Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Until 18 Oct 2018, upgrade space for RPU/GPUs was "R" ("PN" for GS), starting 19 Oct 2018 "R" has been replaced by "PZ"
Changes to UA's Fare Classes (19-20 October 2018)
"R" upgrade / fare class is missing! (replaced by PZ)
Changes to UA's Fare Classes (19-20 October 2018)
"R" upgrade / fare class is missing! (replaced by PZ)
When using Expert to find upgrade space, check segments individually because checking multiple segments may defaults to reporting the less inventory (such as zero) of any segment for the multi-segment result
R / PZ Avail changes depending on how you search flights
Segments clear individually based on their upgrade space
UA provides Advance Search options for Mileage Upgrades or GPUs or RPUs -- There are complications with those searches, so if used to find space best to just record the flights and then book without the extra search options.
If you expect for an upgrade to clear after booking and it does not, remember you can cancel within 24 hours with no cancellation fee.
There are no tools available for searching for more than one day or one route at a time. UA has blocked any attempts by third parties to provides such tools,
Ways to search for upgrade space at booking?
#61
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,362
^
There's a whole thread on it: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...atus-tool.html
There's a whole thread on it: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...atus-tool.html
#62
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: NYC - EWR preferred
Programs: United 1k, Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 23
How to use GPU
Maybe I'm doing this wrong but I have used advanced search to search and search but I can't find ANY guaranteed (ie not waitlist) GPU availability. Tried different dates, routes etc and no dice.
Again maybe i'm not understanding but why would I buy up to a more expensive fare for the privilege of getting on a waitlist? Seems like you could spend ALOT more for the upgradable fare (several hundred dollars) only to not be granted the upgrade?
They seem to have very little value
Again maybe i'm not understanding but why would I buy up to a more expensive fare for the privilege of getting on a waitlist? Seems like you could spend ALOT more for the upgradable fare (several hundred dollars) only to not be granted the upgrade?
They seem to have very little value
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,807
There has been a lot of discussion on this topic. My experience is if you plan ahead, well ahead, it increases your chance of finding seats for a GPU.
Buying a higher fare (W and beyond) is a gamble, but I’d say I’ve cleared into the front cabin about 60 to 70% of the time.
Buying a higher fare (W and beyond) is a gamble, but I’d say I’ve cleared into the front cabin about 60 to 70% of the time.
#65
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Maybe I'm doing this wrong but I have used advanced search to search and search but I can't find ANY guaranteed (ie not waitlist) GPU availability. Tried different dates, routes etc and no dice.
Again maybe i'm not understanding but why would I buy up to a more expensive fare for the privilege of getting on a waitlist? Seems like you could spend ALOT more for the upgradable fare (several hundred dollars) only to not be granted the upgrade?
They seem to have very little value
Again maybe i'm not understanding but why would I buy up to a more expensive fare for the privilege of getting on a waitlist? Seems like you could spend ALOT more for the upgradable fare (several hundred dollars) only to not be granted the upgrade?
They seem to have very little value
#66
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Maybe I'm doing this wrong but I have used advanced search to search and search but I can't find ANY guaranteed (ie not waitlist) GPU availability. Tried different dates, routes etc and no dice.
Again maybe i'm not understanding but why would I buy up to a more expensive fare for the privilege of getting on a waitlist? Seems like you could spend ALOT more for the upgradable fare (several hundred dollars) only to not be granted the upgrade?
They seem to have very little value
Again maybe i'm not understanding but why would I buy up to a more expensive fare for the privilege of getting on a waitlist? Seems like you could spend ALOT more for the upgradable fare (several hundred dollars) only to not be granted the upgrade?
They seem to have very little value
#67
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,362
======
United PolarisSM business Upgrade Standby List:
United PolarisSM business: 50 Booked: 45 Checked In: 0
======
On this flight the seatmap shows 11 seats empty, and flight status shows 45 of 50 booked. With some monitoring over the week before the flight, with these data-points, my prediction rate is almost 100% of whether the GPU will clear or not.
I say almost, because with flights such as in this example it is a tad difficult, and I may end up #1 on the upgrade list and fly in E+!
United PolarisSM business Upgrade Standby List:
United PolarisSM business: 50 Booked: 45 Checked In: 0
======
On this flight the seatmap shows 11 seats empty, and flight status shows 45 of 50 booked. With some monitoring over the week before the flight, with these data-points, my prediction rate is almost 100% of whether the GPU will clear or not.
I say almost, because with flights such as in this example it is a tad difficult, and I may end up #1 on the upgrade list and fly in E+!
#68
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,621
Per other comments flexibility is key, I have never had a GPU clear at booking and for that matter rarely in advance but I don't have much flexibility in my travel times (ie. rarely fly TCONs mid week). I have basically zero flexibility as to where I am going.
Last edited by nomad420; Mar 11, 2019 at 3:20 pm Reason: added correction
#69
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 1
How can I know before booking an upgrade-eligible, economy ticket, that I will be able to apply a RPU/GPU after booking and immediately confirm the upgrade rather than be wait listed? I've been a 1K for the past 5ish years, but I've never been able to figure this out. I believe the secret may be in using the 'Expert Mode' (which I've done) to search and view available fare classes. The problem is, I don't know which fare classes to look for that would indicate an auto-upgrade is available. PZ seems the most likely since that's what Platinum and 1Ks are upgraded into. It doesn't tell you the % of open seats though and I don't see a published threshold for auto upgrade when using a GPU.
