jquinn0501

Apologies if this has been covered (I searched and did not find anything).
I am travelling SFO-NRT in full fare J in a few weeks. The flight is currently open in First (F4 A3). What I would like to do is purchase the fare difference into A class, but I cannot do it on united (codeshare) and cannot do it on ANA web site (ticket purchased via work). Any ideas on if I can purchase this upgrade/class change in advance or if I can even try to do it at the airport?
Thanks for any advice.

Tokyoite

If you have a bottomless pocket that can buy a walk up F class ticket, then of course you can buy the F ticket at the airport (and also incur any change fees to your existing business class ticket).
Full fare J on a non-stop (AA or UA) is around $8000 USD return, and cheapest F on the same non-stop is $20000 USD return. That is almost $6000 difference each way, assuming the fare difference is split evenly.
Check it out on google flights, ANA and UA websites (the one-stops via LAX/SEA/LAS/ORD/HKG/ICN/PEK etc. are cheaper)

If you dont have a bottomless pocket, but want to experience F, then you better to buy/accrue ANA miles and upgrade the full flexible ticket using ANA miles. You will need F award space to be open, but vastly cheaper than the few thousand dollars you will need for a straight up cash ticket.
https://www.ana.co.jp/en/jp/amc/refe...ade/usage.html

Research on other purchasable/transfer partner mileage currencies, and research if there is F award space on your flight.

E.g. Using United miles
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...de-awards.html

that would be my advice.

gengar

EDIT: To answer my own question, as pointed out by @Petdog below.

Is it possible to upgrade a codeshare ticket via NH FFP? If so, another option would be to transfer miles to NH.

Petdog

Unless something's changed . . .

ANA flight booked as United Codeshare - Any way to upgrade?

Purchasing upgrade at the airport on ANA

gengar

Thanks for the links.