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Until 18 Oct 2018, upgrade space for RPU/GPUs was "R" ("PN" for GS), starting 19 Oct 2018 "R" has been replaced by "PZ"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?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 90
Ways to search for upgrade space at booking?
Is there a way to check for guaranteed upgrade space for GPUs or RPUs? Basically, do those book into a specific fare class, kinda like "I" is theoretically business class upgrades, thus if you see space in I-class then you can buy an economy and upgrade? I'm happy using the United site or using ExpertFlyer, for the record.
I'm asking because I'm trying to buy a route that is showing 100% availability in the front cabin (2cabin flight, literally no seats are booked yet according to the United sites' seats-available-per-cabin info) but is also showing zero GPU and zero RPU guaranteed seats (it only shows "waitlist").
Caveat: I know there are a bunch of threads on upgrades, I know there are a bunch of threads about EF. I have searched both here in the forums and via Google and I can't find this exact question, so if you know where I can find the answer I'll happily accept a link directly to the answer!
I'm asking because I'm trying to buy a route that is showing 100% availability in the front cabin (2cabin flight, literally no seats are booked yet according to the United sites' seats-available-per-cabin info) but is also showing zero GPU and zero RPU guaranteed seats (it only shows "waitlist").
Caveat: I know there are a bunch of threads on upgrades, I know there are a bunch of threads about EF. I have searched both here in the forums and via Google and I can't find this exact question, so if you know where I can find the answer I'll happily accept a link directly to the answer!
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,028
Is there a way to check for guaranteed upgrade space for GPUs or RPUs? Basically, do those book into a specific fare class, kinda like "I" is theoretically business class upgrades, thus if you see space in I-class then you can buy an economy and upgrade? I'm happy using the United site or using ExpertFlyer, for the record.
I'm asking because I'm trying to buy a route that is showing 100% availability in the front cabin (2cabin flight, literally no seats are booked yet according to the United sites' seats-available-per-cabin info) but is also showing zero GPU and zero RPU guaranteed seats (it only shows "waitlist").
Caveat: I know there are a bunch of threads on upgrades, I know there are a bunch of threads about EF. I have searched both here in the forums and via Google and I can't find this exact question, so if you know where I can find the answer I'll happily accept a link directly to the answer!
I'm asking because I'm trying to buy a route that is showing 100% availability in the front cabin (2cabin flight, literally no seats are booked yet according to the United sites' seats-available-per-cabin info) but is also showing zero GPU and zero RPU guaranteed seats (it only shows "waitlist").
Caveat: I know there are a bunch of threads on upgrades, I know there are a bunch of threads about EF. I have searched both here in the forums and via Google and I can't find this exact question, so if you know where I can find the answer I'll happily accept a link directly to the answer!
Fare classes:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1270547-decoding-alphabet-soup-new-fare-buckets-ua.html
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Nov 24, 2017 at 7:57 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
Is there a way to check for guaranteed upgrade space for GPUs or RPUs? Basically, do those book into a specific fare class, kinda like "I" is theoretically business class upgrades, thus if you see space in I-class then you can buy an economy and upgrade? I'm happy using the United site or using ExpertFlyer, for the record.
I'm asking because I'm trying to buy a route that is showing 100% availability in the front cabin (2cabin flight, literally no seats are booked yet according to the United sites' seats-available-per-cabin info) but is also showing zero GPU and zero RPU guaranteed seats (it only shows "waitlist").
Caveat: I know there are a bunch of threads on upgrades, I know there are a bunch of threads about EF. I have searched both here in the forums and via Google and I can't find this exact question, so if you know where I can find the answer I'll happily accept a link directly to the answer!
I'm asking because I'm trying to buy a route that is showing 100% availability in the front cabin (2cabin flight, literally no seats are booked yet according to the United sites' seats-available-per-cabin info) but is also showing zero GPU and zero RPU guaranteed seats (it only shows "waitlist").
Caveat: I know there are a bunch of threads on upgrades, I know there are a bunch of threads about EF. I have searched both here in the forums and via Google and I can't find this exact question, so if you know where I can find the answer I'll happily accept a link directly to the answer!
Best advice: Be flexible on the dates and you'll find some.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
Also, keep in mind that it’s common for upgrade space to be (even) more restricted on domestic feeder flights than on transoceanic flights. Expert Mode will show you the lowest number of seats applicable to all legs, so make sure you’re searching for flights one at a time when you’re looking for R space.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 90
Sure. Here's the goal, but we're looking at flying in a few days early and there's flexibility to maybe stop over in LAX for a day or two on each end (which is a common stopover, so it doesn't seem to cost anything according to my search).
