FlyerTalk Forums - The "How to upgrade on *A carriers" thread

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Quote:

Originally Posted by mymiles2go

....What is best upgrade 'use case'? From what I gather, I can't use SWU's to upgrade all the way through to DXB on one upgrade cert because it's 'mixed UA/LH'. It's my understanding however I could use miles and do it confirmed each way - correct?...

Just noticed this... hope I'm not too late.

Actually, incorrect... In any scenario, you're looking as spending 2 upgrades: (SWUs or miles on LH metal only upgrade one segment). So what I would do is fly UA transat and confirm that UG with a SWU, and use miles for FRA-DXB (confirmable in advance) assuming you have the correct booking class.

Hi

Can anyone help with info on South African and Swiss? The OP is missing that info, and Ericka is looking for info on how to upgrade on SA.

Thanks

LH flight number UA metal

Couldn't find this answered in a search.

In trying to book a flight to Lisbon, I want to make certain I can upgrade to C for the Transatlantic portions and use my SWUs.

I can find the flights and all are ticketable in upgradeable fare buckets. All are on UA metal, however the transatlantic segment on the inbound is UA metal but a LH ticket/flight number.

Question is, will I be able to use an SWU on flight?

Any experience or thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks for topping, KiwiFlyer. Hopefully we'll get a response.

Quote:

Originally Posted by denis in denver

All are on UA metal, however the transatlantic segment on the inbound is UA metal but a LH ticket/flight number.

Question is, will I be able to use an SWU on flight?

From the E-Upgrade Terms & Conditions

Quote:

Valid Carrier: ... Upgrade requests for flights marketed by other airlines but operated by United are only permitted at the airport on the day of travel, subject to availability.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer

Thought it may be of use to have in one place the various ways of upgrading on *A.

....

Lufthansa

LH upgrades possible are econ->biz, biz->first. Note no first on domestic or intra-Europe routes.

Miles and More information and links based on the new rules from 1 August 2004.

Miles Miles and More miles may be used to upgrade on LH

Only valid on flights operated by LH/LO/OS with LH/LO/OS flight numbers.
Valid in all booking classes other than S & W (intercontinental flights) and L & T (European flights).
Ticket must be issued in the paid class of service before an upgrade is issued; all of the segments for which you request an Upgrade must be first confirmed in their paid booking class.
One Upgrade is always only valid for the flight segment covered by one flight coupon of a ticket.
Waiting list reservations are also possible when booking a paperless Upgrade (eUpgrade).

UA Mileage Plus miles may be used to upgrade on LH.

Only valid on flights operated by LH with LH flight numbers.
Not valid on RTW fares.
Upgrade awards can be used with booking classes C (Business to First ), Y & B (Full fares Coach to Business), M & H (Selected fares Coach to Business)
Ticket must be issued in the paid class of service before an upgrade is issued; all of the segments for which you request an Upgrade must be first confirmed in their paid booking class.
One Upgrade is always only valid for the flight segment covered by one flight coupon of a ticket.

Vouchers Miles and More SEN upgrade vouchers can be used to upgrade on LH.

Only valid on flights operated by LH/LO/OS with LH/LO/OS flight numbers.
Valid in all booking classes other than S & W (intercontinental flights) and L & T (European flights).
Ticket must be issued in the paid class of service before an upgrade is issued; all of the segments for which you request an Upgrade must be first confirmed in their paid booking class.
One eVoucher is valid for the one european flight segment, two eVouchers are valid for one intercontinental segment.
Waiting list reservations are also possible when booking a paperless Upgrade (eUpgrade).

UA Mileage Plus SWUs can be used to upgrade.

This upgrade may be used on a standby basis, subject to availability, on the day of travel on any eligible LH flight.
Valid in all booking classes except when booked in LH booking classes X, I, O, R, N, W and E.
This upgrade requires a 14-day advanced notification to MP in order to print and mail the certificate for presentation to LH on the day of departure.

... etc

Apologies if someone else already mentioned this but the links in blue to LH.com don't seem to work, do you need to be logged in or maybe they are changed?

The LH website has changed since the opening post.

Thanks for reminding me the links need updating.

* silver no longer upgrades to UAL Economy plus.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaynab

* silver no longer upgrades to UAL Economy plus.

Nor does *G, unless it is UA *G.

Paper vs. Electronic Tickets

Does anyone know if it makes a difference if you have paper or electronic tickets?

I am trying to upgrade from C to F on an OZ flight (using UA miles) and I keep getting the message "The flight segments you requested to upgrade are not available to upgrade." I am not sure if this is because there is no u/g inventory available or something else.

I called UA.bomb support and the rep said that it could be that there is no inventory available or that it could be because I have a paper ticket "that can't be viewed in the system." (That seems odd, IMO.)

I have not seen any rules anywhere stating that only e-tix will work.

Regardless, I'll try everyday until flight time, and if still unsuccessful, I'll ask at the airport. ;)

My wife had paper tickets last week on a TG flight MNL-BKK-HAN and I upgraded it on the ANA website without a problem (except for one segment that never did have availablity). The tickets had not even been funded yet. When the upgrades finished her travel agent took the tickets over to TG and they put little green C stickers on them.

Also ANA has a good site to check for upgrade availability on *A flights. You have to be a member but that takes a few minutes to sign up. I use ANA because I can easily transfer AMX miles to them.

Here is a hard lesson learned for doing a *A Upgrade on ANA.

*A upgrades on ANA are rarely given. Basically they come last after ANA decides they can no longer sell the seats and no ANA mileage club members want to upgrade. In my case the C cabin was empty 28 days prior to the flight. That is when the United *A upgrade window opens. I put my upgrade request into the United *A Upgrade page and got the dreaded "No seats available".

Here is the trick to save a lot of aggravation. Call ANA North America (800-235-9262) before you try the United upgrade. Ask if they have seats available for *A upgrades. Call every day up till 24 hours before the flight. If seats open up then go to the United page and submit the request. Be ready to follow up with a call to United dot com support (800-589-5582).

Good luck,

Drew

Swiss International

Now that Swiss International are part of Star Alliance can Mileage Plus miles be used to upgrade to a) ecomony plus b) economy to business c) business to first. Anyone know?

RTW - Upgrade Possibilities...

Okay, basically all of my miles (aside from 100,000 AMEX points) are on United Mileage Plus.

I am about to embark on an RTW trip for business (sadly, really only two main stops).

I fly from LAX-NCE (via FRA) on LH in PAID C and know I can try to upgrade with a UA SWU (but only at the gate, subject to availability).

Is there any way for me to upgrade MUC-BKK (from PAID C to F) using my MP miles?

(My final major leg is BKK-LAX, but it is a two class plane, so no need to upgrade)...

AFAIK currently UA Mileage Plus has suspended its participation in the *A mileage upgrade scheme. You can't use a SWU to upgrade on TG.