Why Are GPU Required for GUM-HNL Flights? {now 20 PlusPoints}
Dec 4, 2018, 2:55 pm
#106
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
In the past when applying a RPU for my SFO/HNL/GUM/MNL, on a 'K' fare, I was able to apply ONE RPU to upgrade the 1st & 3rd segments. I was not able to apply online, like I did in the past,
so I called the 1K line for help and an agent and a supervisor told me it's not possible unless I use TWO RPU's! Is this a recent change?
so I called the 1K line for help and an agent and a supervisor told me it's not possible unless I use TWO RPU's! Is this a recent change?
Dec 4, 2018, 3:20 pm
#107
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: 3,618
I didn't know this to be anything else but a GPU. I have done the HNL -NRT route several times over the years and it has always required a GPU/miles (never cleared fwiw).
Aug 4, 2019, 4:46 am
#108
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: UA: 1K, AA: Gold, Hilton: Diamond, Marriott: Plat Premier, Hertz: Pres Circle
Posts: 122
Emailed United about the discrepancy with this route
I finally decided to reach out to UA’s 1K desk about this route. I know it’s united’s prerogative to do whatever they want with their rewards program, but it’s awfully self-serving on this route. I’m flying it in two weeks and I find it absurd you need a GPU and W fare class to upgrade this. The difference between my K and the W just on the one way back to the US from Manila was more than $600.
My argument to them was its it’s either an international flight and baggage and meals should be included (they still make you buy on board food for a 7 hour flight) or it’s a domestic flight and you should be able to RPU without fare class requirement. It’s the same equipment that runs from Chicago, Denver, and Houston to Honolulu - all equal or longer flights.
I doubt they’ll do anything, but it’s gonna be jammed pack in economy and a miserable flight with 10 across in high density economy. Every seat gets filled with Non-Revs. If the timing didn’t work out so well to be able to take a red eye from Manila and wake up two mornings later in San Francisco and just be six hours later than you left - I’d have gone through Taipei or Narita.
Will share the response I get.
Happy travels.
My argument to them was its it’s either an international flight and baggage and meals should be included (they still make you buy on board food for a 7 hour flight) or it’s a domestic flight and you should be able to RPU without fare class requirement. It’s the same equipment that runs from Chicago, Denver, and Houston to Honolulu - all equal or longer flights.
I doubt they’ll do anything, but it’s gonna be jammed pack in economy and a miserable flight with 10 across in high density economy. Every seat gets filled with Non-Revs. If the timing didn’t work out so well to be able to take a red eye from Manila and wake up two mornings later in San Francisco and just be six hours later than you left - I’d have gone through Taipei or Narita.
Will share the response I get.
Happy travels.
Aug 4, 2019, 4:52 am
#109
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
I finally decided to reach out to UA’s 1K desk about this route. I know it’s united’s prerogative to do whatever they want with their rewards program, but it’s awfully self-serving on this route. I’m flying it in two weeks and I find it absurd you need a GPU and W fare class to upgrade this. The difference between my K and the W just on the one way back to the US from Manila was more than $600.
My argument to them was its it’s either an international flight and baggage and meals should be included (they still make you buy on board food for a 7 hour flight) or it’s a domestic flight and you should be able to RPU without fare class requirement. It’s the same equipment that runs from Chicago, Denver, and Houston to Honolulu - all equal or longer flights.
I doubt they’ll do anything, but it’s gonna be jammed pack in economy and a miserable flight with 10 across in high density economy. Every seat gets filled with Non-Revs. If the timing didn’t work out so well to be able to take a red eye from Manila and wake up two mornings later in San Francisco and just be six hours later than you left - I’d have gone through Taipei or Narita.
Will share the response I get.
Happy travels.
My argument to them was its it’s either an international flight and baggage and meals should be included (they still make you buy on board food for a 7 hour flight) or it’s a domestic flight and you should be able to RPU without fare class requirement. It’s the same equipment that runs from Chicago, Denver, and Houston to Honolulu - all equal or longer flights.
I doubt they’ll do anything, but it’s gonna be jammed pack in economy and a miserable flight with 10 across in high density economy. Every seat gets filled with Non-Revs. If the timing didn’t work out so well to be able to take a red eye from Manila and wake up two mornings later in San Francisco and just be six hours later than you left - I’d have gone through Taipei or Narita.
Will share the response I get.
Happy travels.
Aug 4, 2019, 10:17 am
#110
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: 66,850
....
My argument to them was its it’s either an international flight and baggage and meals should be included (they still make you buy on board food for a 7 hour flight) or it’s a domestic flight and you should be able to RPU without fare class requirement. It’s the same equipment that runs from Chicago, Denver, and Houston to Honolulu - all equal or longer flights.....
My argument to them was its it’s either an international flight and baggage and meals should be included (they still make you buy on board food for a 7 hour flight) or it’s a domestic flight and you should be able to RPU without fare class requirement. It’s the same equipment that runs from Chicago, Denver, and Houston to Honolulu - all equal or longer flights.....
UA has a rules for Domestic (all 50 states), Canada, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean (effectively North America) -- PLUS for the shorter Oceania flights. With the RPU required on routes that are guaranteed lie-flats.
Then for all other International have international rules. But not all of those are Polaris flights (including GUM, Northern South America)
Yes, UA employees have certain travel preqs (as do many other business have preqs for their employees) but it pretty clear UA management is willing (and has) to make business decisions that will negatively impact those preqs. I see nothing suggesting employee preqs have anything to do with this route decision -- it is a business decision. UA has shown a willingness to diminished those preqs but perhaps you would like more of the preqs removed (that's your right).
