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}
#527
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
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#528
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, GlobalEntry, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz Presidents Circle, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 111
Is there a priority for the wait-list? Fare, or Time added?
#529
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,198
Fare paid and elite status first, then time added. LH SEN/HON jump the queue always.
#531
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS/ BOM
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,567
This is for Lufthansa metal flights, not UA metal. Each airline will treat their elites better than any partners (in theory). So, if you are on UA metal, you (GS or 1K) will be higher, on LH metal (they will be higher). Other airlines elites essentially get treated as *G.
#532
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,044
This is for Lufthansa metal flights, not UA metal. Each airline will treat their elites better than any partners (in theory). So, if you are on UA metal, you (GS or 1K) will be higher, on LH metal (they will be higher). Other airlines elites essentially get treated as *G.
#533
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH Silver, MR Plat Prem & LT Plat, Hyatt Plat,SPG Plat, Hertz PC, National EE, UA 1K
Posts: 3,407
Almost a possible denied boarding
016 ticket with ua and lh segments. Upgraded both online months ago. Had ua reissue ticket.
Flight is this weekend. Checked seats I picked months ago on ua. Fine. On lh. No assignments.
Called lh. They said itinerary upgraded, ticket not reissued.
Called Ua. Agent gets support desk online. Says "we aren't going to reissue, everything is fine". Request and get supervisor. Repeats same thing. Ask agent to put notes in as to what was said. She does. (Very nice too-in Florida)
Call lh. They say again, itinerary fine, ticket not. Conference call w ua and lh. Ua agent picks up, I explain, she doesn't even look at notes, says this is wrong, need to reissue. 3 min it's complete.
What. A. Process.
Flight is this weekend. Checked seats I picked months ago on ua. Fine. On lh. No assignments.
Called lh. They said itinerary upgraded, ticket not reissued.
Called Ua. Agent gets support desk online. Says "we aren't going to reissue, everything is fine". Request and get supervisor. Repeats same thing. Ask agent to put notes in as to what was said. She does. (Very nice too-in Florida)
Call lh. They say again, itinerary fine, ticket not. Conference call w ua and lh. Ua agent picks up, I explain, she doesn't even look at notes, says this is wrong, need to reissue. 3 min it's complete.
What. A. Process.
#534
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 30
problem waitlisting UA GPU upgrade on Lufthansa flight
I tried to apply and waitlist UA GPU on a Lufthansa flight (fare class B) in January, I was not able to do it online, so I called UA 1K desk, the rep
said I can not waitlist the GPU upgrade (even though plenty of business
class seats available).
The UA rep also said when the upgrade space becomes available, then
I can call again to apply and confirm the upgrade.
Anyone knows the reason why the rep won't waitlist the GPU upgrade
for LH flight ??
said I can not waitlist the GPU upgrade (even though plenty of business
class seats available).
The UA rep also said when the upgrade space becomes available, then
I can call again to apply and confirm the upgrade.
Anyone knows the reason why the rep won't waitlist the GPU upgrade
for LH flight ??
#535
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: 66,861
I tried to apply and waitlist UA GPU on a Lufthansa flight (fare class B) in January, I was not able to do it online, so I called UA 1K desk, the rep
said I can not waitlist the GPU upgrade (even though plenty of business
class seats available).
The UA rep also said when the upgrade space becomes available, then
I can call again to apply and confirm the upgrade.
Anyone knows the reason why the rep won't waitlist the GPU upgrade
for LH flight ??
said I can not waitlist the GPU upgrade (even though plenty of business
class seats available).
The UA rep also said when the upgrade space becomes available, then
I can call again to apply and confirm the upgrade.
Anyone knows the reason why the rep won't waitlist the GPU upgrade
for LH flight ??
Mileage upgrades can not be waitlisted but GPUs can.
BTW, how id the flight coded -- LH or UA codeshare?
#536
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,481
#538
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YEG
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 755
I want to upgrade 2 LH flights in discount business, Booked in "P" class, FRA-JNB
I realize that my GPU's won't let me UG this fare to a F bucket but I am wondering if anyone knows a way around this, like buy-up to a certain fare class etc
The tickets were purchased from a travel agent here in canada if that helps
Thanks
I realize that my GPU's won't let me UG this fare to a F bucket but I am wondering if anyone knows a way around this, like buy-up to a certain fare class etc
The tickets were purchased from a travel agent here in canada if that helps
Thanks
#539
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,198
In order to be eligible, you need to upfare from P to D, which is pretty expensive...
#540
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 26
Has anyone had any luck with using GPUs on Lufthansa flights? I found the link and I applied for a couple for a flight back from Frankfurt. They're waitlisted, but I was wondering if having GS status pulls any weight on these, or are we below Lufthansa customers in priority.