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}
Mar 14, 2016, 11:11 am
#646
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: SFO, LON
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 253
I'd be impressed if someone is able to make that happen. The closest I've seen to something like this is supervisors issuing segments into JN instead of I and not charging the extra miles on an award ticket. Or rerouting during IRROPS. Using award inventory on a paid ticket is another level, and I'm guessing at the end of the day your miles won't post automatically for the segment, so make sure you're ready to call in to get that corrected after flying.
Like folks mentioned upthread, I think most customer service agents just use the same UI as we do to request LH GPU upgrades. Very few people on the UA or LH side (other than, like, software developers) know what actually happens under the hood.
Mar 14, 2016, 11:54 am
#647
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 108
You probably need at least a supervisor. I'm guessing you need to find someone willing to reissue the segment into award I class without withdrawing miles (not even sure if that's possible with a revenue ticket), then manually subtracting a GPU (which goes into the void?).
I'd be impressed if someone is able to make that happen. The closest I've seen to something like this is supervisors issuing segments into JN instead of I and not charging the extra miles on an award ticket. Or rerouting during IRROPS. Using award inventory on a paid ticket is another level, and I'm guessing at the end of the day your miles won't post automatically for the segment, so make sure you're ready to call in to get that corrected after flying.
Like folks mentioned upthread, I think most customer service agents just use the same UI as we do to request LH GPU upgrades. Very few people on the UA or LH side (other than, like, software developers) know what actually happens under the hood.
I'd be impressed if someone is able to make that happen. The closest I've seen to something like this is supervisors issuing segments into JN instead of I and not charging the extra miles on an award ticket. Or rerouting during IRROPS. Using award inventory on a paid ticket is another level, and I'm guessing at the end of the day your miles won't post automatically for the segment, so make sure you're ready to call in to get that corrected after flying.
Like folks mentioned upthread, I think most customer service agents just use the same UI as we do to request LH GPU upgrades. Very few people on the UA or LH side (other than, like, software developers) know what actually happens under the hood.
Mar 14, 2016, 11:58 am
#648
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: SFO, LON
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 253
I see that it is valid in your sense, the problem is the ticket is 022, it seems farfetched that UA will create a "free replacement ticket", while my 022 ticket they have no control over. I called into the 1k desk and .com support, both said that they can't do it "manually" anymore. This is the 4th agent that told me the same thing, do i need to try more agents?
Mar 14, 2016, 12:25 pm
#649
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 57
You probably need at least a supervisor. I'm guessing you need to find someone willing to reissue the segment into award I class without withdrawing miles (not even sure if that's possible with a revenue ticket), then manually subtracting a GPU (which goes into the void?).
I'd be impressed if someone is able to make that happen.
I'd be impressed if someone is able to make that happen.
Mar 14, 2016, 4:28 pm
#650
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SYD
Programs: UA GS, BA Gold, Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, IHG Gold, National Exec Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,419
I ended up cancelling the full fare LH C ticket and rebooking a different itinerary.
Mar 15, 2016, 9:05 am
#651
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 47
Compensation?
Was anyone able to get a compensation for the missfunction of the GPU system? If so, what was it?
Mar 16, 2016, 7:26 pm
#653
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Programs: UA: 1K 1.5MM, DL: LTDM 3.5MM, JB: Mosaic4, LH: exSEN 1MM, Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite, Hertz PresC
Posts: 266
UA's website for LH upgrades down
For days I have been trying to apply one of my GPUs to my reservation. Since UA converted the process to electronically requests only, this is the only way to request these upgrades today. If only the website would work... For days now upon completion of the process you receive the error "999" and to call LH (how would they know how to process a GPU in their system??). Internally UA is saying that this problem should have been fixed by Tuesday (they just didn't say which Tuesday). Since this is the only way UA will process LH upgrades, travelers are just out of luck. 
Mar 18, 2016, 5:49 am
#654
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Programs: UA: 1K 1.5MM, DL: LTDM 3.5MM, JB: Mosaic4, LH: exSEN 1MM, Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite, Hertz PresC
Posts: 266
For days I have been trying to apply one of my GPUs to my reservation. Since UA converted the process to electronically requests only, this is the only way to request these upgrades today. If only the website would work... For days now upon completion of the process you receive the error "999" and to call LH (how would they know how to process a GPU in their system??). Internally UA is saying that this problem should have been fixed by Tuesday (they just didn't say which Tuesday). Since this is the only way UA will process LH upgrades, travelers are just out of luck.
Last edited by Christefan; Mar 27, 2016 at 5:35 am
Mar 18, 2016, 8:43 am
#655
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
Mar 18, 2016, 11:02 am
#656
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
not sure...what you are referring to..... ???
Mar 18, 2016, 11:37 am
#658
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,353
filekey is another word for the PNR locator.
Mar 18, 2016, 5:15 pm
#659
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Programs: UA: 1K 1.5MM, DL: LTDM 3.5MM, JB: Mosaic4, LH: exSEN 1MM, Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite, Hertz PresC
Posts: 266
Record locator or PNR key......
When you book a partner airline with a different reservation platform, each system will create a separate reservation record which can be found in your UA reservation under "additional confirmation numbers". When requesting the LH upgrade online, what is confusing is the fact that next to the box "record locator" it states airline=Lufthansa but requires the UA record locator to process the upgrade request.....
When you book a partner airline with a different reservation platform, each system will create a separate reservation record which can be found in your UA reservation under "additional confirmation numbers". When requesting the LH upgrade online, what is confusing is the fact that next to the box "record locator" it states airline=Lufthansa but requires the UA record locator to process the upgrade request.....