Jan 23, 2015, 7:28 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Upgrading Flights Operated by ANA , Lufthansa or COPA
Partner PlusPoints Upgrade Awards
For general information on upgrading ANA or Lufthansa flights with PlusPoints (note to use miles is a separate process) see Upgrading Flights Operated by ANA , Lufthansa or COPA You actually request the upgrade through the online form, here: Partner PlusPoints Upgrade Awards
Per United web support, you only need to fill in the required* info.
**The LH flight you are upgrading must be an LH flight, not a UA codeshare flight. If you have a UA codeshare flight, you can call websupport and they will (put you on hold and] change your itinerary to one with an LH flight#.
Note that UA websupport might give you a new ticket # when you do the above, but if the original ticket # was 016 UA stock, it will remain so, and thus you will still be earning RDMs at the UA rate (11x for a 1K), not the *A rate. In case of a $6000 biz fare for LAX-FRA that you are trying to upgrade to F for example, as a 1K you would earn 66,000 UA RDM if booked as a UA flight. And even though after booking you get them to change the UA flight # from a UA codeshare flight to an LH flight, the 016 ticket stock sticks, and you earn 66,000 RDMs.
(FYI, had the ticket stock been an LH stock, the RDM's earned would be 5790 miles x 150% = 8685 RDMs. Big difference)
Note that sometimes the online upgrading does not work, and you may get an error message to call an 877 number, which is now defunct but still resides on .bomb...Ignore it and just call web support. They might put you on hold while they call LH but they will get the job done.
Eligible Economy Fares to Apply PlusPounts
Upgradeable to business fares include U/H/Q the lowest eligible economy fares. G&E the two top premium economy fares and Y/B/M the most expensive economy fares. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24219165-post205.html)While UA has not changed their T&Cs, LH appears to have expanded the potential fare classes
For C->F upgrade, J, D, C fares are eligible, Z and P fares are not
.
LH booking class P, Z upgreadable for miles and eVouchers
From April to September 2018 it was possible to confirm and waitlist P,Z-class LH flights with a PlusPoints. Confirming and waitlisting is no now longer possible, but previously waitlisted segments will continue to clear as/if available.
Checking for Upgrade Availability
Upgrades to E, C and F come from the R, I and O fare bucket, but its a subset, which theoretically is not the same as the award subset. If awards are available it is a strong indication the upgrade is available too. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24861289-post342.html)
In case of upgrade clearing but eticket refresh problems:
Checking for availability prior to calling
Use ANA or even united.com to see availability.
To check if C/F upgrades may open up, ask in this thread: Determining LH Y/C/F loads? [the help me guesstimate loads thread]
Regarding ticket stock, Oliver reports:
Each LH flight segment requires a separate set of PlusPoints
A single set of PlusPoints can be used to only upgrade a single LH flight segment, And that PlusPoints cannot be extended to include another LH flight segment or another UA flight segment.
Problems getting mileage credit for upgraded LH segments
Numerous reports of denial of mileage credits (RDMs, PQMs, PQSs, PQDs) for upgraded tickets. This issue is probably due to LH uses the same fare bucket for mileage awards and upgrades. It seems patience, persistence, and documentation of the originally paid fare are needed to get credit.
You probably won't get credit by simply submitting the online form or asking a CSR to do so for you. A CSR needs to submit a System Issue Form, together with the mileage request, explaining that you flew in I class, but you paid for a mileage-earning booking class.
T-10
While the original system did not allow the upgrade waitlist to carry on past t-10 hours, the have been multiple reports that this is no longer the case. If not cleared in advance - the upgrade wait-list will last all the way until the door closing. UA has not updated the text on the LH upgrades to reflect this change.
Premium Eco To Biz Upgrade
Archive Thread: Lufthansa GPUs Go Electronic {Archive}
Related Thread
How to upgrade with UA miles on Star Alliance carriers
Partner PlusPoints Upgrade Awards
For general information on upgrading ANA or Lufthansa flights with PlusPoints (note to use miles is a separate process) see Upgrading Flights Operated by ANA , Lufthansa or COPA You actually request the upgrade through the online form, here: Partner PlusPoints Upgrade Awards
Per United web support, you only need to fill in the required* info.
**The LH flight you are upgrading must be an LH flight, not a UA codeshare flight. If you have a UA codeshare flight, you can call websupport and they will (put you on hold and] change your itinerary to one with an LH flight#.
Note that UA websupport might give you a new ticket # when you do the above, but if the original ticket # was 016 UA stock, it will remain so, and thus you will still be earning RDMs at the UA rate (11x for a 1K), not the *A rate. In case of a $6000 biz fare for LAX-FRA that you are trying to upgrade to F for example, as a 1K you would earn 66,000 UA RDM if booked as a UA flight. And even though after booking you get them to change the UA flight # from a UA codeshare flight to an LH flight, the 016 ticket stock sticks, and you earn 66,000 RDMs.
