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}
#1666
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat
Posts: 11,500
Looking to upgrade an LAX-MUC flight in the near future and there is I space. However, since I am booking Q, am I reading it correctly that I would only upgrade to Premium Economy?
#1667
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,074
Oops didn't get a chance to post update. The update has cleared in the meantime. But LH said they have no control over it "because it's UA miles, so they need to cancel them". Explaining that it's not "miles" did absolutely nothing. So after being bounced around various departments at LH, I had absolutely nothing more than I started with.
So to this day, the only way I have _ever_ been able to cancel a GPU applied to an LH flight was by cancelling the LH flight and hopefully having it auto-redeposit (or emailing 1kvoice). I'm surprised there's not more information on this - I guess once people get their upgrade they hold on for dear life, so not many stories of cancelling them
So to this day, the only way I have _ever_ been able to cancel a GPU applied to an LH flight was by cancelling the LH flight and hopefully having it auto-redeposit (or emailing 1kvoice). I'm surprised there's not more information on this - I guess once people get their upgrade they hold on for dear life, so not many stories of cancelling them
It sometimes takes overnight for available 'O' to lead to a clearing UG. I have seen that a few times.
it clears into business and not premium eco
#1668
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: UA 1k, DL Plat, KE MC, SPG Plat
Posts: 1
GPUs on LH
Have a long-haul on LH next week, was hoping to use a GPU to upgrade the leg. Its a full Y fare -- when I use the tool it offers the upgrade and I accept, then it craps out with an error (118).
Called the 1k desk, they bounced me around and advised to keep trying?! Tried to do the same thing with the *A upgrade tool, it too offers the upgrade, and then errors out with just the message "Error: !".
Anyone have any experience with this?
Called the 1k desk, they bounced me around and advised to keep trying?! Tried to do the same thing with the *A upgrade tool, it too offers the upgrade, and then errors out with just the message "Error: !".
Anyone have any experience with this?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Nov 24, 2018 at 12:11 am Reason: moved to master thread
#1669
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
A couple of things
-- is the flight coded as a LH flight or UA codeshare? UA codeshare will not work
-- The fact you can submit a request (GPU or miles) does not mean an upgrade is available. A better sign is if the flight has business class award space (I) but that is not a guarantee. See this thread's wiki for more
-- is the flight coded as a LH flight or UA codeshare? UA codeshare will not work
-- The fact you can submit a request (GPU or miles) does not mean an upgrade is available. A better sign is if the flight has business class award space (I) but that is not a guarantee. See this thread's wiki for more
#1670
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,353
I've seen a few posts in this thread that say P and Z are now eligible (with success stories), but the wiki and United's site both say they're not.
What's the current situation?
What's the current situation?
#1674
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,353
#1676
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YEG
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 755
Anyone have any idea about upgrading "R" class with GPU, now that PP is available I am trying to book a flight on the UA site with segments on LH that say they are in "R" class. I am worried that I will not be able to use the GPU as the UA site says only: "The following Lufthansa fare classes are eligible for Global Premier Upgrades: B, C, D, E, G, H, J, M, Q, U and Y." and R is not listed there.
Any thoughts / ideas would be appreciated (I did not actually complete the purchase yet I just want to make sure I can request it) Thanks
Any thoughts / ideas would be appreciated (I did not actually complete the purchase yet I just want to make sure I can request it) Thanks
#1677
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,074
Anyone have any idea about upgrading "R" class with GPU, now that PP is available I am trying to book a flight on the UA site with segments on LH that say they are in "R" class. I am worried that I will not be able to use the GPU as the UA site says only: "The following Lufthansa fare classes are eligible for Global Premier Upgrades: B, C, D, E, G, H, J, M, Q, U and Y." and R is not listed there.
Any thoughts / ideas would be appreciated (I did not actually complete the purchase yet I just want to make sure I can request it) Thanks
Any thoughts / ideas would be appreciated (I did not actually complete the purchase yet I just want to make sure I can request it) Thanks
#1678
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,415
you have a LH 'R' class LH coded flight? That doesn't make sense. If it is a UA codeshare on LH that would need to be converted, but now the alphabet soup no longer matches. You'd have to a) verify it maps to an UG-eligible booking class and b) find an agent who knows how that works .... ugh ...
I agree with your skepticism about finding an agent who would know how to do this properly anyway, although I'd hope that they'd eventually start to figure it out.
#1679
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: FRA ✈️ SFO
Posts: 68
Oh so "A" is now a Y+ booking class? Well, that potentially explains the trouble I had with a 016 ticket booked in First (A) (on LH metal) early October. Once a LH agent touched it in last weekend my First class booking was converted into a LH Y+ seat. Oh well, that was fun.
#1680
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,415
Oh so "A" is now a Y+ booking class? Well, that potentially explains the trouble I had with a 016 ticket booked in First (A) (on LH metal) early October. Once a LH agent touched it in last weekend my First class booking was converted into a LH Y+ seat. Oh well, that was fun.