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
Nov 28, 12, 12:05 am
#46
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
Nov 28, 12, 9:04 am
#47
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS
Posts: 3,534
Nov 28, 12, 9:18 am
#48
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
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.
Dec 4, 12, 2:35 pm
#49
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Programs: Air New Zealand Airpoints - Gold Elite, Velocity - Platinum, Qantas - Gold
Posts: 180
Star Alliance upgrade on United Airlines
Hi there,
Sorry if this has been covered in another thread, I had a quick look, but couldn't find anything.
I'm an Air New Zealand Gold Elite Airpoints member and am looking at doing two United flights mid-2013 with my wife. San Fran to New York and New York to Vancouver. I'm wanting to use Star Alliance upgrades from Economy to Business on both legs.
Air New Zealand is saying I need to book into either Y or B class fares on the United flights. Doing a quick search these booking classes look around 5x times more expensive than the cheapest fare. I understand that these are fully flexible fares, but is this pretty standard pricing?
How is the United Business Class on these routes? Would be great to hear any feedback or suggestions?
Sorry if this has been covered in another thread, I had a quick look, but couldn't find anything.
I'm an Air New Zealand Gold Elite Airpoints member and am looking at doing two United flights mid-2013 with my wife. San Fran to New York and New York to Vancouver. I'm wanting to use Star Alliance upgrades from Economy to Business on both legs.
Air New Zealand is saying I need to book into either Y or B class fares on the United flights. Doing a quick search these booking classes look around 5x times more expensive than the cheapest fare. I understand that these are fully flexible fares, but is this pretty standard pricing?
How is the United Business Class on these routes? Would be great to hear any feedback or suggestions?
Dec 4, 12, 3:25 pm
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Silver (1MM), Marriott Amb (LTT)
Posts: 10,107
Yes, that's standard. Inter-alliance upgrades are only done on "Y" fares (not sure about "B" honestly).
You will find they are extremely expensive fares and if you buy early enough you can often get a business class fare for far cheaper than the full "Y" fare. It also saves your miles.
SFO-JFK is United "p.s." service which are nicer business class seats but still not lie-flat...although UA is in the process of upgrading these cabins.
SFO-EWR is a regular United plane with standard domestic first class seats.
EWR-YVR is nothing special. They fly a 738 and the flight is about 6 hours in winter, 5 hours in summer. You'll get a meal and in flight entertainment but the seats are standard domestic first class seats. Since I haven't flown Air New Zealand domestically I can't comment on any differences.
Your best bet is to get SFO-JFK if you can for the better seat but that flight is 5 hours in winter, sometimes longer in summer with the lower tailwinds.
-RM
You will find they are extremely expensive fares and if you buy early enough you can often get a business class fare for far cheaper than the full "Y" fare. It also saves your miles.
SFO-JFK is United "p.s." service which are nicer business class seats but still not lie-flat...although UA is in the process of upgrading these cabins.
SFO-EWR is a regular United plane with standard domestic first class seats.
EWR-YVR is nothing special. They fly a 738 and the flight is about 6 hours in winter, 5 hours in summer. You'll get a meal and in flight entertainment but the seats are standard domestic first class seats. Since I haven't flown Air New Zealand domestically I can't comment on any differences.
Your best bet is to get SFO-JFK if you can for the better seat but that flight is 5 hours in winter, sometimes longer in summer with the lower tailwinds.
-RM
Dec 4, 12, 4:37 pm
#51
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Plat, AS MVP, HH Gold, MR Gold
Posts: 1,848
These flights won't be worth the Y/B fare plus miles to do *A upgrades, especially for the standard domestic F. You might spend less money just buying the discounted higher-cabin tickets. You would likely also spend less money and fewer miles by booking a combination of higher-cabin *A awards and buying the other tickets.
Dec 7, 12, 10:39 am
#53
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Posts: 337
Lufthansa - Star Alliance Upgrade with United miles
Got a flight booked from SFO to FRA on LH metal (booking class B) on Dec 21st and been trying to request a Star Alliance upgrade award through the United web site. Last Friday they had "technical difficulties" and during my request the 25k miles did get taken out of my account, but no confirmation email, no transaction record anywhere, nothing. Called the Star Alliance desk who didn't know what to do. So I called Mileage Plus, same deal and they wanted to transfer me to the Star Alliance desk again. Eventually I was told that I should be reimbursed automatically if that flight does not get upgraded. Is this correct?
I am also curious if or when seats open up. I know it's a tough route to upgrade, especially during holiday season. Right now it shows LH455 with at least 4 seats available in business, but no I or R inventory at all.
I am also curious if or when seats open up. I know it's a tough route to upgrade, especially during holiday season. Right now it shows LH455 with at least 4 seats available in business, but no I or R inventory at all.
Dec 7, 12, 11:20 am
#55
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: PANC
Programs: Mileage Plan
Posts: 444
I upgraded two legs of an LH trip from Y. I also tried to do it online, received the technical difficulties error, had the miles deducted, then called and had it put through (miles deducted 2x).
I waited a few weeks and then called and they were politely and quickly redeposited to my account. I didn't get the sense that there was going to be an automated redeposit, but I also hadn't addressed it with the representative when I booked over the phone.
I waited a few weeks and then called and they were politely and quickly redeposited to my account. I didn't get the sense that there was going to be an automated redeposit, but I also hadn't addressed it with the representative when I booked over the phone.
Dec 7, 12, 11:42 am
#56
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Posts: 337
I made the mistake and assumed that the only reason the upgrade showed available that day was because they were having issues. I actually called right away and they said their connection to LH was down and that I should try again later. Now I wonder if the upgrade actually was available and I missed out.
Dec 17, 12, 8:07 am
#57
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS
Posts: 3,534
At the 24 hour mark, assuming Expertflyer hasn't alerted me to any open I inventory on my Air Canada flight I'm SOL, correct? There's no way to do a day of departure upgrade on an AC B fare using mileage from United is there?
