Feb 12, 2019, 1:21 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is the archive thread, the active thread is Lufthansa GPUs Go Electronic (How to use, will it clear?, issues w/flight credit,...)
For general information on upgrading ANA or Lufthansa flights with a GPU, see Upgrading Flights Operated by ANA or Lufthansa. You actually request the upgrade through the online form, here: Request a GPU for a Select Partner Airline.
Per United web support, you only need to fill in the required* info.
**The LH flight you are upgrading must be an LH flight, not a UA codeshare flight. If you have a UA codeshare flight, you can call websupport and they will (put you on hold and] change your itinerary to one with an LH flight#.
Note that UA websupport might give you a new ticket # when you do the above, but if the original ticket # was 016 UA stock, it will remain so, and thus you will still be earning RDMs at the UA rate (11x for a 1K), not the *A rate. In case of a $6000 biz fare for LAX-FRA that you are trying to upgrade to F for example, as a 1K you would earn 66,000 UA RDM if booked as a UA flight. And even though after booking you get them to change the UA flight # from a UA codeshare flight to an LH flight, the 016 ticket stock sticks, and you earn 66,000 RDMs.
(FYI, had the ticket stock been an LH stock, the RDM's earned would be 5790 miles x 150% = 8685 RDMs. Big difference)
Note that sometimes the online upgrading does not work, and you may get an error message to call an 877 number, which is now defunct but still resides on .bomb...Ignore it and just call web support. They might put you on hold while they call LH but they will get the job done.
Eligible Economy Fares to Apply a GPU
Upgradeable to business fares include U/H/Q the lowest eligible economy fares. G&E the two top premium economy fares and Y/B/M the most expensive economy fares. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24219165-post205.html)
LH booking class P, Z upgreadable for miles and eVouchers
Appears this also applies to use of UA GPUs IF booked as native flight number on LH or UA ticket stock.
Presently UA is not converting codeshare to native flight numbers, as required for this process, if P or Z fare From April to September 2018 it was possible to confirm and waitlist P ,Z-class LH flights with a GPU. Confirming and waitlisting is no now longer possible, but previously waitlisted segments will continue to clear as/if available.
Checking for Upgrade Availability
Upgrades to E, C and F come from the N, I and O fare bucket, but its a subset, which theoretically is not the same as the award subset. If awards are available it is a strong indication the upgrade is available too. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24861289-post342.html)
In case of upgrade clearing but eticket refresh problems:
Checking for availability prior to calling
Use ANA or even united.com to see availability.
To check if C/F upgrades may open up, ask in this thread: Determining LH Y/C/F loads? [the help me guesstimate loads thread]
Regarding ticket stock, Oliver reports:
Each LH flight segment requires a separate GPU
A single GPU can be used to only upgrade a single LH flight segment, And that GPU cannot be extended to include another LH flight segment or another UA flight segment.
Problems getting mileage credit for upgraded LH segments
Numerous reports of denial of mileage credits (RDMs, PQMs, PQSs, PQDs) for upgraded tickets. This issue is probably due to LH uses the same fare bucket for mileage awards and upgrades. It seems patience, persistence, and documentation of the originally paid fare are needed to get credit.
You probably won't get credit by simply submitting the online form or asking a CSR to do so for you. A CSR needs to submit a System Issue Form, together with the mileage request, explaining that you flew in I class, but you paid for a mileage-earning booking class.
T-10
While the original system did not allow the upgrade waitlist to carry on past t-10 hours, the have been multiple reports that this is no longer the case. If not cleared in advance - the upgrade wait-list will last all the way until the door closing. UA has not updated the text on the LH GPU upgrades to reflect this change.
Archive Thread: Lufthansa GPUs Go Electronic {Archive}
Related Thread
How to upgrade with UA miles on Star Alliance carriers
For general information on upgrading ANA or Lufthansa flights with a GPU, see Upgrading Flights Operated by ANA or Lufthansa. You actually request the upgrade through the online form, here: Request a GPU for a Select Partner Airline.
Per United web support, you only need to fill in the required* info.
**The LH flight you are upgrading must be an LH flight, not a UA codeshare flight. If you have a UA codeshare flight, you can call websupport and they will (put you on hold and] change your itinerary to one with an LH flight#.
Note that UA websupport might give you a new ticket # when you do the above, but if the original ticket # was 016 UA stock, it will remain so, and thus you will still be earning RDMs at the UA rate (11x for a 1K), not the *A rate. In case of a $6000 biz fare for LAX-FRA that you are trying to upgrade to F for example, as a 1K you would earn 66,000 UA RDM if booked as a UA flight. And even though after booking you get them to change the UA flight # from a UA codeshare flight to an LH flight, the 016 ticket stock sticks, and you earn 66,000 RDMs.
