Upgrading United Domestic Legs on Air NZ Ticket
Mar 17, 2024, 5:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 6
Upgrading United Domestic Legs on Air NZ Ticket
Hi Team,
Travelling AKL-LAX-DEN-MCI-IAH-AKL on Air NZ ticket, PE A class on Air NZ legs and Economy W class on United domestic legs.
In previous years of travelling United Domestic on Air NZ tickets, we'd have the option to purchase cash-upgrades from economy to domestic first on the United Website when typing in the United/Partner booking reference into My Trips to select seats etc. I've noticed this ability has disappeared over the last two years with upgrade options for domestic legs only available for purchase with miles (which are very poor value to purchase off United's Milage Plus website).
Question: Have any of you been able to purchase upgrades for United Domestic on an Air NZ ticket with cash? I called United who said they won't do it because they'd have to re-issue the ticket and it's an Air NZ ticket. I called Air NZ and they wouldn't/couldn't do it either.
Far from the end of the world travelling economy on United Domestic with domestic first not being much better, but I wanted to do anything I could to give my older travel companion a comfortable journey.
I appreciate you sharing your advice/experience! Thank you
Travelling AKL-LAX-DEN-MCI-IAH-AKL on Air NZ ticket, PE A class on Air NZ legs and Economy W class on United domestic legs.
In previous years of travelling United Domestic on Air NZ tickets, we'd have the option to purchase cash-upgrades from economy to domestic first on the United Website when typing in the United/Partner booking reference into My Trips to select seats etc. I've noticed this ability has disappeared over the last two years with upgrade options for domestic legs only available for purchase with miles (which are very poor value to purchase off United's Milage Plus website).
Question: Have any of you been able to purchase upgrades for United Domestic on an Air NZ ticket with cash? I called United who said they won't do it because they'd have to re-issue the ticket and it's an Air NZ ticket. I called Air NZ and they wouldn't/couldn't do it either.
Far from the end of the world travelling economy on United Domestic with domestic first not being much better, but I wanted to do anything I could to give my older travel companion a comfortable journey.
I appreciate you sharing your advice/experience! Thank you
Mar 17, 2024, 8:05 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: NZ Elite
Posts: 196
AFAIK, this change has been recent as I was able to upgrade a domestic UA segment in 2023 (IAH - ATL) using cash, which was part of NZ ticket from AKL-IAH-ATL-LAX-AKL but when I tried doing the same for my upcoming trip this year UA informed that they can no longer do this.
NZ can upgrade the domestic legs operated by UA as long as your other NZ operated flights in the ticket are upgraded as well from PE to J so fare difference will apply.
NZ can upgrade the domestic legs operated by UA as long as your other NZ operated flights in the ticket are upgraded as well from PE to J so fare difference will apply.
Mar 17, 2024, 9:48 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,119
I was going to say any changes must have been recent.
Even on my UA flights late last year (before NZ introduced the ability to do seat select from their app) I could log into the UA site with the PNR and see the option to upgrade to any seat for $$$
As it turns out I had two different friends lodge Mileage Plus upgrades for me - both of which failed when you're looking at 40+ people on the list for a 737 flight!
Even on my UA flights late last year (before NZ introduced the ability to do seat select from their app) I could log into the UA site with the PNR and see the option to upgrade to any seat for $$$
As it turns out I had two different friends lodge Mileage Plus upgrades for me - both of which failed when you're looking at 40+ people on the list for a 737 flight!
Mar 23, 2024, 1:25 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NZ
Programs: NZ Gold, BA Gold, QF Silver, IHG Platinum Elite Ambassador, Accor Diamond
Posts: 1,048
I've done it on NZ ticket, but note that I did NOT get the APD/Status Points for the upgraded travel class, it kept me in discount economy.
Mar 27, 2024, 6:26 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 6
Thank you for the replies everyone.
I lost the ability to do so for a similar itinerary in July 2023 (last year), so the fact that some of you have been able to as recent as January this year sparks my curiosity.
I tried changing the frequent flier account on the ticket from Air NZ Airpoints to UA Milage Plus in the Air NZ portal, but that hasn't affected any ability to do the upgrade in the UA portal. I wonder if it has anything to do with the economy fare class (W)? Air NZ's 'Star Alliance upgrades' (if it's actually a thing that's ever worked for anyone) are also not possible for W class on UA.
bce1 do you remember what fare class your UA domestic legs were?
I lost the ability to do so for a similar itinerary in July 2023 (last year), so the fact that some of you have been able to as recent as January this year sparks my curiosity.
I tried changing the frequent flier account on the ticket from Air NZ Airpoints to UA Milage Plus in the Air NZ portal, but that hasn't affected any ability to do the upgrade in the UA portal. I wonder if it has anything to do with the economy fare class (W)? Air NZ's 'Star Alliance upgrades' (if it's actually a thing that's ever worked for anyone) are also not possible for W class on UA.
bce1 do you remember what fare class your UA domestic legs were?