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]
#316
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,186
I just searched for a one way HNL-DEN, and here are the fare buckets:
F3 A3 JN3 C3 D3 Z0 ZN0 P0 PN0 R0 RN0 IN0 I0 Y9 YN9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 HN9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9 G9 N9 XN9 X8
My flight is about 3 weeks away, so what would you think are my chances of a successful RPU on that segment?
F3 A3 JN3 C3 D3 Z0 ZN0 P0 PN0 R0 RN0 IN0 I0 Y9 YN9 B9 M9 E9 U9 H9 HN9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L9 K9 G9 N9 XN9 X8
My flight is about 3 weeks away, so what would you think are my chances of a successful RPU on that segment?
If I request RPU, does that try to upgrade the whole return flight (MNL-DEN), or just HNL-DEN? As I said, I really only care about HNL-DEN, so if that doesn't go through, how can I cancel an RPU request? I'd rather not waste an RPU on MNL-GUM, for example! Thanks again!
Similarly, you can cancel an RPU before your flight by calling UA.
#317
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K 0.7MM (trying to get to 1MM!)
Posts: 1,271
Just to be clear, does a single RPU apply for the entire trip (DEN-MNL-DEN and all of the segments that make up the itinerary), or just the return portion (MNL-DEN, and the 3 segments that make up that portion of the itinerary)?
#318
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,324
Conversely, my flight from LAX-HNL seems REALLY empty, and only 7 of the 28 UC seats are taken (according to the seat map), and the buckets are showing F9 A9 JN9 C9 D9 Z9 ZN9 as of now, so I'm hoping I'll end up with a CPU on that flight! That would be Polaris, right? Flight 1158, on a 777.
One RPU should really only cover all segments in one region in one direction, so just HNL-DEN. You should call and see what you can apply it to though. I've never actually though of trying to RPU one journey with RPU-eligible segments in different regions joined by a non-eligible segment but I don't think that can be done with a single RPU.
#319
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,186
One RPU should really only cover all segments in one region in one direction, so just HNL-DEN. You should call and see what you can apply it to though. I've never actually thought of trying to RPU one journey with RPU-eligible segments in different regions joined by a non-eligible segment but I don't think that can be done with a single RPU.
But, yeah, I suppose it's possible that they'd make you choose one or the other.
#320
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Lake Oswego, OR
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,202
I understand that if a RPU is applied to an itinerary, a stopover can't exceed four hours or another certificate would be required. But are there exceptions if the first available connecting flight is more than four hours later? For example, if I arrive in SFO at 2 AM but there are no onward flights scheduled until 7 AM, is another RPU still required to upgrade the second segment?
#321
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: 66,580
I understand that if a RPU is applied to an itinerary, a stopover can't exceed four hours or another certificate would be required. But are there exceptions if the first available connecting flight is more than four hours later? For example, if I arrive in SFO at 2 AM but there are no onward flights scheduled until 7 AM, is another RPU still required to upgrade the second segment?
UA defines this in the CoC
Stopover means a deliberate interruption of travel by the Passenger, agreed to in advance by the carrier, at a point between the place of departure and the place of destination. For International flights a Stopover will also be deemed to occur at an intermediate point from which the Passenger is not scheduled to depart on the date of arrival, but if there is no connecting departure scheduled on the date of arrival, departure on the next day within 24 hours of arrival shall not constitute a Stopover. If a portion of the routing is traveled by surface transportation, one Stopover shall be deemed to have been taken for such portion. For Domestic flights, a Stopover will also occur when a Passenger arrives at a point and fails to depart from such point on:
1. The first flight on which space is available; or
2. The flight that will provide for the Passenger’s earliest arrival at intermediate or junction transfer point(s) or destination point, via the carrier and class of service as shown on the Passenger’s Ticket; provided, however, that in no event will a Stopover occur when the Passenger departs from the intermediate/junction point on a flight shown in the carrier’s official general schedule as departing within four hours after arrival at such point.
1. The first flight on which space is available; or
2. The flight that will provide for the Passenger’s earliest arrival at intermediate or junction transfer point(s) or destination point, via the carrier and class of service as shown on the Passenger’s Ticket; provided, however, that in no event will a Stopover occur when the Passenger departs from the intermediate/junction point on a flight shown in the carrier’s official general schedule as departing within four hours after arrival at such point.
#322
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,186
I understand that if a RPU is applied to an itinerary, a stopover can't exceed four hours or another certificate would be required. But are there exceptions if the first available connecting flight is more than four hours later? For example, if I arrive in SFO at 2 AM but there are no onward flights scheduled until 7 AM, is another RPU still required to upgrade the second segment?
If you didn't use multi-city search to find the flights, my guess is that it would allow one certificate to be used for the entire direction of travel automatically.
#323
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Lake Oswego, OR
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,202
It is not specifically a RPU issue but is an issue on connection vs stopover.
UA defines this in the CoC
So the four hour limit can be extended if no scheduled alternative exists.
UA defines this in the CoC
So the four hour limit can be extended if no scheduled alternative exists.
In my experience, the online system will not allow upgrades to span overnight connections booked as multi-city journeys. The pricing engine will calculate the fare properly, but the upgrade system would see your connection point as a stopover. I haven't tried calling an agent, but I'm certain it won't work if you try to do it online.
