Accrue miles on one program, and use miles from another to upgrade???
 

I am sure someone has asked this before, but my searches are never successful...

I am a *gold with ANA and am planning a trip on UA domestic. Although I will only get 70% miles on a discount ticket, I would like to use the perks of priority check-in/E+ on my trip so I am planning to book it w/ my NH membership. I am a general member with UA, but have some miles in my account to burn. Do they allow for booking with NH, but upgrading with UA miles?? I would also like to accrue these miles onto my NH account for next year's status... I am presuming this is not allowed, but any thoughts? thx.

Well I have used LH miles to upgrade LH flights and credited miles to my AC Aeroplan program. Not sure if there would be any impediment provided your upgrade is confirmed in advance.

When you say booking with NH, I presume you mean using your ANA ff number on file for the UA flights. If absolutely necessary (and I don't think that it is), you could switch the ff number on file to your UA, confirm your upgrade with the UA number on file then after getting the upgrade confirmed, ask to have your ANA ff number put back in.

I did often fly UA, upgrade with UA vouchers and credit the miles to m&m.

Usually I changed the ff-program after getting the upgraded boarding pass either at a (RCC or Senator) lounge or a transit desk or at the gate,

Very useful. This is what I expected but nice it is confirmed.

thanks very much for all of your replies.

i will book with my NH ff# and then ask for an upgrade via my UA miles.
when I asked the agent, it did not seem like they had any issues with this.

now the only question would be if the 15,000 miles are worth the upgrade on a 767-200 C transcon.... can't wait until they replace those with the upgraded 757.

Actually...

UA and I'm sure others as well have the ability to enter multiple FF#s int to the system. I've done it actually. They specify 1 for accrual and 1 for status/redemption. May not be possible if you are booking online however.

I did this when I was flying SFO-LAS. I entered my NH Plat # for accrual and upgrade priority as a *Gold, and then specified my UA account as support for the upgrade (500 miler) if it cleared. (It did :D )

Cheers,

Scho

Yes. I am personally aware of UA, NZ, SQ but no doubt others too. However I have also had bad experiences with miles posting to wrong program so am wary about having 2 FF # in system.

I recently upgraded a TG flight with TG miles, though I had my UA number in the account to earn. Unfortunately, the miles went to TG, and it will take a long time to get it all resolved.

Mind you, I've never had a problem doing the same with NH and SQ flights.

changing frequent flier account, when flying UA
 

When changing your frequent flier program, while flying UA, please be aware:

UA uses two systems for check-in/reservations. APOLLO and FAST-AIR.

Most UA CSR's use Apollo, as it has been around longer, but the new (in my case miles&more) membership program will only show if it is entered in FAST-AIR.0649 (© by Pacha) @:-)

So if I am flying on a UA ticket and am crediting the miles to UA, could I use US miles to upgrade?

I don't think so. Of all Star-carriers only UA and LH have (some) agreements to use miles or vouchers on each other flights for upgrades.

Too bad. I was hoping to get some use of the 19,500 miles I have sitting in my US acct.

See the "How to Upgrade on *A Carriers" thread for more info.