Aug 4, 2019, 10:24 am
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
My argument to them was its it’s either an international flight and baggage and meals should be included (they still make you buy on board food for a 7 hour flight) or it’s a domestic flight and you should be able to RPU without fare class requirement. It’s the same equipment that runs from Chicago, Denver, and Houston to Honolulu - all equal or longer flights.
Aug 4, 2019, 12:41 pm
#112
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Aug 4, 2019, 1:17 pm
#113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
Aug 4, 2019, 1:30 pm
#114
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: GUM
Programs: OWE, *Gold, STE+, Globalist, Titanium, Spire, Diamond
Posts: 551
For those who don't originate in a UA hub, say BOS, would you apply the RPU from BOS-EWR-HNL? I understand that RPU will apply even if only the short leg is upgraded, or do you prefer only applying the RPU to EWR-HNL and then just hope for a CPU on BOS-EWR?
Aug 4, 2019, 1:35 pm
#115
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
If waitlisting call to request only EWR-HNL, and then if it clears call again to add BOS-EWR. For short routes the RPU doesn't usually make the difference between clearing and not anyway.
Aug 4, 2019, 1:52 pm
#116
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Yes, UA employees have certain travel preqs (as do many other business have preqs for their employees) but it pretty clear UA management is willing (and has) to make business decisions that will negatively impact those preqs. I see nothing suggesting employee preqs have anything to do with this route decision -- it is a business decision. UA has shown a willingness to diminished those preqs but perhaps you would like more of the preqs removed (that's your right).
Aug 4, 2019, 3:23 pm
#117
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: 66,850
My point was not that non-revs made use of this flight (in any system, folks find the case of maximum advantage for them -- aka FT), but rather it a bit far fetched to state the reason this flight requires a GPU is to provide protection for the non-revs. This flight requires a GPU because it is consistent with UA's practice on other flights and not this worn-out FT cliche. UA has shown no hesitancy to make flights harder for non-revs if UA felt that was an overriding business case
Aug 4, 2019, 10:11 pm
#118
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: UA: 1K, AA: Gold, Hilton: Diamond, Marriott: Plat Premier, Hertz: Pres Circle
Posts: 122
Note this not just a HNL-GUM situation, it is also true for Northern South America.
UA has a rules for Domestic (all 50 states), Canada, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean (effectively North America) -- PLUS for the shorter Oceania flights. With the RPU required on routes that are guaranteed lie-flats.
Then for all other International have international rules. But not all of those are Polaris flights (including GUM, Northern South America)
Sorry this gets a bit tiring to hear. If this was true would there be CPU or elimination of 3 class flights or many other recent changes. This is clearly not a significant factor in UA decision making.
Yes, UA employees have certain travel preqs (as do many other business have preqs for their employees) but it pretty clear UA management is willing (and has) to make business decisions that will negatively impact those preqs. I see nothing suggesting employee preqs have anything to do with this route decision -- it is a business decision. UA has shown a willingness to diminished those preqs but perhaps you would like more of the preqs removed (that's your right).
UA has a rules for Domestic (all 50 states), Canada, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean (effectively North America) -- PLUS for the shorter Oceania flights. With the RPU required on routes that are guaranteed lie-flats.
Then for all other International have international rules. But not all of those are Polaris flights (including GUM, Northern South America)
Sorry this gets a bit tiring to hear. If this was true would there be CPU or elimination of 3 class flights or many other recent changes. This is clearly not a significant factor in UA decision making.
Yes, UA employees have certain travel preqs (as do many other business have preqs for their employees) but it pretty clear UA management is willing (and has) to make business decisions that will negatively impact those preqs. I see nothing suggesting employee preqs have anything to do with this route decision -- it is a business decision. UA has shown a willingness to diminished those preqs but perhaps you would like more of the preqs removed (that's your right).
I'd actually be okay with that too. The RPUs are basically worthless to me living abroad. I give them away and hope they work for my family (and they often don't). I had a friend who didn't even clear on IAD-AUS last month with an RPU.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 4, 2019 at 10:56 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Aug 5, 2019, 12:37 am
#119
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
Anyway, PZ is often readily available on that flight, so it's $600 for a guaranteed upgrade, which isn't a bad offer in my book. And, if you want to save the GPU, you can use miles + copay and the $600 comes back if it doesn't clear.
Aug 5, 2019, 7:14 am
#120
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: OnePass - Platinum, MileagePlus - 1K (Linked)
Posts: 236
That's how it is for GUM.
My argument to them was its it’s either an international flight and baggage and meals should be included (they still make you buy on board food for a 7 hour flight) or it’s a domestic flight and you should be able to RPU without fare class requirement. It’s the same equipment that runs from Chicago, Denver, and Houston to Honolulu - all equal or longer flights.
This is the life of a passenger from GUM. We're international when it serves UA and domestic when it serves UA. I joked with the flight attendant that it must be domestic because we have to buy food, but it's also international because the duty free cart was coming right after. She was not amused.
I recently had a typical airplane meal (butter chicken) for free in economy on a 757 from the east coast to LAX, but I can't get one between HNL and GUM.
Business on this route is far from Polaris anything. I rarely try to use GPUs on this route unless I can get it to apply to other segments on the itinerary as well. I would much rather use a GPU on a flight from Narita to the mainland.