Do I get an RPU back if I apply it to a BusinessFirst route that fails to clear?
 

Looking at EWR-SFO-HNL flights where EWR-SFO is R0 and SFO-HNL is R positive.

If I apply a GPU and only SFO-HNL clears, do I get the GPU back? It seems to me that the premium cabin on EWR-SFO is called "BusinessFirst" in at least one place on the UA web site, but the premium cabin on SFO-HNL is just called "first".

Then same question for RPU -- if I apply and RPU and only SFO-HNL clears, do I get the RPU back? Similarly it seems to me that the premium cabin on EWR-SFO is called "BusinessFirst" in at least one place on the UA web site, but the premium cabin on SFO-HNL is just called "first".

But I don't know if the special UA t&c for refunding a partially used GPU that touched no BusinessFirst sectors also applies to RPUs.

No & No -- folks have tried and been told no.

There is no such policy for RPUs and UA interpretation of the BF clause only applies to International BF.

I applied one JFK-SFO-HNL and only cleared on SFO-HNL, and I made the argument that since JFK-SFO was both the longer (distance) and more significant (lie flat vs. Hawaii 777) upgrade, that I should get the RPU back. But they said that the overwater leg was the one that mattered.

Not really. If either one cleared and not the other, the RPU is considered used. You either got a wrong answer or you misunderstood a correct answer.

From the RPU rules: "A Regional Premier Upgrade will be considered used if any segment of an itinerary is upgraded and flown." No argument required.

In your case, the overwater leg DID matter, because it was the one that cleared and therefore the RPU is used. If you cleared JFK-SFO and not SFO-HNL, the JFK-SFO would have mattered and the RPU considered used. The only way you get a RPU back is if no segments clear.

Fair enough. Just for purposes of showing what I meant, this was the reply when I asked:

Recently sponsored HNL-DEN-EWR. DEN-EWR cleared and HNL-DEN did not. RPU came back.

Had you split the segments and asked for the RPU to only be applied to hnl to den segment? I have split my RPU and asked to be taken off the waitlist for my shorter segments.

Yeah, the response shows agent was probably thinking of GPUs. Hawaii is (contrary to some agents' belief) domestic and the overwater segment he/she would correctly be referring to is a int'l BF destination. In those cases, the domestic portion is not guaranteed, but if the upgrade does not clear for a int'l BF (overwater) portion of it, the instrument is refunded.

Agents get stuff wrong all the time :)

glad i saw this thread. all along i was under the impression that if your itinerary included a BF segment that didn't clear, you got the RPU back.

looks like i got instrument refund policy confused with MP award upgrade refund policy.

The rules are clear here - YES, you do!

From https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...wupgrades.aspx :

EWR-SFO-HNL includes a segment in BusinessFirst (EWR-SFO), so if that leg doesn't clear you get your GPU back - even if the other leg clears.

This is NOT the case for RPUs.

That's what the rule says but I don't believe we have any confirmation that's how it actually works since they changed ps to a BF route. Until someone reports getting their GPU back, I'd be hesitant to make such a definitive statement.

nope. Applied to both. Did not expect it to come back ... and it was inconsequential ... 3 expired 1/31/16 :(

Even if it doesn't come back automatically, I'd be fairly sure the 1K MP line would refund it. I've never had issues with them in the past for things like this - and the website is fairly clear that you'll get it back.

And remember, none of this is new. p.s. has moved which means more potential for connections at the EWR end, but the old JFK p.s. was exactly the same rules regarding upgrades.

It took me 4 emails but I got my GPU back in December when MIA-EWR cleared but EWR-SFO did not.