Feb 27, 2019, 11:55 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the active thread is "Upgrade certificates (GPUs & RPUs) are useless nowadays"
Archive thread "Upgrade certificates (GPUs & RPUs) are useless nowadays" {Archive}
Archive thread "Upgrade certificates (GPUs & RPUs) are useless nowadays" {Archive}
"Upgrade certificates (GPUs & RPUs) are useless nowadays" {Archive}
Mar 31, 2018, 3:56 pm
#1756
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: JAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold MM, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,770
I actually cleared 4 GPUs from W to R for CDG-IAD in July. My first upgrade at time of purchase, even for a party of 4. UA.com worked well when I checked box for upgrade and the search showed all flights that either confirm or waitlist upgrade. I ended up P one way and W return.
The difference in airfare between P and W was $417 one way (although CDG has $48 extra fee per person, so the real value of GPU in this case is $369).
The difference in airfare between P and W was $417 one way (although CDG has $48 extra fee per person, so the real value of GPU in this case is $369).
Mar 31, 2018, 3:57 pm
#1757
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Apr 1, 2018, 12:24 am
#1758
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 167
none of my other 7 Gpu from last year cleared on a holiday. Just random travel days...
Apr 1, 2018, 10:19 am
#1759
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K (MM), DL, AA, AS, HHonors, SPG, Kimpton, Hyatt, IC PC, Marriott Titanium (LT PLT), Hertz PC
Posts: 7,231
The thing that now I find almost alarming was I wasn't even close, especially on the outbound flights out of SFO. I think the highest I was on the upgrade list at T1 was #4 on last weekends Saturday return DEN - SFO.
Apr 2, 2018, 11:56 am
#1760
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,621
Are you referring to a CPU? I fly this route pretty regularly and 1K with a RPU applied usually gets me in the "top 10". I know this is a pretty horrible hub to hub route route but wow standing at 20 on the list with an instrument as a 1K would be pretty bad.
Apr 9, 2018, 12:31 pm
#1761
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Healdsburg CA and Provincetown MA
Programs: UA 1K and MM.
Posts: 141
I've had good luck with using RPUs on the SFO to BOS transcon. About 50% success rate and using pretty inexpensive fares. In fact, I have two seats upgraded on the route this coming Saturday - they cleared at booking.
GPUs and RPUs can't always be used, but I do make use of all of mine (and my partners!)
GPUs and RPUs can't always be used, but I do make use of all of mine (and my partners!)
Apr 10, 2018, 9:36 am
#1762
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: USA
Programs: AS MVP; UA Gold; DL Gold; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 156
Impressed as my November 2018 flights SAN-SFO-LHR and LHR-SFO-SAN are all still waitlisted. However, patience is the name of the game these days with GPUs. Not one of my GPUs take at booking and I have eight (8) to use this year, but I did end up with all my GPUs taking in 2017. I have applied all my RPUs for 2018 and all are waitlisted. None of my RPUs expired in 2017 so I am assuming the same thing in 2018. I did have a number that did not take and I then used them on subsequent flights.
I suspect UA is trying to limit access to the Polaris lounges and GPUs are more likely to take on the day of travel, in addition to UA trying to get TOD UG revenue. I have no inside knowledge for this viewpoint but the fact that so few GPUs take at time of booking but I ended up using them all has shaped this view.
I suspect UA is trying to limit access to the Polaris lounges and GPUs are more likely to take on the day of travel, in addition to UA trying to get TOD UG revenue. I have no inside knowledge for this viewpoint but the fact that so few GPUs take at time of booking but I ended up using them all has shaped this view.
We start at FRA-IAH-SCL and EZE-IAH-FRA trip next week, which used GPUs, and after some hunting-and-pecking, I found the route I needed with the GPUs clearing.
Good luck!
