Feb 25, 2017, 10:01 am
GPU Failure Report
Mar 20, 2018 | 7:14 am
#61
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 72,256
Back when I was a 1K, I never tried to use a GPU on a weekend, and had near 100% success during the weekday. I see nothing has changed.
Nov 25, 2018 | 6:54 pm
#62
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SDF
Programs: -=- UA: LT GS 4MM; Hilton: LT Diamond; Marriott: Gold; Hertz: President's Circle
Posts: 701
1. UA106 IAD-MUC
2. 11/25/2018 (Thanksgiving Sunday)
3. U class
4. Purchased 2 weeks in advance
5. #1 on upgrade list. Nobody cleared day of departure. Another GS was #2 on upgrade list.
6. GS
First GPU failure in past 3 years. Guess my luck was bound to run out sooner or later.
2. 11/25/2018 (Thanksgiving Sunday)
3. U class
4. Purchased 2 weeks in advance
5. #1 on upgrade list. Nobody cleared day of departure. Another GS was #2 on upgrade list.
6. GS
First GPU failure in past 3 years. Guess my luck was bound to run out sooner or later.
Nov 25, 2018 | 7:15 pm
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, AS MVP Gold, MR LTT, HH Dia, IHG Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 37,447
1. UA106 IAD-MUC
2. 11/25/2018 (Thanksgiving Sunday)
3. U class
4. Purchased 2 weeks in advance
5. #1 on upgrade list. Nobody cleared day of departure. Another GS was #2 on upgrade list.
6. GS
First GPU failure in past 3 years. Guess my luck was bound to run out sooner or later.
2. 11/25/2018 (Thanksgiving Sunday)
3. U class
4. Purchased 2 weeks in advance
5. #1 on upgrade list. Nobody cleared day of departure. Another GS was #2 on upgrade list.
6. GS
First GPU failure in past 3 years. Guess my luck was bound to run out sooner or later.
Dec 13, 2018 | 6:08 pm
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 22,651
1) SFO-TPE
2) 12/5
3) W
4) Y>J
5) Purchased 11/19
6) Failed PZ was opened a few days before I booked the ticket, then disappeared. The day of departure, I was #5 on the list. the UA app bounced between showing the flight was booked 58/60 to 60/60 several times up to the day of departure. When we landed in TPE, the list showed the agents cleared #1 and #6, thus skipping myself and # 2-4. A bit pissed, given the premium I paid, so I assume either there was SHENA or the agent was too lazy to come aboard and upgrade the next on the list...
2) 12/5
3) W
4) Y>J
5) Purchased 11/19
6) Failed PZ was opened a few days before I booked the ticket, then disappeared. The day of departure, I was #5 on the list. the UA app bounced between showing the flight was booked 58/60 to 60/60 several times up to the day of departure. When we landed in TPE, the list showed the agents cleared #1 and #6, thus skipping myself and # 2-4. A bit pissed, given the premium I paid, so I assume either there was SHENA or the agent was too lazy to come aboard and upgrade the next on the list...
Dec 13, 2018 | 6:36 pm
#66
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,399
1) SFO-TPE
2) 12/5
3) W
4) Y>J
5) Purchased 11/19
6) Failed — PZ was opened a few days before I booked the ticket, then disappeared. The day of departure, I was #5 on the list. the UA app bounced between showing the flight was booked 58/60 to 60/60 several times up to the day of departure. When we landed in TPE, the list showed the agents cleared #1 and #6 , thus skipping myself and # 2-4. A bit pissed, given the premium I paid, so I assume either there was SHENA or the agent was too lazy to come aboard and upgrade the next on the list...
2) 12/5
3) W
4) Y>J
5) Purchased 11/19
6) Failed — PZ was opened a few days before I booked the ticket, then disappeared. The day of departure, I was #5 on the list. the UA app bounced between showing the flight was booked 58/60 to 60/60 several times up to the day of departure. When we landed in TPE, the list showed the agents cleared #1 and #6 , thus skipping myself and # 2-4. A bit pissed, given the premium I paid, so I assume either there was SHENA or the agent was too lazy to come aboard and upgrade the next on the list...
