Star Alliance Upgrades
 

Anyone had any experience (i.e. good luck)on long haul routes using the Star Alliance upgrades from any fare that came out recently to Star Alliance gold level members. I have a chance to use them on short haul in Europe but if people have had luck using them on Transatlantic and Australia routes on United (so I guess this doesn't apply to United members--I am Air Canada), I would be most interested and may save them for later this fall.

there was some discussion under the UA topic here.

I will try to use mine (form UA = excluding UA) on a Star-Alliance-round-the-word-ticket, starting second-half of sep).

Wasn't able to use my Star Alliance upgrades from any fare within Europe. I didn't see what the difference was anyway -- economy class seating at the front of the plane and higher class free drinks. So I still have these ("Gold" Star Alliance members can use on any non Air Canada flight). Same question applies, anybody having any luck using these. By the way, I checked on the flights that I asked Lufthansa to upgrade me on and there were free seats available in Business Class when the plane took off (what gives with the upgrade you can't use, even when free seats are available?). Maybe somebody is looking out for me and is having me save them for a flight where business class will mean business class seating.

Just used my upgrades on LH ORD - MUC a couple of weeks ago for my wife and I. No problem, even though the upgrades are non-transferable.