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]
Nov 8, 2017, 5:01 pm
#481
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: 66,821
Checking in does not take you off the pre-gate list but delaying checkin may slight hurt your gate list position. (all it takes is to slip one position).
Nov 8, 2017, 5:09 pm
#482
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: CLE
Programs: UA MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Posts: 1,352
Thanks, Kacee and WineCountryUA.
Nov 8, 2017, 6:20 pm
#483
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K 0.7MM (trying to get to 1MM!)
Posts: 1,272
Why is that? I mean, why delay with multi-pax PNR? Is that always the case, or only when trying to RPU multiple passengers? Does check in time (for multi-pax PNR) affect CPU ability at all? I seem to always struggle with when to check in, and if the reservation should be split, etc.
Nov 8, 2017, 6:24 pm
#484
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,458
Why is that? I mean, why delay with multi-pax PNR? Is that always the case, or only when trying to RPU multiple passengers? Does check in time (for multi-pax PNR) affect CPU ability at all? I seem to always struggle with when to check in, and if the reservation should be split, etc.
If you do not want to split the PNR and an upgrade cannot be confirmed at check-in, then you have to forgo any chance of an upgrade.
Nov 8, 2017, 6:30 pm
#485
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K 0.7MM (trying to get to 1MM!)
Posts: 1,272
The PNR gets split when you check in if the upgrade has not been confirmed. So if you prefer not to split the PNR, then you want to delay check-in. If splitting not consequential, no reason not to check in as early as possible with a multi-person PNR (at least if the system works they way it says it does).
If you do not want to split the PNR and an upgrade cannot be confirmed at check-in, then you have to forgo any chance of an upgrade.
If you do not want to split the PNR and an upgrade cannot be confirmed at check-in, then you have to forgo any chance of an upgrade.
Nov 8, 2017, 6:34 pm
#486
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: 66,821
Why is that? I mean, why delay with multi-pax PNR? Is that always the case, or only when trying to RPU multiple passengers? Does check in time (for multi-pax PNR) affect CPU ability at all? I seem to always struggle with when to check in, and if the reservation should be split, etc.
There are also issues with splitting on the outbound effecting the non-elites losing the elite benefits on the return.
For more, see To split or not to split PNR
Nov 8, 2017, 7:11 pm
#487
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,446
Nov 8, 2017, 8:00 pm
#488
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Nov 16, 2017, 9:15 pm
#489
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 338
Can RPUs be used on non-016 ticket stock, but otherwise eligible segments?
Nov 16, 2017, 10:25 pm
#490
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,404
Dec 4, 2017, 10:16 am
#491
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Programs: UA 1K, UA .53 MM, Marriott Gold, Nexus, GE, TSA Pre, Hertz PC
Posts: 581
Hoping someone can validate my train of thought here...
Flying SFO-EWR-PBI, PBI-EWR-SFO. I have two RPU's that I would like to apply to each one way, but I am not interested in burning the RPU on the EWR/PBI legs if it doesn't clear on the SFO/EWR legs. Right now, if I try to apply the RPU's through United.com, all four segments are waitlisted. Am I right in thinking that I need to call the Premier Desk and ask for each RPU to be applied to the SFO/EWR segments only, and then call back if they clear to have them applied to the EWR/PBI legs?
Flying SFO-EWR-PBI, PBI-EWR-SFO. I have two RPU's that I would like to apply to each one way, but I am not interested in burning the RPU on the EWR/PBI legs if it doesn't clear on the SFO/EWR legs. Right now, if I try to apply the RPU's through United.com, all four segments are waitlisted. Am I right in thinking that I need to call the Premier Desk and ask for each RPU to be applied to the SFO/EWR segments only, and then call back if they clear to have them applied to the EWR/PBI legs?
Dec 4, 2017, 10:24 am
#492
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,386
Hoping someone can validate my train of thought here...
Flying SFO-EWR-PBI, PBI-EWR-SFO. I have two RPU's that I would like to apply to each one way, but I am not interested in burning the RPU on the EWR/PBI legs if it doesn't clear on the SFO/EWR legs. Right now, if I try to apply the RPU's through United.com, all four segments are waitlisted. Am I right in thinking that I need to call the Premier Desk and ask for each RPU to be applied to the SFO/EWR segments only, and then call back if they clear to have them applied to the EWR/PBI legs?
Flying SFO-EWR-PBI, PBI-EWR-SFO. I have two RPU's that I would like to apply to each one way, but I am not interested in burning the RPU on the EWR/PBI legs if it doesn't clear on the SFO/EWR legs. Right now, if I try to apply the RPU's through United.com, all four segments are waitlisted. Am I right in thinking that I need to call the Premier Desk and ask for each RPU to be applied to the SFO/EWR segments only, and then call back if they clear to have them applied to the EWR/PBI legs?
Dec 5, 2017, 12:28 pm
#493
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: DL BA Amex
Posts: 916
Can an RPU be used EWR-LAS?
there are two flights a day that have lie-flat seats... does this make a difference?
thanks for the quick reply!
there are two flights a day that have lie-flat seats... does this make a difference?
thanks for the quick reply!
Last edited by bajrbajr; Dec 5, 2017 at 12:33 pm
Dec 5, 2017, 12:30 pm
#494
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,404
Dec 11, 2017, 9:38 pm
#495
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 368
RPU Refund for Muti-Leg Itineraries that dont clear?
I am flying PHL-ORD-LAS-SFO-PHL. Yes a mileage run lol. I am just curious if certain legs do not clear do you get a refund? In the past when I've had GPU's applied and the longest legs didn't clear, they would always refund it. But I am not sure if the same applies with RPU's. So lets say some legs clear but not the long SFO-PHL flight, is there any chance? Just wondering...