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}
#1816
Absolutely agree My default go-to is NH... because Krug is the only thing I can drink more or less nonstop. They're mega stingy with O space, though, and although I've had a little bit of luck getting O space two weeks out, upgrading their flights is so much more of a nightmare. The UA-LH system integration is worlds better. The waitlist alone helps (since typically even if they don't open space, they'll push it through last minute as they're not as stingy with premium space as NH), but worse yet, let's say you have an itinerary with upgraded segments on NH and you make ANY changes.... your upgraded segments are gone. They seem to be unable to make changes without releasing space. I've lost return segments several times when outbound changes were made, so these days, I'll only book NH when I can more or less definitively confirm at least the outbound space.
#1817
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,916
If one clears the upgrade list and shows confirmed on Lufthansa but the same economy segment still shows on LH site with the upgraded business segment of the same flight, will it be cleaned up automatically or do I need to call?
#1818
Nope, don't worry about it, just leave it. It'll clear up (because quite honestly nobody will even know how to fix it - UA will bounce you to LH, LH will bounce you to UA).
#1819
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SJC
Programs: NZ*G, QF NB, UA 1K, AA ExecPlat, IHG PlatAmb, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, ZE1 PC
Posts: 2,636
Resulted in a successful GPU into business on the 747-8i, so I am happy!
#1820
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: IAD, DEL, IXC, BWI, DCA, YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Amex Plat, UA Club Card, National EE, Global Entry, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 275
I'm trying to book DEL-FRA or DEL-MUC for 2 family members with GPU eligible fare between April 12-15. What should I look for to maximize chances of clearing. Award ("I" fare) is not available in Business on either of those dates. What's the next best fare class to look for. Sorry, I'm terribly confused with Lufthansa fare classes despite reading several pages on the forum.
#1821
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,857
I'm trying to book DEL-FRA or DEL-MUC for 2 family members with GPU eligible fare between April 12-15. What should I look for to maximize chances of clearing. Award ("I" fare) is not available in Business on either of those dates. What's the next best fare class to look for. Sorry, I'm terribly confused with Lufthansa fare classes despite reading several pages on the forum.
#1822
Update on my HND-FRA flight: no O space was ever released and flight was F4A4 the morning of departure, then went to F4A0, and then about three hours before went to F0A0, and my upgrade cleared. Yay!
The return is already F0 though ... so that’s going to not be as fun.
The return is already F0 though ... so that’s going to not be as fun.
#1823
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 54
I booked a united flight (016 ticket) with a segment FRA-PEK. The fare inventory shows I5 which I understand 5 sears available for upgrade. I used GPU for upgrade and sadly it was not cleared, instead they put me on waiting list. If I is available, any reason my flight will not be cleared immediately when GPU is applied?
#1824
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Altough I is the booking class used for upgrades and awards, the two don't draw from the same inventory. Your waitlist will clear shortly though.
#1825
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Here is another data point which may or may not be useful:
UA (016) ticket that involved several LH flights (with UA codeshare flight numbers), including two TATL premium economy segments booked in UA R class. For the outbound I asked 1K line to convert to a native LH flight number. I was told that UA R class was not GPU-eligible so there was no point in converting. That didn't sound right to me, but I wasn't bothered and decided to stay in PE for the westbound flight. On the return I called in again. This time the agent went ahead and changed my UA R to a LH E, and I received a new confirmation with a LH flight number. Filled out the upgrade form online and was immediately upgraded. Nice one as well, 747-8 upper deck with the seat next to me empty.
UA (016) ticket that involved several LH flights (with UA codeshare flight numbers), including two TATL premium economy segments booked in UA R class. For the outbound I asked 1K line to convert to a native LH flight number. I was told that UA R class was not GPU-eligible so there was no point in converting. That didn't sound right to me, but I wasn't bothered and decided to stay in PE for the westbound flight. On the return I called in again. This time the agent went ahead and changed my UA R to a LH E, and I received a new confirmation with a LH flight number. Filled out the upgrade form online and was immediately upgraded. Nice one as well, 747-8 upper deck with the seat next to me empty.
#1826
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 54
I booked a united flight (016 ticket) with a segment FRA-PEK. The fare inventory shows I5 which I understand 5 sears available for upgrade. I used GPU for upgrade and sadly it was not cleared, instead they put me on waiting list. If I is available, any reason my flight will not be cleared immediately when GPU is applied?
#1827
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,066
Unfortunately, I availability diminished 15 hours following my issued ticket, and my upgrade was not clear at 24 hours. I used the option to cancel the ticket and rebook another flights at different dates so I can guarantee the upgrade. My take home message, once you book LH flights, go immediately to upgrade and if upgrade are not cleared immediately, cancel and rebook other dates. Of course you can take the risk that your flight will be upgraded by T24, but with LH is a risk since we do not have a status there.
#1828
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
I was told that UA R class was not GPU-eligible so there was no point in converting. That didn't sound right to me, but I wasn't bothered and decided to stay in PE for the westbound flight. On the return I called in again. This time the agent went ahead and changed my UA R to a LH E, and I received a new confirmation with a LH flight number.
UA R is equivalent to LH N, which is not upgradeable.
#1829
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Interesting. Agent 2 was pretty matter-of-fact about it and I was half expecting her to quote me for an up-fare to something that was GPU-eligible, but she put me on hold for a while and came back to say ‘all done, now you can upgrade online’. If there was a fare increase, I wouldn’t have expected her to be able to so easily override it. Maybe I got lucky.
#1830
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
The question, if any, would only have come up when it was time to audit the record and LH wanted to be compensated for an E fare plus the GPU and UA only had payment for the N fare.
(Note that it's possible, but extremely unlikely, that there is some route on which UA R maps to LH E, and there is no equivalent to the N fare).