Sep 21, 16, 8:13 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

How to upgrade a partner flight using UA MileagePlus miles:

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

As a general rule, with exceptions, SAUA need I space (for the partner) to have a chance of clearing.

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)"

Mileage required? Capturing here the last known information, as information is disappearing, no guarantees how long this will be true

For UA operated flights see Using Miles to Upgrade on United

How to upgrade with UA miles on Star Alliance carriers

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Jan 29, 13, 7:20 pm

#76

UAPremExecflyer

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

As others have noted, you need Y or B in economy to be eligible to upgrade. And you need I inventory on TK to upgrade into. This topic has been discussed extensively here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-carriers.html

Jan 29, 13, 7:29 pm

#77

zrs70

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2000

Location: Los Angeles

Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP

Posts: 12,725

LAX-IST fares are among the cheapest US-Europe in the B fare bucket. They are regularly about $1200 one way.

I would imagine that UA and TK have the same fares in B.

Jan 29, 13, 8:42 pm

#78

msc75

Join Date: Jul 2011

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Posts: 423

Thank you for the responses! I was initially confused because on TK bus is the highest booking class with comfort in between. I didn't know if different rules applied.

ExpertFlyer shows plenty of availability for J (upgrade award), but not for I. Is this an issue?

I do not even see any Y or B classes on the TK website when trying to purchase tix, the available fares come as E , A or M . However it's not the easiest site to navigate so I will keep looking.

Jan 30, 13, 12:47 pm

#79

JeffK69

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: Mahwah New Jersey

Programs: UA-1K--1MM, SPG- Titanium, HH-Diamond, Marriott - Platinum, Hertz - Presidents Circle, Global Entry

Posts: 97

Using UA Miles to upgrade an econ fare on SQ from JFK-FRA on A380

I was wondering if anyone has had experience booking an econ fare on SQ that is considered upgradable with miles on this particular route: JFK-FRA on the A380......and had success?

I was trying to get something locked up but I am getting a world of different information on this process.

UA telling me Fare Class B or Y are good
SQ telling me you cannot upgrade any flight from any 5 US gateways using Star Alliance miles whatsoever. Only SQ miles....

Can any help shed some light on this please?

Jan 30, 13, 1:03 pm

#80

tods27

Join Date: Jan 2003

Location: DEN

Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium

Posts: 3,887

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffK69

Both may be correct. For *A upgrades you have to buy B or Y to be ELIGIBLE. Nothing says it's guaranteed. SQ may not be opening any *A upgrades on those flights. Others may know how the SQ fare buckets work, but I know on LH, the *A upgrades come out of the same bucket as M&M upgrades.

Jan 30, 13, 1:33 pm

#81

JeffK69

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: Mahwah New Jersey

Programs: UA-1K--1MM, SPG- Titanium, HH-Diamond, Marriott - Platinum, Hertz - Presidents Circle, Global Entry

Posts: 97

I just got a knowledgeable agent at the Star Alliance desk who in fact confirmed a no-go on SQ A380 and 777-300 mileage upgrades. Odd they would have a unique policy for those particular planes but I assume they would like to keep the integrity of the product they offer for their FFers on those aircraft?

Oh well, back to the drawing boards!

Jan 30, 13, 2:56 pm

#82

Sykes

Join Date: Aug 2008

Location: SF Bay Area

Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot

Posts: 2,096

Yup ... unfortunately, that's the way it works. While technically you are allowed to upgrade, SQ doesn't actually open up the required inventory that you would upgrade into, so there are basically no seats available for upgrade.

Having said that, you CAN upgrade using SQ's Krisflyer miles, and they're a transfer partner for American Express Membership Rewards if you have those available. Unfortunately, their upgrade award chart is pretty steep.

Jan 30, 13, 3:16 pm

#83

ToneDaBass

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: CRP

Programs: UA 1K and 1MM, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Gold, IHG Diamond

Posts: 300

Adding to Sykes's comments, given the steep rates for upgrade, if you're going to go the American Express MR route you might be better off simply booking an award ticket rather than upgrading.

Feb 12, 13, 12:51 am

#84

twessels

Join Date: Feb 2013

Posts: 1

Using United Awards for Upgrades on Star Alliance Partner Airlines

Hello All,

Is it possible to use United award miles for upgrades on Star Alliance partner airlines?

For example, could I purchase a ticket from Singapore Air and use United award miles to upgrade to business/first?

Thanks in advance,
Tyler

Feb 12, 13, 4:34 am

#85

trooper

Join Date: Apr 2007

Location: Australia

Posts: 6,293

Where both airlines participate in the program there IS such a thing as "Star Alliance Upgrades"

Problems are:

1. Not all *A airlines participate... and:

2. Upgrades Y>J are only available from the very highest Coach fare classes.

Feb 12, 13, 8:13 am

#86

BankerManUSA

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: Portland, Oregon (PDX)

Programs: UA 2MM/*A Gold, Alaska MVP Gold, WN A-List, Hertz Platinum, IHG Platinum

Posts: 276

I have felt for many years that the whole *A upgrade scheme was designed to prevent people from actually using an upgrade. Once, I was able to use a *A upgrade when an int'l flight went MX and I got rebooked in Y. I'm pretty sure the person at the 1K desk was just biting her tongue, but she processed it for me anyway. I was flying from SFO/AKL on NZ. I was super lucky and thanked the travel deities for that one.

Feb 12, 13, 9:27 am

#87

xxmimxx

Join Date: Aug 2011

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Programs: UA-1k, AA-EXP, SPG-Plat

Posts: 118

I havnt seen the use of miles for upgrade but I was able to get my mom and self upgraded in ANA flight after the plan was crowded

Feb 12, 13, 9:55 am

#88

IluvSQ

Join Date: Sep 2005

Programs: AC MM E50 , Former SPG, now Marriott LT Plat

Posts: 6,123

I used AC miles to upgrade an LX flight from C to F, it was pretty painless.

Feb 12, 13, 1:00 pm

#89

NgatesSEA

Join Date: Jul 2007

Location: USA

Programs: UA 1K/*G, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy BS, Hertz & Avis Pres

Posts: 653

I used UA miles to upgrade a Y fare FRA-IAH on LH on the A380. Fairly painless as well but it is somewhat rare for me to be on international Y fares.

Feb 12, 13, 4:33 pm

#90