Note I was specifically TRYING to think of a possible reason for them to implement this change without it meaning the eventual phase out of this benefit. But I don't see that what you wrote is contradictory to UA/LH trying to stop secondary market activity--it's the pre-printing that makes the cert now basically worthless on the secondary market, not the original verification. So if their secondary enforcement costs were higher than what they anticipate the future cert processing costs to be (now that they have to reprint all these new mailed in ones), one could make the argument that this is a 'rational' move by UA completely unconnected to reducing the LH GPU benefit for those who legitimately earned it.

Of course my suspicion is that this is, in fact, the beginning of the end for the LH GPU. If they really did want to preserve the benefit for the future and simply tighten inventory management, they would have invested the necessary resources in converting this to an online process. So even being charitable to UA's side, all signs point to this being a way to curtail LH GPU usage with the eventual goal of eliminating it altogether. But I hope I'm wrong!

And all you had to say was just that you knew you were going to fly the following week but didn't have the final details yet because you have not booked your LH tickets yet. It worked for me all the time, YMMV.

An old saying about male dogs comes to mind ;)

You missed the ";)" as I was implying humor and speaking of humor, the 787's are not falling from the sky like a rock because they're all grounded ;).

But seriously, I'm right there with you about the changes and root canals ^

The only legitimate issue I can imagine (short of just making life difficult for 1K's) is that of clamping down on the secondary market.

Simple way to solve this is to require the pre-printing of the name of the traveler (and for that to be binding) without requiring the pre-printing of the segment. I think that this is a balanced approach that most of us would support (though it would reduce the ability to upgrade colleagues at the gate).

Since the clearance is purely on a space-availability basis at T-3 anyway, this does not cost LH much (just the food/drink), while preserving the key convenience to customers that is NEEDED in a regime where upgrades are NOT confirmed before T-3, which is to retain the flexibility of which segment to upgrade.

Back when Z to F upgrades were permitted, I routinely used to upgrade one of my 2 segments from US - Germany - India to F based on availability (SFO - FRA was much harder than FRA - DEL on average, but not always).

Now that SWU's cannot be used on Z fares, I was specifically planning trips this year where I would buy C/D fares and continue my normal pattern of SWU usage. But, there is no way I'll do this under the new policy, so that is direct revenue loss to UA/LH from this change (at best they get P/Z fares instead of C/D fares from me, and at worst, I'll be switching even more travel to BA/CX - where EXP gets you FCL access).

Capacity Controls mentioned in T&C. Is that new?
 

I requested some certs in mid-Jan and was asked for PNR and name of my colleague I planned to give it to. He hadn't booked yet so I ordered it in my name. Glad I did, as he didn't go and I have a blank paper cert I can (hopefully) use the old fashioned way.

I am very disappointed with this. FRA is tied with SFO as a top destination for me. I used 3 of my 6 GPUs on LH last year and really appreciated the flexibility of the benefit. In fact is was probably one of the main reasons I bothered to requalify as 1K this year rather than move completely to AA. I really regret that decision, even with their impending merger.

Speaking of flexibility, if you look at the new T&C regarding GPU use on LH, I saw language I don't recall seeing. (I don't have my paper cert with me on this trip to verify.) For example (Bolding mine):

7.Lufthansa upgrade request: When traveling on Lufthansa, a standby upgrade may be requested at the time of check-in. Prior to traveling on Lufthansa, request an exchange of a global premier e-upgrade for a paper certificate to use on Lufthansa. The upgrade class will be confirmed at check-in, if available, and a seat assignment may be requested. The upgraded First/Business booking class may not always be available on all flights or on all days of the week while traveling. Lufthansa check-in deadlines apply.

8.Upgrade processing: This upgrade may be requested at time of check-in on Lufthansa and will be processed based on the availability of capacity-controlled seating and meals. Upgrades are subject to availability.

This means that rather than getting upgraded if there is a seat available, it may be that there needs to be whatever the LH equivalent to R would be (I?) available on that flight. I don't recall seeing that condition any where before. Is that really new? (Note they explicitly bring up the meal issue as a formal condition. Not new but the first time I've officially seen it.)

