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}
Apr 3, 2019, 2:36 pm
#1831
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
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Would it be possible to change UA to LH flight number without reissuing the ticket? If it was a revalidation instead, then it seems pretty easy to make it come out with any rbd you want. Agree that if LH audited they would come calling for the difference in fare, but that might get stuck between LH and UA. That change is not standard.
Apr 3, 2019, 2:39 pm
#1832
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
Would it be possible to change UA to LH flight number without reissuing the ticket? If it was a revalidation instead, then it seems pretty easy to make it come out with any rbd you want. Agree that if LH audited they would come calling for the difference in fare, but that might get stuck between LH and UA. That change is not standard.
Apr 4, 2019, 10:29 am
#1833
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,924
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.
Apr 4, 2019, 10:59 am
#1834
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
I don’t think I agree with that. My experience has been LH will fill the cabins - so you’re almost guaranteed an upgrade if there’s space in the cabin available. I’m at 100% success rate upgrading into F, over many flights. I never book flights with F1 or F2 though as those might see LH elites getting in first - but if the cabin is quiet I _always_ get upgraded. I expect it should be similar for business.
My daughter was in FULL Y, using my GPU for an upgrade and is a 1K.
I blocked an EE row seat in Y on the 744, LH BOM relegated her to the *back* of the plane. No upgrade.
When I checked out the biz cabin - it was filled with probable non-revs ...Y was chock-a-block as well.
No reason they would not upgrade a *G on a full-fare Y into biz, when there were biz seats available T-6.
LH sucks, through and through.
This is why I am buying all tickets through United, not through LH!
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 4, 2019 at 2:27 pm Reason: unneeded comment removed
Apr 4, 2019, 11:18 am
#1835
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,924
F is different.
My daughter was in FULL Y, using my GPU for an upgrade and is a 1K.
I blocked an EE row seat in Y on the 744, LH BOM relegated her to the *back* of the plane. No upgrade.
When I checked out the biz cabin - it was filled with probable non-revs...Y was chock-a-block as well.
No reason they would not upgrade a *G on a full-fare Y into biz, when there were biz seats available T-6.
LH sucks, through and through.
This is why I am buying all tickets through United, not through LH!
My daughter was in FULL Y, using my GPU for an upgrade and is a 1K.
I blocked an EE row seat in Y on the 744, LH BOM relegated her to the *back* of the plane. No upgrade.
When I checked out the biz cabin - it was filled with probable non-revs...Y was chock-a-block as well.
No reason they would not upgrade a *G on a full-fare Y into biz, when there were biz seats available T-6.
LH sucks, through and through.
This is why I am buying all tickets through United, not through LH!
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 4, 2019 at 2:28 pm Reason: quote updated to reflect Moderator edit
Apr 4, 2019, 11:23 am
#1836
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
Wow. That’s really weird. I stand corrected then. It makes no sense at all, the “services” they provide for F are worth comparatively far more than for J, and I’ve seen them fill the F cabin a number of times with upgrades - on my last flight, the purser even _complained_ about the upgrades eating all the caviar of the “real” F pax (like wow lol. That was an interesting chat), so I’m extremely surprised they wouldn’t fill J as well. Odd. Guess I better not expect J upgrades if I’m buying a Y ticket.
Maybe they get more $$ for an F upgrade then.
However, they tend to non-rev into J only - not into F.
Apr 4, 2019, 11:30 am
#1837
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,924
One guy on a flight turned out to be an interesting guy and we chatted a lot, good experiences. LH status holder.
Another guy went so crazy on the top shelf stuff that he spent the first half of the flight consuming it and the second half returning it. Was miserable to watch.
Apr 4, 2019, 11:33 am
#1838
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
No, I’ve most definitely come across nonrevs (well wait, we’re talking about lower class paid pax being upgraded right? that’s technically still rev) being op upped into F.
One guy on a flight turned out to be an interesting guy and we chatted a lot, good experiences. LH status holder.
Another guy went so crazy on the top shelf stuff that he spent the first half of the flight consuming it and the second half returning it. Was miserable to watch.
LH status holder a non-rev as well?
Apr 4, 2019, 12:01 pm
#1839
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,924
No: LH status holder I meant, he bought a J ticket and was op upped because of oversold J.
