Jan 9, 2016, 5:58 pm
Last edit by: Zorak
This thread is for general RPU usage questions. ---- Previous Thread was Specific GPU and RPU usage questions thread
Questions like "will my upgrade clear" are better placed in
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight [2016]
How often do your RPUs clear?
General comments on utility / value are better placed in
My new United Regional Premier Upgrade (RPU) strategy
Regional Premier® Upgrades (RPUs) are one-way, one-cabin, space available confirmable upgrades as early as the time of ticketing on eligible UA/UX and Copa Airlines-operated flights. They can be used on any fare and any flight that is also CPU eligible and on PS flights. This includes some Oceania and some COPA South America flights. They are generally not usable on flights outside of North America -- see upgrade region chart for details.
PS and non-west coast Hawaii flights are considered one of the better uses of RPUs since those flights are not CPU eligible and since elites are subject to copays on mileage upgrades.
RPUs are earned by elites -- (Re-)qualifying for Premier Platinum earns 2 RPU for the rest of the year, all of the next year and then thru 31 January of the following year. Re-)qualifying for Premier 1K earns 2 more RPUs and you can then earn 2 more RPUs for each additional 25K PQMs.
Unlike GPUs, UA does not offer an extension of unused and about to expire RPUs.
2MM, assuming they did not otherwise qualify for Platinum in the prior year, will have 2 RPUs deposited into their account around mid-January. 3MM+, assuming they did not otherwise qualify for 1K in the prior year, will have 2 RPUs and 6 GPUs deposited into their account around mid-January.
RPUs can be used for other individuals / friends / family but the upgrade priority is based on the status of the flyer, not the earning elite.
RPUs require PZ space (formerly R) to clear (except for GS RPUs which clear into PN space). For a given flight, RPU /GPU or Mileage+Copay have the same waitlist priority -- what does matter is passenger Status then Fare Class and then the time of the request. For more on waitlisting, see Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
A Regional Premier Upgrade will be considered used if any segment of an itinerary is upgraded and flown - no exception. Miles and GPUs have an exception if the waitlisted International BF/GF (now called Polaris business / first) does not clear, the miles/GPU will be returned -- this does not apply to RPUs. Recent changes in the rules make it clear there is no exception for PS routes.
Note on most RPU routes, a "connection" needs to be under 4 hours (longer only if it is the next scheduled flight) or a single RPU will not apply. This standard stopover definition for North American flights.
A single RPU (or GPU or Miles+copay) can not be applied to flights on different PNRs (or for different carriers even on the same PNR).
Questions like "will my upgrade clear" are better placed in
[Consolidated] Chance of upgrade clearing on my flight [2016]
How often do your RPUs clear?
General comments on utility / value are better placed in
My new United Regional Premier Upgrade (RPU) strategy
Regional Premier® Upgrades (RPUs) are one-way, one-cabin, space available confirmable upgrades as early as the time of ticketing on eligible UA/UX and Copa Airlines-operated flights. They can be used on any fare and any flight that is also CPU eligible and on PS flights. This includes some Oceania and some COPA South America flights. They are generally not usable on flights outside of North America -- see upgrade region chart for details.
PS and non-west coast Hawaii flights are considered one of the better uses of RPUs since those flights are not CPU eligible and since elites are subject to copays on mileage upgrades.
RPUs are earned by elites -- (Re-)qualifying for Premier Platinum earns 2 RPU for the rest of the year, all of the next year and then thru 31 January of the following year. Re-)qualifying for Premier 1K earns 2 more RPUs and you can then earn 2 more RPUs for each additional 25K PQMs.
Unlike GPUs, UA does not offer an extension of unused and about to expire RPUs.
2MM, assuming they did not otherwise qualify for Platinum in the prior year, will have 2 RPUs deposited into their account around mid-January. 3MM+, assuming they did not otherwise qualify for 1K in the prior year, will have 2 RPUs and 6 GPUs deposited into their account around mid-January.
RPUs can be used for other individuals / friends / family but the upgrade priority is based on the status of the flyer, not the earning elite.
RPUs require PZ space (formerly R) to clear (except for GS RPUs which clear into PN space). For a given flight, RPU /GPU or Mileage+Copay have the same waitlist priority -- what does matter is passenger Status then Fare Class and then the time of the request. For more on waitlisting, see Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
A Regional Premier Upgrade will be considered used if any segment of an itinerary is upgraded and flown - no exception. Miles and GPUs have an exception if the waitlisted International BF/GF (now called Polaris business / first) does not clear, the miles/GPU will be returned -- this does not apply to RPUs. Recent changes in the rules make it clear there is no exception for PS routes.