(FYI, had the ticket stock been an LH stock, the RDM's earned would be 5790 miles x 150% = 8685 RDMs. Big difference)
Note that sometimes the online upgrading does not work, and you may get an error message to call an 877 number, which is now defunct but still resides on .bomb...Ignore it and just call web support. They might put you on hold while they call LH but they will get the job done.
Eligible Economy Fares to Apply a GPU
Upgradeable to business fares include U/H/Q the lowest eligible economy fares. G&E the two top premium economy fares and Y/B/M the most expensive economy fares. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24219165-post205.html)
While UA has not changed their T&Cs, LH appears to have expanded the potential fare classes
For C->F upgrade, J, D, C fares are eligible, Z and P fares are not. ... Just check the tables here: https://www.miles-and-more.com/onlin...l=en&cid=18002
Appears this also applies to use of UA GPUs IF booked as native flight number on LH or UA ticket stock.
Presently UA is not converting codeshare to native flight numbers, as required for this process, if P or Z fare
Checking for Upgrade Availability
Upgrades to E, C and F come from the N, I and O fare bucket, but its a subset, which theoretically is not the same as the award subset. If awards are available it is a strong indication the upgrade is available too. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24861289-post342.html)
In case of upgrade clearing but eticket refresh problems:
Originally Posted by oliver2002
Both longhaul LH segments cleared into I after being on waitlist . The first didnt get stickered, so the DCS ( amadeus altea ) rejected online and agent checkin . The eticket helpdesk had to manually update the first coupon for the DCS to accept the coupon. My seat in C was safe, since the PNR was updated correctly, just the ticket was not updated completely to the satisfaction of the DCS. Everyone looking at the booking agreed the upgrade was legit, so you will not be denied boarding or downgraded, just budget enough time
Originally Posted by oliver2002
The LH GA must have called the eticket helpdesk and pointed out the * SSR remark in your reservation that shows an upgrade was applied and the e-ticket just needed a fix/sticker. See my experience above.
To check if C/F upgrades may open up, ask in this thread: Determining LH Y/C/F loads? [the help me guesstimate loads thread]
Regarding ticket stock, Oliver reports:
Each LH flight segment requires a separate GPU
A single GPU can be used to only upgrade a single LH flight segment, And that GPU cannot be extended to include another LH flight segment or another UA flight segment.
Problems getting mileage credit for upgraded LH segments
Numerous reports of denial of mileage credits (RDMs, PQMs, PQSs, PQDs) for upgraded tickets. This issue is probably due to LH uses the same fare bucket for mileage awards and upgrades. It seems patience, persistence, and documentation of the originally paid fare are needed to get credit.
You probably won't get credit by simply submitting the online form or asking a CSR to do so for you. A CSR needs to submit a System Issue Form, together with the mileage request, explaining that you flew in I class, but you paid for a mileage-earning booking class.
T-10
While the original system did not allow the upgrade waitlist to carry on past t-10 hours, the have been multiple reports that this is no longer the case. If not cleared in advance - the upgrade wait-list will last all the way until the door closing. UA has not updated the text on the LH GPU upgrades to reflect this change.
Archive Thread: Lufthansa GPUs Go Electronic {Archive}
Related Thread
How to upgrade with UA miles on Star Alliance carriers
Lufthansa GPUs Go Electronic {Archive}
Dec 19, 2014, 9:56 pm
#136
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
Remember if flying ex Germany you can battle a fair bit more than when leaving the US or ex Asia. Calls to sanity, honour, and trust are in order!
Dec 19, 2014, 10:03 pm
#137
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: IAH
Programs: UA nada, Hyatt Disc, Hilton Gold
Posts: 846
I'd like to think you'll have an easier time clearing into business class, but I'm not sure when LH will run the lists.
Dec 24, 2014, 3:16 pm
#138
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Kaiserslautern
Programs: UA G 1.9MM, HH Diamond, Global Entry
Posts: 439
Cleared
Just went through the process, took about 30 minutes with the SA desk. I have a Y fare FRA to IAH. It was a UA code share, she changed it to a pure LH ticket, the ticket remained a 016. However, it waitlisted, hoped as a Y flare it would have cleared.
Any opinion on when LH starts clearing the waitlist? The flight is 10 Jan.
Any opinion on when LH starts clearing the waitlist? The flight is 10 Jan.
