GS - premium companion upgrade, now I need to switch flights...
Feb 4, 2019, 10:29 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: More than I care to have, but never the ones I need.
Posts: 259
GS - premium companion upgrade, now I need to switch flights...
For a United operated trans-pacific flight where I am booked in full fare business, I called the GS line about a month ago to have a companion (booked with points) upgraded to business. Since J>2 after the upgrade, it went through no problem. Now, I need to fly to the same destination 3 days earlier, but my companion still needs to fly on the original date. How does this work with the companion upgrade? Do I just not mention it when I switch my flight and hope they don't notice? Will they catch it and refund the GPU? I know that the upgrade is a manual process, so I have no idea what happens when I switch flights...
Feb 4, 2019, 10:36 am
#2
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 would just not mention it when you change your flight and I would expect your companion to be okay. As long as it's a legitimate change for you and you don't make a pattern of it, everything should be ok.
Feb 4, 2019, 12:16 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: JAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold MM, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,770
I have no knowledge of GS upgrades, but I though I read that GS can apply GPU to award ticket for upgrade, and it doesn't have to be a companion on same flight.
Feb 4, 2019, 12:20 pm
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
If this is based on companion status, it should "stick" so long as there are no changes to the friend's routing. While this is easy enough to control if the changes are voluntary, it also applies to involuntary reroutes. UA's IT architecture does not go hunting to downgrade people, but it also won't rebook if the situation arises.
If this is a GPU not dependent on your flying, then it should not matter in the least.
If this is a GPU not dependent on your flying, then it should not matter in the least.
Feb 4, 2019, 12:50 pm
#5
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: 3,614
My understanding this wasn't a GPU applied. It is a perk where if GS pays full biz and J>2 he can get a companion an immediate upgrade IF on the same itinerary. But yes it is my understanding that if a GS gifts an instrument (GPU/RPU/MILES) It clears into PN space no matter who it goes to. I am new to this as well so if this is incorrect please let me know.
Feb 4, 2019, 12:52 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,361
My understanding this wasn't a GPU applied. It is a perk where if GS pays full biz and J>2 he can get a companion an immediate upgrade IF on the same itinerary. But yes it is my understanding that if a GS gifts an instrument (GPU/RPU/MILES) It clears into PN space no matter who it goes to. I am new to this as well so if this is incorrect please let me know.
Feb 4, 2019, 1:03 pm
#7
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: 3,614
Feb 4, 2019, 1:58 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
Technically the companion will no longer qualify for the guaranteed upgrade, but based on personal experience with precisely the same scenario I believe that your companion will be fine.
Feb 4, 2019, 3:06 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: More than I care to have, but never the ones I need.
Posts: 259
Some clarification...
Companion was booked using my points for an economy saver + my GPU. The GPU waitlisted, but since I was in paid business on the same flight, I called and asked them to push through the GPU as a companion... which is a manual process.
Thanks for all the feedback, we are still a month out, so I'll try to remember to come back and report what happened.
Companion was booked using my points for an economy saver + my GPU. The GPU waitlisted, but since I was in paid business on the same flight, I called and asked them to push through the GPU as a companion... which is a manual process.
Thanks for all the feedback, we are still a month out, so I'll try to remember to come back and report what happened.
Feb 4, 2019, 4:12 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,091
100% agree that if this is a one-off situation in which you have changed your itinerary to the same segment, but on an earlier day due to unexpected circumstances, there is absolutely no problem. This couldn't be more different from a scenario where you are booking itineraries without intending to fly them for the sole purpose of obtaining companion benefits and then canceling them.