Feb 27, 2019, 11:55 pm

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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}

"Upgrade certificates (GPUs & RPUs) are useless nowadays" {Archive}

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Jan 23, 2020, 6:58 pm

#2746

RobOnLI

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2003

Location: Floating around

Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT

Posts: 10,346

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kacee

I'm certainly not seeing it.

I've been waitlisted over two weeks now on an SFO-HKG flight that's currently booked 5/50 10 weeks out. I'm the only pax on the waitlist. Not sure what they're waiting for

Same for my TPE-SFO return this weekend. Booked 1 week out, cabin booked 14/60. I was #19 on the upgrade list. Upgrades didn't process until 36h before the flight. Why? Beats me. PremPlus was overbooked yet I cleared into the last "RN" seat at booking and United sold four more seats after that (evidenced by the booked 14 + 4 blocked).

You'll get the upgrade obviously. Maybe this is how they are trying to "fix" the upgrade list issues they have. Block all upgrades until things "stabilize". It's a head scratcher for sure.

-RM

restlessinRNO likes this.

Jan 23, 2020, 7:03 pm

#2747

nomad420

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobOnLI

Now my experience over the last year is more with instrument upgrade request on domestic flights but for me this has been standard operation procedure for UA for quite some time now. I can't even count the times I have been upgraded at the gate with multiple apparent open F seats showing days if not weeks before my flight.

Jan 23, 2020, 11:13 pm

#2748

Jimmie Jet

Join Date: Jun 2017

Location: Melbourne MEL Calgary YYC

Programs: UA1K, QF Plat, *A & Marriot Gold, OW Emerald, Hyatt Hertz PC CanPass Nexus APEC Global Entry

Posts: 468

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomad420

Perfect! This comment is exactly what many of the above can't do. Even for my personal travel leaving on a Tuesday or Wednesday to, for example SIN, is often not possible and virtually never for work. So yeah, PPs have, I think all would agree, very limited value. In the past I have played the GPU upgrade game of buying W or better and waiting only to find I didn't clear. Stopped doing that over 3 years ago. I do realize PP have a bit more flexibility now but for me the jury is still out. I only hope UA can make me a PP believer as I hold hundreds of them.

You are 100% correct, the value for me is I stay in Australia for 2-3 weeks then cross back so not trying to get a 4 day business trip in, the old RPU / GPU was tough as I do not fly domestically now they all convert to plus points which essentially gives me all GPU of old and no RPU

the issue is now qualifying for 1K with using 8 upgraded flights, the $$$$ is not there to hit $24000