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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Feb 28, 13, 6:23 pm

#91

jlasu

Join Date: Feb 2013

Posts: 3

Using United miles to upgrade on SQ

I have searched these boards and I see some mixed messages on this, I have called SQ and UA and they both give me different answers.

The question, if I go to SQ and buy a economy fare(B or Y). Then go to UA and ask them to upgrade to Biz using miles can I?

SQ says no( I have called twice). UA told me yes.

I am struggling to see the purpose of miles and the alliance....

Feb 28, 13, 6:43 pm

#92

sannmann

Join Date: Mar 2009

Location: DCA

Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry

Posts: 2,218

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlasu

What you're trying to do is called a Star Alliance Upgrade.

There's information here on the United website about how to request one: http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...rade/saua.aspx

Mar 1, 13, 8:02 am

#93

Guy Betsy

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: May 2000

Location: Little dot in Asia

Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP

Posts: 25,913

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlasu

1. You can't get upgraded from SFO to SIN using UA miles because the type of aircrafts SQ uses does not permit this. SQ uses 77W or A380 aircrafts and both do not permit upgrades or award seats using UA miles.

2. You can only upgrade using Krisflyer miles. SQ will not 'just' upgrade you because you have B or Y fare. You need to use miles fom their FFP!

It really might be cheaper for you to buy a business class ticket.

Mar 3, 13, 8:40 pm

#94

particlemn

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Long Beach

Programs: HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Diamond

Posts: 1,171

Help checking if flight is upgradeable

My Parents just booked 2 tickets to europe and I wanted to ask if any one can help me determine if upgrades are available using miles with united.
flight ua7683 lax-zrh April 23 economy L operated by swiss
flight ua8845 fra-lax May 19 economy Q operated by lufthansa.
they have some sapphire preferred points they can transfer if they can upgrade these class tickets on these days, any help is greatly apprciated.
these tickets are already booked, and they are not willing to take other than nonstop.
thanks again

Mar 3, 13, 9:10 pm

#95

exerda

Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Oct 2004

Location: Between DCA and IAD

Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond

Posts: 66,231

Neither of those is upgradeable with UA miles. *A awards can only be applied to full Y tickets.

If they were UA metal flights (connecting, obviously), the Q fare would be upgradeable, but not the L, with GPU; both would be upgradeable with miles + cash copay.

Mar 3, 13, 9:43 pm

#96

particlemn

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Long Beach

Programs: HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Diamond

Posts: 1,171

Quote:

Originally Posted by exerda

That's for the quick reply

Mar 11, 13, 2:37 pm

#97

snowed

Join Date: Oct 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA 1K 1MM

Posts: 693

A follow-up to this great thread.

Just booked SFO-CPH-SFO on SAS, Economy Extra B Fare, for the end of April.

I tried to request a Star Alliance Upgrade on United.com but the site said none were available. Figured as much. But then the only option is the cancel the request.

Do these not go on waitlists? Do i have to keep trying? Should I call? Do these not work prior to the 30 day mark (read the FAQs, seemed like this was not the case and SAS does not have a big lead time)

Any info much appreciated. It will be my first attempt at a Star Alliance Upgrade.

Mar 11, 13, 2:48 pm

#98

NgatesSEA

Join Date: Jul 2007

Location: USA

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

Posts: 653

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowed

In my experience, there is no waitlist/standby list/etc. You have to make a request over and over again until it clears at the time of request. I was told by one UA phone rep (at the "Alliance Desk") that making a lot of repeat requests same day has been known to be counter-productive as the system will "time out" and block future requests if you request too often but I've never heard of that other than from that one UA phone rep.

I did a mix of calling and trying online last year (trying to upgrade a Y fare on LH FRA-IAH). Ended up clearing online but that was a function of being in Europe close to the departure date and so I wasn't able to call UA as easily as I was able to log on and request the upgrade.

Not sure what the typical pattern on SAS is but on LH, everyone I spoke with indicated that LH opens up C seats about a week before departure and that held true in my experience.

Good luck!

Mar 11, 13, 2:53 pm

#99

Sykes

Join Date: Aug 2008

Location: SF Bay Area

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

Posts: 2,098

Star Alliance upgrades come from the same inventory as award tickets. You can judge availability before booking the flight by trying to book an award ticket on the same route.

If you would prefer not to keep checking on your own, you can subscribe to http://expertflyer.com and set up an alert to notify you if availability opens up. (You can use the Star Alliance award search in I for Business or O for First as needed, then set up the alert.)

Mar 14, 13, 9:35 am

#100

ainternational

Join Date: Sep 2009

Location: 1A

Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR

Posts: 3,704

LX Upgrades with UA miles from C to F

Has anyone had any recent experiences with using UA miles to upgrade a confirmed biz seat on LX (C or D fares) to F? I'm flying out of ZRH and F is wide open (according to LX CSR) but I can't upgrade via the *A upgrade process - no availability.

Wondering if LX blocks F *A upgrades.... Anyone else have any luck?

Mar 14, 13, 10:03 am

#101

Wickersley

Join Date: Oct 2012

Location: UK

Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite

Posts: 818

LX are part of lufthansa, so I assume that they have the same policy of only releasing F award seats 2 weeks out

Perhaps this is a factor?

Mar 14, 13, 10:06 am

#102

Antipode

Join Date: Jul 2009

Location: SFO

Programs: AA Plat, IHG Plat, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz Gold

Posts: 1,933

IIRC *A upgrades require the same F availability as awards (i.e. O), and LX doesn't release ANY award space in F.

Mar 14, 13, 10:40 am

#103

UA-NYC

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Apr 2008

Location: LGA/JFK/EWR

Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC

Posts: 21,141

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antipode

IIRC *A upgrades require the same F availability as awards (i.e. O), and LX doesn't release ANY award space in F.

They do release F, but only to M&M members...MP flyers aren't going to see it anymore (with a few random exceptions)

Mar 14, 13, 11:36 am

#104

Antipode

Join Date: Jul 2009

Location: SFO

Programs: AA Plat, IHG Plat, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz Gold

Posts: 1,933

Quote:

Originally Posted by UA-NYC

They do release F, but only to M&M members...MP flyers aren't going to see it anymore (with a few random exceptions)

This is obviously *A award inventory since the OP asked about *A upgrades....

Apr 18, 13, 9:45 am

#105

pogonation

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: NCL and LBA

Programs: BD*G, BAGold, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat

Posts: 3,239

Wanting to upgrade a TG J fare to F however I am getting conflicting information on the UA website... Here it suggests only C and D are eligible, however on the award chart here it suggests J, C and D are eligible. Anyone know which is correct?

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