The "How to upgrade on *A carriers" thread
#136
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: JAX
Programs: DL Silver Medallion
Posts: 2,671
Does anyone know if the 14 day advance notice to print & mail a SWU cert. for an LH flight a "hard and fast rule" or a guideline as to how long it might take?
Our TA is trying to workout an upgrade for my boss on an LH FRA-LAX flight on 12/1. She booked the flight a couple days ago, and just last night called us to get an address to have the cert. mailed to us here in Europe. I honestly think its not gonna get here in time, but she seems confident. She is also claiming that as long as he has the cert in hand at check-in he "will get the upgrade", but my understanding is that its standby only?
Our TA is trying to workout an upgrade for my boss on an LH FRA-LAX flight on 12/1. She booked the flight a couple days ago, and just last night called us to get an address to have the cert. mailed to us here in Europe. I honestly think its not gonna get here in time, but she seems confident. She is also claiming that as long as he has the cert in hand at check-in he "will get the upgrade", but my understanding is that its standby only?
#137
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SZG, Austria
Programs: LH(OS) HON, IC RA
Posts: 33,193
Does anyone know if the 14 day advance notice to print & mail a SWU cert. for an LH flight a "hard and fast rule" or a guideline as to how long it might take?
Our TA is trying to workout an upgrade for my boss on an LH FRA-LAX flight on 12/1. She booked the flight a couple days ago, and just last night called us to get an address to have the cert. mailed to us here in Europe. I honestly think its not gonna get here in time, but she seems confident. She is also claiming that as long as he has the cert in hand at check-in he "will get the upgrade", but my understanding is that its standby only?
Our TA is trying to workout an upgrade for my boss on an LH FRA-LAX flight on 12/1. She booked the flight a couple days ago, and just last night called us to get an address to have the cert. mailed to us here in Europe. I honestly think its not gonna get here in time, but she seems confident. She is also claiming that as long as he has the cert in hand at check-in he "will get the upgrade", but my understanding is that its standby only?
#138


Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,707
SAA cash upgrades?
Bump... Any recent experience or information on whether SAA offers cash upgrades at check-in ex-LHR or ex-JNB? Just to be clear, by cash upgrades I mean a fixed fee to upgrade as opposed to paying the fare difference.
#139
Ambassador, Emirates




Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,847
No, I am not aware of anything like this. It is certainly not an advertised feature of SAA and I have never heard of it happening (come to think of it, maybe once on FT, I'd have to do a search, but no time now).
#140
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,436
#141
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)




Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 30,428
NZ booking classes for upgrade from PE to BIZ
I've been trying to upgrade LAX-LHR on NZ from Premium Economy to Business Premier using *A (LH M&M) miles but found that A booking class is not upgradable. I'm wondering if it's possible to upfare to O (which is the next lowest booking class for PE) so that I can use miles for an upgrade to Business Premier. I've been told that only U,E,O,Y & B booking classes can be upgraded.
My fare must be either ALX21AP3 or ALW21AP3 and according to KVS:
THE FARE MAY BE USED AS A CREDIT TOWARDS ANY HIGHER NZ FARE WITH COLLECTION OF THE FARE DIFFERENCE.
Has anyone been successful in upgrading from Premium Economy to Business Premier with *A miles by upfaring first? I got the impression that seats were available and an upgrade could be processed rather than waitlisted but I may have been optimistic.
My fare must be either ALX21AP3 or ALW21AP3 and according to KVS:
THE FARE MAY BE USED AS A CREDIT TOWARDS ANY HIGHER NZ FARE WITH COLLECTION OF THE FARE DIFFERENCE.
Has anyone been successful in upgrading from Premium Economy to Business Premier with *A miles by upfaring first? I got the impression that seats were available and an upgrade could be processed rather than waitlisted but I may have been optimistic.
#142
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: US CP, DL Plat, BA Silver, SPG plat4life, Hilton silv Marriott silv
Posts: 37
Hi.
I have been searching the threads and have not yet found an answer to this. If someone has it and get provide it...thanks. In the meantime I will keep looking.
I have an RTW biz class paid fare, booked through US that has an LH leg to Europe, 2 SQ legs from LHR to SIN and then two days later to SYD and then United leg from SYD to SFO. Is there any way to upgrade individual legs using cash or points? For example I have Delta points...can I use them on SQ? I have lots of US points. I have Virgin points as well. Also I can transfer Starwood points to any airline.
I will keep looking and post what I find in terms of answering these questions. Eager to see how the new United biz class is...and VERY EXCITED to be flying the 380 from LHR - SIN!
I have been searching the threads and have not yet found an answer to this. If someone has it and get provide it...thanks. In the meantime I will keep looking.
I have an RTW biz class paid fare, booked through US that has an LH leg to Europe, 2 SQ legs from LHR to SIN and then two days later to SYD and then United leg from SYD to SFO. Is there any way to upgrade individual legs using cash or points? For example I have Delta points...can I use them on SQ? I have lots of US points. I have Virgin points as well. Also I can transfer Starwood points to any airline.
I will keep looking and post what I find in terms of answering these questions. Eager to see how the new United biz class is...and VERY EXCITED to be flying the 380 from LHR - SIN!
#143
Original Poster
Moderator, Hilton Honors



Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,446
On the SQ flights, only flights that are not operated with A380 or 77W a/c can be upgraded using miles from FFPs participating in the *A mileage upgrade scheme. (I understand from another recent post that UA does now participate but not on SQ.)
#144
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: US CP, DL Plat, BA Silver, SPG plat4life, Hilton silv Marriott silv
Posts: 37
Thanks Kiwi for untangling that a bit. I'm in SQ business so I don't really need to be able to upgraded. And I will check with United and if it is available just transfer Starwood points to get into F for the leg Sydney-SFO.
#145


Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K/MM, AA GLD
Posts: 1,725
Even though it looks like the original post hasn't been updated in a while, if you've got time Kiwi does it make sense to add the following links:
Replace *A Upgrade Awards with:
http://www.staralliance.com/en/trave...de_awards.html
AC: no link available
CA: http://ffp.airchina.com.cn/EN/jldhz/jljpjsc.jsp#9
NZ: http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpo...aralliance.htm
NH: http://www.ana.co.jp/wws/general/e/a...r_upgrade.html
OZ: http://us.flyasiana.com/Global/AU/en...?fid=CLUB15320
BD: no link available
MS: no link available
OS LO LH LX: http://www.miles-and-more.com/online...l=en&cid=18002
SK http://www.flysas.com/en/EuroBonus/S...eupgr&vst=true
FM: no link available
SQ: http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_U...ts.jsp#Header2
SA: https://www.flysaa.com/voyager/Progr...ing_frame.html
JK: no link available
TP: no link available
TG: http://www.thaiairways.com/frequent-...e-airlines.htm
TK: http://www.thy.com/en-INT/miles_and_...ade_award.aspx
UA: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...returning.html http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52927,00.html
US: Not possible: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-ai...ice-versa.html
Old threads:
Initial announcement: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-...de-awards.html
Miles & More miles for use on OZ TP TG metal: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...-oz-tp-tg.html
Miles & More miles for use on NH SQ metal: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...oss-nh-sq.html
SK miles on UA metal: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/sas-e...ds-united.html
NH miles on LH LO OS SQ metal: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/all-n...de-awards.html
Delete Varig
Add Air China, EGYPTAIR, South African Airways, SWISS as a pointer to Lufthansa, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines
Replace *A Upgrade Awards with:
http://www.staralliance.com/en/trave...de_awards.html
AC: no link available
CA: http://ffp.airchina.com.cn/EN/jldhz/jljpjsc.jsp#9
NZ: http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpo...aralliance.htm
NH: http://www.ana.co.jp/wws/general/e/a...r_upgrade.html
OZ: http://us.flyasiana.com/Global/AU/en...?fid=CLUB15320
BD: no link available
MS: no link available
OS LO LH LX: http://www.miles-and-more.com/online...l=en&cid=18002
SK http://www.flysas.com/en/EuroBonus/S...eupgr&vst=true
FM: no link available
SQ: http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_U...ts.jsp#Header2
SA: https://www.flysaa.com/voyager/Progr...ing_frame.html
JK: no link available
TP: no link available
TG: http://www.thaiairways.com/frequent-...e-airlines.htm
TK: http://www.thy.com/en-INT/miles_and_...ade_award.aspx
UA: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...returning.html http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52927,00.html
US: Not possible: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-ai...ice-versa.html
Old threads:
Initial announcement: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-...de-awards.html
Miles & More miles for use on OZ TP TG metal: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...-oz-tp-tg.html
Miles & More miles for use on NH SQ metal: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...oss-nh-sq.html
SK miles on UA metal: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/sas-e...ds-united.html
NH miles on LH LO OS SQ metal: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/all-n...de-awards.html
Delete Varig
Add Air China, EGYPTAIR, South African Airways, SWISS as a pointer to Lufthansa, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines
#146

Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT/CNX
Programs: UA dirt... and btw, THE innovator of the phrase 'gate lice'. Yeah, that's right.
Posts: 2,874
Sorry, don't have the time to read through the entire thread and the OP is not clear to me. Hopefully, can get a quick answer:
UA 1K with SWU's. How do I use them to upgrade on TG? Can it be confirmed at booking? Is it the same process as upgrading on UA metal, that is, apply for upgrade, and either get waitlisted or confirmed?
Thanks
UA 1K with SWU's. How do I use them to upgrade on TG? Can it be confirmed at booking? Is it the same process as upgrading on UA metal, that is, apply for upgrade, and either get waitlisted or confirmed?
Thanks
#147


Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K/MM, AA GLD
Posts: 1,725
Sorry, don't have the time to read through the entire thread and the OP is not clear to me. Hopefully, can get a quick answer:
UA 1K with SWU's. How do I use them to upgrade on TG? Can it be confirmed at booking? Is it the same process as upgrading on UA metal, that is, apply for upgrade, and either get waitlisted or confirmed?
Thanks
UA 1K with SWU's. How do I use them to upgrade on TG? Can it be confirmed at booking? Is it the same process as upgrading on UA metal, that is, apply for upgrade, and either get waitlisted or confirmed?
Thanks
#148

Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 215
This is probably a pretty dumb question, but I cannot find the answer on this thread. Any help would be appreciated.
I booked a LH ticket (SFO > CPH) for business travel (M class). My company does not allow Y, B tickets. I would like to upgrade to Business, but the agent told me that I need to be in Y or B in order to upgrade (I don't have status with United, but I do have a bunch of miles that I can spend).
What can I do (if anything) to upgrade to Business?
- Can I go from M -> Y -> C using miles?
- Is there a FAQ on what SWU or CR1 allows (providing I have one) - will it allow this?
- Anything else I can do?
Thanks!
I booked a LH ticket (SFO > CPH) for business travel (M class). My company does not allow Y, B tickets. I would like to upgrade to Business, but the agent told me that I need to be in Y or B in order to upgrade (I don't have status with United, but I do have a bunch of miles that I can spend).
What can I do (if anything) to upgrade to Business?
- Can I go from M -> Y -> C using miles?
- Is there a FAQ on what SWU or CR1 allows (providing I have one) - will it allow this?
- Anything else I can do?
Thanks!
#149



Join Date: May 2007
Location: Crystal City, VA
Programs: United Mileage Plus 1K 2.7 MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Silver (!)
Posts: 2,648
About the only thing you can try to do is contact your travel agent and then try to up-fare to a Y/B fare, or maybe even directly to a Z (discounted biz fare). No miles, swu, or cr1 will up fare you to y/b.
#150



Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE, AY Gold, Accor Plat, various CC hotel status
Posts: 2,981
Otherwise, if the OP wants to use own miles, he/she needs to upfare to B first (keeping in mind that it's likely there will be no upgrade availability anyway).