Dec 24, 2014, 3:53 pm
#139
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: IAH
Programs: UA nada, Hyatt Disc, Hilton Gold
Posts: 846
I was also not allowed to pick a seat until check-in, even though my GPU cleared about 36 hours in advance of the flight. Not sure why. I had two LH flights on this particular itinerary (MAN-FRA and FRA-IAH) and had no issues picking a seat on the first flight but wasn't allowed to make a seat assignment on the second even before my GPU cleared.
Dec 24, 2014, 11:27 pm
#140
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: UA 1k, AA EXPLT, NZ GE, VA PLT Hyatt Diam, Marr Plat, HH Diam
Posts: 3,445
Quick note: it's my understanding that "waitlists" can't be made <24h before a UA flight (for flights showing no UPG space), but if the UPG space is or becomes available <24h, then a GPU can be pulled and used.
Dec 25, 2014, 1:04 pm
#141
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,162
I was also not allowed to pick a seat until check-in, even though my GPU cleared about 36 hours in advance of the flight. Not sure why. I had two LH flights on this particular itinerary (MAN-FRA and FRA-IAH) and had no issues picking a seat on the first flight but wasn't allowed to make a seat assignment on the second even before my GPU cleared.
Dec 25, 2014, 1:45 pm
#142
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,344
Short of reading an entire 10 page thread, was the issue of the one-cabin upgrade resolved? Do you upgrade from E to PE or E to J on flights that are PE equipped? PE=Prem Econ
Thanks,
RM
Thanks,
RM
Dec 25, 2014, 2:08 pm
#143
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,162
Its Y to C cabin at this point. LH doesn't have an award fare bucket for E (yet).
Dec 30, 2014, 12:23 pm
#144
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
Hoping to get some questions answered from people here with knowledge or experience with the new electronic GPUs. Mainly because my travel plans are always very fluid/last minute.
1)When is the GPU deducted from the account - when waitlisted, when cleared, or when flown?
1a) If it is when waitlisted or cleared, what is the process if the waitlisted(or upgraded) flight needs to be changed or cancelled? Does the cert go back into the account automatically? Do I need to call the *A number and first have the upgrade removed and then call my corporate TA to change/cancel the ticket? Or can they not be returned?
2) When the UA codeshare is converted to the LH flight number, does that mean LH takes control of the ticket (I believe somebody already answered that it stays a 016 ticket, but since my travel has to be booked/changed through Amex business travel, worried this might screw up being able to change other segments at a later date). ANybody have any experience changing a ticket after the upgraded segment was flown?
1)When is the GPU deducted from the account - when waitlisted, when cleared, or when flown?
1a) If it is when waitlisted or cleared, what is the process if the waitlisted(or upgraded) flight needs to be changed or cancelled? Does the cert go back into the account automatically? Do I need to call the *A number and first have the upgrade removed and then call my corporate TA to change/cancel the ticket? Or can they not be returned?
2) When the UA codeshare is converted to the LH flight number, does that mean LH takes control of the ticket (I believe somebody already answered that it stays a 016 ticket, but since my travel has to be booked/changed through Amex business travel, worried this might screw up being able to change other segments at a later date). ANybody have any experience changing a ticket after the upgraded segment was flown?
Dec 30, 2014, 12:58 pm
#145
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: UA Premier 1K: PlAAtinum; DL SM, MM; Marriott Gold; CO Plat Emeritus; NW Plat Emeritus
Posts: 4,776
Dec 30, 2014, 3:23 pm
#146
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BOM-SIN-EWR
Programs: UA*G (1K again), Sixt Plat, *was*: SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG, LH SEN, AA EXP, 9wPlat
Posts: 8,606
2) When the UA codeshare is converted to the LH flight number, does that mean LH takes control of the ticket (I believe somebody already answered that it stays a 016 ticket, but since my travel has to be booked/changed through Amex business travel, worried this might screw up being able to change other segments at a later date). ANybody have any experience changing a ticket after the upgraded segment was flown?
Earlier I was able to have United reissue tickets with the LH flight number and then upgrade using LH miles. (A slightly different scenario)
However, on this occasion, I booked into D-class on .bomb and asked United to initially change the flight from a codeshare to an LH flight number and then checked on the LH website to assign a seat.
Didn't work. I then called LH and they stated that they couldn't see the ticket and told me to tell United to reissue it. This went on and on (UA continually reissuing), and I simply got tired of this and canceled the ticket.
When I asked to cancel the ticket, the agent practically accused me of trying to manipulate the PNR due to the many times it was reissued, making snide comments all the time...
Eventually flew UA metal direct instead of dealing with LH flights via Germany...
Now, I'm not sure how the electronic GPU system would work - but I hope some of us are successful in doing so - please post your experiences here.
