Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is the archive thread, the active thread is Lufthansa GPUs Go Electronic (How to use, will it clear?, issues w/flight credit,...)
For general information on upgrading ANA or Lufthansa flights with a GPU, see Upgrading Flights Operated by ANA or Lufthansa. You actually request the upgrade through the online form, here: Request a GPU for a Select Partner Airline.
Per United web support, you only need to fill in the required* info.
**The LH flight you are upgrading must be an LH flight, not a UA codeshare flight. If you have a UA codeshare flight, you can call websupport and they will (put you on hold and] change your itinerary to one with an LH flight#.
Note that UA websupport might give you a new ticket # when you do the above, but if the original ticket # was 016 UA stock, it will remain so, and thus you will still be earning RDMs at the UA rate (11x for a 1K), not the *A rate. In case of a $6000 biz fare for LAX-FRA that you are trying to upgrade to F for example, as a 1K you would earn 66,000 UA RDM if booked as a UA flight. And even though after booking you get them to change the UA flight # from a UA codeshare flight to an LH flight, the 016 ticket stock sticks, and you earn 66,000 RDMs.
(FYI, had the ticket stock been an LH stock, the RDM's earned would be 5790 miles x 150% = 8685 RDMs. Big difference)
Note that sometimes the online upgrading does not work, and you may get an error message to call an 877 number, which is now defunct but still resides on .bomb...Ignore it and just call web support. They might put you on hold while they call LH but they will get the job done.
Eligible Economy Fares to Apply a GPU
Upgradeable to business fares include U/H/Q the lowest eligible economy fares. G&E the two top premium economy fares and Y/B/M the most expensive economy fares. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24219165-post205.html)
LH booking class P, Z upgreadable for miles and eVouchers
Appears this also applies to use of UA GPUs IF booked as native flight number on LH or UA ticket stock.
Presently UA is not converting codeshare to native flight numbers, as required for this process, if P or Z fare From April to September 2018 it was possible to confirm and waitlist P ,Z-class LH flights with a GPU. Confirming and waitlisting is no now longer possible, but previously waitlisted segments will continue to clear as/if available.
Checking for Upgrade Availability
Upgrades to E, C and F come from the N, I and O fare bucket, but its a subset, which theoretically is not the same as the award subset. If awards are available it is a strong indication the upgrade is available too. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24861289-post342.html)
In case of upgrade clearing but eticket refresh problems:
Checking for availability prior to calling
Use ANA or even united.com to see availability.
To check if C/F upgrades may open up, ask in this thread: Determining LH Y/C/F loads? [the help me guesstimate loads thread]
Regarding ticket stock, Oliver reports:
Each LH flight segment requires a separate GPU
A single GPU can be used to only upgrade a single LH flight segment, And that GPU cannot be extended to include another LH flight segment or another UA flight segment.
Problems getting mileage credit for upgraded LH segments
Numerous reports of denial of mileage credits (RDMs, PQMs, PQSs, PQDs) for upgraded tickets. This issue is probably due to LH uses the same fare bucket for mileage awards and upgrades. It seems patience, persistence, and documentation of the originally paid fare are needed to get credit.
You probably won't get credit by simply submitting the online form or asking a CSR to do so for you. A CSR needs to submit a System Issue Form, together with the mileage request, explaining that you flew in I class, but you paid for a mileage-earning booking class.
T-10
While the original system did not allow the upgrade waitlist to carry on past t-10 hours, the have been multiple reports that this is no longer the case. If not cleared in advance - the upgrade wait-list will last all the way until the door closing. UA has not updated the text on the LH GPU upgrades to reflect this change.
Archive Thread: Lufthansa GPUs Go Electronic {Archive}
Related Thread
How to upgrade with UA miles on Star Alliance carriers
For general information on upgrading ANA or Lufthansa flights with a GPU, see Upgrading Flights Operated by ANA or Lufthansa. You actually request the upgrade through the online form, here: Request a GPU for a Select Partner Airline.
Per United web support, you only need to fill in the required* info.