Note on most RPU routes, a "connection" needs to be under 4 hours (longer only if it is the next scheduled flight) or a single RPU will not apply. This standard stopover definition for North American flights.
A single RPU (or GPU or Miles+copay) can not be applied to flights on different PNRs (or for different carriers even on the same PNR).
General RPU earning & usage questions [Consolidated 2016 onward]
May 11, 2017, 11:39 am
#346
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
If you remove the RPU from the reservation, it will un-confirm the IAH-PHX segment (and put you back into coach), the RPU will be returned, and you will be eligible for CPU on both segments.
I can't think of any reason to remove it only from the DCA-IAH segment, though. The RPU will still be considered used (for IAH-PHX), so it wouldn't be redeposited, and you would have moved yourself down the upgrade list -- behind any gold / silver / no-status members using miles or a gifted certificate, and behind 1K members hoping for a CPU.
I can't think of any reason to remove it only from the DCA-IAH segment, though. The RPU will still be considered used (for IAH-PHX), so it wouldn't be redeposited, and you would have moved yourself down the upgrade list -- behind any gold / silver / no-status members using miles or a gifted certificate, and behind 1K members hoping for a CPU.
May 11, 2017, 11:48 am
#347
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
May 15, 2017, 10:50 am
#348
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: PHL
Programs: United 1K, American Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 430
Un-apply RPUs: success story
I recently travelled with one other family member to do HNL-LAX-XXX. We really wanted the HNL-LAX segment upgrade: LAX-XXX was an easy upgrade that was virtually guaranteed with CPUs.
First I made the mistake of applying RPUs to the entire itinerary. No, no, no. Because the LAX-XXX immediately cleared and that would waste the RPUs. I called Premier desk and working with the MileagePlus desk, they un-applied the RPUs and re-applied it only for the HNL-LAX. I got CPUs on the LAX-XXX as expected, still waitlisted on the HNL-LAX T-25. So far so good.
At check in, the PNR split. Upon further investigation, both LAX-XXX segments said it was cleared due to RPUs. What??? No, it gave CPUs as the reason at T-25! I called Premier desk again and they worked on this, ensuring that only the HNL-LAX segment was covered by RPUs.
At the gate, we got into a situation that my family member would have been upgraded, but not me. We wanted to sit together. STOP THE PRESSES! I implored the gate agent to absolutely not upgrade my family member. They complied and we sat in E+ together.
Fast forward a couple of days, my account still did not have my RPUs redeposited since HNL-LAX was not upgraded. One call to the MileagePlus desk sorted this out and I got my two RPUs redeposited to use for another time. Yay!
First I made the mistake of applying RPUs to the entire itinerary. No, no, no. Because the LAX-XXX immediately cleared and that would waste the RPUs. I called Premier desk and working with the MileagePlus desk, they un-applied the RPUs and re-applied it only for the HNL-LAX. I got CPUs on the LAX-XXX as expected, still waitlisted on the HNL-LAX T-25. So far so good.
At check in, the PNR split. Upon further investigation, both LAX-XXX segments said it was cleared due to RPUs. What??? No, it gave CPUs as the reason at T-25! I called Premier desk again and they worked on this, ensuring that only the HNL-LAX segment was covered by RPUs.
At the gate, we got into a situation that my family member would have been upgraded, but not me. We wanted to sit together. STOP THE PRESSES! I implored the gate agent to absolutely not upgrade my family member. They complied and we sat in E+ together.
Fast forward a couple of days, my account still did not have my RPUs redeposited since HNL-LAX was not upgraded. One call to the MileagePlus desk sorted this out and I got my two RPUs redeposited to use for another time. Yay!
Last edited by Ruhr; May 15, 2017 at 11:57 am Reason: Plural clarification
May 15, 2017, 11:11 am
#349
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,026
I recently travelled with one other family member to do HNL-LAX-XXX. We really wanted the HNL-LAX segment upgrade: LAX-XXX was an easy upgrade that was virtually guaranteed with CPU.
First I made the mistake of applying an RPU to the entire itinerary. No, no, no. Because the LAX-XXX immediately cleared and that would waste the RPU. I called Premier desk and working with the MileagePlus desk, they un-applied the RPU and re-applied it only for the HNL-LAX. I got CPU on the LAX-XXX as expected, still waitlisted on the HNL-LAX T-25. So far so good.
