Upgrade Singapore Air Flight with United Miles?
Sep 21, 2009, 2:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: United
Posts: 26
Upgrade Singapore Air Flight with United Miles?
I am a 1K United Premier member. I have never experienced Singapore air... but have seen and heard wonderful reviews. I would like to book the all business flight on Singapore Air from EWR to SIN. I would appreciate any tips on whether/how I could book a lower-priced fare on Singapore Air and use United miles to upgrade for the business class flight? I can't really figure it out from the website, and I cannot get any definitive answer from either customer service ... but I thought it might be possible, since both are Star Alliance?? Thank you.
Last edited by lwhitmandc; Sep 21, 2009 at 2:03 pm Reason: wanted to add more info
Sep 21, 2009, 6:23 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: 40° 41' 45" N - 74° 10' 18" W
Programs: UALCO Holdings General Member
Posts: 18,784
Hello and welcome to FT.
You first problem is that there is no economy fare for SIN-EWR-EWR
so you can't upgrade to business from a coach fare, your second problem is that flight is also not available for award redemption unless you are using SQ KF miles.
On a side note , I think UA now participates in the Star Alliance Upgrade program, so you could book JFK-FRA-SIN and try to upgrade but im not sure what fare class you need to purchase.
You first problem is that there is no economy fare for SIN-EWR-EWR
so you can't upgrade to business from a coach fare, your second problem is that flight is also not available for award redemption unless you are using SQ KF miles.
On a side note , I think UA now participates in the Star Alliance Upgrade program, so you could book JFK-FRA-SIN and try to upgrade but im not sure what fare class you need to purchase.
Sep 21, 2009, 6:57 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,266
Using any other participating airline's miles, you can upgrade eligible booking classes on SQ.
Sep 22, 2009, 12:37 am
#4
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
Welcome to Flyer Talk lwhitmandc 
The best you can do is book an upgradeable (read expensive) fare on the JFK-(FRA)-SIN flight and upgrade using miles of a participating FFP (UA Mileage Plus is not one as far as SQ is concerned). You will need availability on your flight in order for the upgrade to clear (as well as sufficient miles in your other FFP account).
JFK to SIN is, for now, on 747 thus the older product (still much better than flying economy).
The best you can do is book an upgradeable (read expensive) fare on the JFK-(FRA)-SIN flight and upgrade using miles of a participating FFP (UA Mileage Plus is not one as far as SQ is concerned). You will need availability on your flight in order for the upgrade to clear (as well as sufficient miles in your other FFP account).
JFK to SIN is, for now, on 747 thus the older product (still much better than flying economy).
Dec 8, 2009, 1:49 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: IAH
Programs: OnePass, Royal Orchid Plus, Mabuhay Miles
Posts: 376
I'm new to *A as a CO Onepass member and, of course, new to trying to get an SQ upgrade. I am CO Platinum/*G and am considering booking economy (B fare) IAH-SGN on SQ61/62 for a Jan departure.
Right now business is wide open on most dates. I've read that SQ is very stingy with upgrades so my question: will they clear all waitlisted upgrades if seats are available?
Right now business is wide open on most dates. I've read that SQ is very stingy with upgrades so my question: will they clear all waitlisted upgrades if seats are available?
Dec 8, 2009, 2:19 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Expat in SIN
Programs: UA Plat, TK Gold, *G
Posts: 1,452
Where does it say that you cannot upgrade with United miles?
The United website lists SQ as an upgrade partner:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52927,00.html
The United website lists SQ as an upgrade partner:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52927,00.html
Dec 8, 2009, 2:47 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 856
Where does it say that you cannot upgrade with United miles?
The United website lists SQ as an upgrade partner:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52927,00.html
The United website lists SQ as an upgrade partner:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52927,00.html
As for the waitlist, I've heard SQ might fly with empty J seats even though there are people on the waitlist, not sure how true it is. Also SQ upgrade award books into its business saver award inventory (if using Krisflyer miles), not so sure about star alliance upgrade award, maybe it books into star alliance business award inventory (so you might want to look for those dates with availability).
Dec 9, 2009, 1:56 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: UA 1K, AA ExecPlat
Posts: 820
Take a look at the chart here. You will see that Mileage Plus miles cannot upgrade SQ flights on star alliance upgrade awards.
As for the waitlist, I've heard SQ might fly with empty J seats even though there are people on the waitlist, not sure how true it is. Also SQ upgrade award books into its business saver award inventory (if using Krisflyer miles), not so sure about star alliance upgrade award, maybe it books into star alliance business award inventory (so you might want to look for those dates with availability).
As for the waitlist, I've heard SQ might fly with empty J seats even though there are people on the waitlist, not sure how true it is. Also SQ upgrade award books into its business saver award inventory (if using Krisflyer miles), not so sure about star alliance upgrade award, maybe it books into star alliance business award inventory (so you might want to look for those dates with availability).
I believe the link on the *A website that you linked to is out of date. If you look at the UA page about the *A upgrades here, you will see that SQ is on the list of participating airlines.
Dec 9, 2009, 5:09 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,482
Where does it say that you cannot upgrade with United miles?
The United website lists SQ as an upgrade partner:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52927,00.html
The United website lists SQ as an upgrade partner:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52927,00.html
Dec 9, 2009, 5:11 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,482
I'm new to *A as a CO Onepass member and, of course, new to trying to get an SQ upgrade. I am CO Platinum/*G and am considering booking economy (B fare) IAH-SGN on SQ61/62 for a Jan departure.
Right now business is wide open on most dates. I've read that SQ is very stingy with upgrades so my question: will they clear all waitlisted upgrades if seats are available?
Right now business is wide open on most dates. I've read that SQ is very stingy with upgrades so my question: will they clear all waitlisted upgrades if seats are available?
1) You cannot waitlist for partner upgrades.
2) SQ doesn't release O/I inventory for 77W and A380 flights. You need I inventory to upgrade using partner miles. You can use D inventory if using SQ miles albeit at higher mileage level.
To answer your question, yes SQ does clear upgrade waitlists, often within days or hours of flight. But you can only waitlist in D class using SQ miles.
Jan 12, 2010, 10:19 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,482
It may be tough to get 2 O class seats. Are you willing to upgrade just one passenger?
More O class seats maybe released within the last few days of departure, if you can wait. 
Jan 13, 2010, 12:03 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 856
Hmm, didnt noticed this post after I posted. If I read the award chart correctly, it takes just 25k UA miles to upgrade a LAX - SIN, while it takes 45k SQ miles for the same flight, though both uses different inventory (*A vs Krisflyer members). I'm not even sure SQ will release O class to *A last minute, they should release to Krisflyer members first I guess.
Jan 13, 2010, 1:13 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Gold, SPG Gold,NW GE
Posts: 59
TerryK is correct. Last week, I upgraded from B class to C on regional SQ (SIN-CMB) with 25k UA miles.
Sadly, no possibility of using UA miles on 77W from SFO-SIN.
Upgrade space is available to Krisflyers: for an unbelievably high amount of miles!! as discussed above.
Sadly, no possibility of using UA miles on 77W from SFO-SIN.
Upgrade space is available to Krisflyers: for an unbelievably high amount of miles!! as discussed above.