Originally Posted by
Red_Rob
Depends on your fare class as to the amount of miles (they can upgrade your fare class to an eligable one without a change fee, only paying the difference).
SA does not offer the upgrades on the IAM-DME route though. I have heard of people having success using continental miles on other routes, they can be lots of miles though (and a couple of hundred dollars depending on fare class).
While the continental.com website provides further details, Star Alliance upgrade awards do not work the same way as CO metal upgrade awards. The ticket must be booked in the higher fare classes, there's no copay, and upgrades apply on a per-segment basis.