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]
Jan 3, 2018, 8:37 pm
#541
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,425
It traditionally posts within 48 hours of the status posting to your account; if you have not seen it with 5 business days I would poke MPSC and get them to manually fix it.
Jan 3, 2018, 8:40 pm
#542
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
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Jan 4, 2018, 2:02 pm
#543
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,419
Jan 4, 2018, 2:14 pm
#544
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
Jan 4, 2018, 8:05 pm
#545
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: أمريكا
Posts: 26,763
I have a roundtrip coming up next week and one RPU expiring 1/18 and four expiring 1/19.
Right now the one expiring this month is waitlisted on the outbound. Let's say I apply a 1/19 RPU to the return and the outbound does not clear but the return does. Does that mean I'll end up with a 1/18 RPU in my account and the 1/19 one will be used, or will the system pull the 1/18 and I'll keep the four 1/19 certs?
What's the best strategy in this case? The outbound probably won't clear, but it's a transcon and thus worth waiting out. The return is a connection, and the shorter flight will clear CPU, longer segment may clear CPU as well, so I'd only apply the RPU if it's the one expiring this month anyway.
Right now the one expiring this month is waitlisted on the outbound. Let's say I apply a 1/19 RPU to the return and the outbound does not clear but the return does. Does that mean I'll end up with a 1/18 RPU in my account and the 1/19 one will be used, or will the system pull the 1/18 and I'll keep the four 1/19 certs?
What's the best strategy in this case? The outbound probably won't clear, but it's a transcon and thus worth waiting out. The return is a connection, and the shorter flight will clear CPU, longer segment may clear CPU as well, so I'd only apply the RPU if it's the one expiring this month anyway.
Jan 6, 2018, 5:29 am
#546
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 243
I requested an rpu hnl-sfo but 4 days out inventory shrunk from j9 to p2. Got sketched and bought the upgrade for 300 bucks. It says p" class confirmed r class requested" on the ticket now.
Whats that mean? Will the rpu refund automatically?
Whats that mean? Will the rpu refund automatically?
Jan 6, 2018, 8:05 am
#547
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,484
You're going to have to call MPSC.
Jan 6, 2018, 11:53 am
#548
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: 66,861
Nothing harmful but the RPU will not be returned until the flight has occurred. If you want it back sooner you will need to call.
Jan 6, 2018, 7:21 pm
#549
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Join Date: Nov 2014
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Posts: 14,425
If you have time, call Reservations and get the waitlisted R segment deleted. It can clear if there is R space, which would just cause a complete mess of things (I think you be fine to fly in First, but you might lose PQM bonus from the flight).
Jan 7, 2018, 10:52 am
#550
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 42
If I change a reservation on the same day and the RPU applied never cleared will the RPU transferred or I will be listed waiting for a CPU on my new itinerary?
Jan 7, 2018, 11:06 am
#551
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Posts: 66,861
Jan 9, 2018, 7:26 pm
#552
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
FWIW, I had a similar situation — RPU applied to only the long segment and not the short, long did not clear, short CPU'd — and it took only three minutes on the phone to get the certificate redeposited. However it's definitely worth taking a screenshot of the reservation with the upgrade request status. I was apprehensive that I might have a situation like Two Bee did and pleasantly surprised not to get any pushback or (cold drumsticks).
Enjoy the 25m CPU.
Enjoy the 25m CPU.
Separate question - I can't remember if it has to do with upgrading or companion upgrades/splitting PNR's (tried to search), but can someone confirm if there is any benefit/drawback to checking in right at T-24 or waiting when you have an RPU that hasn't cleared? Obviously, when I check in for segment 1 tomorrow morning segment 2 will be ~28 hours away but I just wasn't sure if that somehow helped or hurt my chances of the RPU clearing.
Jan 9, 2018, 7:33 pm
#553
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,471
I just had this happen today. Had originally applied to both segments, but called in ~2 weeks ago to remove first segment as I knew I would clear CPU (should have set it up that way from beginning). Checked reservation after and everything looked as intended. Sure enough, cleared CPU on segment 1 as I expected and received email, however my reservation online said "your upgrade to United First is confirmed using a Regional Premier Upgrade".... oh boy. Called in and the agent insisted that the regional was used on segment 1. Just spent ~15 minutes on hold while she went back to a supervisor (I told her to check the notes, or pull the phone tapes, anything). They finally came back and said they could fix it but for some reason had to redeposit and then pull the RPU again for the second segment. The entire time, my CPU on segment 1 remained and now the correct CPU verbiage is showing "your upgrade to United First has been confirmed". Although thinking about it now, I likely lost positions on the wait list since I had originally requested it ~2 months ago. Probably nothing I can do there, right?
