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}
Feb 11, 2016, 1:03 am
#616
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,313
It's strange that my upgrade went through ahead of my wife's on the waitlist, though. Is it possible that this is because I'm *G whereas my wife has no UA MP#?
One more question: How do I ask a LH phone agent to "send [the PNR] to a queue for a check by the RM bot"? Is there a specific LH term known to the agents?
I just told you to take a chill pill, so I'm not going to tell you the magic words
Feb 11, 2016, 2:23 am
#617
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 774
Feb 11, 2016, 4:49 pm
#618
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: GEG
Programs: UAL 1K/1MM, Go Zags!
Posts: 404
Positive Experience this time
I had a better experience this last trip using this process, than what I went through last year.
I flew SEA-FRA-BOM then MAA-FRA-SEA return. I purchased on UA.com using UA codeshare flights. Called the MP desk, did the flight change on the outbound to LH numbers but everything was still on 016 paper. Upgrade cleared immediately on outbound first leg (that's all I wanted). About a week before the flight I got the red "call UA to have ticket reissued" which concerned me. I did, it took 30 minutes, but everything was fine, all still on 016.
I could not OLCI. Got to Seattle, checked in at the front counter, no hiccups. Great flight on a newly configured -800, great AV.^
The rest of the trip went smoothly- I purchased a Premium Economy seat in FRA for the next leg- 300 euros, well worth it for a 9 hour flight. Coming back I did the same thing for the first legg out of MAA, only then it was only US$200, again, well worth it.
The best part were the PQDs and PQMs all posted within 48 hours of the flight, no more hassling with MP.
All in all a very pleasant trip. Oh, and no delays...^
I flew SEA-FRA-BOM then MAA-FRA-SEA return. I purchased on UA.com using UA codeshare flights. Called the MP desk, did the flight change on the outbound to LH numbers but everything was still on 016 paper. Upgrade cleared immediately on outbound first leg (that's all I wanted). About a week before the flight I got the red "call UA to have ticket reissued" which concerned me. I did, it took 30 minutes, but everything was fine, all still on 016.
I could not OLCI. Got to Seattle, checked in at the front counter, no hiccups. Great flight on a newly configured -800, great AV.^
The rest of the trip went smoothly- I purchased a Premium Economy seat in FRA for the next leg- 300 euros, well worth it for a 9 hour flight. Coming back I did the same thing for the first legg out of MAA, only then it was only US$200, again, well worth it.
The best part were the PQDs and PQMs all posted within 48 hours of the flight, no more hassling with MP.
All in all a very pleasant trip. Oh, and no delays...^
Feb 26, 2016, 2:33 am
#619
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: UA-½K
Posts: 153
LH 456 on Thursday 2/25/16. I was #2 on waitlist using a GPU. Never received an email at the 10-hour mark and LH was still showing me as waitlisted well after expiry time. Agent at the lounge also verified my status and position on waitlist at 1 hour to boarding.
I only found out I was upgraded when the automated boarding pass scanner refused to let me board (nice when you are hemmed in with 100's of people behind you) and the agent reissued my boarding pass with the upgrade.
Feb 26, 2016, 5:56 am
#620
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS/ BOM
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,567
I had a better experience this last trip using this process, than what I went through last year.
I flew SEA-FRA-BOM then MAA-FRA-SEA return. I purchased on UA.com using UA codeshare flights. Called the MP desk, did the flight change on the outbound to LH numbers but everything was still on 016 paper. Upgrade cleared immediately on outbound first leg (that's all I wanted). About a week before the flight I got the red "call UA to have ticket reissued" which concerned me. I did, it took 30 minutes, but everything was fine, all still on 016.
I could not OLCI. Got to Seattle, checked in at the front counter, no hiccups. Great flight on a newly configured -800, great AV.^
The rest of the trip went smoothly- I purchased a Premium Economy seat in FRA for the next leg- 300 euros, well worth it for a 9 hour flight. Coming back I did the same thing for the first legg out of MAA, only then it was only US$200, again, well worth it.
The best part were the PQDs and PQMs all posted within 48 hours of the flight, no more hassling with MP.
