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}
Dec 27, 2018, 6:41 am
#2311
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,784
For me ( as a relatively high mileage no notice 1K ) RPUs are useless and I usually gift almost all of my GPUs to friends and less traveled coworkers. My CPU rate is above 70%.
Are GPUs worthless? You make the call.
To prove a point to a friend I made two separate and identical itns (EWR-SJO) for Feb. Both of the travelers are 1K on the same flights. I applied a GPU to my +1s. My itn has been been UGed my +1s is still waitlisted. As of this AM only about 5 or 6 F seats between the 4 flights are booked 2 of them are my UGs.
Are GPUs worthless? You make the call.
To prove a point to a friend I made two separate and identical itns (EWR-SJO) for Feb. Both of the travelers are 1K on the same flights. I applied a GPU to my +1s. My itn has been been UGed my +1s is still waitlisted. As of this AM only about 5 or 6 F seats between the 4 flights are booked 2 of them are my UGs.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 28, 2018 at 12:41 am Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Dec 27, 2018, 7:06 am
#2312
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,354
Dec 27, 2018, 8:14 am
#2313
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Programs: UA 1K, UA .53 MM, Marriott Gold, Nexus, GE, TSA Pre, Hertz PC
Posts: 581
When an RPU clears before the CPU's start clearing (T-96), I'd say that the RPU is not worthless. For example, my companion and I just cleared on ORD-SFO on a 772 with the legacy Global First seats. Because we cleared at T-6days13hours, on a flight where I'd surely clear as a 1K, I have the advantage of selecting the seats that I want instead of being pigeonholed into one of the four wide, reverse facing seats.
Dec 27, 2018, 8:44 am
#2314
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
When an RPU clears before the CPU's start clearing (T-96), I'd say that the RPU is not worthless. For example, my companion and I just cleared on ORD-SFO on a 772 with the legacy Global First seats. Because we cleared at T-6days13hours, on a flight where I'd surely clear as a 1K, I have the advantage of selecting the seats that I want instead of being pigeonholed into one of the four wide, reverse facing seats.
Dec 27, 2018, 9:26 am
#2315
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: 3,620
Didn't get the memo I guess, can anybody elaborate on the reduced RPU earnings. Not that I really care much as I end up burning or attempting to gift most of mine over the past several years. Thanks in advance.
Dec 27, 2018, 9:31 am
#2316
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,354
" While you’ll still earn Regional Premier Upgrades when you qualify for Premier Platinum and 1K status, you’ll no longer receive additional Regional Premier Upgrades for your activity beyond reaching Premier 1K status. "
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...-upgrades.html
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...-upgrades.html
Dec 27, 2018, 9:33 am
#2317
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
But you can still get additional GPUs when you get to 150,000 PQM and for every 50,000 PQM after that.
Dec 27, 2018, 9:38 am
#2318
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,885
I've never had a problem using my GPUS, (although recently the domestic portion of the ticket usually waits to clear at the gate or not at all).
But RPUs are a different story. I gave most away to non-status friends but not one cleared.
Now I have 5 expiring and thought I'd use them on a couple January weekend getaways.
Nope. Not this time. I cannot find one available UG to anywhere -- and I mean ANYWHERE including cold weather destinations. I've been searching for weeks.
But RPUs are a different story. I gave most away to non-status friends but not one cleared.
Now I have 5 expiring and thought I'd use them on a couple January weekend getaways.
Nope. Not this time. I cannot find one available UG to anywhere -- and I mean ANYWHERE including cold weather destinations. I've been searching for weeks.
Dec 27, 2018, 10:07 am
#2319
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 64
International success rate >> regional success rate
I think what we're finding is that international flights (long haul) are more likely to clear than regional (North America) ones.
Point in case: PPT-SFO-IAH-FRA second week of January. Both Papeete to SFO and Houston to Frankfurt have cleared. SFO to Houston is still waitlisted selling for $208 on a 787 (so rather appealing for that route) with some 18 seats available.
Something tells me it'll be Economy Plus for that leg - which is fine, but - together with the feedback on this board - explains why UA is throttling the award of RPUs going forward: simply too much frustration on their customers' end (plus even more potential upselling).
Point in case: PPT-SFO-IAH-FRA second week of January. Both Papeete to SFO and Houston to Frankfurt have cleared. SFO to Houston is still waitlisted selling for $208 on a 787 (so rather appealing for that route) with some 18 seats available.
Something tells me it'll be Economy Plus for that leg - which is fine, but - together with the feedback on this board - explains why UA is throttling the award of RPUs going forward: simply too much frustration on their customers' end (plus even more potential upselling).
Dec 27, 2018, 10:34 am
#2320
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: 3,620
Another strange change, always interesting to hear why UA does such changes. I am sure some elites are not happy with this. As I stated I don't really care, I almost never can use them (for that matter any instrument). I often gift them to friends and family with little to no luck (I think ONE cleared this year). These instruments are from my perspective the least useful perk to being 1K. GS is a different story.
Jan 6, 2019, 10:03 am
#2321
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: DCA, IAD (not BWI if I can help it)
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist, status-free on AA, AS, B6, DL, WN, Amtrak, etc.
Posts: 1,481
A new one for this file: The RPU I applied in October didn't clear on UA 762 IAD-IAH this morning--and neither did anybody else's upgrade. The front cabin showed eight unbooked Polaris seats two days out, five when I checked in, and one two and a half hours prior to departure. I was first on the upgrade list the entire time. Seeing zero no upgrades clear would be unusual enough if it didn't involve a widebody on a domestic repositioning flight, which I used to see as a sure thing a few years ago.
Jan 6, 2019, 10:35 am
#2322
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,053
A new one for this file: The RPU I applied in October didn't clear on UA 762 IAD-IAH this morning--and neither did anybody else's upgrade. The front cabin showed eight unbooked Polaris seats two days out, five when I checked in, and one two and a half hours prior to departure. I was first on the upgrade list the entire time. Seeing zero no upgrades clear would be unusual enough if it didn't involve a widebody on a domestic repositioning flight, which I used to see as a sure thing a few years ago.
A GS colleague of mine is currently #8 BOS-SFO with 0 seats available ...
Jan 6, 2019, 4:11 pm
#2323
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,415
Getting even full J space going to JPM can be an accomplishment 
Jan 7, 2019, 12:16 am
#2324
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,429
It seems that in SF this week even c
ffee is going for absurd prices:
ffee is going for absurd prices:
The Parc 55 hotel, based in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood, charges $170 for a gallon of coffee (that breaks down to about $21.25 for a 16-ounce cup) to any company holding a JPM Week event on its property, according to a menu obtained by STAT.
Jan 7, 2019, 12:48 am
#2325
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: DCA, IAD (not BWI if I can help it)
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist, status-free on AA, AS, B6, DL, WN, Amtrak, etc.
Posts: 1,481
2 things ... 1) How do you know no upgrades cleared since UA no longer shows upgrades that clear in advance? 2) During JPM everything flying West right now is sold out ...
A GS colleague of mine is currently #8 BOS-SFO with 0 seats available ...
A GS colleague of mine is currently #8 BOS-SFO with 0 seats available ...
2) I was going to blame CES. At the risk of betraying my own business illiteracy, what's JPM?