Questions About Upgrading a Lufthansa Codeshare Flight Operated by United
Feb 28, 2010, 7:03 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Stockholm Sweden
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold
Posts: 64
Questions About Upgrading a Lufthansa Codeshare Flight Operated by United
is this true? I told her I have a flight from FRA to SFO in March. booked on LH but UA metal. She said I could not even upgrade the day of the flight?
is this true?
sounds not very true to me
is this true?
sounds not very true to me
Feb 28, 2010, 7:06 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United GS, IHG Plat, SPG Gold, Marriott Plat
Posts: 260
I think we will need some more information here. How do you plan to upgrade? Miles? From M&M or LH FF program? Who issued the ticket? (LH or UA)
Feb 28, 2010, 7:31 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Stockholm Sweden
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold
Posts: 64
ah sorry.
i booked the flight on lufthansa issued the ticket. i was planning on upgrading with a SWU
i booked the flight on lufthansa issued the ticket. i was planning on upgrading with a SWU
Feb 28, 2010, 8:21 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: Mosaic 2, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Premium Cabin free agent
Posts: 848
I think intl codeshares on UA metal can only be upgraded at the gate, and on a qualifying fare for your swu to work. I am having the same issue with domestic US codeshare on UA metal.
Feb 28, 2010, 8:39 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
What the CS said is a very good approximation to the truth.
You will not be able to upgrade neither with UA nor LH instruments ahead of time and only on the day of departure, you will be able to submit a request to be upgraded with the instruments of the operating carrier, if the agents of the operating carrier can figure out what transscribed fare base you have on your alien ticket.
Condensed in human language: codeshares and upgrade do not mix. Sure it can work in exotic cases but it's unlikely.
The ticket stock is entirely irrelevant. What really counts is that the is issued under the operating carriers code. This makes life 100x easier.
You will not be able to upgrade neither with UA nor LH instruments ahead of time and only on the day of departure, you will be able to submit a request to be upgraded with the instruments of the operating carrier, if the agents of the operating carrier can figure out what transscribed fare base you have on your alien ticket.
Condensed in human language: codeshares and upgrade do not mix. Sure it can work in exotic cases but it's unlikely.
The ticket stock is entirely irrelevant. What really counts is that the is issued under the operating carriers code. This makes life 100x easier.
Feb 28, 2010, 8:42 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Central Virginia
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,231
Did this last week. CO ticket on UA metal, was able to upgraded at the gate using a SWU. Remember, as stated above, it will only work with a qualifying fare.
Feb 28, 2010, 9:41 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
- CO code on UA metal, upgrade at gate/checkin at the airport.
- UA code, UA metal, upgrade whenever. The ticket could be issued by UA, CO, even AA. Doesn't matter.
Feb 28, 2010, 9:41 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SAN
Programs: AS 100K, DL MM, AA PLT
Posts: 2,934
Moreover, FRA/SFO is a very hard upgrade to score, even in advance. The chances of you clearing day-of, presuming you can get the agents to even put you on the list, are not good.
Feb 28, 2010, 9:54 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1kMM; AA EX Plat, Hilton Diamond and SPG Plat
Posts: 2,012
Yes it can be done but it's a PITA. Done this 2x in 2008 and 2009 w/ my wife in tow. The flight was coded to BMI, and they would not process till check in and gate. Thankfully they all cleared. SFO-LHR vv.
Feb 28, 2010, 11:58 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Stockholm Sweden
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold
Posts: 64
ive never had a problem clearning this flight however its always been on a UA flight.
I suppose its based on LH's booking class and not UA's right?
Thanks!
I suppose its based on LH's booking class and not UA's right?
Thanks!
Feb 28, 2010, 3:41 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: UA MM Gold
Posts: 1,193
The key to UG on a code share ticket on UA metal is the moment when the rez shows as a UA flt number. It seems my experience is that this has been as early as 24hrs out. Once the record shows a UA flt number, an UG is possible, or at least getting in line for the UG. I know for a fact that pulled an UG on a BMI code share (UA metal) at least 1 day before flt. I would not routinely wait until the gate.....
Feb 28, 2010, 11:33 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
Also on UA U does not exist and on LH J doesn't. There have been numerous reports on upgrade failures on U fares on LH. J in all likelihood will not be issued as a codeshare fare so it should not cause any problems.
Feb 9, 2011, 7:59 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 151
Any hope for 2P using miles on UA metal BD codeshare?
The key to UG on a code share ticket on UA metal is the moment when the rez shows as a UA flt number. It seems my experience is that this has been as early as 24hrs out. Once the record shows a UA flt number, an UG is possible, or at least getting in line for the UG. I know for a fact that pulled an UG on a BMI code share (UA metal) at least 1 day before flt. I would not routinely wait until the gate.....
Your post gives me hope that I *may* be able to upgrade. I don't have any SWUs but have enough miles and copay to upgrade. I purchased tickets on UA metal as a BD codeshare SFO-LHR rt and called UA reservations to get seats in E+ and get waitlisted for an upgrade. I got the E+ seats based on my Premier status, but the agent told me that I was ineligible for the upgrade based on booking the codeshare flight versus the true UA flight. Do you think I will be able to upgrade 24 hours in advance using miles + copay when the reservation shows a UA flight?
Many thanks,
misterfuss
Feb 9, 2011, 8:30 pm
#14
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: 66,831
...Your post gives me hope that I *may* be able to upgrade. I don't have any SWUs but have enough miles and copay to upgrade. I purchased tickets on UA metal as a BD codeshare SFO-LHR rt and called UA reservations to get seats in E+ and get waitlisted for an upgrade. I got the E+ seats based on my Premier status, but the agent told me that I was ineligible for the upgrade based on booking the codeshare flight versus the true UA flight. Do you think I will be able to upgrade 24 hours in advance using miles + copay when the reservation shows a UA flight?....
May 28, 2011, 3:56 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
MUC-IAD UA metal, LH code-share number,
NC>0
How does SWU work?
Same day? Need paper SWU at airport? Call 1K web support?
NC>0
How does SWU work?
Same day? Need paper SWU at airport? Call 1K web support?
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; May 28, 2011 at 6:57 pm Reason: question was posted in both Consolidated and PMUA Forums; moved to thread containing similar information