Using M&B miles to upgrade *A partner flight
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
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This may not be unusual - after all, there is no award availability in Y+ throughout *A, so it's difficult to imagine how you could ever work out the number of miles need to upgrade from a cabin that doesn't exist in redemption terms to the next one! In theory you could be regarded as just being in Y, but it looks like in practice this isn't possible.
On flights without Premium Economy, the amount required to upgrade from Economy to Business was effectively changed to be that amount which would have been necessary to upgrade to the non-existent Premium Economy, PLUS the amount needed to upgrade from that non-existent Premium Economy to Business.
Flying Blue. Generous by Nature!!!
#17
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
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Aegean, however, do not even publish ANY upgrade rates for Singapore. They simply don't allow you to upgrade, even on flights where another programme might.
#18
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,565
But it could well be:
"They [i.e. SQ] simply don't allow you to upgrade, even on flights where members of another programme [i.e. non M&B] might be allowed."
#19
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That is of course possible; however, I think that is extremely unlikely.
It's quite a different prospect for SQ to prevent ANY upgrades from any one Star Alliance partner, such as A3, as you suggest here - in fact, I would expect that such behaviour would be against alliance rules, given that it discriminates against one particular FFP.
(There may be other Star Alliance FFPs that do not advertise upgrade rates for SQ - I do not know - but the same would apply to these).
It is, I feel, far more likely that Aegean themselves simply decided not to support upgrades on Singapore, for whatever reasons. So that the true situation would be that Aegean just chose not to pursue upgrades - NOT that they were excluded from pursing upgrades.
Miles and Bonus members can make redemptions on SQ, right? I see nothing anywhere on the website that suggests SQ cannot be booked as a redemption - it's just that they don't seem to offer upgrades on SQ.
It's quite a different prospect for SQ to prevent ANY upgrades from any one Star Alliance partner, such as A3, as you suggest here - in fact, I would expect that such behaviour would be against alliance rules, given that it discriminates against one particular FFP.
(There may be other Star Alliance FFPs that do not advertise upgrade rates for SQ - I do not know - but the same would apply to these).
It is, I feel, far more likely that Aegean themselves simply decided not to support upgrades on Singapore, for whatever reasons. So that the true situation would be that Aegean just chose not to pursue upgrades - NOT that they were excluded from pursing upgrades.
Miles and Bonus members can make redemptions on SQ, right? I see nothing anywhere on the website that suggests SQ cannot be booked as a redemption - it's just that they don't seem to offer upgrades on SQ.
#20
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 15
I went through the t&c's. They list. Airlines on which m&b miles can be upgraded, sq is not mentioned in that list. In terms of redemptions, I admit I can't remember the exact terms, but I don't remember any such list of airlines or any specific exclusions, it seemed like standard star alliance redemptions to me.
#21
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 15
Has anyone actually successfully used a SAUA using aegean miles? (Maybe I should start a new thread?) I am trying to decide which ffp to use going forward, and I'm not sure if I should stick with aegean if I can't use the miles! I fly long distances, but not very often, so I'd rather be able to get an upgrade(Air New Zealand would be great) rather than a redemption
#22
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If you want an "SAUA" (whatever that is) on Air NZ, then you should collect miles on Air NZ.
FFPs generally tend to look after their own first; then look after others.
There is no point complaining about A3 as regards using miles on NZ - dictated mostly by NZ - if you don't do the logical thing, and collect with NZ. A3 upgrade coupons only work on A3/OA domestic flights so I think you are barking up the wrong tree.
FFPs generally tend to look after their own first; then look after others.
There is no point complaining about A3 as regards using miles on NZ - dictated mostly by NZ - if you don't do the logical thing, and collect with NZ. A3 upgrade coupons only work on A3/OA domestic flights so I think you are barking up the wrong tree.
#23
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 15
If you want an "SAUA" (whatever that is) on Air NZ, then you should collect miles on Air NZ.
FFPs generally tend to look after their own first; then look after others.
There is no point complaining about A3 as regards using miles on NZ - dictated mostly by NZ - if you don't do the logical thing, and collect with NZ. A3 upgrade coupons only work on A3/OA domestic flights so I think you are barking up the wrong tree.
FFPs generally tend to look after their own first; then look after others.
There is no point complaining about A3 as regards using miles on NZ - dictated mostly by NZ - if you don't do the logical thing, and collect with NZ. A3 upgrade coupons only work on A3/OA domestic flights so I think you are barking up the wrong tree.
In general, I'm trying to figure out where miles can be used, and which FFP to use. Aegean has some advantages (easy *G) but if the miles can't be redeemed (hence my questions) it might be better, as you mentioned, to just use another FFP.
A SAUA is a Star Alliance Upgrade Award.
#24
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: EWR/PHL/JFK
Programs: A3*G, AS MVPG, UA, AA
Posts: 610
I doubt it's all SQ's doing. Those restrictions are there, for sure, but other programmes do allow SOME upgrades on SQ.
Aegean, however, do not even publish ANY upgrade rates for Singapore. They simply don't allow you to upgrade, even on flights where another programme might.
Aegean, however, do not even publish ANY upgrade rates for Singapore. They simply don't allow you to upgrade, even on flights where another programme might.
It's not that SQ "bans" anyone – they simply never release award upgrade inventory beyond their own FFP.
#25
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
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I have no idea if they still do this, but it is certainly true that SQ only release their premium inventory to selected partners. If you want SQ J or F, they make you pay for it.
#29
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CKH
Posts: 575
Snacky