(FYI, had the ticket stock been an LH stock, the RDM's earned would be 5790 miles x 150% = 8685 RDMs. Big difference)
Note that sometimes the online upgrading does not work, and you may get an error message to call an 877 number, which is now defunct but still resides on .bomb...Ignore it and just call web support. They might put you on hold while they call LH but they will get the job done.
Eligible Economy Fares to Apply PlusPounts
Upgradeable to business fares include U/H/Q the lowest eligible economy fares. G&E the two top premium economy fares and Y/B/M the most expensive economy fares. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24219165-post205.html)While UA has not changed their T&Cs, LH appears to have expanded the potential fare classes
... Just check the tables here: https://www.miles-and-more.com/onlin...l=en&cid=18002
.
From April to September 2018 it was possible to confirm and waitlist P,Z-class LH flights with a PlusPoints. Confirming and waitlisting is no now longer possible, but previously waitlisted segments will continue to clear as/if available.
Checking for Upgrade Availability
Upgrades to E, C and F come from the R, I and O fare bucket, but its a subset, which theoretically is not the same as the award subset. If awards are available it is a strong indication the upgrade is available too. (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24861289-post342.html)
In case of upgrade clearing but eticket refresh problems:
Originally Posted by oliver2002
Both longhaul LH segments cleared into I after being on waitlist. The first didnt get stickered, so the DCS (amadeus altea) rejected online and agent checkin. The eticket helpdesk had to manually update the first coupon for the DCS to accept the coupon. My seat in C was safe, since the PNR was updated correctly, just the ticket was not updated completely to the satisfaction of the DCS. Everyone looking at the booking agreed the upgrade was legit, so you will not be denied boarding or downgraded, just budget enough time
Originally Posted by oliver2002
The LH GA must have called the eticket helpdesk and pointed out the * SSR remark in your reservation that shows an upgrade was applied and the e-ticket just needed a fix/sticker. See my experience above.
To check if C/F upgrades may open up, ask in this thread: Determining LH Y/C/F loads? [the help me guesstimate loads thread]
Regarding ticket stock, Oliver reports:
Each LH flight segment requires a separate set of PlusPoints
A single set of PlusPoints can be used to only upgrade a single LH flight segment, And that PlusPoints cannot be extended to include another LH flight segment or another UA flight segment.
Problems getting mileage credit for upgraded LH segments
Numerous reports of denial of mileage credits (RDMs, PQMs, PQSs, PQDs) for upgraded tickets. This issue is probably due to LH uses the same fare bucket for mileage awards and upgrades. It seems patience, persistence, and documentation of the originally paid fare are needed to get credit.
You probably won't get credit by simply submitting the online form or asking a CSR to do so for you. A CSR needs to submit a System Issue Form, together with the mileage request, explaining that you flew in I class, but you paid for a mileage-earning booking class.
T-10
While the original system did not allow the upgrade waitlist to carry on past t-10 hours, the have been multiple reports that this is no longer the case. If not cleared in advance - the upgrade wait-list will last all the way until the door closing. UA has not updated the text on the LH upgrades to reflect this change.
Premium Eco To Biz Upgrade
Related Thread
How to upgrade with UA miles on Star Alliance carriers
LH Electronic PlusPts Upgrades -How to use, will it clear?, issues w/flight credit,..
Mar 2, 2023, 9:14 am
#61
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 6,956
Hi hoping someone can help - I have UA ticket stock flights on LH (they converted the code share to LH flight numbers) and I successfully applied plus points to both ways and am waitlisted (Y to J upgrade). My issue is that I cannot select seats in Y (neither UA nor LH call centers can select seats). So basically if my upgrade doesn't clear, I will be in a middle seat - doesn't work for me. So I want to cancel the ticket (I am under 24 hours). Do you know how I cancel the upgrade request. My plus points show deducted and not requested (or whatever the waitlist language is on UA website). IF the UA call center just cancels the ticket, will I get my PP back seamlessly? Both upgrades have not cleared.
Thanks for your help in advance
Thanks for your help in advance
Mar 6, 2023, 7:27 pm
#65
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K 1.5 MM, AA PLAT PRO 1MM
Posts: 573
I used a few of our mountain of Plus Points to upgrade one LH segment on an upcoming trip to Europe - it is the first segment of the return part of the trip (segment 3 of 4 on the ticket). The upgrades cleared immediately and I got an email confirmation. Now, though, that segment has dropped off my itinerary on the UA site. I only see the other three segments. On the other hand, all looks fine on the LH site when I look it up using the LH record locator. Should I be worried?
Mar 7, 2023, 1:02 pm
#67
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 282
Still attempting to fix my bungled attempt at using Plus Points this summer and am wondering what others would do. On an A fare LAX-FRA with a connection to CDG in M. That I think I can leave alone. I ended up changing departure airports on the return from NAP to FLR and that connection is now an hour and 45 minutes in FRA but the TATL portion is in Y on an A340(U fare).
