Sep 21, 16, 8:13 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
How to upgrade a partner flight using UA MileagePlus miles:
See UA's Star Alliance Upgrade Awards Page
Key points:
See this thread for the no-longer-available award chart (disappeared from united.com as of October 2018): https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...d-website.html
Error codes
For UA operated flights see Using Miles to Upgrade on United
See UA's Star Alliance Upgrade Awards Page
Key points:
- Only a few fare classes (and expensive) are eligible -- depends on the carrier (see the UA page)
- Needs to be native flight numbers, codeshares are not eligible
- Generally no waitlisting but ANA allows waitlisting
- Most can be requested after ticketing (NH/ANA & ET cannot be requested earlier than 8 weeks to departure -- still true??) and must be done at least 24 hours prior to departure
- Max of 4 passengers can be upgraded
- Generally the available of award space is a good indicator of upgrade space (but not guaranteed) - typically requires (I) inventory
- Upgrade request can only be made electronically
- Upgrade requests are per segment
- It may increase your chance of success to request only one segment at a time on the upgrade page, even though it allows you to enter two (YMMV).
- For mileage requirements, see Interactive travel destinations awards chart
See this thread for the no-longer-available award chart (disappeared from united.com as of October 2018): https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...d-website.html
Error codes
- "We were unable to complete your request due to a technical problem. In the U.S. and Canada call 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) within the U.S. or Canada, elsewhere use the local phone number. (Error code: 110).
- "We were unable to complete your request due to a technical problem. In the U.S. and Canada call 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) within the U.S. or Canada, elsewhere use the local phone number. (Error code: 118)"
- "The traveler has the same name as an existing traveler on this flight. Please contact the operating airline for the required information and try again. (Error code: 384)"
- "Upgrade not available (Error code: 511)."
- "The number of travelers indicated does not match the number of passengers in the reservation. Please correct your information and try again. (Error code: 528)"
- "insufficient MileagePlus Balance (Error code: 2001)"
For UA operated flights see Using Miles to Upgrade on United
How to upgrade with UA miles on Star Alliance carriers
Jun 30, 12, 8:51 am
#31
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Just to correct something I keep reading here, you DO NOT need to call every day. I was doing this for an upcoming flight until a CSA suggested I try the website. She pointed me to:
MileagePlus - Use Miles - Star Alliance Upgrade Award - Request Star Alliance Upgrade
When you get to this page, enter the minimum amount of information required and it will check availability.
MileagePlus - Use Miles - Star Alliance Upgrade Award - Request Star Alliance Upgrade
When you get to this page, enter the minimum amount of information required and it will check availability.
Jul 2, 12, 7:12 pm
#33
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Just do a search for the city pair on united.com as an award search. If the flight shows up for booking as a business award then it has "I" inventory. If it doesn't then it doesn't.
Jul 11, 12, 1:36 am
#34
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: IAH
Programs: *AG, Choice Privileges Elite Diamond, SPG Gold, La Quinta Returns Gold, Wyndham Rewards Gold
Posts: 465
Just to correct something I keep reading here, you DO NOT need to call every day. I was doing this for an upcoming flight until a CSA suggested I try the website. She pointed me to:
MileagePlus - Use Miles - Star Alliance Upgrade Award - Request Star Alliance Upgrade
When you get to this page, enter the minimum amount of information required and it will check availability.
MileagePlus - Use Miles - Star Alliance Upgrade Award - Request Star Alliance Upgrade
When you get to this page, enter the minimum amount of information required and it will check availability.
I have tried this countless times. It never works. I try for upgrade on US. I get this message:
Your paid booking class is not eligible for upgrades.
I use almost exclusively S/Q/L class fares. My company will not pay for full-fare tickets, period. I fly about 30% on US metal, so I would love to use this program, but I can't. It is practically worthless, in my opinion.
Last edited by LEONIDES; Jul 11, 12 at 1:42 am
Sep 20, 12, 9:50 pm
#35
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Gold; Hilton Silver; Priority Plat; Marriott Silver
Posts: 127
I'm flying IAD-ARN RT. IAD-ARN is UA and I was planning to use a SWU. ARN-IAD is going to be on SAS and I was planning to use UA miles. Based on what I'm reading here, do I need to book these as separate OWs?
Sep 20, 12, 9:53 pm
#36
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.96MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 65,099
different upgrade methods can be used for different segements.
What might be confusing you is all passagners on a PNR need to use the same method for a segement.
Sep 20, 12, 10:00 pm
#37
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Gold; Hilton Silver; Priority Plat; Marriott Silver
Posts: 127
I talked to the 1K desk tonight and they priced out the fare with a Y/B. It would be about $800 more so before I go that route I want to confirm I'd be able to upgrade using 20K UA miles. Based on your reply it sounds like I can book the ticket as planned through UA and then call Star Alliance to confirm the upgrade.
Sep 20, 12, 10:06 pm
#38
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.96MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 65,099
I talked to the 1K desk tonight and they priced out the fare with a Y/B. It would be about $800 more so before I go that route I want to confirm I'd be able to upgrade using 20K UA miles. Based on your reply it sounds like I can book the ticket as planned through UA and then call Star Alliance to confirm the upgrade.
Sep 20, 12, 10:07 pm
#39
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Gold; Hilton Silver; Priority Plat; Marriott Silver
Posts: 127
there are no waitlisting fo *A upgrades which means if it is available and I purchase the fare I should be able to confirm the upgrade immediately correct?
Sep 20, 12, 11:21 pm
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 26,841
Presumably the ticket has to be issued first, but if there are any problems you should know before your 24 hour "waiting period" expires and then you can cancel the flight.
Oct 28, 12, 4:40 am
#43
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 21
Clarification of United *A partner upgrades
Hi all,
I am looking at joining united plus to credit my miles to the get upgrade from economy to business on other *A carriers.
I usually fly from LHR to Australia or New Zealand.
On the upgrade chart it states only 36k miles are required
I just need some clarification. It it only 36k miles
1) if its considered one sector? Ie if I fly NZ38 which is LHR to AKL they i can get an upgrade for the whole trip
2) or will I still be able to get an upgrade the whole way even if it is two sectors, that is SQ317 and SQ211? I presume this will have to be two upgrades routes which would be 30k miles for the upgrade from LHR to SIN and then 30k miles from SIN to SYD
Thanks for the help guys. Just confusing.
I am looking at joining united plus to credit my miles to the get upgrade from economy to business on other *A carriers.
I usually fly from LHR to Australia or New Zealand.
On the upgrade chart it states only 36k miles are required
I just need some clarification. It it only 36k miles
1) if its considered one sector? Ie if I fly NZ38 which is LHR to AKL they i can get an upgrade for the whole trip
2) or will I still be able to get an upgrade the whole way even if it is two sectors, that is SQ317 and SQ211? I presume this will have to be two upgrades routes which would be 30k miles for the upgrade from LHR to SIN and then 30k miles from SIN to SYD
Thanks for the help guys. Just confusing.
Oct 28, 12, 7:01 am
#44
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,658
Take a look at this thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...arriers-2.html
You must buy Y or B fare and the upgrades are per segment.
You must buy Y or B fare and the upgrades are per segment.
Nov 27, 12, 10:35 pm
#45
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS
Posts: 3,534
Is there a way to monitor a specific flight for upgrade space availability? I'm travelling on an Air Canada B fare so I should be eligible. I tried it online just now on the United website and naturally space was not available. I cannot change flights so I'm just interested in that one particular flight.
