yyzcdg

I'd be interested to know (for the future) as well whether BR releases *A upgrade award seats closer to departure. I had a Y seat for BR 35 April 25. Although award J seats were available, I couldn't seem to upgrade using AP points. Decided to simply pay the change fee and minimal fare difference for Elite class with a week to go.

Lumpylump76

Here is a counter datapoint. I called EVA, and asked if a particular flight has *A upgrades available. The EVA agent said he could not tell me this. That my only choice was to buy the ticket, then check with United. I called United, and the agent also said she couldn't see the inventory, so my best bet is to buy the ticket, try the upgrade, and refund the ticket if it fails.

While EVA has a nice product, their website and phone agents leaves a LOT to be desired. I think they still live in the 1990s, where tickets are sold through TAs.

jazzhou

I had a pleasant upgrade experience similar to FT member sfo3388's yesterday.

The upgrade process from BR B fare to Premium Laurel by using UA MP+ miles from another family member's account went easily and successfully.

I was originally booked in M. When seeing free round-trip Premium Laurel award ticket was available on the same BR flights and dates from united.com award search, I thought I'd give the upgrade award a try. I had the BR reservation changed to B and ticket re-issued. Asked the family member to log on to United.com to request *A upgrade with my name, flights, dates and PNR.

The upgrade for both the outbound and inbound segments were available and cleared instantly. Confirmation was issued and miles were deducted. I went on evaair.com to select Premium Laurel seats. I wished everything could be so easy and simple everytime, all the time.

The fare class now shows Z on on my BR PNR. I found out from another post on the UA Forum that I may have a problem crediting the original B fare miles to my UA MP+ account because the fare bucket is now Z. Not everything can be so easy all the time.

asiadxer

EVA Air Upgrade Award
The mileage record with cabin class upgrade is based on the purchased fare class and can be credited to the Infinity MileageLands membership account only. It is not applicable to transfer mileage to other partner airlines.

jazzhou

Thanks. I saw the same earlier on evaair.com. That's why I went on this and the UA board to check on others' experience on the matter. It looks like only BR Infinity MileageLands can take my miles this time.

sfo3388

Like calling any airlines, I would hang up and dial again to speak to next agent. I did mention something like Z class though.

sfo3388

I have done "buy B-class BR ticket and upgrade with UA miles" twice this year. Once in late January. Once in March/April. So far, all miles were credited to my UA account, roughly a week after the flight. The flights were between SFO and TPE. I got 6455 miles posted to my UA account for each segment.

I saw the statement (EVA Air Upgrade Award) in January and had same concerns about having miles posted to BR account. I called BR. The answer is that if you use BR miles to upgrade, you can only credit the flights to BR account.

One warning about the upgrade is that it is hard to change dates/flights. For example, I was trying to change my flight from BR028 to BR018 on the same date. The agent in Taipei office said he had to downgrade me to economy and return the miles to UA. I would have to re-apply with UA miles to the new flight from United.com.

lx343

Just booked a one way award with M&M miles.

Routing: ZRH-CDG LX C / CDG-TPE-PVG BR C

Very happy to try out the famous Royal Laurel Seats soon.

FlytheTail

I recently flew AMS-BKK on a ticket booked in Elite class. When I bought the ticket a few months earlier, there were only a few elite seats left for purchase. When I checked in and when by boarding pass was scanned, I simply asked if there were opportunities to upgrade but was told no. Then about 15 minutes before boarding began, my name was called and I received an op-up into Royal Laurel. Needless to say, I was thrilled and very thankful.

I think only one other person was upgraded. Not having status with EVA but being *Gold suggests there must have been few high-tier EVA elites on the flight, or at least those booked in Elite class.

That flight was among the best I've ever experienced. Excellent hard product and stellar service. I'll certainly be looking for opportunities to fly them again.

AnalogMan

Just did this last night, and think I have some new information to share so posting my experience.

I don't have KVS or expert flyer, but found a way to search for award/upgrade (assuming if an award is available I would be able to upgrade) , and was pleasantly surprised.

I had 39K miles, so I had enough to upgrade PE to C, or Y to PE. I signed into my BR account and was able to search award seats in C/PE, and it either told me it's wait-listed or takes me to the next page (indicating availability). The flights I wanted didn't have C availability, but did have PE availability, so I booked a Y ticket (M fare) with cash and miles (BR miles expire, this was better than losing them altogether) and tried to upgrade.

I enter my confirmation number and was offered upgrade to both PE and C (both showing confirmed availability). Y to PE only cost 15K miles (vs. 25K published on the web-site) to boot! But I didn't have enough miles to upgrade to C, even if I bought a separate PE ticket. So I quickly canceled my Y ticket (within 24 hour refund period) and the webpage said it could take up to TWO MONTHS to process.... Thankfully, my miles showed up about 15 minutes later (don't know about my credit card, but not worried about that yet)

Now with enough miles to upgrade, I bought a PE ticket (T Fare I believe), and upgraded to Royal Laurel (Z Fare) for 35K miles I was able to select seats immediately (4 seats left after I chose mine).

So, it seems BR is more generous on upgrade than award availability even to it's own FFs.

PS: I am BR Silver, which probably did not matter but thought I would mention.

asiadxer

EVA has promotion going for North American & European flights, Economy to Elite upgrade for only 15K miles till Dec 11, 2014.

My experience with EVA online 24hr cancellation refund, my US credit card was credited within 7-10 days.

Its easier getting award for BR own IML members, however less miles using UA MP for the Elite to RL upgradable fares.

AnalogMan

Thanks, didn't know about the upgrade discount promotion, must be low season, and the reason why I am able to get an upgrade 5 weeks out from departure

Star Alliance upgrades cost less money but need higher fare classes. I am very glad I got to use up most of my BR miles on the upgrade though. I don't think I am going to stay a BR FF, probably going to switch to A3 and try to get *G there with my 1 TPAC a year.

sunil

Can someone confirm I can upgrade a ticket with the return in B class with UA miles ? The outbound is in Elite. TY!

Stranger

I have upgraded a B fare to business class using Aeroplan miles.

PacificStandTime

Seems like they are releasing upgrade/award tickets about 1.5 months out, and only the off peak flights.
Peak flights seem to be released less than a week out, depending on availability.
Best bet, hedge your bets by getting KVS, check to see you're not flying on a holiday, and be at peace with parting with a Y or B fare with the possibility you'll be flying in Y or B (which I would say is still much better than any US flag carrier econ class).
Sucks to have to spend the last week of my vacation checking for availability, but lets face it, I'd be doing the same thing, but now at the comfort of poolside.
Happy flying.