Weighing my options to move to PE are either a ~5 hour connection through MUC to get on an A350 or a 2 hour connection in FRA to get on a 747 again. I'm leaning towards the 747 due to the larger business cabin. Both options are an additional $1k total for the two of us so no advantage there.
Even if I run into the same issue where I can't convert to LH native flight numbers I think I'll be happier in PE.
As always any help here appreciated.
Weighing my options to move to PE are either a ~5 hour connection through MUC to get on an A350 or a 2 hour connection in FRA to get on a 747 again. I'm leaning towards the 747 due to the larger business cabin. Both options are an additional $1k total for the two of us so no advantage there.
Even if I run into the same issue where I can't convert to LH native flight numbers I think I'll be happier in PE.
As always any help here appreciated.
Mar 7, 2023, 1:44 pm
#68
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K 1.5 MM, AA PLAT PRO 1MM
Posts: 573
Mar 10, 2023, 2:49 pm
#70
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 2,350
At this stage, for Sunday, with 2 seats available for sale, I'd guess there's a good chance those go to upgrades. Question is who else is already on the list or prepared to buy up. I wouldn't hesitate, but then I'd fly LH J over Polaris anyway so you shouldn't go by that.
Mar 12, 2023, 8:37 am
#71
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, UA 1K, AA Exec. Plat., DL DM, National E.E.
Posts: 253
Data point:
My FRA-ORD round trip recently cleared into F immediately after submitting the form, despite "O" inventory being at zero on ExpertFlyer. This was less than 14 days prior to travel.
My FRA-ORD round trip recently cleared into F immediately after submitting the form, despite "O" inventory being at zero on ExpertFlyer. This was less than 14 days prior to travel.
Mar 17, 2023, 3:11 pm
#72
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: ORD LAS HKG
Programs: Bonvoy LTT; IHG DiamondAmb; WoH Globalist; UA1K2MM; NationalEE; AvisPC; HertzPC
Posts: 703
Does anyone know if I use a travel agent to book my ticket (016 number codeshare with LH), will websupport be able to change it to LH flight number from UA codeshare flight number so I can apply PP on the LH flight for an upgrade? Or does it have to be booked on UA website or 1k desk (no travel agent)?
Mar 17, 2023, 3:18 pm
#73
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,057
Does anyone know if I use a travel agent to book my ticket (016 number codeshare with LH), will websupport be able to change it to LH flight number from UA codeshare flight number so I can apply PP on the LH flight for an upgrade? Or does it have to be booked on UA website or 1k desk (no travel agent)?
That said, there are other TAs, including OTAs that are known to cause issues. Known issues for example w/ PL, but I have used other OTAs before where I simply responded to their Email about the change that I had 'upgraded using miles' and they were satisfied with that.
So 0% issues from the UA side when you do that; on the TA side, in my experience, no problem ... but YMMV depending on the TA
Mar 17, 2023, 3:23 pm
#74
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Our nation's capital
Programs: UA 1K & 0.6 MM
Posts: 781
All my tickets are booked w/ a corporate TA and UA converts them. I get all sorts of 'there is an issue, please call us' from the TA which I diligently ignore. Never an issue; they are actually used to that
That said, there are other TAs, including OTAs that are known to cause issues. Known issues for example w/ PL, but I have used other OTAs before where I simply responded to their Email about the change that I had 'upgraded using miles' and they were satisfied with that.
So 0% issues from the UA side when you do that; on the TA side, in my experience, no problem ... but YMMV depending on the TA
That said, there are other TAs, including OTAs that are known to cause issues. Known issues for example w/ PL, but I have used other OTAs before where I simply responded to their Email about the change that I had 'upgraded using miles' and they were satisfied with that.
So 0% issues from the UA side when you do that; on the TA side, in my experience, no problem ... but YMMV depending on the TA
Mar 17, 2023, 10:35 pm
#75
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: ORD LAS HKG
Programs: Bonvoy LTT; IHG DiamondAmb; WoH Globalist; UA1K2MM; NationalEE; AvisPC; HertzPC
Posts: 703
All my tickets are booked w/ a corporate TA and UA converts them. I get all sorts of 'there is an issue, please call us' from the TA which I diligently ignore. Never an issue; they are actually used to that
That said, there are other TAs, including OTAs that are known to cause issues. Known issues for example w/ PL, but I have used other OTAs before where I simply responded to their Email about the change that I had 'upgraded using miles' and they were satisfied with that.
So 0% issues from the UA side when you do that; on the TA side, in my experience, no problem ... but YMMV depending on the TA
That said, there are other TAs, including OTAs that are known to cause issues. Known issues for example w/ PL, but I have used other OTAs before where I simply responded to their Email about the change that I had 'upgraded using miles' and they were satisfied with that.
So 0% issues from the UA side when you do that; on the TA side, in my experience, no problem ... but YMMV depending on the TA