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}
#1501
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA MM GS, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 520
Has anyone had any luck in the last couple of days?
I am trying to upgrade native LH flight numbers and am only getting the error:
Calling won't probably help. since those are P fares....
I am trying to upgrade native LH flight numbers and am only getting the error:
We have experienced a technical problem. If you have not received this message before, please try your request again. If you have received this error previously or are traveling on a codeshare flight with a United flight number, please call 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) within the U.S. or Canada, elsewhere call your local Customer Contact Center. (Error code: 118)
#1503
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA 1K MM,Marriott platinum,ihg spire
Posts: 146
availability FRA-BKK
Hi,
I am booked FRA-BKK on 10/28 with return on 11/3 in premium economy (booking class E). Applied GPU some time ago.
Still waitlisted at this point, what are the chances for clearing these ?
I am booked FRA-BKK on 10/28 with return on 11/3 in premium economy (booking class E). Applied GPU some time ago.
Still waitlisted at this point, what are the chances for clearing these ?
#1504
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 102
Funny thing is that last night I got the same error.
#1505
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYD
Programs: UA GS, BA Gold, Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, IHG Gold, National Exec Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,419
So it appears that the UA-LH link is working again. I now get the message below for a LH flight that departs in ~32 days. The flight is currently F3. Any ideas of what's going on here?
No upgrade space or waitlist available
There's no upgrade space or waitlist available for this flight, so you cannot request a Global Premier Upgrade. You may try requesting an upgrade for another.
#1506
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 102
So it appears that the UA-LH link is working again. I now get the message below for a LH flight that departs in ~32 days. The flight is currently F3. Any ideas of what's going on here?
No upgrade space or waitlist available
There's no upgrade space or waitlist available for this flight, so you cannot request a Global Premier Upgrade. You may try requesting an upgrade for another.
#1507
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYD
Programs: UA GS, BA Gold, Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, IHG Gold, National Exec Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,419
I see. Even though there is no upgrade space, I assumed there would always be an upgrade list for waitlisting. Does LH only open up the waitlist at a certain point? About 2 weeks before departure?
#1508
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 102
I’m not certain - but I would imagine that based on availability they open up the waitlist at a certain point that likely varies based on passenger loads - I’d just keep trying you have plenty of time....
#1509
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
https://servicehub.amadeus.com/c/por...tlist-a-flight
When a class of service in an Availability display shows 0 or L, you can book a waitlist.
#1510
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX HON Circle
Posts: 3,254
Just cleared LH SIN-FRA and FRA-MEX from biz (C) to F. First flight is in 2 weeks, the second in 2 months. Upgrades had been on WL for about a week. Since nothing happened I called LH SEN line and they manually cleared it.
For the record the first flight was F3A0 and the second F8A? when it cleared.
For the record the first flight was F3A0 and the second F8A? when it cleared.
#1511
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,074
Just cleared LH SIN-FRA and FRA-MEX from biz (C) to F. First flight is in 2 weeks, the second in 2 months. Upgrades had been on WL for about a week. Since nothing happened I called LH SEN line and they manually cleared it.
For the record the first flight was F3A0 and the second F8A? when it cleared.
For the record the first flight was F3A0 and the second F8A? when it cleared.
#1512
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX HON Circle
Posts: 3,254
I believe that booking classes help a lot. Maybe it is just my feeling but whenever I am on a C or J fare my upgrades clear almost 100%. The other day I was on a J fare SIN-ZRH and it was F1 when I asked for the upgrade. It cleared immediately. I am pretty sure that on a P fare it wouldn't have. Obviously that was with e-vouchers.
#1513
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,074
#1514
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX HON Circle
Posts: 3,254
The last part of my previous post is not linked to the first part. Meaning, I did indeed upgrade SIN-FRA and FRA-MEX with UA GPU. Hence my post here. I just wanted to empathize that I believe that the booking class plays a role when it comes to clearing or not. But obviously I don't know how LH handles this. This is just my experience.
#1515
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
The higher fare (class) and status with LH goes into the PCV that drives your ranking within the waitlist. The SEN probably sent your booking for the bot queue that can only be used by SEN/HON, similar to when they waitlist a SEN award. The bot goes by business rules (pcv of the ticket and remaining unsold seats etc) and approves the waitlist. There is also a manual queue where a real human takes a look but that takes a working day to process.
To get back on topic, yes you can waitlist an upgrade using GPUs and then clear your waitlist (faster) with LH SEN/HON elite status.
To get back on topic, yes you can waitlist an upgrade using GPUs and then clear your waitlist (faster) with LH SEN/HON elite status.