I'm 1K + CC holder

I pretty sure that OP was not talking about hub-hub routes. If OP refers to the short hops between ORD and some small cities, the CPU rates should be higher because there are very few high status flyers. For example, UA used B739 and E175 for ORD-ORF (used to be E70, CR70, or E145). The CPU for 1K is nearly 100% on these flights. OP, please provide the route information so that other FTers can be more helpful to answer your question. Cheers.

Well technically you should clear after all Instruments, GS, and 1K but before Plat/Gold/Silver. What routes are you flying?

If that's the case; it's a good chance it's that then. The value of 1K has gone up for me if this continues.

Various; all through hubs and some hub to hub.

I've seen the same phenomenon lately.

I find that if I don't clear at T-96, I have very low odds of clearing - maybe 1/4 (or less) at the gate. And this is on E/H/Q fares. Too many GS at SFO.

I was surprised on Friday to get two CPUs at T-96h for flights on Tuesday, including booking F cabins all the way full.

And more surprised when they sent the CPU notification emails on Sunday, 36 hours later.

RPU to Hawaii are useless. chuckle so i cannot imagine a CPU would work?

Good for you. In my 12 years or so with UA as a 1K and CC holder I have never ever been CPUed on
award tickets, typically 5+ annually.

CPUs used to be a gimme on the west coast to Hawaii flights. Shame they've become so much harder to get.


I've gotten it a couple of times, on IAD-ORD and similar-length flights when they run an occasional widebody. Failed to get it on CHS-IAD most recently.

As one who travels to/from Islands at least once a month, RPUs certainly are useable outside of weekends to/from west coast. Can't speak to their value out of EWR, IAD, and ORD. Definitely tough out of DEN.

Cleared the 8:55PM ORD-MCI flight for Saturday 6/10 at T-48 (don't get an email, just happened to have checked the app). Gold on an H fare.

Yes, and so are CPUs on midweek West Coast - Hawaii flights (with no need to burn the certificate). I think flybit was likely referring to the RPU-only Hawaii routes, which are incredibly difficult to upgrade (in my experience).

-FlyerBeek

I got my first CPU of the year yesterday on a domestic widebody from ORD > IAH. BF to GF. Nice surprise for a silver on a hub to hub route.

CPU last weekend SFO-PDX and the return. The Friday outbound cleared at 96 hours. The Sunday return cleared 15 min before boarding. This was after watching myself as #1 on the list from check-in through 3 hours of 30 min rolling delays. #2 also got a seat pre-boarding as well. And lucky #3 got one on the plane when my seat-mate failed to show.