US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - upgrade with US 500 milers/credit miles to UA MP?

The US reservations agent didn't think this was possible. Does anyone know if it is possible (either in advance or at the gate) to upgrade using 500 milers on your US Airways account, but credit the flown miles to your United Mileage Plus account?

It is not possible and I strongly doubt it ever will be possible. The last thing US wants is for you to "work down" your US elite benefits while earning status on UA, and vice versa for UA. They may be partners but still don't want to lose their elite flyers to the other half. The goal of the partnership is to increase traffic for both, not divert from one to the other (though in some markets this is starting to happen).

No you can't.

Note to moderators: can we have a US/UA FAQ on upgrading--sort of like the Star Alliance model FAQ on RTW trips?

But it does work the other way around (using UA 500 milers & elite status to upgrade UA flights, and crediting to US).

I had a couple thoughts, let me know if anyone has tried these or know what will happen if I try them:

1) Wait until I get to the gate, and if space is still available, try to get the GA to pull 500 milers from my DM account and still credit my MP account.

2) Switch before the flight to my DM number, then once my upgrade clears, call and switch back to my united MP number. Then when I check in, I can let the GA sort it out like in #1.

*Possible problem, the first leg of my flight is US code share flight on UA metal. Since I am checking in with UA, what will the UA agent do with my upgraded flight? Do they even have the power to pull the 500 milers? How would this work if I was simply crediting the miles to US DM?

No and No. How can they pull your 500 milers from your UA account and get credit on US?? They can't. You can only have one FFmile account in the record--the upgrades are pulled when the close out the flight

This very same question has been asked 20X in this forum.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by FlyerAl:
But it does work the other way around (using UA 500 milers & elite status to upgrade UA flights, and crediting to US).</font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NeoOfTheCRS:
No and No. How can they pull your 500 milers from your UA account and get credit on US?? They can't. You can only have one FFmile account in the record--the upgrades are pulled when the close out the flight

This very same question has been asked 20X in this forum.

quote:
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Originally posted by FlyerAl:
But it does work the other way around (using UA 500 milers & elite status to upgrade UA flights, and crediting to US).
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</font>


I think what FlyerAl was referring to is on a UA ticket, you are able to give UA two FF #s, one for status and one for credit for that flight. In that situation, you can use UA upgrades and credit your US account.

Do you know what would happen if I tried either of the two things I noted in my last post?

For UA, I think that you can have your cake and eat it too. I've read that you can use 500 milers on your UA account, and switch it at the gate to, say, an LH or other *A carrier account, and it works. Unfortunately, I've never tried it to see if it actually works.

I don't think the US system will check an upgraded pax in unless there is a dm# in the record from which to pull an eupgrade. Can anyone comment on exactly how this works with in Sabre? However, if there is a UA number in the record, the age agent could still operationally upgrade you without using an e-upgrade. Or I believe they also have a way of printing your US e-upgrades. That being said, I'm not sure that (while there may be technical loopholes) that a US GA would be willing to do this. It would probably take a lot of extra computer entries, and the GA might fear if their op upgrades are reviewed. I have no idea to what extent gate agents activities are monitored. The one post on this I remember from a US employee stated that they basically leave agents alone, but that if they are looking to fire or reprimand an agent, they will go back in the system and use his or her waivers as reasons why they might be fired or reprimanded. It is my sense that, conversely, telephone reservations agents are monitored and scrutinized a lot more (like 95% more) than airport agents.

Well jetsetter, I am going to attempt my idea #2.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">2) Switch before the flight to my DM number, then once my upgrade clears, call and switch back to my united MP number. Then when I check in, I can let the GA sort it out like in #1.</font>
I'll report back with how this works. The thing I worry about is the fact that I will be checking in with a UA agent for the first code share leg. I doubt the UA agent can op upgrade me and I have no idea what the system will do.

Let me know if anyone has reasons for me not to try this.

I may be misunderstanding you, but from what I get, you are trying to upgrade a United operated flight using US upgrades, and this is impossible. You can't use the US upgrades on United, you can only use US upgrades on US. If you even are thinking of getting an upgrade on United, you HAVE to use United upgrades- upgrades from the two different airlines aren't usable on any other airline.

Although I'm not positive http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redface.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by GotCalcio4:
I may be misunderstanding you, but from what I get, you are trying to upgrade a United operated flight using US upgrades, and this is impossible. You can't use the US upgrades on United, you can only use US upgrades on US. If you even are thinking of getting an upgrade on United, you HAVE to use United upgrades- upgrades from the two different airlines aren't usable on any other airline.

Although I'm not positive http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redface.gif </font>

My first flight is a US Airways codeshare on United, this flight connects to a US Airways flight. Since the first leg of my flight is on United, I will be checking in with United, but I want to upgrade the second flight which is US Airways. That is why I think I might have some problems, since the UA agent probably doesnt have any control over the US flight, maybe they will only check me for the first flight and make me check in with US Airways at the connection?

Yep, I was misunderstanding you. But you probably are right when you assume that the United agent won't have access to the US flight on the second leg of the journey. They probably wouldn't make you check in with US on the second leg, as United is able to print you boarding passes for the whole itinerary. -BUT- If you are planning to use upgrades on the second leg then im just not sure . . . sorry