Separate question - I can't remember if it has to do with upgrading or companion upgrades/splitting PNR's (tried to search), but can someone confirm if there is any benefit/drawback to checking in right at T-24 or waiting when you have an RPU that hasn't cleared? Obviously, when I check in for segment 1 tomorrow morning segment 2 will be ~28 hours away but I just wasn't sure if that somehow helped or hurt my chances of the RPU clearing.
Separate question - I can't remember if it has to do with upgrading or companion upgrades/splitting PNR's (tried to search), but can someone confirm if there is any benefit/drawback to checking in right at T-24 or waiting when you have an RPU that hasn't cleared? Obviously, when I check in for segment 1 tomorrow morning segment 2 will be ~28 hours away but I just wasn't sure if that somehow helped or hurt my chances of the RPU clearing.
As far as check-in time, the final tiebreaker on the gate (visible) list is stated to be check-in time, so nominally you should check in ASAP, but my own superstition is that with an upgrade waitlisted I wait until as late as possible to check in.
Jan 9, 2018, 7:52 pm
#554
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
Reservations seem to have some unintended history w.r.t. particular flights and upgrade requests, so it can take some doing to properly undo all of that. As you note, best to avoid waitlisting to begin with.
As far as check-in time, the final tiebreaker on the gate (visible) list is stated to be check-in time, so nominally you should check in ASAP, but my own superstition is that with an upgrade waitlisted I wait until as late as possible to check in.
As far as check-in time, the final tiebreaker on the gate (visible) list is stated to be check-in time, so nominally you should check in ASAP, but my own superstition is that with an upgrade waitlisted I wait until as late as possible to check in.
To your point - my own superstition makes me think I'll mess up my chances somehow by having my name sitting on the visible list for the second segment prior to T-24. Decisions, decisions...
Jan 17, 2018, 7:52 pm
#555
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,029
2 tickets/2 changes/2 agents/2 competencies
Have two r,t, reservations, both with returns from Las Vegas to Maui via West Coast. Applied RPUs to both online. Made separate calls this afternoon to remove my name from the waitlists for the shorter LAS-West Coast segments.
First agent (first ticket): "no problem' - click, click, click - "while you're waiting, do you need a car in Las Vegas? ' (me: "no thanks - I'm good") click, click, click, "you're all set - if you go to your reservation page, you'll see the upgrade requested only for the longer segment". It was.
Second agent (2nd ticket): "I don't think you can do that because it's considered a thru ticket because of the upgrade request, but let me ask about it" disappears for a while, coming back: "OK, I can do it, but I have to re-deposit the RPU and then re-apply it, bear with me" disappears again, coming back, "OK now I am going to remove the RPU and re-deposit, bear with me" disappears, coming back: "OK, what is your least favorite vegetable and what did you want to be?" disappears, coming back "OK you're all set - do you need a Hertz car in Las Vegas?"
End members of the efficiency spectrum relative to this type of request. I'm pretty sure someone was coaching the second agent one (inefficient) way of doing what I wanted and the first agent knew the efficient way to do it. Unfortunately the second agent now has been trained in the inefficient way.
First agent (first ticket): "no problem' - click, click, click - "while you're waiting, do you need a car in Las Vegas? ' (me: "no thanks - I'm good") click, click, click, "you're all set - if you go to your reservation page, you'll see the upgrade requested only for the longer segment". It was.
Second agent (2nd ticket): "I don't think you can do that because it's considered a thru ticket because of the upgrade request, but let me ask about it" disappears for a while, coming back: "OK, I can do it, but I have to re-deposit the RPU and then re-apply it, bear with me" disappears again, coming back, "OK now I am going to remove the RPU and re-deposit, bear with me" disappears, coming back: "OK, what is your least favorite vegetable and what did you want to be?" disappears, coming back "OK you're all set - do you need a Hertz car in Las Vegas?"
End members of the efficiency spectrum relative to this type of request. I'm pretty sure someone was coaching the second agent one (inefficient) way of doing what I wanted and the first agent knew the efficient way to do it. Unfortunately the second agent now has been trained in the inefficient way.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Jan 17, 2018 at 7:58 pm Reason: speling