At check in, the PNR split. Upon further investigation, both LAX-XXX segments said it was cleared due to RPU. What??? No, it gave CPU as the reason at T-25! I called Premier desk again and they worked on this, ensuring that only the HNL-LAX segment was covered by RPU.
At the gate, we got into a situation that my family member would have been upgraded, but not me. We wanted to sit together. STOP THE PRESSES! I implored the gate agent to absolutely not upgrade my family member. They complied and we sat in E+ together.
Fast forward a couple of days, my account still did not have my RPUs redeposited since HNL-LAX was not upgraded. One call to the MileagePlus desk sorted this out and I got my two RPUs redeposited to use for another time. Yay!
First I made the mistake of applying an RPU to the entire itinerary. No, no, no. Because the LAX-XXX immediately cleared and that would waste the RPU. I called Premier desk and working with the MileagePlus desk, they un-applied the RPU and re-applied it only for the HNL-LAX. I got CPU on the LAX-XXX as expected, still waitlisted on the HNL-LAX T-25. So far so good.
At check in, the PNR split. Upon further investigation, both LAX-XXX segments said it was cleared due to RPU. What??? No, it gave CPU as the reason at T-25! I called Premier desk again and they worked on this, ensuring that only the HNL-LAX segment was covered by RPU.
At the gate, we got into a situation that my family member would have been upgraded, but not me. We wanted to sit together. STOP THE PRESSES! I implored the gate agent to absolutely not upgrade my family member. They complied and we sat in E+ together.
Fast forward a couple of days, my account still did not have my RPUs redeposited since HNL-LAX was not upgraded. One call to the MileagePlus desk sorted this out and I got my two RPUs redeposited to use for another time. Yay!
May 15, 2017, 11:54 am
#350
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: PHL
Programs: United 1K, American Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 430
Yeah these are plural. Sorry. Whenever I used RPUs, it was for me and my family travelling companion (I only had two in my account being a Platinum, anyway). Whenever we got upgraded due to comps, it was for both of us (CPUs) since my family member was my +1 and she cleared with me.
May 15, 2017, 2:07 pm
#351
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
I recently travelled with one other family member to do HNL-LAX-XXX. We really wanted the HNL-LAX segment upgrade: LAX-XXX was an easy upgrade that was virtually guaranteed with CPUs.
First I made the mistake of applying RPUs to the entire itinerary. No, no, no. Because the LAX-XXX immediately cleared and that would waste the RPUs. I called Premier desk and working with the MileagePlus desk, they un-applied the RPUs and re-applied it only for the HNL-LAX. I got CPUs on the LAX-XXX as expected, still waitlisted on the HNL-LAX T-25. So far so good.
At check in, the PNR split. Upon further investigation, both LAX-XXX segments said it was cleared due to RPUs. What??? No, it gave CPUs as the reason at T-25! I called Premier desk again and they worked on this, ensuring that only the HNL-LAX segment was covered by RPUs.
At the gate, we got into a situation that my family member would have been upgraded, but not me. We wanted to sit together. STOP THE PRESSES! I implored the gate agent to absolutely not upgrade my family member. They complied and we sat in E+ together.
Fast forward a couple of days, my account still did not have my RPUs redeposited since HNL-LAX was not upgraded. One call to the MileagePlus desk sorted this out and I got my two RPUs redeposited to use for another time. Yay!
First I made the mistake of applying RPUs to the entire itinerary. No, no, no. Because the LAX-XXX immediately cleared and that would waste the RPUs. I called Premier desk and working with the MileagePlus desk, they un-applied the RPUs and re-applied it only for the HNL-LAX. I got CPUs on the LAX-XXX as expected, still waitlisted on the HNL-LAX T-25. So far so good.
At check in, the PNR split. Upon further investigation, both LAX-XXX segments said it was cleared due to RPUs. What??? No, it gave CPUs as the reason at T-25! I called Premier desk again and they worked on this, ensuring that only the HNL-LAX segment was covered by RPUs.
At the gate, we got into a situation that my family member would have been upgraded, but not me. We wanted to sit together. STOP THE PRESSES! I implored the gate agent to absolutely not upgrade my family member. They complied and we sat in E+ together.
Fast forward a couple of days, my account still did not have my RPUs redeposited since HNL-LAX was not upgraded. One call to the MileagePlus desk sorted this out and I got my two RPUs redeposited to use for another time. Yay!
