Might be obvious but when using the app do you still need PZ to upgrade at booking?

Yes, unless it is a Y/B/M upgrade on a CPU eligible flight then you would need PN as a GS/1K.

PN is GS only – us regular 1k's only get to use the PZ bucket. (Though it'd be exciting if that changed. :-D )

On CPU eligible routes, 1K on Y/B/M clear into PN.

Ok, so, it seems that you can chose which legs you want to apply the upgrades - in my case 1,2 or 3. So I applied to all 3 legs (PBI-ORD-DEN-SMF) and if one clears it will take 20 points. If 2 or 3 clear too, it will still only take 20 points. I just got notification of my ORD-DEN clearing on the 757-300 and 20 points have been taken.

While I had not thought about this, I just realized from some of the notation on employee site that the purpose of the swap to plus point from certs was do be able to devalue them. Up to last year, once RPU cert gave you a domestic upgrade. One GPU cert gave you a global upgrade. It wasn’t easy to devalue it because you can’t exactly charge a 1.1 certs or 1.4 certs etc for an upgrade. The move to plus points was specifically for this purpose.

Never a dull moment

This could be the reason OR they needed to make the benefits a bit better with a increase in spend from 15k-24k

Somebody put that in writing? Even on an internal site, that’s poor judgement.

Of course the points will eventually be devalued; I don’t think that’s a controversial statement. But, the PlusPoints program is undoubtedly an improvement, despite the fact that it sets the stage for future devaluation.

I don’t think anybody working on the MileagePlus program really has that kind of mindset.

Though I can understand that may be a factor, I doubt it was the primary motivation. The introduction of Premium Economy class essentially forced a change to a points system.

Also, more than a few GPUs were used for domestic upgrades. Those are now worth two domestic upgrades.

One of the goals was to make the benefit sound better. There’s a substantial difference. Marketing over substance.
They are worth two theoretical upgrades, which are not the same as actual upgrades. Many of us already have RPUs expire unused every year.

Does anyone have experience using plus points (RPUs) on the day they expire?
I am waitlisted on a flight on the very day they expire. Are they good until midnight?

They're good for scheduled departures prior to midnight January 31.

Does anyone know when the ability to upgrade ANA and Luftansa flights may return? Agents seem to be unaware that they've been removed from the online form (only Copa remains), while the websites and their internal info state that they are still usable on those partner airlines. Talked to two 1K agents so far, who were caught off-guard by it, as you can only make those upgrade requests online.

Edit: The agent said that the online form is broken, and there is no other way to upgrade (agents can't do it). They've sent another FYI off about it, but there is nothing to do but wait right now for someone to fix the form.

If they waitlisted, then you are good.
As mentioned, they are good for departures scheduled prior to midnight -- local time. And if the scheduled departure is delayed past midnight, they are still valid.
And in the past, connecting flights past the midnight expiration are fine, as long as the first flight they are applied to meet the scheduled departure prior midnight requirement.

Well, I have 200 PlusPoints about to expire. Only the name has changed!