Feb 27, 2019, 11:55 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the active thread is "Upgrade certificates (GPUs & RPUs) are useless nowadays"
Archive thread "Upgrade certificates (GPUs & RPUs) are useless nowadays" {Archive}
Archive thread "Upgrade certificates (GPUs & RPUs) are useless nowadays" {Archive}
"Upgrade certificates (GPUs & RPUs) are useless nowadays" {Archive}
Apr 30, 2018, 6:31 am
#1846
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX & EWR/JFK
Programs: Fomerly UA 1K, now Gold... next year, who knows?
Posts: 1,432
That said, I was on the very last flight JFK-LAX on Oct 24, 2015, and I just found my original booking $193 (L Fare), and the upgrade notification email. I sat in 5B for that flight.
May 2, 2018, 11:02 am
#1847
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,996
Excellent RPU Avail from SJC
Several months ago, I finally had my fill of the abysmal SFO airport experience and decided to switch my transcon flights and some Asia flights to SJC--Wow, what a difference! I am now 6 for 6 on RPU upgrades for SJC-EWR, SJC-ORD-various East Coast destinations. A couple of days ago, I applied a RPU to a no-status contractor's (soon to be an extinct classification in CA) ticket and he got upgraded at T-24.
Anybody else experiencing this?
Anybody else experiencing this?
May 2, 2018, 12:28 pm
#1848
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In between
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, SPG/Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 564
Gratefully was able to confirm R via RPU on UA1483 EWR-SFO tomorrow morning; cleared at T-23. We'll see if I'm as lucky with the SFO-AUS red-eye that same evening.
Also, booked AUS-IAH-SYD-LAX and confirmed R all the way at time of booking. 7/7 GPUs on long-haul flights confirmed at time of booking this year. Granted, I typically have some flexibility and am able to hunt for availability, but I've not had one GPU expire unused over the last 5 years.
Also, booked AUS-IAH-SYD-LAX and confirmed R all the way at time of booking. 7/7 GPUs on long-haul flights confirmed at time of booking this year. Granted, I typically have some flexibility and am able to hunt for availability, but I've not had one GPU expire unused over the last 5 years.
Last edited by timezone_trooper; May 2, 2018 at 12:32 pm Reason: Additional detail
May 2, 2018, 2:08 pm
#1849
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,956
Several months ago, I finally had my fill of the abysmal SFO airport experience and decided to switch my transcon flights and some Asia flights to SJC--Wow, what a difference! I am now 6 for 6 on RPU upgrades for SJC-EWR, SJC-ORD-various East Coast destinations. A couple of days ago, I applied a RPU to a no-status contractor's (soon to be an extinct classification in CA) ticket and he got upgraded at T-24.
Anybody else experiencing this?
Anybody else experiencing this?
May 2, 2018, 2:40 pm
#1850
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
It has gotten really bad… I've applied them 20+ times in the past few months with almost all failing. Had 3 GPUs expire on me.
May 2, 2018, 3:38 pm
#1851
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In between
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, SPG/Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 564
It's hard to beat the frequency of flights out of SFO, albeit with lower odds of an upgrade, supported of unsupported. Frankly, the terminal in SJC leaves a lot to be desired so I avoid it as much as possible. Personal preference, but SFO is always going to be more attractive to me no matter how far down the valley I have to go.
May 3, 2018, 8:04 am
#1852
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
A question for folks here: is it worth the trouble calling in to UA to have cleared RPUs un-redeemed? My wife and I are both taking trips to South Florida this upcoming week that are wide open in F - so we would almost certainly get a CPU. However, I also know that it’s (highly) unlikely that either of us will have a meaningful chance to burn them before they expire. Thoughts?
May 3, 2018, 8:07 am
#1853
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
A question for folks here: is it worth the trouble calling in to UA to have cleared RPUs un-redeemed? My wife and I are both taking trips to South Florida this upcoming week that are wide open in F - so we would almost certainly get a CPU. However, I also know that it’s (highly) unlikely that either of us will have a meaningful chance to burn them before they expire. Thoughts?
May 3, 2018, 9:11 am
#1854
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
May 3, 2018, 11:55 am
#1855
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,996
Funny, this is exactly how I feel about the SFO terminal and concourses. The delays/cancellations rate at SFO is abysmal. The rental car set-up is the worst in the US, except for LAX (and I no longer fly in/out of there either).
May 3, 2018, 12:50 pm
#1856
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
A question for folks here: is it worth the trouble calling in to UA to have cleared RPUs un-redeemed? My wife and I are both taking trips to South Florida this upcoming week that are wide open in F - so we would almost certainly get a CPU. However, I also know that it’s (highly) unlikely that either of us will have a meaningful chance to burn them before they expire. Thoughts?
May 18, 2018, 10:57 am
#1857
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,617
AGAIN didn't clear on KOA-SFO, was actually surprised at how far down the upgrade list I was at T24, From the list it looked like I had a GS and his/her family above me, they cleared out what little was left.
May 18, 2018, 11:04 am
#1858
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
I mean this seriously, not snarkily - why does this surprise you? It's a flight on a relatively small aircraft from the airport serving some of the highest end resorts in Hawaii, destination the home of probably the highest concentration of GS in the entire UA system.
May 18, 2018, 11:19 am
#1859
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
Nomad420.......how far down the list were you. A little confusing from your post. Were you #24?
Last edited by LAXOGG; May 18, 2018 at 11:36 am
May 18, 2018, 11:32 am
#1860
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
Respectfully disagree with your statement that #24 on the upgrade list as a 1K would not be that abnormal. I would suspect that a more typical placement on the upgrade list for a 1K would be top 3 to 5.