My you are an optimist! Two weeks/three weeks? In my case two months was closer, and well beyond three months for a redeposit which never occured.

exbayerIN, exbayerIN, if you please. :D (I know, I know, having three gender in German is difficult, and my fault for not choosing the most correct username)

Well, they never did redeposit mine from last summer, and refuse to extend it, so why does this not surprise me? I would suggest contacting UA Insider to see if they will at least issue ones for those of us who are posting here. (Misguided attempt to prove that there is a German sense of humour)

I'm a multi-year 1K and previously it was nobrainer to be *A. But being based in France I've explored other options, and am currently an AAEXP. For this year I am aiming to BA status for the first time ever, and for next year may switch my strategy from *A first to *A second. I just don't know which of LH/AC/UA is the least miserable considering their attempts to race each other to the bottom. (The thought of AC Rouge being on the CDG routes scares me - 1 inch less in pitch than even LH economy!)

No, UA is just making the SWU harder to use and then will state that due to lack of demand, they will no longer offer LH paper upgrades.

It sure would be nice if UAInsider came back to address some of the questions rather than this post and run mentality that we've been receiving in the past few months.

Predominantly I want to know why, if this policy is slated to begin on March 1, people are being asked for all this info now?

I'd also like some clarification on the process for redeposition when the upgrade fails because they surely won't be taken by LH for a flight segment other than that which is printed (stupidly) on the cert.

:td:

No problem - but I still think that you are right with what you said. I got 2 GPUs printed in Oct 12 for a scheduled trip FRA-SIN (and on to SYD) and back then I got asked about the PNR and routing already. I told the guy that I don't know that yet and got the GPUs sent via FedEx to Munich. I had to redeposit them because the trip was canceled and I sent them back to SD via registered mail (Deutsche Post). They were put back into my account and now I am contemplating to get them converted asap before the new rules officially kick in.

Servus!

Just a comment regarding the 'oh UA wants our revenue to go to UA and not LH' argument/wailing.

LH & UA share revenues on all TATL routes since 1998, with the remaining LH Group carriers and AC coming into the mix this decade.

This means every time someone buys a ticket across the Atlantic on LH (be it the miserable whY, the medioCre slippery slide or the ultraFab pointy end), Smisek & co hear a 'ka-ching' noise in Chicago. At the same time UA files all the fares for the revenue share gang that go east bound from the states. So whenever UA matches fares to show AA their boundaries in MIA & JFK or chase TK off its turf to IST, TLV or India you can hear a loud 'aua' in LH HQ.

So if GPUs in paper as standby on LH or electrons on UA are used, both LH & UA appreciate it irregardless on which carrier. I can't recall and look up the exact numbers but in the Q3/12 report LH mentioned that a 6% rise in passenger numbers in their Americas traffic resulted in a 18% rise in revenue ;)

Of course LH doesn't like the fact that people sign up for the UA FFP and fly LH, so they have the K class restriction of mileage earning etc. Being a 1K in Germany makes very little sense anyway and is only for those who fly UA a lot or have plenty of EQMs on *A to stash away after making SEN on M&M :p

6 SWUs/GPUs per year vs. 2 eVoucher at LH every other year (equivalent to 1 GPU every two years), no YQ on awards and free changes to awards sound pretty compelling to me...

This change is not customer friendly, my initial reaction was thinking of all the real scenarios we go through in traveling and how this makes it nothing but more difficult. The only thing I think that is needed is the passengers name. That is it. Anything else and a space available standby upgrade makes for 25 bucks in fed ex charges (more if overseas like me) and 1 month or more waiting for redeposit.

Different thread, longer discussion... ;)

I just got off the phone with the very helpful UA agent from the MP desk. She did mention that starting Mar 01 they'd have to include the itin information on the printed LH GPU voucher, but since I was calling before Mar 01 she said that she can issue those without this information. Plus, she's sending the GPUs to me via FedEx, so in this case this option still works.

Can someone help me understand what exactly was the problem LH faced in the old method?

I get the feeling that the effects of a US AA merger are already starting. UA now has a free hand to do what it wants. I just hope starnet does not follow.