**The LH flight you are upgrading must be an LH flight, not a UA codeshare flight. If you have a UA codeshare flight, you can call websupport and they will (put you on hold and] change your itinerary to one with an LH flight#.
Note that UA websupport might give you a new ticket # when you do the above, but if the original ticket # was 016 UA stock, it will remain so, and thus you will still be earning RDMs at the UA rate (11x for a 1K), not the *A rate. In case of a $6000 biz fare for LAX-FRA that you are trying to upgrade to F for example, as a 1K you would earn 66,000 UA RDM if booked as a UA flight. And even though after booking you get them to change the UA flight # from a UA codeshare flight to an LH flight, the 016 ticket stock sticks, and you earn 66,000 RDMs.
(FYI, had the ticket stock been an LH stock, the RDM's earned would be 5790 miles x 150% = 8685 RDMs. Big difference)
Note that sometimes the online upgrading does not work, and you may get an error message to call an 877 number, which is now defunct but still resides on .bomb...Ignore it and just call web support. They might put you on hold while they call LH but they will get the job done.
Eligible Economy Fares to Apply a GPU
Upgradeable to business fares include U/H/Q the lowest eligible economy fares. G&E the two top premium economy fares and Y/B/M the most expensive economy fares. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24219165-post205.html)
While UA has not changed their T&Cs, LH appears to have expanded the potential fare classes
For C->F upgrade, J, D, C fares are eligible, Z and P fares are not. ... Just check the tables here: https://www.miles-and-more.com/onlin...l=en&cid=18002
Appears this also applies to use of UA GPUs IF booked as native flight number on LH or UA ticket stock.
Presently UA is not converting codeshare to native flight numbers, as required for this process, if P or Z fare
Checking for Upgrade Availability
Upgrades to E, C and F come from the N, I and O fare bucket, but its a subset, which theoretically is not the same as the award subset. If awards are available it is a strong indication the upgrade is available too. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24861289-post342.html)
In case of upgrade clearing but eticket refresh problems:
Originally Posted by oliver2002
Both longhaul LH segments cleared into I after being on waitlist . The first didnt get stickered, so the DCS ( amadeus altea ) rejected online and agent checkin . The eticket helpdesk had to manually update the first coupon for the DCS to accept the coupon. My seat in C was safe, since the PNR was updated correctly, just the ticket was not updated completely to the satisfaction of the DCS. Everyone looking at the booking agreed the upgrade was legit, so you will not be denied boarding or downgraded, just budget enough time
Originally Posted by oliver2002
The LH GA must have called the eticket helpdesk and pointed out the * SSR remark in your reservation that shows an upgrade was applied and the e-ticket just needed a fix/sticker. See my experience above.
To check if C/F upgrades may open up, ask in this thread: Determining LH Y/C/F loads? [the help me guesstimate loads thread]
Regarding ticket stock, Oliver reports:
Each LH flight segment requires a separate GPU
A single GPU can be used to only upgrade a single LH flight segment, And that GPU cannot be extended to include another LH flight segment or another UA flight segment.
Problems getting mileage credit for upgraded LH segments
Numerous reports of denial of mileage credits (RDMs, PQMs, PQSs, PQDs) for upgraded tickets. This issue is probably due to LH uses the same fare bucket for mileage awards and upgrades. It seems patience, persistence, and documentation of the originally paid fare are needed to get credit.
You probably won't get credit by simply submitting the online form or asking a CSR to do so for you. A CSR needs to submit a System Issue Form, together with the mileage request, explaining that you flew in I class, but you paid for a mileage-earning booking class.
T-10
While the original system did not allow the upgrade waitlist to carry on past t-10 hours, the have been multiple reports that this is no longer the case. If not cleared in advance - the upgrade wait-list will last all the way until the door closing. UA has not updated the text on the LH GPU upgrades to reflect this change.
Archive Thread: Lufthansa GPUs Go Electronic {Archive}
Related Thread
How to upgrade with UA miles on Star Alliance carriers
Lufthansa GPUs Go Electronic {Archive}
#1396
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,455
Anyone booked an 016 Z fare but with a native LH flight number an successfully gotten the GPU to process?
