United deducted fewer upgrade instruments than needed...advice?
Mar 11, 2019, 11:24 am
#16
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SF, CA
Programs: UA 1k, 1MM
Posts: 18
I think there have been some good answers already here, but I'll add I've had this happen as well (GPU never deducted). UA will very likely catch this and you risk being downgraded at checkin. I would recommend you call in and have them fix it after a week from booking.
Mar 11, 2019, 3:21 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,043
Generally this will slip by, but there is a corporate audit team that randomly looks at the history of upgraded reservations close to departure and flags ones that lack proper support. Worst case here is you have to deal with the audit flag, which probably looks like having check-in blocked and getting the airport agent to deduct the extra instrument(s). Best case you just got a freebie.
It's pretty YMMV whether you want to try to risk it or call in to get the situation fixed.
It's pretty YMMV whether you want to try to risk it or call in to get the situation fixed.
Mar 11, 2019, 7:13 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,063
Recently I bought PP EWR-FRA which booked into an R fare. A couple of days later I received a call from UA asking how I was "upgrading" my flight since I didn't apply a GPU. The agent immediately realized that whoever flagged my itinerary didn't realize that R was now a paid fare class! So in my case there definitely was some process auditing upgrades.
