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}
Sep 13, 2017, 8:29 am
#1321
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Kaiserslautern
Programs: UA G 1.9MM, HH Diamond, Global Entry
Posts: 439
RPU cleared
so i was the only UG to clear at the gate. Funny, the seat won't recline or footrest raise.
Sep 13, 2017, 8:36 am
#1322
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Kaiserslautern
Programs: UA G 1.9MM, HH Diamond, Global Entry
Posts: 439
RPU cleared
so i was the only UG to clear at the gate. Funny, the seat won't recline or footrest raise.
Sep 13, 2017, 11:27 am
#1323
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
Sep 13, 2017, 12:12 pm
#1324
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,434
E class isn't all that expensive; I reliably see it for under $2,500 r/t from SFO to Europe, even close-in. It's my new way to fly TATL if reasonable J isn't available.
Sep 13, 2017, 11:11 pm
#1325
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
I love PE but 2.5K is steep price outside of peak season. I regularly find Biz fares <2K on smaller carriers.
Sep 14, 2017, 1:08 am
#1326
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,434
Sep 14, 2017, 9:36 am
#1327
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: 3,622
Just got upgraded at T48 for SFO-KOA using instrument, will wonders never cease!! I kind of figured it would happen as there were at least 8 F seats showing up until yesterday. Interestingly the return flight already shows F as soldout. This is my third instrument to clear in 13 months.
Sep 16, 2017, 4:46 pm
#1328
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,495
Just confirmed at booking LAX-HNL 6 days out on the 772. R8 at booking.
I'm in a state of shock.
I'm in a state of shock.
Sep 21, 2017, 5:27 am
#1329
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: TLV
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 148
GPU - waitlist only
So, I've been United 1K for a few years already, needless to say I have a bunch of GPUs, but...so far I have not been successful in finding a single fare where I could actually use them. The most it shows is a waitlist...
Is it my bad luck? What am I doing wrong? Has anybody actually used GPUs?
Is it my bad luck? What am I doing wrong? Has anybody actually used GPUs?
Sep 21, 2017, 5:55 am
#1330
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,227
Many threads on this. Essentially upgradeable space is rare but possible to find. You need to find availability in the R fare class and that will move you straight into Business. Failing that you are added to the waitlist and that will clear either if R becomes available in the weeks before the flight or, increasingly likely, at the gate if there's any spare availability.
Availability does vary by route. I have found that, flying between SFO and LHR and being prepared to route via LAX or FRA, I have normally managed to get upgraded and most of those times at booking - but not always.
Availability does vary by route. I have found that, flying between SFO and LHR and being prepared to route via LAX or FRA, I have normally managed to get upgraded and most of those times at booking - but not always.
Sep 21, 2017, 6:37 am
#1331
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: TLV
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 148
Thanks. I'm just starting to get an impression that there is no upgrade space at all on the route of the most interest to me: TLV<->SFO or TLV<->EWR. Just out of curiosity I looked like 6 months ahead and all I could see was waitlist...
Sep 21, 2017, 7:54 am
#1332
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 54
TLV-EWR and TLV-SFO are among the best markets for United. Rarely you can spot R space available, however, sometimes, you can find R in the TLV-EWR and TLV-SFO during holidays (e.g. I can see now Tuesday, October 10th). Your chance of clearing into R space is flying during mid-week (Tuesday-Wednesday), booking UA85 and not UA91 (which is mostly soldout) and the best way is to find how many P fare buckets are available. For example, if you spot P6-P9 two weeks before the flight, most likely your upgrade will be cleared. Also, booking Q,U instead of W will increase your chance.
Sep 22, 2017, 9:28 am
#1333
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: BOS
Programs: AA Gld; DL Plat; UA Gld;Bonvoy Titanium4Life; Hyatt Silver;
Posts: 162
Been lurking here for a while, trying to get thru 1300+ posts. I've got one (sponsored) GPU to use in January, can anyone suggest a route where I'd have a reasonable shot as a Gold?? I'm trying to jump start my quest for Platinum with a January mileage run, and from what I'm reading, I'm not encouraged that you 1Ks are unable to use GPUs. I can get almost anywhere, but would prefer to use this single GPU on the trip home (East Coast - BOS, EWR, IAD) assuming I've been in E+ on my outbound and ready to lie flat coming home! Thanks for the help. I really don't want to waste a GPU on EWR-BOS!
Sep 22, 2017, 10:15 am
#1334
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,431
It may be more difficult to find space on the weekends, and TPAC seems to be easier than TATL recently. But space is out there if you're flexible.
Sep 22, 2017, 11:16 am
#1335
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: BOS
Programs: AA Gld; DL Plat; UA Gld;Bonvoy Titanium4Life; Hyatt Silver;
Posts: 162
Thanks, that's great advice. I turned on expert mode, and see the buckets. Unfortunately, that flight prices out above my budget, so now I'm looking for a way to connect to it from somewhere else - like MNL or GUM!