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]
#616
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 572
In domestic flight, and using RPU, what is the difference between P9 PN0 and P9 PN9 (chances of clearing RPU)? Example here:
#617
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,349
If the RPU comes from a GS account, PN9 vs. PN0 means you will clear immediately vs. not. If the RPU is from non-GS account, PN9 means you're more likely to clear from the waitlist than with PN0, but it's not a guarantee.
#618
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,291
#620
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,291
Unfortunately not. Even without status, because you're using an instrument, you'll be ahead of UA elites (except GS) hoping for a complimentary upgrade (assuming it's a CPU eligible route).
#621
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Programs: UA 1k, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 363
So, if one leg of a RPU clears, but the 2nd doesn't (and the 2nd leg is more important), for example a short 737 flight to EWR clears, but the EWR to say LAX does not, can you call the 1k desk and cancel it, as it would be a waste of a RPU for the crappy flight to clear but not the main one.
thx
thx
#622
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
So, if one leg of a RPU clears, but the 2nd doesn't (and the 2nd leg is more important), for example a short 737 flight to EWR clears, but the EWR to say LAX does not, can you call the 1k desk and cancel it, as it would be a waste of a RPU for the crappy flight to clear but not the main one.
thx
thx
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 27, 2018 at 5:31 pm Reason: clean up after merge; thanks for the link
#623
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: UA 1K, LH silver --> nothing, LY gold --> nothing
Posts: 363
Q: RPU to upgrade trans-Atlantic?
Hi,
Have a SAN-SFO-TLV flight, and when hitting "upgrade" I see the above.
My question - will the RPU here (assuming wait-list clears) apply to both legs, or just domestic?
Thanks
#625
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,567
But a RPU is still just a RPU and only applicable to the RPU eligible flights which does not include TATL segments.
#626
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,291
#627
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,177
It's not an IT error at all. The RPU is valid for a SAN to TLV itinerary -- on the SAN to SFO portion. If OP had GPUs, there would still be an option to use an RPU instead when you click the button. If you try it, you'll get a message that shows you to which flights the certificate applies. For a GPU, assuming the flight is in W or higher, it'll show that it applies to the entire itinerary. For an RPU, it'll show that it only applies to the first leg. No error involved.
#628
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,291
It's not an IT error at all. The RPU is valid for a SAN to TLV itinerary -- on the SAN to SFO portion. If OP had GPUs, there would still be an option to use an RPU instead when you click the button. If you try it, you'll get a message that shows you to which flights the certificate applies. For a GPU, assuming the flight is in W or higher, it'll show that it applies to the entire itinerary. For an RPU, it'll show that it only applies to the first leg. No error involved.
There were numerous reports a while back of RPUs upgrading the international segment when this message was displayed.
#629
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,880
You meant GUM-HNL flight. I got one cleared with RPU on G fare. But United called me and wanted a GPU. It was ironical that GPU could be applied to G fare. Perhaps, United fixed this problem.
#630
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K 0.7MM (trying to get to 1MM!)
Posts: 1,271
I know that moving an RPU withing 24 hours with an SDC isn't technically allowed, but I do know that it's been done before...is there any secret that I can tell an agent in order to help me with that? I just called to inquire about it, and she said that within 24 hours all upgrades are processed by the airport, not by the airline, so they have no control, but that she might be possible to put in a request for the upgrade, but that it might not even get "read" by the system.
[EDIT]The agent I just spoke to was VERY helpful and able to not only unmarry an XXX-ZZZ itinerary to be XXX-YYY-ZZZ so that I could SDC the XXX-YYY section, but was also able to get in touch with the correct "lead" (her words, not mine) in order to make sure that my RPU request was moved over also. She did say that she learned that it is NOT possible to request an RPU to be moved within 24 hours if the person is already checked in. So, what they did was uncheck me in, put me on the waitlist, then check me in, which then automatically moved me from the waitlist to the "upgrade list" when looking at the flight status page. ^ It's always great to find accommodating helpl![/EDIT]
[EDIT]The agent I just spoke to was VERY helpful and able to not only unmarry an XXX-ZZZ itinerary to be XXX-YYY-ZZZ so that I could SDC the XXX-YYY section, but was also able to get in touch with the correct "lead" (her words, not mine) in order to make sure that my RPU request was moved over also. She did say that she learned that it is NOT possible to request an RPU to be moved within 24 hours if the person is already checked in. So, what they did was uncheck me in, put me on the waitlist, then check me in, which then automatically moved me from the waitlist to the "upgrade list" when looking at the flight status page. ^ It's always great to find accommodating helpl![/EDIT]
Last edited by mpiotrow; May 4, 2018 at 6:01 pm