All Nippon Airways Mileage Club - Star Alliance Upgrades for New First on 77W?

I've tried to search on this question, and can't find anything definitive. Does anyone know if ANA is blocking Star Alliance upgrades to the new First Square Suites like SQ does for their Suites?

I'm going to be booked into a D class fare flying NH202 from LHR-NRT. The two dates I am interested in are Thur Dec 1 and Fri Dec 2. In each case I see open seats in First (6 on Thur, 2 on Fri), but United (I'll be using United miles) can't tell me until I book the ticket and try the upgrade whether it will be possible.

I don't have access to the ANA Award tool, but not sure this type of info would be there anyway?

Knowing whether the upgrade would even be possible (or better yet, current availability) would help me decide which day to fly.

Thanks in advance for anyone with any help or info!

They don't block it but availability is difficult to find and often only opens up close to departure if F is near empty.

It should be noted that with a Star Alliance upgrade award you cannot waitlist so you would have to keep checking ANA or keep calling. The ANA tool might also be incorrect since they release additional seats to their own members.

In each case I see open seats in First (6 on Thur, 2 on Fri), but United (I'll be using United miles) can't tell me until I book the ticket and try the upgrade whether it will be possible.


You should know that for any airlines not just NH, when you are using miles for an award or upgrade, even you can see there are seats available, it doesn't equal to the seats open for awards.

And if you know, airlines like NH often only release 1 seat per flight in F for miles and often last minute.

You should know that for any airlines not just NH, when you are using miles for an award or upgrade, even you can see there are seats available, it doesn't equal to the seats open for awards.

And if you know, airlines like NH often only release 1 seat per flight in F for miles and often last minute.

My point regarding the sentence you quoted was more to say that in many cases there is a way to see if the open seats on a seat map are available for upgrade or not. For example, with United, we'd look for NF. I do fly enough to understand that NF inventory does not equal F/A inventory.

My question was to figure out if NH has NF (or equivalent) inventory EVER on the 77W. I was worried that maybe they were never having NF like LH does not have Star upgrades to First on A380 and SQ doesn't usually allow star upgrades to suites.

I think the first person that responded answered the question by stating that there is no prohibition against it on the 77W, they are just rare.

AFAIK, NH use O for both upgrades and full redemptions. So you'll be looking for O class on the flights that you will be interested in.

I have seen 1 seat available on various dates close to departure on the LHR/FRA flights, but really, they are so rare as to make it completely unfeasible for advance planning. I would expect to fly on their (very nice it is, too) new C class, and be pleasantly surprised if they manage to give you two seats in F.

Have you confirmed that D class is an eligible fare code for upgrading on NH, regardless of aircraft?

Have you confirmed that D class is an eligible fare code for upgrading on NH, regardless of aircraft?
According to the UA website (http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52927,00.html), D is an eligible booking class.