Searching for NH/*A Upgrade space
Jan 25, 2012, 8:29 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: YVR SFO
Programs: UA G
Posts: 4,866
Searching for NH/*A Upgrade space
I'm thinking about buying a NRT-SFO ticket on ANA in an upgradable fareclass and using UA miles to upgrade. 1K says they don't know if there's upgrade space until after I buy the ticket... which sucks, since there's a $100 cxl fee.
Is there a way to search for availability before putting up the bucks?
Is there a way to search for availability before putting up the bucks?
Jan 25, 2012, 9:10 am
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Upgrades come from the same bucket as awards in the *A system. You're looking for a C award seat (aka I bucket) if you're going to buy a Y or B fare and F award seat (O) if you are buying C or D. Also keep in mind that they should have a 24-hour cancellation policy in play; I'm pretty sure that is one of the new requirements from the feds that started this week.
Do the Y/B/C/D fares really have a cancellation fee?
Do the Y/B/C/D fares really have a cancellation fee?
Jan 25, 2012, 9:20 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,621
The way you can check for space on ANA is to get an ANA mileage account and then search their website for space. The site requires you to have some mileage in the account, so I credited a car rental to it, but some people have posted ways to work around this.
That said, I have rarely seen F/C award space open up until close to departure.
That said, I have rarely seen F/C award space open up until close to departure.
Jan 25, 2012, 9:36 am
#4
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
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The way you can check for space on ANA is to get an ANA mileage account and then search their website for space. The site requires you to have some mileage in the account, so I credited a car rental to it, but some people have posted ways to work around this.
That said, I have rarely seen F/C award space open up until close to departure.
That said, I have rarely seen F/C award space open up until close to departure.
And the easiest workaround on the ANA site is to search for GMP-HND and then click the button at the bottom to use *A partners.
Jan 25, 2012, 11:57 am
#6
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Jul 8, 2012, 4:53 am
#8
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Is there a way to check availability of a upgrade on NH?
Is there a way to check availability of a upgrade on NH? I want to use my UA to do a *A upgrade, but there needs to be space available for it to work.
Jul 8, 2012, 2:08 pm
#9
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Jul 8, 2012, 6:26 pm
#11
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
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Jul 9, 2012, 7:40 am
#14
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
If you're looking for Y->C then you need I inventory, just like a regular biz award. And you need to be on a Y or B fare to use miles for the upgrade.
You can use the regular United.com award search page to see if the inventory is available. If you want to set something up to monitor for award space and alert you should it open one of many options is the tool I built for Star Alliance award alerts.