Feb 12, 2019, 1:21 am
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}
Jan 17, 2019, 3:35 pm
#1741
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: MP 1K, NH Diamond, EK Gold, IHG SA, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 26
OK... maybe I'm not saying the correct thing to the 1K line.
I just purchased a round trip ticket from DEN > MUC. Fare class is "A" both ways. This is ticketed as a United codeshare, booked via united.com I am trying to use a GPU. Since this was a codeshare, I have called the 1K line to request that they switch to an LH flight number so that I can apply for the GPU upgrade.
I was told that "I'm already in Business", but this is not the case when I double check on LH.com with their confirmation number. I hung up and called again, and was told the same thing by the next agent. I'd love to believe that I've been 'op-uped' - but it seems unlikely with the reservation not until 2 weeks from now.
Am I requesting the wrong thing here?
I just purchased a round trip ticket from DEN > MUC. Fare class is "A" both ways. This is ticketed as a United codeshare, booked via united.com I am trying to use a GPU. Since this was a codeshare, I have called the 1K line to request that they switch to an LH flight number so that I can apply for the GPU upgrade.
I was told that "I'm already in Business", but this is not the case when I double check on LH.com with their confirmation number. I hung up and called again, and was told the same thing by the next agent. I'd love to believe that I've been 'op-uped' - but it seems unlikely with the reservation not until 2 weeks from now.
Am I requesting the wrong thing here?
I had same feedback from the agent when I asked to switched to a LH flight so that I can apply the GPU for an upgrade to First. I got the same feedback that I am already in Business. Why do you need an upgrade for?
Jan 17, 2019, 3:38 pm
#1742
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
Jan 17, 2019, 3:53 pm
#1743
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,416
OK... maybe I'm not saying the correct thing to the 1K line.
I just purchased a round trip ticket from DEN > MUC. Fare class is "A" both ways. This is ticketed as a United codeshare, booked via united.com I am trying to use a GPU. Since this was a codeshare, I have called the 1K line to request that they switch to an LH flight number so that I can apply for the GPU upgrade.
I was told that "I'm already in Business", but this is not the case when I double check on LH.com with their confirmation number. I hung up and called again, and was told the same thing by the next agent. I'd love to believe that I've been 'op-uped' - but it seems unlikely with the reservation not until 2 weeks from now.
Am I requesting the wrong thing here?
I just purchased a round trip ticket from DEN > MUC. Fare class is "A" both ways. This is ticketed as a United codeshare, booked via united.com I am trying to use a GPU. Since this was a codeshare, I have called the 1K line to request that they switch to an LH flight number so that I can apply for the GPU upgrade.
I was told that "I'm already in Business", but this is not the case when I double check on LH.com with their confirmation number. I hung up and called again, and was told the same thing by the next agent. I'd love to believe that I've been 'op-uped' - but it seems unlikely with the reservation not until 2 weeks from now.
Am I requesting the wrong thing here?
Jan 18, 2019, 2:19 am
#1744
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,182
Oh dear, you are ...
United in their wisdom somehow didn't align their booking classes with LH for the premium economy. So while LH uses G/E/N for PE, United uses O/A/R. Which per se whouldn't be a problem, but LH uses O for F awards and R for PE awards. And A is discounted First.
United in their wisdom somehow didn't align their booking classes with LH for the premium economy. So while LH uses G/E/N for PE, United uses O/A/R. Which per se whouldn't be a problem, but LH uses O for F awards and R for PE awards. And A is discounted First.
Jan 18, 2019, 7:18 am
#1745
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
To be fair, it would have been an absolute disaster if UA had tried to use 'N', as that's currently used for domestic Basic Economy. The chances of their IT getting a transition like that done correctly, where existing N tickets were remapped into some other code and N became PE, were near zero.
Jan 18, 2019, 9:04 am
#1746
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K; BR Gold
Posts: 85
I called back for a third time. This agent understood that there were changes in the fare codes, but told me that an "A" wasn't eligible for GPU and that it would cost me $1200 to upfare into an upgradable class.
Jan 18, 2019, 9:09 am
#1747
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
It's not 100% impossible -- there's no rule that states that things have to be done this way -- but, generally, the fares should line up such that O -> G, A -> E, and R -> N. LH G and E can be upgraded whereas N cannot.
Jan 18, 2019, 1:59 pm
#1748
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,416
What is your date? Just want to check there is E space on the native flight.
Jan 18, 2019, 2:58 pm
#1749
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K; BR Gold
Posts: 85
I just checked on Lufthansa and it is showing "E" as availlable for both the outbound and return.
So if United "A" should be convertible to LH "E" - I don't understand why they're saying I need to upfare $1200.
The price on LH.com and on UA.com are identical to what I paid. Unfortunately, I'm outside my 24 hour window to cancel and rebook directly.
They sure don't make the GPU game easy!
So if United "A" should be convertible to LH "E" - I don't understand why they're saying I need to upfare $1200.
The price on LH.com and on UA.com are identical to what I paid. Unfortunately, I'm outside my 24 hour window to cancel and rebook directly.
They sure don't make the GPU game easy!
Jan 19, 2019, 10:42 am
#1750
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,416
Yeah, in that case this ought to be simple. I think continuing to HUCA is probably your only choice here.
Jan 30, 2019, 12:09 am
#1751
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,855
Lufthansa GPUs Go Electronic {Archive}
This is the archive thread, the active thread is Lufthansa GPUs Go Electronic (How to use, will it clear?, issues w/flight credit,...)
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 12, 2019 at 1:41 am
Jan 30, 2019, 1:09 pm
#1752
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NBO/ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 188
Just spoke to 1K web support—getting a persisting error on the upgrade page. LH ticket, two LH segments with LH flight numbers, both with upgrade space available, neither would confirm the upgrade without an error. Apparently there is currently a technical problem and the UA IT team is aware and working on a fix. Really hope that space is still there when it does get fixed.....
Jan 31, 2019, 2:11 pm
#1753
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NBO/ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 188
Working now.
Feb 2, 2019, 8:23 pm
#1754
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
Is the P/Z thing completely gone?
I used it last summer/fall quite a few times, but I bought native LH tickets on LH.com. Did United IT fix that "Glitch" as well?
I used it last summer/fall quite a few times, but I bought native LH tickets on LH.com. Did United IT fix that "Glitch" as well?
Feb 2, 2019, 9:14 pm
#1755
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,416
Yes. Successful waitlist attempts made during the window where it was possible will still clear in the future, but new waitlists for O on P/Z fare are no longer possible.