Originally Posted by
itsdan
We are planning an international trip and would both like to use her plus points to upgrade in this case an economy flight booked on life miles to business (there is no option for a business flight via points on LM for this flight either). Her current status is platinum, but by the trip she is hoping to achieve 1k. I am trying to transfer amex points to LM as that seems to be the only way to book a united flight so transferring directly to United is not an option is seems.
While you can redeem for United flights using Lifemiles, LM and UA MP are separate programs. When you redeem LM for a UA flight you get a LM ticket for a UA flight. UA will not do anything to this ticket.
a) a award ticket does not accrual any miles or status points in any program
b) you cannot upgrade a award ticket, and certainly you cannot upgrade a LM award ticket with UA miles.
c) once you have ticketed a united award flight with lifemiles, you can put your united FF number on it and get UA elite benefits (if any) while traveling but that's it