Edit: I guess more importantly, has anyone gotten a 016 ticket on a Z fare, originally booked with a UA flight number, subsequently converted to an LH flight number, then upgraded?
Thanks!
Edit: I guess more importantly, has anyone gotten a 016 ticket on a Z fare, originally booked with a UA flight number, subsequently converted to an LH flight number, then upgraded?
Thanks!
Last edited by aCavalierInCoach; Jun 27, 2018 at 9:40 am
#1397
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
UA seems to be generally declining to make the flight number change -- could be because the UA posted rules still say not an eligible fare class or could be as some have speculated, the lack of open fare class on the native flight number (so might lead to a re-faring).
#1398
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Today. 016 ticket. P-fare. No issues using the online system --> O. Loving it! On the return the Z fare was THE SAME PRICE as the A fare so that was an easy one
#1399
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Posts: 66,854
#1400
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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#1401
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SRQ
Programs: UA Plat-Million Miler (1.6MM), IHG-Plat Amb; Amex Plat-P, Marriott-Gold;Hertz Gold; Hilton-Gold
Posts: 762
2 SAME DAY F Upgrades from P Class on 016 Ticket
I purchased a "P" Class "016" ticket at UA.com for a June 14 BAH-FRA connecting to FRA-ORD itinerary, both on LH Metal and Flight Numbers in February. I learned about the new UA GPU Policy Change and went on line and secured a "Waitlisted" Upgrade to for both LH Flights. It was still on "waitlist" at T - 5 hours. When I arrived at BAH Airport the Gate Agent handed me 2 "F" Boarding Passes. Best use of a GPU I ever experienced...P to F was a dream come true. Too bad we can't use UA's GPUs to upgrade UA P class to last remaining days of UA F Class.
#1402
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,048
I purchased a "P" Class "016" ticket at UA.com for a June 14 BAH-FRA connecting to FRA-ORD itinerary, both on LH Metal and Flight Numbers in February. I learned about the new UA GPU Policy Change and went on line and secured a "Waitlisted" Upgrade to for both LH Flights. It was still on "waitlist" at T - 5 hours. When I arrived at BAH Airport the Gate Agent handed me 2 "F" Boarding Passes. Best use of a GPU I ever experienced...P to F was a dream come true. Too bad we can't use UA's GPUs to upgrade UA P class to last remaining days of UA F Class.
#1403
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
Hey, United: This is an example of a change people actually will like.
* 016 stock, LH code at booking; booked on United.com for PQD purposes, on a route where UA wouldn't codeshare.
#1404
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 239
I'm booked in Y on an LH flight in a week, GPU applied (wait list) ~ 1 week ago. Now the flight has biz saver award availability (per UA.com) and expertflyer shows biz upgrade/award availability as well. Spoke with an LH agent and was told the upgrade is still waitlisted and no ug space is available. Just for kicks I tried putting in a star alliance mileage upgrade request via UA.com - no dice ("reservation already upgraded...").
How strong an indicator of upgrade availability is saver award availability? Is there a different bucket for GPU upgrades vs. star alliance mileage upgrade?
Anyone ever tried pulling the GPU and re-applying as a mileage upgrade?
How strong an indicator of upgrade availability is saver award availability? Is there a different bucket for GPU upgrades vs. star alliance mileage upgrade?
Anyone ever tried pulling the GPU and re-applying as a mileage upgrade?
#1405
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,171
Yes, the alternative here is to call UA, have the upgrade waitlisting reversed and try again.
#1407
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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#1408
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
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Posts: 3,455
Does the LH system issue a notification when an upgrade clears or do you need to recheck frequently to find out?
#1409
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,041
I’ve never received a notification when an upgrade has cleared.
#1410
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 239
Brief update - 12 hours after posting this I received a notification from UA that the upgrade had cleared, called LH and selected a seat!
Now for the return....
Now for the return....