All in all a very pleasant trip. Oh, and no delays...^
I flew SEA-FRA-BOM then MAA-FRA-SEA return. I purchased on UA.com using UA codeshare flights. Called the MP desk, did the flight change on the outbound to LH numbers but everything was still on 016 paper. Upgrade cleared immediately on outbound first leg (that's all I wanted). About a week before the flight I got the red "call UA to have ticket reissued" which concerned me. I did, it took 30 minutes, but everything was fine, all still on 016.
I could not OLCI. Got to Seattle, checked in at the front counter, no hiccups. Great flight on a newly configured -800, great AV.^
The rest of the trip went smoothly- I purchased a Premium Economy seat in FRA for the next leg- 300 euros, well worth it for a 9 hour flight. Coming back I did the same thing for the first legg out of MAA, only then it was only US$200, again, well worth it.
The best part were the PQDs and PQMs all posted within 48 hours of the flight, no more hassling with MP.
All in all a very pleasant trip. Oh, and no delays...^
Feb 27, 2016, 6:00 am
#621
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 774
Whoa, the flight has now become I1 (from I9 a couple weeks ago) and my wife's still on the waitlist
Feb 27, 2016, 10:56 am
#622
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,296
I have seen wait of a day or so before a GPU clears (with I/O available) but not longer.
Feb 27, 2016, 5:39 pm
#623
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 774
Mar 7, 2016, 7:15 pm
#624
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 774
The upgrade cleared in the end. Here's a couple data points:
Feb 10 - ticket purchase. Put in upgrades for wife's (non-status) first and then mine (*G). Wife's waitlisted, mine cleared ahead of hers. Inventory I is showing I9 all the time.
Feb 10 to Mar 7 - Wife's still waitlisted. Inventory for I was dropping from I9 to I1. Pulled off the GPU and re-apply does not help.
Mar 7 - Wife's upgrade cleared spontaneously
My butt is saved from Y in the end
Conclusion: *G might matter in GPU clearing on LH.
Feb 10 - ticket purchase. Put in upgrades for wife's (non-status) first and then mine (*G). Wife's waitlisted, mine cleared ahead of hers. Inventory I is showing I9 all the time.
Feb 10 to Mar 7 - Wife's still waitlisted. Inventory for I was dropping from I9 to I1. Pulled off the GPU and re-apply does not help.
Mar 7 - Wife's upgrade cleared spontaneously
My butt is saved from Y in the end
Conclusion: *G might matter in GPU clearing on LH.
Mar 10, 2016, 12:22 pm
#625
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Dusseldorf
Programs: LH Senator, Hertz Presidents Circle, IHG Plat. Previous: UA 1K, AAdvantage Platinum;
Posts: 638
Trouble using GPU on LH
So here's the story:
I am booked on and LH flight, (LH flight number, LH ticket) and am trying to Use my CPU to upgrade. I am booked in E which is upgradeable
When i use the website:
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...erUpgrade.aspx
I get an error that "We are having trouble with your request. Please call Lufthansa ..."
So i called the 1k desk. They said "We can't process these over the phone, only on the web, please talk to web support". Web support said "I can tell you how to do it, but not help or look at what is wrong", he then moved me to a "1k Customer support agent" who tried to help, but after being on hold twice for a total of 25 mins, my phone battery gave out.
Any thoughts on how to use my CPU for this flight?
I am booked on and LH flight, (LH flight number, LH ticket) and am trying to Use my CPU to upgrade. I am booked in E which is upgradeable
When i use the website:
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...erUpgrade.aspx
I get an error that "We are having trouble with your request. Please call Lufthansa ..."
So i called the 1k desk. They said "We can't process these over the phone, only on the web, please talk to web support". Web support said "I can tell you how to do it, but not help or look at what is wrong", he then moved me to a "1k Customer support agent" who tried to help, but after being on hold twice for a total of 25 mins, my phone battery gave out.
Any thoughts on how to use my CPU for this flight?
Mar 10, 2016, 12:23 pm
#626
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 108
I just bought a ticket on lufthansa with Q fare. yyz-fra-sin kix-fra-yyz
It seems that UA is having technical difficulties, after I enter the credentials here, the loading page idles. I called UA and they said they cant do it via phone anymore.