Dec 13, 2018 | 8:09 pm
#67
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: UA,DL,AA
Posts: 6
If I posted every GPU failure, I would crash this website. As a 1K for as long as I can remember, I have rarely had GPUs, and even RPUs, clear. I currently have 6 flights (mix of intl & dom) waitlisted for GPU/RPU - all requested at time of ticketing - and I have no expectation that any will clear because it has been so rare that they do. I have even tried GPUs on LH and NH on J-fares months in advance to no avail. On intercontinental flights, my company flies us in business class so for work travel I only had a chance to try to use them when I got stuck on 777-200 - and I never had one clear. I flew on a 777-200 two days before UA announced the end of Polaris First. My flight was originally on a new Polaris aircraft IAD-BRU but it got swapped last minute for 777-200. UA would not take a GPU but gladly took $500 & some miles to get to Polaris First. I am sitting on 8 RPUs and 10 GPUs right now but at this point they feel worthless--and if the 6 flights don't clear they will re-deposit. It's hard to see them as a benefit when they never clear.
Dec 15, 2018 | 9:54 am
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, AS MVP Gold, MR LTT, HH Dia, IHG Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 37,447
Sorry to hear, but you know you can check which flights have 'O' available and those will clear right away? Recently BOS-NRT I checked NYC/IAD/ORD/LAX/SFO and finally IAH which had O1 available, so I booked via IAH and cleared it right away. It takes a bit more effort but if you are flexible with your route and possibly +/- 1 day ... you can absolutely certainly clear them.
Dec 15, 2018 | 10:16 pm
#69
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
Gold with a GPU sponsored by a GS friend:
1. SIN - SFO (UA 2)
2. 12/16/18
3. Fare Class W (originally S but re-fared to W after SIN->LAX cancellation)
4. Y-C
5. 3 Weeks Out
6. Didn't clear
Backstory for those interested : Yesterday's UA 2 was cancelled resulting in a full Y and J for today's flight. When I checked the upgrade list today I saw that no one cleared upgrades. Interestingly, yesterday prior to OLCI, there was an offer to upgrade to Polaris J for $2200 which is outside my pay grade. Fast forward to today and I notice that a line has formed for GS customers. I knew my hen was cooked at that point!
Currently enjoying Executive Economy class on UA 2 in the emergency exit row.
Safe Travels,
James
1. SIN - SFO (UA 2)
2. 12/16/18
3. Fare Class W (originally S but re-fared to W after SIN->LAX cancellation)
4. Y-C
5. 3 Weeks Out
6. Didn't clear
Backstory for those interested : Yesterday's UA 2 was cancelled resulting in a full Y and J for today's flight. When I checked the upgrade list today I saw that no one cleared upgrades. Interestingly, yesterday prior to OLCI, there was an offer to upgrade to Polaris J for $2200 which is outside my pay grade. Fast forward to today and I notice that a line has formed for GS customers. I knew my hen was cooked at that point!
Currently enjoying Executive Economy class on UA 2 in the emergency exit row.
Safe Travels,
James
Dec 24, 2018 | 4:54 am
#71
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 2MM
Posts: 7,868
December 19
PEK-EWR
Pretty much started and finished #1 on upgrade list.
Was the only GPU not to clear all year, and this trip was a last-minute booking. I knew at booking of the likely outcome.
Luckily the EWR-PEK did clear, so it wasn't all bad.
PEK-EWR
Pretty much started and finished #1 on upgrade list.
Was the only GPU not to clear all year, and this trip was a last-minute booking. I knew at booking of the likely outcome.
Luckily the EWR-PEK did clear, so it wasn't all bad.
Dec 24, 2018 | 6:03 am
#72
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Dec 24, 2018 | 6:10 am
#73
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 2MM
Posts: 7,868
Non-member maybe?
I never get good offers as 1K, it seems.
But yeah, at $700 I would have purchased on that route also.
Dec 24, 2018 | 6:15 am
#74
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Now, it would be helpful to know if david_oz got an offer and at what price.
Dec 24, 2018 | 8:30 am
#75
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Splitting time between small towns in NorCal and Wydaho
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Posts: 21,528