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]
Oct 18, 2017, 7:41 am
#466
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,115
RPU Re-Deposits
Hey,
is it just me or do failed RPU's not re-deposit? each require time on the phone to fix. Shouldn't this be automatic?
Passanger X used an RPU it did not clear so passenger X gets his RPU back?
is it just me or do failed RPU's not re-deposit? each require time on the phone to fix. Shouldn't this be automatic?
Passanger X used an RPU it did not clear so passenger X gets his RPU back?
Oct 18, 2017, 8:01 am
#467
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,686
Automatic, lol, UA IT says noooooo.
Oct 18, 2017, 8:05 am
#468
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,532
It varies. One time I had to call in. Last time, to my surprise, it was automatic.
Oct 18, 2017, 9:42 am
#470
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,341
Perhaps I’d modify my original advice a bit. Considering the scenario of HKG-GUM-HNL-LAX-DEN, I’d apply the upgrade online first, and then call to remove LAX-DEN if I didn’t want to risk having only that one segment clear. That way, I’d be less likely to run into an agent who decides that findark’s interpretation is correct. Removing a waitlisted upgrade from a single segment is something they do all the time; no thought is required.
Oct 18, 2017, 12:12 pm
#471
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,379
Oct 23, 2017, 7:51 am
#472
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: PHL
Programs: United 1K, American Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 430
I made a recent booking, PHL-AAA-BBB outbound, and on the same day turnaround BBB-CCC-PHL. Only ONE RPU covered all four of these segments: all four had R availability so instantly confirmed up front!
Ordinarily the way I usually fly, I have an overnight stay. Two RPUs would be consumed: one for PHL-AAA-BBB and on the next day the second for BBB-CCC-PHL. I was so pleased that all four segments had the inventory that I "wasted" an RPU to apply as an experiment. Computer thinks the whole "PHL-PHL" is one itinerary.
So question: is this normal behaviour?
Ordinarily the way I usually fly, I have an overnight stay. Two RPUs would be consumed: one for PHL-AAA-BBB and on the next day the second for BBB-CCC-PHL. I was so pleased that all four segments had the inventory that I "wasted" an RPU to apply as an experiment. Computer thinks the whole "PHL-PHL" is one itinerary.
So question: is this normal behaviour?
Oct 23, 2017, 9:32 am
#473
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
It is normal behavior, but not what UA intended.
Oct 23, 2017, 10:38 am
#474
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: PHL
Programs: United 1K, American Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 430
Thanks for this feedback. I'm not going to feel bad about taking advantage of UA's shoddy IT if they can't differentiate return segments and thinks it's all one outbound journey. I'll probably end up losing out on the return insta-upgrade, though, because I'll likely want to manufacture an overnight stay with an SDC to flights the next day, once I reach my target destination city.
Oct 23, 2017, 12:42 pm
#475
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,379
Oct 24, 2017, 12:17 pm
#476
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,443
If I have a cleared RPU on one flight and then SDC to another, I go back into economy. However, if R is open on the SDC'd-to flight, and SDC is done within T-3, is the RPU transferred and used, or is the upgrade cleared by CPU?
Wondering how hard to push to get my RPU (that I likely won't be able to use) back.
Wondering how hard to push to get my RPU (that I likely won't be able to use) back.
Given this I'm pretty sure the upgrade cleared by CPU. (Automatic SDC dumps you back into your booked fare class and does not carry forward the instrument.) But I agree with Kacee - I don't think the United backend tracks that in enough detail so it might be hard to prove the point.
Sort of: I used the app. It just showed me going back to my original fare class and then emailed me a new eticket showing the same, with no other emails about upgrade waitlist or confirmation. If I'd been fast enough I'd have checked the arrow to see the upgrade request type to be certain, but I was a bit distracted and forgot until after being upgraded ~30 minutes later.
So I'm not sure that the backend tracked events well enough, but at least the timeline supported my interpretation and request.
^
Nov 7, 2017, 7:40 pm
#477
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Outside of Cleveland Ohio
Programs: UA *G. DL ̶G̶O̶L̶D̶ Member, Hilton/SPG Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 362
RPU earning question. Is there any way for a Platinum member to earn more than 2 RPU? I'm looking at flying around 120K PQM on $3.5K PQD (with chase spend waiver). Do those extra PQM count for anything?
Nov 7, 2017, 8:24 pm
#478
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: 66,742
Premier members will earn two Regional Premier Upgrades upon meeting all qualification requirements of Premier Platinum status, plus two more upon meeting all qualification requirements of Premier 1K® status. An additional two Regional Premier Upgrades will be awarded for each 25,000 Premier qualifying miles or 30 Premier qualifying segments earned thereafter during the same calendar year that Premier 1K was reached.
Nov 8, 2017, 4:55 pm
#479
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: CLE
Programs: UA MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Posts: 1,352
I'm sure this has been answered before, but I couldn't find the answer by searching.
If an RPU doesn't clear by T-24 of the first segment, is it better to delay doing online checkin, hoping it will clear before it goes to the gate, or it doesn't matter?
Thanks.
If an RPU doesn't clear by T-24 of the first segment, is it better to delay doing online checkin, hoping it will clear before it goes to the gate, or it doesn't matter?
Thanks.
Nov 8, 2017, 4:58 pm
#480
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,404
The only time you consider delaying check-in is when you have a multi-pax PNR.
