Sep 21, 2016, 7:13 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
How to upgrade a partner flight using UA MileagePlus miles:
See UA's Star Alliance Upgrade Awards Page
Key points:
See this thread for the no-longer-available award chart (disappeared from united.com as of October 2018): https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...d-website.html
Error codes
For UA operated flights see Using Miles to Upgrade on United
Archive; How to upgrade with UA miles on Star Alliance carriers {Archive}
See UA's Star Alliance Upgrade Awards Page
Key points:
- Only a few fare classes (and expensive) are eligible -- depends on the carrier (see the UA page)
- Needs to be native flight numbers, codeshares are not eligible
- Generally no waitlisting but ANA allows waitlisting
- Most can be requested after ticketing (NH/ANA & ET cannot be requested earlier than 8 weeks to departure -- still true??) and must be done at least 24 hours prior to departure
- Max of 4 passengers can be upgraded
- Generally the available of award space is a good indicator of upgrade space (but not guaranteed) - typically requires (I) inventory
- Upgrade request can only be made electronically
- Upgrade requests are per segment
- It may increase your chance of success to request only one segment at a time on the upgrade page, even though it allows you to enter two (YMMV).
- For mileage requirements, see Interactive travel destinations awards chart
See this thread for the no-longer-available award chart (disappeared from united.com as of October 2018): https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...d-website.html
Error codes
- "We were unable to complete your request due to a technical problem. In the U.S. and Canada call 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) within the U.S. or Canada, elsewhere use the local phone number. (Error code: 110).
- "We were unable to complete your request due to a technical problem. In the U.S. and Canada call 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) within the U.S. or Canada, elsewhere use the local phone number. (Error code: 118)"
- "The traveler has the same name as an existing traveler on this flight. Please contact the operating airline for the required information and try again. (Error code: 384)"
- "Upgrade not available (Error code: 511)."
- "The number of travelers indicated does not match the number of passengers in the reservation. Please correct your information and try again. (Error code: 528)"
- "insufficient MileagePlus Balance (Error code: 2001)"
For UA operated flights see Using Miles to Upgrade on United
Archive; How to upgrade with UA miles on Star Alliance carriers {Archive}
How to upgrade with UA miles on Star Alliance carriers
Feb 24, 2022, 11:41 am
#16
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: United 1k, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador and LT-Gold
Posts: 1,660
I am getting the sense that the best opportunity for an upgrade as well as bis for United is to try to fly them over the pond. Fortunately I have some time to sort out the best options although there appear to be many connections and long flights and layovers involved. I would appreciate any advice to optimize getting credit towards Premier status and Myles credited to United other than booking everything on 016
Feb 24, 2022, 12:23 pm
#17
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
If not booked on a UA ticket, the PQPs are based on distance and fare class multiplier, which may be better or worst than the fare $$$ method, extensively discussed in Earning Status (PQP) on non-016 Tickets and Partner Metal
BTW, a TATL non-UA option for PlusPoints is LH, see LH Electronic PlusPts Upgrades -How to use, will it clear?, issues w/flight credit,..
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 24, 2022 at 12:23 pm Reason: merged consecutive / update posts by same member
Mar 9, 2022, 5:47 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,451
Yes that should be possible. I have successfully used UA miles to upgrade *A flights booked on OTAs in the correct fare classes (including Y/B on any *A airline).
Mar 9, 2022, 7:17 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,038
it is possible. Just be aware that not all OTAs are handling these equally well. I have had some back/forth with PL on UGs before ... at least they don't seem to cancel things before contacting customers like some others have.
Mar 10, 2022, 2:19 pm
#21
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 614
Does anyone have insight into the generic message:
Trying to upgrade / waitlist 2 NH flights, ticketed by AC. Been trying for the day, but keep running into this error (and have no error code to go off of).
We cannot process your request.
Please wait 15 minutes before trying to request again. If you have received this error previously, please call 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) within the U.S. or Canada, elsewhere call your local Customer Contact Center.
Mar 10, 2022, 2:57 pm
#22
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
Mar 10, 2022, 3:42 pm
#23
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 614
Fare class G and Y.
Flights are in August, but one has space available, so would like to confirm that... It worked yesterday so maybe just bad timing.
Mar 10, 2022, 4:42 pm
#24
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
Mar 10, 2022, 4:45 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,038
Mar 15, 2022, 4:03 pm
#27
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 191
I just successfully upgraded an LX flight from U to I class. On the website, my PNR displays a red banner at the top saying: "A modification has been made to your itinerary. Please reach out to United Reservations or contact your travel agency to have your ticket reissued."
....
Has anyone else run into this reissue dilemma, with LX or another airline, and if so, how did it turn out at check-in? Either way, I'm planning on showing up at the airport early with a printout of the confirmation email from LX in hand.
....
Has anyone else run into this reissue dilemma, with LX or another airline, and if so, how did it turn out at check-in? Either way, I'm planning on showing up at the airport early with a printout of the confirmation email from LX in hand.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34068734-post1360.html
Mar 15, 2022, 5:36 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,038
pretty much impossible to do for free. You can see what the price difference will be, but that's about it.
Mar 15, 2022, 8:07 pm
#29
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,919
Mar 16, 2022, 7:30 am
#30
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,919
Although now that I'm on the AC flight, UA says my fare code is ineligible. I was moved from N to E at an earlier schedule change, and I still show E on the AC flight. Could UA detect that the underlying fare basis is N? Any way to get around this, is the online system the only way to process an upgrade, i.e. could I get a different result from an agent?