This is my third LH GPU/SWU request in Japan. Really fast and Fedex every time. Also, you can mail them back to a Ginza address; call the 1K desk to ask for it. My SWU was back in the account well within a week.

Oliver, that's a relief since I am doing M to C.

KSW, based on the info from our guru here, Oliver, I guess if you check in with real LH staff like HAM-FRA-XXX then they can put you on a "grading list" but not process the upgrade. In my case, I am checking with SAS staff. My previous cases have been overnight situations where I cleared it at check-in, although with contract staff (ICN and KIX).

Actually, meal availability can prevent you from getting any seat; even in the back of the bus. Some years ago, I had an interesting experience with this. I was on a UA 744 from SFO to LHR which had to reroute to ORD because a lavatory in Y started to leak onto an electronics box one floor below. Seeing as there was no way to leave again that night with UA, I trucked over to the B-Concourse to see if I could get on the last flight out to FRA that LH had nightly at 10pm. C was totally full but they actually had 30 seats left in Y and it would at least get me to Europe. Problem was, they had no meals for the empty seats and the caterer done for the night. They refused (!) to take any of the roughly 40 people that had come over from UA and who would have gladly skipped the meal for that exact reason: No meals. In the end, they "found" five more meals and four others and I got to go after all. The other 35 were left holding the bag, so to speak, and had to spend the night in Chicago.

This was the last thing that kept me as a 1K. I let it expire this year, before this change came to play. I took the choice because last year it was very hard to use this benefit for loyalty anymore.

I am not sure what the reason of 1k as a 4th of 5 tiers is even useful. If they get better management and consolidate down to 3 tiers, t might make sense to consider united. But I do not see any of that happening in the next 2-3 years.

Pity, United had a lot of self-appointment marketeers. Kind of like Apple. I used to push people to UA MP, now I make it a point to tell people to avoid United. At least the model still works.

Used one yesterday on FRA-IAD. New type cert, agent in FRA Sen accepted and immediately confirmed. 748 Upper Deck. All good.

Why couldn't they just ask for the name of the passenger before doing the paper SWU. That would eliminate most people trying to churn it to others and the passenger's upgrade attempts would be increased. They always make it more difficult than necessary.

I think they already do this, including asking for the reservation/PNR and routing...

Sorry, I knew this. I meant, why couldn't they just ONLY ask for the passenger name, and not include the reservation/PNR. Having the flight info on there is a pain in the butt if they are actually only allowing you to chance an upgrade on one segment before calling them to re-issue the cert again.

I totally agree - but this is the *new* United, manned by...(you know who!)

This is my first experience trying to use these. When I called the MileagePlus Service Center last night to request these certificates the agent emphasized it would take a while to arrive at my US address, but said I should have them in time for my flights in early May.

How accurate is the fare class information on the United website for Lufthansa flights? My trip from MCO-FRA shows F4 on the website, which would lead me to believe I have a reasonably good chance of getting an upgrade.

Hoping to have the same experience (including UD of 748i) on FRA-LAX tomorrow. Currently showing J6, so I'm cautiously optimistic that showing up (really) early to check in will result in an upgrade.

Are they still accepting the old (pre March) blank certificates? I have a couple lying around...

Last I heard they were, but if you send them my way I'd be happy to test that out :D.

Yes. I have a bunch left and expect to continue to use them without issue given that I have managed to use some of them last month and this month without issue.

This requirement makes paper GPUs completely and utterly worthless to business flyers who fly on flexible fares and change travel plans often.

I suppose if you can plan your flights months in advance you should still be able to maybe use GPUs before they expire. But who can do that, unless he's retired into money. . .

Good luck! I love that plane! The Queen of the Skies, peerless.