I wonder if the upgrades process immediately if I-class shows as available on ANA or AC as awards available.
Edited to Add:
On another ticket, just spoke to United and apparently they state that they cannot change any flights into LH flight numbers after the first segment is flown (UA stock, first flight on UA metal, UA flight number) - so one should watch this. (Was trying to reroute via FRA on LH flight numbers (LH metal) which had lower economy buckets, but United wanted to sell B-class on their codeshares! Grrr...
)Interesting that United's agents do not specify that they are selling you on the codeshare rather than on the LH flight numbers - had to be transferred to someone else to get this info.
(Maybe the moral of the story would be to book on LH ticket stock if you are flying LH metal and use the UA GPUs then, else you are trying your luck! @:-) )
Last edited by SuperFlyBoy; Dec 30, 2014 at 3:56 pm
Dec 30, 2014, 3:43 pm
#147
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: PANC
Programs: Mileage Plan
Posts: 444
So has anyone actually gotten this to work by the typical online channgels (i.e. no call-in for codeshare issues)? I don't think that I have seen any accounts yet.
Dec 31, 2014, 1:39 pm
#148
Join Date: Jul 2003
Programs: UA1K 3MM, AS MVP 75K Gold
Posts: 2,706
I tried again today and same error message. The message said to call Lufthansa and they said you can only upgrade at the gate.
Go figure.
Jan 6, 2015, 12:58 pm
#149
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
Hoping to get some questions answered from people here with knowledge or experience with the new electronic GPUs. Mainly because my travel plans are always very fluid/last minute.
1)When is the GPU deducted from the account - when waitlisted, when cleared, or when flown?
1a) If it is when waitlisted or cleared, what is the process if the waitlisted(or upgraded) flight needs to be changed or cancelled? Does the cert go back into the account automatically? Do I need to call the *A number and first have the upgrade removed and then call my corporate TA to change/cancel the ticket? Or can they not be returned?
2) When the UA codeshare is converted to the LH flight number, does that mean LH takes control of the ticket (I believe somebody already answered that it stays a 016 ticket, but since my travel has to be booked/changed through Amex business travel, worried this might screw up being able to change other segments at a later date). Anybody have any experience changing a ticket after the upgraded segment was flown?
1)When is the GPU deducted from the account - when waitlisted, when cleared, or when flown?
1a) If it is when waitlisted or cleared, what is the process if the waitlisted(or upgraded) flight needs to be changed or cancelled? Does the cert go back into the account automatically? Do I need to call the *A number and first have the upgrade removed and then call my corporate TA to change/cancel the ticket? Or can they not be returned?
2) When the UA codeshare is converted to the LH flight number, does that mean LH takes control of the ticket (I believe somebody already answered that it stays a 016 ticket, but since my travel has to be booked/changed through Amex business travel, worried this might screw up being able to change other segments at a later date). Anybody have any experience changing a ticket after the upgraded segment was flown?
1)Based on http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...wupgrades.aspx, the GPU is deducted when waitlisted.
1a) Would love some experience here, but the website says "Changes to a segment that is on the waitlist will result in a waitlist cancellation and re-deposit of the Global Premier Upgrade to the account from which it was withdrawn." so it sounds automatic.
2) On the phone with the UA *A desk right now - supposedly UA has to take control of the ticket to make the change, so won't be able to go through my work TA now (we'll see how this works out if I need to make a change on my return).
However, the website does say "f your reservation contains multiple flight segments, changes to or cancellations of other flight segments will not affect the confirmed upgrade or waitlist status."
SuperFlyBoy - sounds like a mess. I'm glad I booked my return as the the LH flight numbers so hopefully I can avoid that whole mess in the first place. My flight is fully refundable so any problems, and I'll cancel.
Jan 6, 2015, 1:15 pm
#150
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: CO
Programs: UA OG-1K, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,360
So if I want to plan my trips DEN-FRA-XXX-FRA-DEN all on LH metal and want to get the PQM and PQD, I need a 016 ticket. If I have a 016 ticket I need to call in to get the GPU applied. If I want to use the online GPU application, I need to have it in LH codes- but can this be on an 016 ticket? If it is a LH (020?) ticket, I won't get PQM and PQD, right?
Can I book the ticket as a 016 with UA codeshares for the LH flights, and then get it changed to LH flt numbers to do the application of the GPUs online?
If I use a travel agent, does this get any more or less complex? Work is mandating using a travel agent for INT flights.
Can I book the ticket as a 016 with UA codeshares for the LH flights, and then get it changed to LH flt numbers to do the application of the GPUs online?
If I use a travel agent, does this get any more or less complex? Work is mandating using a travel agent for INT flights.