If you didn't use multi-city search to find the flights, my guess is that it would allow one certificate to be used for the entire direction of travel automatically.
If you didn't use multi-city search to find the flights, my guess is that it would allow one certificate to be used for the entire direction of travel automatically.
The itinerary was actually booked as a one way, not multi-city, using the various filter options to pull up the segments that I wanted. I had figured that this would be sufficient to allow the final segment to be upgraded with the same RPU but that did not turn out to be the case. Its possible that there is some sort of hard-coded rule in the web site that just looks at connections exceeding four hours and ignores the other nuances.
#324
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,359
I just called UA and the agent had never heard of extending the four hour limit but was willing to call a supervisor who got the deed done after 45 minutes on hold.
The itinerary was actually booked as a one way, not multi-city, using the various filter options to pull up the segments that I wanted. I had figured that this would be sufficient to allow the final segment to be upgraded with the same RPU but that did not turn out to be the case. Its possible that there is some sort of hard-coded rule in the web site that just looks at connections exceeding four hours and ignores the other nuances.
The itinerary was actually booked as a one way, not multi-city, using the various filter options to pull up the segments that I wanted. I had figured that this would be sufficient to allow the final segment to be upgraded with the same RPU but that did not turn out to be the case. Its possible that there is some sort of hard-coded rule in the web site that just looks at connections exceeding four hours and ignores the other nuances.
A while ago I had a daytime layover/stopover that was just over four hours because no earlier connection existed. After applying the upgrade on the website, the request only showed on the first segment. It was an international to domestic connection with a date change due to the time zone change, and the connection was still daytime. To get the request added to the second, I had to call, which took about 15 minutes but was done without any particular pushback.
#325
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Lake Oswego, OR
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,202
I think this is the case, although an agent once told me that anything with a date change will be split.
A while ago I had a daytime layover/stopover that was just over four hours because no earlier connection existed. After applying the upgrade on the website, the request only showed on the first segment. It was an international to domestic connection with a date change due to the time zone change, and the connection was still daytime. To get the request added to the second, I had to call, which took about 15 minutes but was done without any particular pushback.
A while ago I had a daytime layover/stopover that was just over four hours because no earlier connection existed. After applying the upgrade on the website, the request only showed on the first segment. It was an international to domestic connection with a date change due to the time zone change, and the connection was still daytime. To get the request added to the second, I had to call, which took about 15 minutes but was done without any particular pushback.
But as I posted in the GPU thread, I recently flew to ORD one day prior to an international flight but arriving well within 24 hours before the international segment. When I attempted to extend the GPU to cover the earlier flights, I received a huge amount of push back from reservation agents and from "supervisors" behind the scenes. They would not change their mind even after carefully parsing the GPU rules from the web site. It was only resolved after a couple of HUCA attempts, which are often de rigueur with UA these days.
I can understand that the web site, such as it is, may not have all of UA's rules well codified. However, the fact that UA's staff (including supervisors) do not appear to be well trained and do not seem to have the proper tools at their disposal is inexcusable. Some simple tasks take an awfully long time to accomplish, such as last night's 45 minute stint extending an RPU to cover a flight departing five hours later. And this was without explicit push back, just the agent's lack of familiarity with rules that have been well documented for quite some time. Among other irritations these days, I think UA often has very little regard for the time and needs of its customers.
#326
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: 66,580
... But as I posted in the GPU thread, I recently flew to ORD one day prior to an international flight but arriving well within 24 hours before the international segment. When I attempted to extend the GPU to cover the earlier flights, I received a huge amount of push back from reservation agents and from "supervisors" behind the scenes. They would not change their mind even after carefully parsing the GPU rules from the web site. It was only resolved after a couple of HUCA attempts, which are often de rigueur with UA these days. .....
#327
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,359
In my case it was just barely over four hours in connection, but the first flight was 12.5 hours duration.
#328
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: 66,580
#329
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,257
I booked SEA-IAD-CHS for 5/8 on a W fare and applied an RPU. IAD-CHS on a CR7 instantly cleared. but SEA-IAD did not.
I know my original W fare must still be available in order to downgrade myself so I'm wondering GENERALLY when is the latest I can safely remove an RPU?
Ideally, I'd like to wait til the morning of the flight and see where I am on the upgrade list or even wait til boarding or after the first flight. My fear is the CR7 will fill up.
I know my original W fare must still be available in order to downgrade myself so I'm wondering GENERALLY when is the latest I can safely remove an RPU?
Ideally, I'd like to wait til the morning of the flight and see where I am on the upgrade list or even wait til boarding or after the first flight. My fear is the CR7 will fill up.
#330
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: 66,580
I booked SEA-IAD-CHS for 5/8 on a W fare and applied an RPU. IAD-CHS on a CR7 instantly cleared. but SEA-IAD did not.
I know my original W fare must still be available in order to downgrade myself so I'm wondering GENERALLY when is the latest I can safely remove an RPU?
Ideally, I'd like to wait til the morning of the flight and see where I am on the upgrade list or even wait til boarding or after the first flight. My fear is the CR7 will fill up.
I know my original W fare must still be available in order to downgrade myself so I'm wondering GENERALLY when is the latest I can safely remove an RPU?
Ideally, I'd like to wait til the morning of the flight and see where I am on the upgrade list or even wait til boarding or after the first flight. My fear is the CR7 will fill up.