Upgrading on SAA
Mar 18, 2009 | 5:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Greensboro, NC
Programs: UA Million Miler,Hyatt-Globalist, Marriott Platinum, Club Carlson, National-Exec.
Posts: 636
Upgrading on SAA
Since SAA (South African Airlines) is a Star alliance partner, is there a way to upgrade a coach ticket on SAA from IAD to JNB using UA miles. If it is, how many miles one-way?
I wonder if someone has been successful in doing so. Please share your experience.
Thanks in advance for your help.
I wonder if someone has been successful in doing so. Please share your experience.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Mar 18, 2009 | 7:17 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: UA 1K- RCC
Posts: 457
Unfortunately SAA tends to reserve their upgrade space for their Voyager members only IME. Also their business awards are difficult to obtain on their IAD-JNB flights.
OT, but I would suggest going through Europe and spending a few hours in LHR or FRA in a transit hotel, lounges or exploring. I do the trip 1-2 a year and found I enjoy the Europe stop more than the non-stop. You can upgrade on UA to Europe and earn the bonus RDMs and BIS for lifetime/E-500/CR-1/SWU as well. The SAA Y product is nice on their 346 but I still like the break. PM me if you would like advice on specific routing and times...
OT, but I would suggest going through Europe and spending a few hours in LHR or FRA in a transit hotel, lounges or exploring. I do the trip 1-2 a year and found I enjoy the Europe stop more than the non-stop. You can upgrade on UA to Europe and earn the bonus RDMs and BIS for lifetime/E-500/CR-1/SWU as well. The SAA Y product is nice on their 346 but I still like the break. PM me if you would like advice on specific routing and times...
Last edited by Mbenz; Mar 18, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Mar 18, 2009 | 8:01 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Programs: NZ Elite
Posts: 6,518
UA is not a part of the *A upgrade scheme at all....
In any case, those upgrades (at least through my program - NZ) are pretty poor value... lots of points AND a really high econ fare class required....
Wouldn't be surprised if that was the story "across the board"...
In any case, those upgrades (at least through my program - NZ) are pretty poor value... lots of points AND a really high econ fare class required....
Wouldn't be surprised if that was the story "across the board"...
Mar 22, 2009 | 8:45 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Greensboro, NC
Programs: UA Million Miler,Hyatt-Globalist, Marriott Platinum, Club Carlson, National-Exec.
Posts: 636
MBENZ Thanks
MBENZ thanks for your msg. I will respond.
Does anyone knows if avoyager member can use his miles to upgrade someone else?
Thanks
Does anyone knows if avoyager member can use his miles to upgrade someone else?
Thanks
Last edited by iluv2fly; Mar 22, 2009 at 12:13 pm Reason: a no-no
Mar 22, 2009 | 11:14 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: IAD
Programs: No Loyalty to any airline
Posts: 2,378
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...-programs-471/
Mar 22, 2009 | 3:16 pm
#9
Senior Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
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Please follow in our Star Alliance forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, United Mileage + forum.
Apr 1, 2009 | 7:17 am
#10
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,847
a) you need quite a high fare bucket in Y to be able to upgrade (I think Y M B or H (or is it K?)) and
b) "I" bucket fares (which award seats as well as upgrages book into) are quite hard to come by (especially on the IAD and JFK runs from / to JNB).
You need 80000 miles to upgrade a return on that route (40000 for a one way upgrade).
The South Africa - Europe upgrade is remarkably reasonable at 40000 miles return (20000 one way) and tends to be more available (although still pretty tough, recently!).