For example, I'm looking at flying EWR > ATH (Athens, Greece) on 9/10/2019. Focusing in on flight UA124 (EWR > ATH), I can see availability in the following fare classes:
J9, JN9, C9, D5, Z0, ZN0, P0, PN0, PZ0, IN0, I0, Y9, YN9, B9, M9, E9, U9, H9, HN9, Q9, V9, W9, S9, T9, L0, K0, G0, N9, XN0, X0
I would be booking with cash into the W fare class and then looking to use the GPU to upgrade to what I think would be PZ0. Is there any way to know before booking that W fare economy ticket that it is immediately upgradeable to Business? I called the 1K line and the agent didn't know. She called up another person who also only had basic information like which economy fare classes are upgrade-eligible, etc. Help!
For example, I'm looking at flying EWR > ATH (Athens, Greece) on 9/10/2019. Focusing in on flight UA124 (EWR > ATH), I can see availability in the following fare classes:
J9, JN9, C9, D5, Z0, ZN0, P0, PN0, PZ0, IN0, I0, Y9, YN9, B9, M9, E9, U9, H9, HN9, Q9, V9, W9, S9, T9, L0, K0, G0, N9, XN0, X0
I would be booking with cash into the W fare class and then looking to use the GPU to upgrade to what I think would be PZ0. Is there any way to know before booking that W fare economy ticket that it is immediately upgradeable to Business? I called the 1K line and the agent didn't know. She called up another person who also only had basic information like which economy fare classes are upgrade-eligible, etc. Help!
#70
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
For example, I'm looking at flying EWR > ATH (Athens, Greece) on 9/10/2019. Focusing in on flight UA124 (EWR > ATH), I can see availability in the following fare classes:
J9, JN9, C9, D5, Z0, ZN0, P0, PN0, PZ0, IN0, I0, Y9, YN9, B9, M9, E9, U9, H9, HN9, Q9, V9, W9, S9, T9, L0, K0, G0, N9, XN0, X0
I would be booking with cash into the W fare class and then looking to use the GPU to upgrade to what I think would be PZ0. Is there any way to know before booking that W fare economy ticket that it is immediately upgradeable to Business? I called the 1K line and the agent didn't know. She called up another person who also only had basic information like which economy fare classes are upgrade-eligible, etc. Help!
J9, JN9, C9, D5, Z0, ZN0, P0, PN0, PZ0, IN0, I0, Y9, YN9, B9, M9, E9, U9, H9, HN9, Q9, V9, W9, S9, T9, L0, K0, G0, N9, XN0, X0
I would be booking with cash into the W fare class and then looking to use the GPU to upgrade to what I think would be PZ0. Is there any way to know before booking that W fare economy ticket that it is immediately upgradeable to Business? I called the 1K line and the agent didn't know. She called up another person who also only had basic information like which economy fare classes are upgrade-eligible, etc. Help!
It appears that you have the process correct. PZ is the inventory bucket that you need. You have to search the nonstop by itself, which it appears that you've done.
Because PZ is zero, your upgrade would be waitlisted. If you saw PZ >= the number of people traveling, your upgrades would clear immediately.
#71
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,621
How can I know before booking an upgrade-eligible, economy ticket, that I will be able to apply a RPU/GPU after booking and immediately confirm the upgrade rather than be wait listed? I've been a 1K for the past 5ish years, but I've never been able to figure this out. I believe the secret may be in using the 'Expert Mode' (which I've done) to search and view available fare classes. The problem is, I don't know which fare classes to look for that would indicate an auto-upgrade is available. PZ seems the most likely since that's what Platinum and 1Ks are upgraded into. It doesn't tell you the % of open seats though and I don't see a published threshold for auto upgrade when using a GPU.
For example, I'm looking at flying EWR > ATH (Athens, Greece) on 9/10/2019. Focusing in on flight UA124 (EWR > ATH), I can see availability in the following fare classes:
J9, JN9, C9, D5, Z0, ZN0, P0, PN0, PZ0, IN0, I0, Y9, YN9, B9, M9, E9, U9, H9, HN9, Q9, V9, W9, S9, T9, L0, K0, G0, N9, XN0, X0
I would be booking with cash into the W fare class and then looking to use the GPU to upgrade to what I think would be PZ0. Is there any way to know before booking that W fare economy ticket that it is immediately upgradeable to Business? I called the 1K line and the agent didn't know. She called up another person who also only had basic information like which economy fare classes are upgrade-eligible, etc. Help!
For example, I'm looking at flying EWR > ATH (Athens, Greece) on 9/10/2019. Focusing in on flight UA124 (EWR > ATH), I can see availability in the following fare classes:
J9, JN9, C9, D5, Z0, ZN0, P0, PN0, PZ0, IN0, I0, Y9, YN9, B9, M9, E9, U9, H9, HN9, Q9, V9, W9, S9, T9, L0, K0, G0, N9, XN0, X0
I would be booking with cash into the W fare class and then looking to use the GPU to upgrade to what I think would be PZ0. Is there any way to know before booking that W fare economy ticket that it is immediately upgradeable to Business? I called the 1K line and the agent didn't know. She called up another person who also only had basic information like which economy fare classes are upgrade-eligible, etc. Help!
You can play the W fare game (as it appears you are) and it looks like a good number of F seats remain but you are still a few months out. EWR to ATH in the beginning of September could be tough. Curious as to what others think your odd are. I'll go slightly better than 50%.
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pasadena, California
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
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#73
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,621
Ahhh, didn't even look at the day but oh yeah that will definitely help. Perhaps that now raises me up to 75% success rate :-).... Thanks!
#74
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
I don't know. There are too many 0s: Z0, P0, PN0, PZ0. September is still high season for travel to Greece. Three months and a half to go and Business is sold 20/39. And with those numbers there must be some GS and 1Ks already waitlisted.
#75
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
If it's booked 20/39, this far in advance, the chance for a waitlisted 1K upgrade to clear is near zero.