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...erUpgrade.aspx
anyway I can circumvent this? my flights are leaving next week =(
It seems that UA is having technical difficulties, after I enter the credentials here, the loading page idles. I called UA and they said they cant do it via phone anymore.
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...erUpgrade.aspx
anyway I can circumvent this? my flights are leaving next week =(
Mar 10, 2016, 12:35 pm
#627
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Dusseldorf
Programs: LH Senator, Hertz Presidents Circle, IHG Plat. Previous: UA 1K, AAdvantage Platinum;
Posts: 638
I just bought a ticket on lufthansa with Q fare. yyz-fra-sin kix-fra-yyz
It seems that UA is having technical difficulties, after I enter the credentials here, the loading page idles. I called UA and they said they cant do it via phone anymore.
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...erUpgrade.aspx
anyway I can circumvent this? my flights are leaving next week =(
It seems that UA is having technical difficulties, after I enter the credentials here, the loading page idles. I called UA and they said they cant do it via phone anymore.
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...erUpgrade.aspx
anyway I can circumvent this? my flights are leaving next week =(
The agent spoke to the Internal Help Desk as well as folks at LH. No estimated time to come back online
Last edited by goalie; Mar 10, 2016 at 2:05 pm Reason: merge
Mar 10, 2016, 8:21 pm
#628
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 57
Same story here. It's indefinitely broken according to both UA and LH.
Mar 11, 2016, 2:25 am
#629
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Dusseldorf
Programs: LH Senator, Hertz Presidents Circle, IHG Plat. Previous: UA 1K, AAdvantage Platinum;
Posts: 638
Mar 11, 2016, 7:01 am
#630
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Omaha
Programs: UA 1K, MM
Posts: 62
Frustration with UA issuing ticket for LH upgrades
Flew OMA-ORD-FRA-BLR (india) on paid ticket last week with all international legs on LH. Going was Q class with two GPU upgrades and return paid business very cheap price. Usual booking India ticket by phone with UA about one hour but both LH GPU legs cleared on the outbound so all is good. The agent points out that my record will not show the correct flight info for the two LH flights and will have the red wording that a modification has been made. He said to ignore this as if they update the record it will impact the application of the GPU's. So my record sat like this for 2 months. I called UA 3-4 times and they all advised ticket is fine as is. I called LH and they said the same. My LH confirmation should I business class and showed flights, times and allowed me to select seat next to my wife on a mileage ticket for the same flights. Check in at OMA last week to start out and can't provide BP for LH flights and to check with agent at ORD. OMA went to contract employees last year and are useless beyond checking you in. Resolving problems will not happen at OMA. Get to ORD and go into the club with both LH and UA agents. LH advises that I still show in economy on the ticket from UA. UA says they show business and ticket is with LH. LH won't issue BP for business class. UA agent starts calling agents and MP for help. I had a 4 hour layover at ORD (on purpose) and LH gave a cut off of 45 min before flight to resolve. One minute prior to the cut off UA got the ticket resissued and LH accepted and provided BP in business. By then LH had given my seats out next to my wife once again messing up plans to sit together on the upper deck of a 747 for both legs. (Our last UA flight with these seats was cancelled by UA).
So my question is how can I call both UA 1K and LH multiple times to confirm everyone is happy and end up with this type of mess? If I had not booked a long layover I would have flown to India in coach on LH (hurts to think about this).
The UA agent at the club while working hard to resolve kept saying they do not see the miles deducted from my account. I kept explaining I did not use miles I used GPU's. She did not know a UA flyer could use GPU's on LH. This is just amazing to me.
How can one book a ticket with UA and fly without a hassle like this?
So my question is how can I call both UA 1K and LH multiple times to confirm everyone is happy and end up with this type of mess? If I had not booked a long layover I would have flown to India in coach on LH (hurts to think about this).
The UA agent at the club while working hard to resolve kept saying they do not see the miles deducted from my account. I kept explaining I did not use miles I used GPU's. She did not know a UA flyer could use GPU's on LH. This is just amazing to me.
How can one book a ticket with UA and fly without a hassle like this?