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]
Dec 31, 2017, 3:43 pm
#526
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
Has anyone been able to confirm an RPU at the time of booking in the last year? I have flown more international than national in 2017, but am just stunned that there is never a confirmable RPU at the time of booking. Case in point: ORD to RDU; ORD to JAX, hardly hot spots during mid-week at 1PM. This is such a serious erosion of what was once a nice 1K perk. But, am curious as to others' experiences?
I used all of four of mine in 2017, but all four were on flights I would have CPU'ed anyway. I do subscribe to the "worthless" theory.
Dec 31, 2017, 4:18 pm
#527
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SFO/CDG
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 211
Managed to use 4 RPUs on SFO-EWR this year but the flight times were not necessarily ideal.
Jan 2, 2018, 10:17 am
#528
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
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...wadays-71.html
I used all of four of mine in 2017, but all four were on flights I would have CPU'ed anyway. I do subscribe to the "worthless" theory.
I used all of four of mine in 2017, but all four were on flights I would have CPU'ed anyway. I do subscribe to the "worthless" theory.
Suffice to say, I probably would have cleared both as a 1K, but it wasn't worth the risk of playing the lottery on a six hour transcon. The peace of mind knowing I'm in F already makes them not entirely worthless.
Jan 2, 2018, 6:42 pm
#529
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,098
Are same day turns under 4 hours considered 1 flight? I have a few mileage runs coming up and a LAX-ORD-PHL-IAD-LAX was able to take 1 RPU for all the flights while a bunch of my LAX-ORD required 1 for each flight.
Both routings have connections well under 4 hours. LAX-PHL and 1 of the LAX-ORD are morning-evening departures while some LAX-ORD are red eyes.
Both routings have connections well under 4 hours. LAX-PHL and 1 of the LAX-ORD are morning-evening departures while some LAX-ORD are red eyes.
Jan 2, 2018, 9:21 pm
#530
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 42
RPU segment waitlisted
So there was a RPU from a 1k (I'm premier gold) applied to my flight from TGU-IAH-LAX. The first segment cleared (TGU-IAH) but (IAH-LAX) was waitlisted. I want to know if the RPU starts clearing when there is R available even though it's not on the 48 hour window? Is it listed as 1k or gold in priority? my flight is in 9 days. PN3 and R0
Jan 2, 2018, 9:44 pm
#531
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
In general yes, as long as you don't fly twice thru the same connecting city.
Jan 2, 2018, 10:07 pm
#532
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
So there was a RPU from a 1k (I'm premier gold) applied to my flight from TGU-IAH-LAX. The first segment cleared (TGU-IAH) but (IAH-LAX) was waitlisted. I want to know if the RPU starts clearing when there is R available even though it's not on the 48 hour window? Is it listed as 1k or gold in priority? my flight is in 9 days. PN3 and R0
It should clear into open R at any time; if you see R open and you have not cleared, try calling.
Jan 2, 2018, 10:14 pm
#533
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 42
is there any way to create an alert? expert flyer?
Jan 2, 2018, 10:23 pm
#534
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
Jan 2, 2018, 10:25 pm
#535
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SEATTLE, WA USA
Programs: UAL, AA, AS, CX
Posts: 1,973
Are there current directions on how to try to use an upgrade instrument like these?
Jan 2, 2018, 11:10 pm
#536
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
The owner of the upgrade instrument logs into their account. You select one of your intinaries or enter the PNR and last name of another person's itin. You find the "redeem upgrade " buttom and follow the steps.
Jan 3, 2018, 4:59 am
#537
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
If your asking about how to use an RPU . . . you can apply it online, then after it doesn't clear, if it doesn't return to your account automatically, you'll have to call MPSC to get it back. Repeat.
Jan 3, 2018, 1:25 pm
#539
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
Simple RTs, the system sometimes is able to determine even if under 4 hours --- but put a few connecting cities and the trick works. It is clearly a trick / quirk that UA has not focused on, so it nice when it happens,
Jan 3, 2018, 8:37 pm
#540
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,517
Newbie question from a first-time Plat UA member:
How soon before RPU would be made available to the MP account?
How soon before RPU would be made available to the MP account?