Upgrading using miles
 

I'm contemplating buying an economy ticket to India and upgrading using my UAL miles. Few questions -
1) can I use any star alliance airline?
2)is there a particular fare class I have to use?
3) how many miles would I need round trip?

Thanks

Using UA miles, you must fly UA and be on an H or above fare. As UA no longer flies to India, you will only be upgraded as far as you can fly on UA metal before you change airlines (NRT, HKG, SIN).

Miles are 30K per one way (including connections, and I believe a stopover). If you have a B or Y fare ticket, it is 15K each way.

If you go to the coupn connection, you may be able to find a System Wide Upgrade, which allows you to upgrade from most fares.

Good luck!

Ah zrs70 - I'm surprised you didn't mention the obvious LH option. You *can* upgrade LH flights with UA miles (I think on Y B M H fares, but you'd have to check with mileage plus) however it is a rather cumbersome process of MP issuing a paper certificate which takes about 2 weeks to deliver etc. If you don't get the upgrade you can send the cert back for the miles to be re-deposited. You could thus fly UA to FRA and upgrade via UA miles, then LH on FRA to DEL, or some other part of India, and upgrade. If you have UA SWU's you can use those to STANDBY upgrade on *most* LH fares (there are some restrictions, E, O, R, N come to mind).

Good luck.

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RichardMEL, UA 1K
A Star Alliance Member.

Richard:

Blushing!

hmmm.. so perhaps it does not really seem like a viable option...