May 15, 2017, 2:11 pm
#352
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,470
Your experience sounds like an anomaly; it is only GPU upgrades that are supposed to have short/long (or more specifically: domestic 'First' vs. international 'Business' / 'Polaris') redeposit logic.
May 15, 2017, 4:44 pm
#353
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
If you have an itinerary going AAA-BBB-CCC, you can request that only, e.g., BBB-CCC be waitlisted with RPU. In that case, if AAA-BBB, no matter the length, is upgraded by CPU you are supposed to get the RPU back.
Your experience sounds like an anomaly; it is only GPU upgrades that are supposed to have short/long (or more specifically: domestic 'First' vs. international 'Business' / 'Polaris') redeposit logic.
Your experience sounds like an anomaly; it is only GPU upgrades that are supposed to have short/long (or more specifically: domestic 'First' vs. international 'Business' / 'Polaris') redeposit logic.
(Given UA's IT it wouldn't be surprising if this fails a lot, but the evidence suggests that this is intentional.)
May 15, 2017, 5:00 pm
#354
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,470
At least one poster has described being told that this is policy by a UA agent (over the phone). I've seen this work for me, and I've seen it happen for one other UA traveller. I'm pretty sure it ain't an anomaly. (All journeys were purely domestic non-PS journeys.)
(Given UA's IT it wouldn't be surprising if this fails a lot, but the evidence suggests that this is intentional.)
(Given UA's IT it wouldn't be surprising if this fails a lot, but the evidence suggests that this is intentional.)
But given UA's IT, I also wouldn't be surprised if agents are unwittingly offering treatment not in line with stated policies.
May 15, 2017, 6:28 pm
#355
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: PHL
Programs: United 1K, American Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 430
If you have an itinerary going AAA-BBB-CCC, you can request that only, e.g., BBB-CCC be waitlisted with RPU. In that case, if AAA-BBB, no matter the length, is upgraded by CPU you are supposed to get the RPU back.
Your experience sounds like an anomaly; it is only GPU upgrades that are supposed to have short/long (or more specifically: domestic 'First' vs. international 'Business' / 'Polaris') redeposit logic.
Your experience sounds like an anomaly; it is only GPU upgrades that are supposed to have short/long (or more specifically: domestic 'First' vs. international 'Business' / 'Polaris') redeposit logic.
The point though, is that I called back and had them apply RPUs to ONLY the long HNL-LAX segment. Everything was looking fine up until T-24: meaning the HNL-LAX segment said that upgrades were requested by RPUs, and the LAX-XXX were upgraded by CPUs.
Everything hit the fan when I checked in using the app. My companion split off into her own PNR. Then when I checked our previously CPU-upgraded flights, it said it was upgraded by RPUs!
I don't trust United IT: that's why I made sure to call back and get them to re-apply the RPUs ONLY to HNL-LAX. They confirmed as such, and we were put back into E+. A few hours later, we got upgraded by CPUs again and this time, the info box was a lot more generic (it just said our upgrades to First were confirmed--did not cite method).
May 15, 2017, 6:48 pm
#356
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 4
RPU grouping of 3
Hello, just made a booking from Sfo-Bos for my wife and kids and applied 3 rpu's. And of course we are waitlisted. Is having a reservation with 3 folks going to hamper my chances or should I split the reservation into 3 separate reservations.
My question is if 2 seats in R are released and if I am first on the list (and need 3 seats) will I get "passed over" for someone who only needs 2 or 1 seat?
Thank you for your advice
My question is if 2 seats in R are released and if I am first on the list (and need 3 seats) will I get "passed over" for someone who only needs 2 or 1 seat?
Thank you for your advice
May 15, 2017, 6:55 pm
#357
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,424
Yes, you will be jumped over in that case. If you want to maximize the chances of clearing the upgrade you want to split the reservation, but you will have to deal with the possibility of flying in different cabins if you don't all clear.
May 16, 2017, 4:26 pm
#358
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: 3,621
May 23, 2017, 8:00 pm
#359
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: CLE
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 5,538
Split RPU PDX-EWR-JAX
I would like to use an RPU for PDX-EWR-JAX. The first leg is a red-eye. Currently PDX-EWR is a wait list and EWR-JAX is available. My understanding is that I need to call in so that I am on the wait list for PDX-EWR. If I do manage to clear PDX-EWR, can I call in and have the EWR-JAX added using the same RPU?
May 23, 2017, 9:35 pm
#360
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Yes