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]
Mar 14, 2018, 3:03 pm
#601
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: 66,769
Mar 15, 2018, 4:04 pm
#602
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: Marriott Silver
Posts: 47
I'm flying SFO->LAX->IAD. I understand that if I use an RPU on this leg and SFO->LAX upgrades that my RPU will be considered used. Is there a way to either apply the RPU to only the LAX->IAD segment, or to not take the upgrade if I get it SFO->LAX only?
Mar 15, 2018, 4:32 pm
#603
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,361
Call and ask to apply the RPU only to LAX-IAD. If it happens to clear in advance, you can call back and ask for it to be extended to SFO-LAX as well.
Mar 16, 2018, 8:42 am
#605
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
FYI I do this routing all the time and your SFO-LAX will most likely clear using an RPU days if not weeks out so you're smart for not wanting to use it for this leg. Depending on your status / fare class / time of day, your CPU has great chances too. LAX-SFO/SFO-LAX are one of my highest upgrade percentages as a 1K. I get CPU'd more often than not.
Your LAX-IAD will not clear until T-24 - T-72 if you're lucky. Granted I don't use my RPU's on this flight, being CPU'd has always been either at the gate for me or at T-24. Most of the time, I am in E+.
Your LAX-IAD will not clear until T-24 - T-72 if you're lucky. Granted I don't use my RPU's on this flight, being CPU'd has always been either at the gate for me or at T-24. Most of the time, I am in E+.
Mar 16, 2018, 10:15 pm
#606
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,938
Any ideas why SFO-IAH-HAV needs 2 RPUs, while the return needs just 1?
Is it because of the long layover (11:40p-11:50a) in Houston on the way out?
Although the flights are relatively short and I might get CPU'd as a 1K, figured I'll use them when I can vs hoarding them
Is it because of the long layover (11:40p-11:50a) in Houston on the way out?
Although the flights are relatively short and I might get CPU'd as a 1K, figured I'll use them when I can vs hoarding them
Mar 16, 2018, 10:42 pm
#607
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,361
)Upgrade page: https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...gupgrades.aspx
Relevant text:
- Each Regional Premier Upgrade is valid for a single one-way, one-cabin upgrade.
- Stopovers require multiple upgrade products. A stopover for a single, one-way trip within the U.S. or between the U.S. and Canada is defined as longer than 4 hours in the connecting city. A stopover for a single, one-way trip to or from all other destinations is defined as longer than 24 hours in the connecting city.
Mar 20, 2018, 9:27 am
#609
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 630
I applied an RPU to IAD-DEN-ABQ, my upgrade on cleared on DEN-ABQ which is much shorter than IAD-DEN. am I entitled for an RPU refund?
Mar 20, 2018, 9:32 am
#610
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,361
No. If any segment clears, the RPU is considered to be used. In the future, you can call UA to apply an RPU only to the longer leg; if it clears, you can then call them back to apply it to the shorter leg also.
Mar 28, 2018, 6:35 pm
#611
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
RPU Glitch?
Curious if anyone has any experience with this....
This morning I booked a round trip from San Francisco to Chicago through United.com. Once the itinerary was ticketed and confirmed, I logged in and applied my last remaining RPU to the SFO-ORD leg where I was waitlisted. (I know it was my last one because I received four this year - I've used one, two are waitlisted still, and this was the 4th RPU.) A few hours later, I found out that I would not be taking the return flight (ORD-SFO) as I had other work travel, so I logged into United.com and canceled the return segment.
After cancelling the return segment, the RPU that I applied to the outbound is showing as having been redeposited into my account, but my flight is still showing as being waitlisted. The seat-selection tool is even showing two tabs - the one for my economy seat and the one for my waitlisted seat.
To confirm that the redeposit wasn't just a phantom number, I went to another existing reservation and was able to apply my freshly redeposited RPU to a separate reservation. I'm about to book a PS flight and apply this "new" RPU. Did I luck out and get a bonus RPU, or am I missing something?
This morning I booked a round trip from San Francisco to Chicago through United.com. Once the itinerary was ticketed and confirmed, I logged in and applied my last remaining RPU to the SFO-ORD leg where I was waitlisted. (I know it was my last one because I received four this year - I've used one, two are waitlisted still, and this was the 4th RPU.) A few hours later, I found out that I would not be taking the return flight (ORD-SFO) as I had other work travel, so I logged into United.com and canceled the return segment.
After cancelling the return segment, the RPU that I applied to the outbound is showing as having been redeposited into my account, but my flight is still showing as being waitlisted. The seat-selection tool is even showing two tabs - the one for my economy seat and the one for my waitlisted seat.
To confirm that the redeposit wasn't just a phantom number, I went to another existing reservation and was able to apply my freshly redeposited RPU to a separate reservation. I'm about to book a PS flight and apply this "new" RPU. Did I luck out and get a bonus RPU, or am I missing something?
Mar 28, 2018, 9:03 pm
#612
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: 66,769
....
After cancelling the return segment, the RPU that I applied to the outbound is showing as having been redeposited into my account, but my flight is still showing as being waitlisted. The seat-selection tool is even showing two tabs - the one for my economy seat and the one for my waitlisted seat.
After cancelling the return segment, the RPU that I applied to the outbound is showing as having been redeposited into my account, but my flight is still showing as being waitlisted. The seat-selection tool is even showing two tabs - the one for my economy seat and the one for my waitlisted seat.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...requested.html
Mar 29, 2018, 12:31 pm
#613
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,392
I think you have an "extra" RPU due to the glitch, but UA can and does do audits close to departure to make sure that upgrades are in fact supported, so you run the risk of getting kicked back to Y if the ORD upgrade does clear and you don't have an RPU to cover it.
Mar 29, 2018, 7:48 pm
#614
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,416
Mar 30, 2018, 12:06 pm
#615
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,392
I think I've only heard of GPUs and int'l, but it's probably worth being aware of either way. Bottom line is that UA reserves the right to come back and fix their mistake, so I wouldn't consider it "gotten away with" until both upgraded segments are flown.