send out multiple paper gpu's without flight data before 1 March. They have been deducted from my online account. Took much longer than I would have preferred, but I hope the paper is priceless. Would rather negotiate with an lh rep with a blank gpu than a gpu with the wrong date or flight #.
Feb 23, 2013 | 3:37 am
#172
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,964
I reported many pages back that I found an agent who learned the rules and agreed to courier me blank certs.
Just like last year, no certs have been received.
But MP shows they were issued. I have to assume that they were not couriered, and most likely again were not sent to the correct address.
Last year this resulted in me having 2 expiring GPUs which nobody agreed to extend, even though other FTers have had theirs extended. Nobody from UA or MP has responded to any of my emails or letters, and calls get me nowhere. 1K voice referred me to a dead link.
Thanks, UA, for treated me as a 'valued customer'. UA Insider, please understand that this is one reason why your customers outside the US are so concerned about this change. You have still failed to acknowledge, let alone address, our concerns, so I can only assume that UA does not care about non-US based customers. That is a short-sighted viewpoint.
Just like last year, no certs have been received.
But MP shows they were issued. I have to assume that they were not couriered, and most likely again were not sent to the correct address.Last year this resulted in me having 2 expiring GPUs which nobody agreed to extend, even though other FTers have had theirs extended. Nobody from UA or MP has responded to any of my emails or letters, and calls get me nowhere. 1K voice referred me to a dead link.
Thanks, UA, for treated me as a 'valued customer'. UA Insider, please understand that this is one reason why your customers outside the US are so concerned about this change. You have still failed to acknowledge, let alone address, our concerns, so I can only assume that UA does not care about non-US based customers. That is a short-sighted viewpoint.
Feb 23, 2013 | 6:03 am
#173
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,436
Terrible news. All but kills the Y to J upgrade. The J to F upgrade still lives.
But moving forward, I consider this a lost benefit.
I don't buy the traceability argument. There is a UA 016 ticket number on each cert. LH could easily record this. In addition all LH has to do is make sure its collects the cert.
True by you.
By the rest of us, I.e. those who travel to or via FRA or MUC they are essential.
But moving forward, I consider this a lost benefit.
I don't buy the traceability argument. There is a UA 016 ticket number on each cert. LH could easily record this. In addition all LH has to do is make sure its collects the cert.
True by you.
By the rest of us, I.e. those who travel to or via FRA or MUC they are essential.
Feb 23, 2013 | 6:22 am
#174
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Ag, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt
Posts: 4,723
Feb 23, 2013 | 6:47 am
#175
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,436
For me, as someone who rarely has last minute business class travel, I will be able to use paper upgrades, but the excess planning (returning certs when upgrades fail, and applying for new ones when I have new travel) makes my life inefficient. At the very least UA could have an online method for ordering paper GPUs.
When someone makes my life inefficient, I become open to other possibilities. For example, the new transit rules through mainland China combined with this ill advised change will make me open to considering those carriers to get to BLR.
Feb 23, 2013 | 8:06 am
#176
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between DM464 and DM463 on the NAPSA26 RNAV TRANS in EDDM
Programs: nothing
Posts: 1,731
I reported many pages back that I found an agent who learned the rules and agreed to courier me blank certs.
Just like last year, no certs have been received. But MP shows they were issued. I have to assume that they were not couriered, and most likely again were not sent to the correct address.
Last year this resulted in me having 2 expiring GPUs which nobody agreed to extend, even though other FTers have had theirs extended. Nobody from UA or MP has responded to any of my emails or letters, and calls get me nowhere. 1K voice referred me to a dead link.
Thanks, UA, for treated me as a 'valued customer'. UA Insider, please understand that this is one reason why your customers outside the US are so concerned about this change. You have still failed to acknowledge, let alone address, our concerns, so I can only assume that UA does not care about non-US based customers. That is a short-sighted viewpoint.
Just like last year, no certs have been received.
But MP shows they were issued. I have to assume that they were not couriered, and most likely again were not sent to the correct address.Last year this resulted in me having 2 expiring GPUs which nobody agreed to extend, even though other FTers have had theirs extended. Nobody from UA or MP has responded to any of my emails or letters, and calls get me nowhere. 1K voice referred me to a dead link.
Thanks, UA, for treated me as a 'valued customer'. UA Insider, please understand that this is one reason why your customers outside the US are so concerned about this change. You have still failed to acknowledge, let alone address, our concerns, so I can only assume that UA does not care about non-US based customers. That is a short-sighted viewpoint.
Feb 23, 2013 | 9:47 am
#177
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,964
But if had been sent by courier, it would be there already. Last time it was sent by regular post, and arrived I think 7 weeks later.
This actually is impacting my future flight decisions for March and April. I have some LH/UA mixed flight options which I will most likely book on other carriers or even another alliance if I don't have the certs, or don't have a comfort gambling with 'blank' certs.
Feb 23, 2013 | 10:19 am
#178
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
Scrambling to get some clean paper before Armageddon, called mp to request multiple lh gpu's. Nice agent, but they requested the flight info before they could send. Indicated that I was traveling on flex C tickets. Disappeared for 10 minutes. Came back and still requested flight data. Questioned the 1 March date, again. Finally, nice agent agreed that they could send out multiple paper gpu's without flight data before 1 March. They have been deducted from my online account. Took much longer than I would have preferred, but I hope the paper is priceless. Would rather negotiate with an lh rep with a blank gpu than a gpu with the wrong date or flight #.
Also, when I flew in October, they demanded a PNR before they would issue GPUs. This does not seem to be new. What's new is printing the itinerary on the paper and making the paper worthless for anything but the printed itinerary.
I'm glad that at least it worked for you. My issue seems to be an old address in my UA profile, no matter what it shows to me online. Again when I ordered it I verified with the agent and again she took it all down very carefully, and again it seems that it may be going there.
But if had been sent by courier, it would be there already. Last time it was sent by regular post, and arrived I think 7 weeks later.
This actually is impacting my future flight decisions for March and April. I have some LH/UA mixed flight options which I will most likely book on other carriers or even another alliance if I don't have the certs, or don't have a comfort gambling with 'blank' certs.
But if had been sent by courier, it would be there already. Last time it was sent by regular post, and arrived I think 7 weeks later.
This actually is impacting my future flight decisions for March and April. I have some LH/UA mixed flight options which I will most likely book on other carriers or even another alliance if I don't have the certs, or don't have a comfort gambling with 'blank' certs.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Feb 23, 2013 at 12:13 pm Reason: merge
Feb 23, 2013 | 11:09 am
#179
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,964
It just means that I won't be the 'test case' for using a blank cert, but I won't stand for another year of having certs expire due to UA because they sent them to the wrong address. I'm really annoyed that they never fixed the issue they themselves caused for 2012 GPUs, but I'm not about to have it happen for 2013 GPUs, especially as I requested them so early in the year.
It's also why so many of us outside the US want UA Insider to comment on the redeposit process as it is not so easy for everyone.
Feb 23, 2013 | 11:58 am
#180
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA 1K, UA 1 MM
Posts: 67
I have been holding on ordering before March 1 as I expect that LH will not honor the blank GPUs much after the new policy goes in effect (regardless of the language on the certificate itself). I had a terrible time in LH honoring one for a companion in Munich last October as the rep insisted that policy had changed and companion name must be on the certificate (such a procedure was not even possible then).