Apr 10, 2018, 12:05 pm
#1763
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pacific
Programs: UA GS, Lifetime 4 MM, BA Gold, , Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 476
I use 20+ GPUs every year. I find that SFO-LHR and SFO-SIN outbound flights are the most difficult to upgrade. Domestically, I get upgraded on a SFO-EWR/BOS flight maybe once a month or so. It's challenging to upgrade out of SFO where so many passengers are flying business class on company's dime.
Apr 10, 2018, 12:28 pm
#1764
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K (MM), DL, AA, AS, HHonors, SPG, Kimpton, Hyatt, IC PC, Marriott Titanium (LT PLT), Hertz PC
Posts: 7,231
Heck, I've flown DEN-SFO and had up to 5-10 GS in Y. Easy to count that one because they are easy to spot during (pre)-boarding. From that perspective, having an additional 10 1Ks on higher fares and on instruments is not that big of a stretch.
Having said all of this, every so often I am still able to clear as CPU as well (though not frequently...)
Apr 11, 2018, 9:10 am
#1765
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
It really depends on the time and day, but yes, I have pushed the 20s while traveling on a GPU on this route as a 1K. Fortunately, I rarely care as the important part of the GPU (SFO-Europe or SFO-Asia) has often cleared ahead of time!
Heck, I've flown DEN-SFO and had up to 5-10 GS in Y. Easy to count that one because they are easy to spot during (pre)-boarding. From that perspective, having an additional 10 1Ks on higher fares and on instruments is not that big of a stretch.
Having said all of this, every so often I am still able to clear as CPU as well (though not frequently...)
Heck, I've flown DEN-SFO and had up to 5-10 GS in Y. Easy to count that one because they are easy to spot during (pre)-boarding. From that perspective, having an additional 10 1Ks on higher fares and on instruments is not that big of a stretch.
Having said all of this, every so often I am still able to clear as CPU as well (though not frequently...)
I second this post that SFO upgrades are very very tough, if not impossible for 1K's to clear.
Apr 11, 2018, 10:01 am
#1766
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,478
Applied one to SFO-SAN and of course I'm waitlisted with available F seats dwindling. On a 739 no less.
Apr 11, 2018, 10:15 am
#1767
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,621
Ended up NOT applying RPU to SFO-SLC and got last F seat (CPU) AFTER boarding as initially suspected. Return flight last night (SLC-SFO) got last F seat (CPU) at T24. Did apply RPU to SFO-KOA next week and don't expect it to clear at all but will be surprisingly pleased if it does.
Apr 11, 2018, 5:49 pm
#1768
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Chicago
Programs: United 1k , Hertz President's Circle, Avis President's Club, Marriott Platinum, SPG platinum
Posts: 68
Ended up NOT applying RPU to SFO-SLC and got last F seat (CPU) AFTER boarding as initially suspected. Return flight last night (SLC-SFO) got last F seat (CPU) at T24. Did apply RPU to SFO-KOA next week and don't expect it to clear at all but will be surprisingly pleased if it does.
Surprise surprise, my first RPU of the year cleared today :O and that too a peak business hour flight from the west coast to ORD. I am on a Q fare ( I have been on an M fare with an RPU applied- Did not get a CPU and/or instant upgrade or an upgrade using the RPU last time )
Last edited by ordflyer18; Apr 11, 2018 at 5:50 pm Reason: Grammar
Apr 11, 2018, 6:50 pm
#1769
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
Ended up NOT applying RPU to SFO-SLC and got last F seat (CPU) AFTER boarding as initially suspected. Return flight last night (SLC-SFO) got last F seat (CPU) at T24. Did apply RPU to SFO-KOA next week and don't expect it to clear at all but will be surprisingly pleased if it does.
Apr 11, 2018, 7:19 pm
#1770
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,621
All joking aside it has been. I have not had a single RPU/GPU clear this year. I can't remember but maybe my wife has had one clear to date. But I have had several CPUs ALL of them on short flights or on United Express but I'll take them when I can though! I can often get a CPU to clear on evening SFO-SLC / SFO-MFR / SFO-EUG and haven't been applying upgrade instruments on these flights.....yet.