True nonrevs - I really doubt they’d be op upped to F so this might be totally off topic on my part then. I meant revenue people with free upgrades to F.
True nonrevs - I really doubt they’d be op upped to F so this might be totally off topic on my part then. I meant revenue people with free upgrades to F.
Apr 4, 2019, 12:03 pm
#1840
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
A lot of recent posts are compelling me to make the point that anecdote = datum, not data.
Apr 4, 2019, 12:04 pm
#1841
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
That's a simple op-up! 
Exactly what I said originally! 
Apr 4, 2019, 12:05 pm
#1842
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
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I have never had issues getting GPUs to J cleared on LH... my experiences mirror those of Pseudo Nim where they will usually run the upgrades about 10 hours before departure if they haven't already. LH gets good cash for those instruments and always seems happy to run them. However, I am always in paid PE (not Y) and the PE cabins are very often overbooked.
I could plausibly see LH deciding to op-up PE pax before GPU Y -> J, but who knows.
I could plausibly see LH deciding to op-up PE pax before GPU Y -> J, but who knows.
Apr 4, 2019, 12:29 pm
#1843
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
They'd almost have to do that, right? I mean, they wouldn't upgrade a passenger from Y to J on a GPU only to have to downgrade someone from PE to Y. The only way I'd expect anyone to clear a Y->J upgrade is if any PE oversale has already been taken care of.
Apr 4, 2019, 2:56 pm
#1844
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat, 6C AMB, HH Silver
Posts: 238
So I've had pretty good luck with purchased J -> F... with GPUs. Mostly JNB to FRA runs and a few FRA - IAD. One IAD - FRA was literally in the Lounge, few times you love hearing your name being called.
On my current itinerary I got an instant (well instant after I converted from the 016 paper) on a MEX to MUC flight. Currently waitlisted on an FRA - IAH flight.
These are the numbers that someone pulled a few days ago on another thread: Sun 5/APR/2019 LH440 FRA-IAH F3 A0 J9 C5 D4 Z3 P0 G7 E2 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H0 Q9 V1 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0
On EF First is still showing 5 seats open.
Things get really interesting when I try to book through UA:
Sorry numbers are impossible to see... I know... here they are available fare classes: J0 C0 D0 Z0 P0 O0 A0 R0 Y6 B6 M6 U6 H6 Q6 V6 W6 S6 T6 L4 K0
They are not even selling first. Of course, you can still buy First on LH.
Business is FULLLLL I'm currently sitting in the mini cabin in the back...
So here's the thing... why am I going to Houston instead of Mexico... I want to sit in First in all of the different planes... I've done 747-8 a few times, the MEX - MUC is on a 340, the FRA - IAH is a380. Not sure I'll make any of the a330s left out there. Am I hurting my chances by trying to upgrade on a Sunday from FRA to IAH? I've checked loads on Friday and Sunday and they look equally tough.
What to do... have some confidence? and wait for Lady Luck?
Thoughts welcomed.
FF
On my current itinerary I got an instant (well instant after I converted from the 016 paper) on a MEX to MUC flight. Currently waitlisted on an FRA - IAH flight.
These are the numbers that someone pulled a few days ago on another thread: Sun 5/APR/2019 LH440 FRA-IAH F3 A0 J9 C5 D4 Z3 P0 G7 E2 N0 Y9 B9 M9 U9 H0 Q9 V1 W0 S0 T0 L0 K0
On EF First is still showing 5 seats open.
Things get really interesting when I try to book through UA:
Sorry numbers are impossible to see... I know... here they are available fare classes: J0 C0 D0 Z0 P0 O0 A0 R0 Y6 B6 M6 U6 H6 Q6 V6 W6 S6 T6 L4 K0
They are not even selling first. Of course, you can still buy First on LH.
Business is FULLLLL I'm currently sitting in the mini cabin in the back...
So here's the thing... why am I going to Houston instead of Mexico... I want to sit in First in all of the different planes... I've done 747-8 a few times, the MEX - MUC is on a 340, the FRA - IAH is a380. Not sure I'll make any of the a330s left out there. Am I hurting my chances by trying to upgrade on a Sunday from FRA to IAH? I've checked loads on Friday and Sunday and they look equally tough.
What to do... have some confidence? and wait for Lady Luck?
Thoughts welcomed.
FF
Apr 4, 2019, 3:18 pm
#1845
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417