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 23, 2018, 2:26 am
#1291
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 64
Booked as E, upgraded to I, awarded as M
An interesting experience for a flight last week:
I was booked into E (medium premium economy fare) on LH stock, upgraded via a GPU (which cleared a few hours prior to departure), but now got awarded as an M (economy) fare - with 100% RDM and PQM instead of 150%.
How do I best go about this?
I was booked into E (medium premium economy fare) on LH stock, upgraded via a GPU (which cleared a few hours prior to departure), but now got awarded as an M (economy) fare - with 100% RDM and PQM instead of 150%.
How do I best go about this?
Mar 23, 2018, 5:04 am
#1292
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: FRA ✈️ SFO
Posts: 68
From the wiki:
[...] It seems patience, persistence and document of the original 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.
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.
Mar 27, 2018, 10:22 am
#1293
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,424
An interesting experience for a flight last week:
I was booked into E (medium premium economy fare) on LH stock, upgraded via a GPU (which cleared a few hours prior to departure), but now got awarded as an M (economy) fare - with 100% RDM and PQM instead of 150%.
How do I best go about this?
I was booked into E (medium premium economy fare) on LH stock, upgraded via a GPU (which cleared a few hours prior to departure), but now got awarded as an M (economy) fare - with 100% RDM and PQM instead of 150%.
How do I best go about this?
Mar 27, 2018, 12:38 pm
#1294
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,273
New LH Upgrade Policy; GPU impact?
LH recently changed its policy on upgrades for Miles and More members. Now all paid Business class tickets can be upgraded with Miles and More eVouchers.
Considering this, any guesses if LH might open up other paid Business class fares to upgrades with United GPUs? Sure would be great to be able to upgrade a P or Z fare to First Class with a GPU.
Considering this, any guesses if LH might open up other paid Business class fares to upgrades with United GPUs? Sure would be great to be able to upgrade a P or Z fare to First Class with a GPU.
Mar 28, 2018, 10:30 am
#1295
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,673
LH recently changed its policy on upgrades for Miles and More members. Now all paid Business class tickets can be upgraded with Miles and More eVouchers.
Considering this, any guesses if LH might open up other paid Business class fares to upgrades with United GPUs? Sure would be great to be able to upgrade a P or Z fare to First Class with a GPU.
Considering this, any guesses if LH might open up other paid Business class fares to upgrades with United GPUs? Sure would be great to be able to upgrade a P or Z fare to First Class with a GPU.
I'm not going to go through with it -- business is completely sufficient -- I'll rather safe the GPU for a night upgrade from PE or Eco to Business. The incremental value is much higher that way.
HTB.
Mar 28, 2018, 1:13 pm
#1296
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,273
I'm booked into a P class fare for today (3/29), ICN-FRA. When I enter the information into the United online upgrade form, it confirms "Upgrades are available for this flight. By confirming your request below, 1 Global Premier Upgrade(s) will be deducted from your MileagePlus account."
I'm not going to go through with it -- business is completely sufficient -- I'll rather safe the GPU for a night upgrade from PE or Eco to Business. The incremental value is much higher that way.
HTB.
I'm not going to go through with it -- business is completely sufficient -- I'll rather safe the GPU for a night upgrade from PE or Eco to Business. The incremental value is much higher that way.
HTB.
Mar 28, 2018, 3:30 pm
#1297
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
Mar 28, 2018, 4:24 pm
#1298
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,424
Agree - if willing to spend a GPU to go from P to O (I would be), seems the worst you can end up with is back in Business.
Mar 28, 2018, 4:55 pm
#1299
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New York
Programs: EK Platinum, AA EXP, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,148
LOL how the airlines place fear in us. You're not going to get in trouble for something their website let you do. IF anything happens, you just "didnt know"
Mar 28, 2018, 6:11 pm
#1300
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
I may have to book a couple of LH Ps just to check this out.
Mar 28, 2018, 7:41 pm
#1301
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 312
I wonder how much United pays Lufthansa for each GPU used. I guess for them one additional way to keep business pricing opaque, especially with the high fare codes needed for Econ-> Biz
This P-> F sounds awesome! Wish I had GPUs left over for the year (all already applied/waitlisted on myself/family), as I fly LH in biz quite a few times a year
This P-> F sounds awesome! Wish I had GPUs left over for the year (all already applied/waitlisted on myself/family), as I fly LH in biz quite a few times a year
Mar 28, 2018, 7:47 pm
#1302
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,758
Just a successful datapoint:
Booked a ticket containing a LH flight in Q from FRA-PVG which was showing I9 on the 744.
Used the online upgrade link, instantly upgraded me to business and withdrew the GPU. Couldn't select seats online, so called it in, and now I'm in 4D and couldn't be happier
Booked a ticket containing a LH flight in Q from FRA-PVG which was showing I9 on the 744.
Used the online upgrade link, instantly upgraded me to business and withdrew the GPU. Couldn't select seats online, so called it in, and now I'm in 4D and couldn't be happier
Apr 2, 2018, 6:54 am
#1303
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: UA GS 4MM
Posts: 583
Advice on LH GPU process
Hi, I've never tried a GPU on LH, but I have a round trip thru FRA in business and one lonely GPU expiring at the end of April, so why not? Here's the situation: 016 ticket stock,GS traveler, LH flight numbers, Z class, flying LH403 EWR=FRA on 19-April and 430 FRA-ORD on 22-April. When I go in to the UA website to apply for the upgrade, it says the upgrade is not currently available but I can be added to the waitlist. When I look on the United website in Expert Mode, both of those flights show F0 A0, and it won't sell a first class ticket on the flights. However, when I go through LH, it's perfectly happy to sell F and it appears there are 4 seats open (from the seat map).
Any advice? Is there the equivalent of Expert Mode on LH that can see the likelihood of an upgrade. Should I just put the upgrade down on the return flight (preferable for me than the outbound) and hope for the best? If I knew it was not going to clear, then I'd probably find some friend or relative for whom I could gift it, but if it doesn't ultimately clear, there won't be much time. Any thoughts from those experienced in this process would be welcome. What would you figure the likelihood of a GS getting this upgrade?
Any advice? Is there the equivalent of Expert Mode on LH that can see the likelihood of an upgrade. Should I just put the upgrade down on the return flight (preferable for me than the outbound) and hope for the best? If I knew it was not going to clear, then I'd probably find some friend or relative for whom I could gift it, but if it doesn't ultimately clear, there won't be much time. Any thoughts from those experienced in this process would be welcome. What would you figure the likelihood of a GS getting this upgrade?
Apr 2, 2018, 7:41 am
#1304
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,044
According to the wiki, Z fares are not GPU eligible.
Apr 2, 2018, 8:04 am
#1305
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
Hi, I've never tried a GPU on LH, but I have a round trip thru FRA in business and one lonely GPU expiring at the end of April, so why not? Here's the situation: 016 ticket stock,GS traveler, LH flight numbers, Z class, flying LH403 EWR=FRA on 19-April and 430 FRA-ORD on 22-April. When I go in to the UA website to apply for the upgrade, it says the upgrade is not currently available but I can be added to the waitlist. When I look on the United website in Expert Mode, both of those flights show F0 A0, and it won't sell a first class ticket on the flights. However, when I go through LH, it's perfectly happy to sell F and it appears there are 4 seats open (from the seat map).
I would waitlist it. Outbound is F3A1, return is F2A0. Outbound has slightly higher chance, but return would be a better use.
They are now. Brand new change.