20170407 IAD->OGG
20170414 OGG->IAD
I've got both RPUs and GPUs. In this case I can use RPU but I was trying to ask the question for the future too - I've come across this because and want to learn how to be smarter about these upgrades that... kinda like lots of folks... I end up not using because I get waitlisted all the time (and never clear the waitlist).
^ this is the solid gold answer I was looking for!
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Why do you say that? I would normally go set an alert for R-class on EF and see if something shows up...
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Neat! I had a different chart saved (locally, not a FT link) that was missing some info. Thanks!
20170407 IAD->OGG
20170414 OGG->IAD
I've got both RPUs and GPUs. In this case I can use RPU but I was trying to ask the question for the future too - I've come across this because and want to learn how to be smarter about these upgrades that... kinda like lots of folks... I end up not using because I get waitlisted all the time (and never clear the waitlist).
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Why do you say that? I would normally go set an alert for R-class on EF and see if something shows up...
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Fare classes:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...uckets-ua.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...uckets-ua.html
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 29, 2019 at 1:41 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
Because nothing will ever show up. EF doesn’t have access to UA’s R inventory, so the alert will never be sent. The best that you can do is to set an alert for I space, as I is generally >= R. But I is even more rare than R is.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 90
Thanks all!
#8
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,672
I forget if you have to switch United.com to advanced mode anymore or not. That used to be required to see R. (Google search if so). From then all you have to do is look at your route on United.com (revenue ticket, not award) while you are logged in, then click the "details" dropdown and you'll see everything listed there. If R is 0 then there is no confirmed space, anything higher than 0, then you can book it then and there and confirm an upgrade as soon as you get a ticket number.
One point to note, if you're looking at an itinerary with multiple segments, then look at your longest segment first by itself. United.com will only show the lowest of all segments on the itinerary, so for example if you have DEN-LAX-OGG, if LAX-OGG has R open but DEN-LAX doesn't, then you'd still see R0 even though you'd clear instantly on LAX-OGG if you bought the ticket and went to the upgrade screen in your reservation.
One point to note, if you're looking at an itinerary with multiple segments, then look at your longest segment first by itself. United.com will only show the lowest of all segments on the itinerary, so for example if you have DEN-LAX-OGG, if LAX-OGG has R open but DEN-LAX doesn't, then you'd still see R0 even though you'd clear instantly on LAX-OGG if you bought the ticket and went to the upgrade screen in your reservation.
#9
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
This is what most of us do as it isn't the same, but it is close and gives a good indicator that it is time to start checking daily, or at least on Sundays that things may be changing for the better.
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,478
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,694
"Golly, we haven't sold any business class seats 6 months in advance, may as well start giving out upgrades." No sense in looking at historical sales curves...
#13
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
Maybe Hipplewm meant setting an alert for P space? If you set an alert for I space, you wouldn’t need to start checking daily, since I being open almost always means that R is open. But a transition from P=0 to P>0 might be an indication that you should start looking for R on a regular basis.
I go to expert flyer and tag all those flights and look for I, X, and P (if not already available) and wait. If I get an email, generally it means they are opening seats - I start looking daily on those flights for R space using United.bomb
is it anal - yes, does it take a fair amount of time - yes, is it worth it to everyone - I dunno, can't answer that. Have i missed possible upgrades, maybe - I can't say as I have been upgraded on every flight so far. Same trick worked to get my whole family upgraded RT IAD-HNL-IAD this summer.
I have used 14 GPU so far, they all cleared. Maybe I just got hella lucky over and over, I dunno
I generally have a very flexible travel schedule though. If you have a much more rigid schedule, there is probably not much you can do.
#14
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Posts: 189
I have written multiple times about GPUs and RPUs in this forum. First of all, United provides these instruments as a result of miles flown by elite members. They are not "free" with respect to United deciding to "give them away". We pay for these multiple times over with our paid tickets. Second, I have also been frustrated with a completely empty business class cabin and no confirmable upgrades months in advance for off-peak travel (London Heathrow from Chicago in February, mid-week). I do not agree that there should not be some confirmable space for upgrades on these flights months ahead. However, that said, I just booked a confirmed GPU on this route two days ago because I checked multiple times weekly about availability since June, 2017. Usually weekend days are the best chance to secure a confirmed upgrade, but I have also had lots of success in the past during the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, which is how I was able to confirm the ORD-LHR GPUs.
#15
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,090
Maybe Hipplewm meant setting an alert for P space? If you set an alert for I space, you wouldn’t need to start checking daily, since I being open almost always means that R is open. But a transition from P=0 to P>0 might be an indication that you should start looking for R on a regular basis.