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
Sep 8, 23, 12:41 pm
#1321
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 30,995
If it is a true LH flight number (AC usually lists both) such that it only shows LH567 ... then yes ... LH only looks at the booking class they see and not at the fare basis. Plus points or miles should work.
Sep 12, 23, 2:10 pm
#1322
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA Gold/0.744MM, WN AL, Hyatt Diamond, MR Scum, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC
Posts: 5,540
Success J-->F on LH
Had a relatively pleasant experience using UA miles to go from J to F on LH for a flight in 2 days. Was booked in J (D class fare) XXX-FRA-LAX. XXX-FRA is a 2 class EuroJ flight. Both segments booked as UA codeshare on 016 ticket stock. Called in and agent understood about switching to the native LH flight number, but it requires the same booking code to be available which she wasn't seeing. She got a supervisor involved (with no prompting) and supervisor reached out to LH and they agreed to switch me onto the LH flight number. I just had to stay out of the PNR for a while and I got an email confirming the change. Then submitted the request and was pleasantly surprised when it cleared immediately and only cost 25k miles! Looking at the old chart it was showing 40k miles to go from J to F.
I was actually so confused I thought it was messed up so I backed out the first time, tried selecting my current class as Economy just to see and got an error that the class didn't match the ticketed class. So then I tried again selecting Biz as current cabin and got an error that no upgrade was available! But I figured my previous request had just locked it for a bit, so I waited about 15 minutes, did it again, saw the 25k and never looked back. Got an email confirmation shortly after and selected the last free seat in the 748 F cabin. Now I just have to decide on the FCL or FCT
I was actually so confused I thought it was messed up so I backed out the first time, tried selecting my current class as Economy just to see and got an error that the class didn't match the ticketed class. So then I tried again selecting Biz as current cabin and got an error that no upgrade was available! But I figured my previous request had just locked it for a bit, so I waited about 15 minutes, did it again, saw the 25k and never looked back. Got an email confirmation shortly after and selected the last free seat in the 748 F cabin. Now I just have to decide on the FCL or FCT
Sep 16, 23, 2:51 pm
#1323
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA Gold/0.744MM, WN AL, Hyatt Diamond, MR Scum, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC
Posts: 5,540
Had a relatively pleasant experience using UA miles to go from J to F on LH for a flight in 2 days. Was booked in J (D class fare) XXX-FRA-LAX. XXX-FRA is a 2 class EuroJ flight. Both segments booked as UA codeshare on 016 ticket stock. Called in and agent understood about switching to the native LH flight number, but it requires the same booking code to be available which she wasn't seeing. She got a supervisor involved (with no prompting) and supervisor reached out to LH and they agreed to switch me onto the LH flight number. I just had to stay out of the PNR for a while and I got an email confirming the change. Then submitted the request and was pleasantly surprised when it cleared immediately and only cost 25k miles! Looking at the old chart it was showing 40k miles to go from J to F.
I was actually so confused I thought it was messed up so I backed out the first time, tried selecting my current class as Economy just to see and got an error that the class didn't match the ticketed class. So then I tried again selecting Biz as current cabin and got an error that no upgrade was available! But I figured my previous request had just locked it for a bit, so I waited about 15 minutes, did it again, saw the 25k and never looked back. Got an email confirmation shortly after and selected the last free seat in the 748 F cabin. Now I just have to decide on the FCL or FCT
I was actually so confused I thought it was messed up so I backed out the first time, tried selecting my current class as Economy just to see and got an error that the class didn't match the ticketed class. So then I tried again selecting Biz as current cabin and got an error that no upgrade was available! But I figured my previous request had just locked it for a bit, so I waited about 15 minutes, did it again, saw the 25k and never looked back. Got an email confirmation shortly after and selected the last free seat in the 748 F cabin. Now I just have to decide on the FCL or FCT
Sep 16, 23, 3:16 pm
#1324
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 30,995
Had a relatively pleasant experience using UA miles to go from J to F on LH for a flight in 2 days. Was booked in J (D class fare) XXX-FRA-LAX. XXX-FRA is a 2 class EuroJ flight. Both segments booked as UA codeshare on 016 ticket stock. Called in and agent understood about switching to the native LH flight number, but it requires the same booking code to be available which she wasn't seeing. She got a supervisor involved (with no prompting) and supervisor reached out to LH and they agreed to switch me onto the LH flight number. I just had to stay out of the PNR for a while and I got an email confirming the change. Then submitted the request and was pleasantly surprised when it cleared immediately and only cost 25k miles! Looking at the old chart it was showing 40k miles to go from J to F.
I was actually so confused I thought it was messed up so I backed out the first time, tried selecting my current class as Economy just to see and got an error that the class didn't match the ticketed class. So then I tried again selecting Biz as current cabin and got an error that no upgrade was available! But I figured my previous request had just locked it for a bit, so I waited about 15 minutes, did it again, saw the 25k and never looked back. Got an email confirmation shortly after and selected the last free seat in the 748 F cabin. Now I just have to decide on the FCL or FCT
I was actually so confused I thought it was messed up so I backed out the first time, tried selecting my current class as Economy just to see and got an error that the class didn't match the ticketed class. So then I tried again selecting Biz as current cabin and got an error that no upgrade was available! But I figured my previous request had just locked it for a bit, so I waited about 15 minutes, did it again, saw the 25k and never looked back. Got an email confirmation shortly after and selected the last free seat in the 748 F cabin. Now I just have to decide on the FCL or FCT
Oct 5, 23, 4:01 pm
#1325
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 1,192
I'm consistently getting this error trying to UG a SAS flight. I never got the same name error or any other error, and it's a simple ticket with one passenger. UA has no idea what to do and told me I should call SAS and ask them. I'm assuming they'll have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about and to call United back, but does anyone have any ideas what's going on?
Oct 5, 23, 4:51 pm
#1328
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 41,515
I'm consistently getting this error trying to UG a SAS flight. I never got the same name error or any other error, and it's a simple ticket with one passenger. UA has no idea what to do and told me I should call SAS and ask them. I'm assuming they'll have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about and to call United back, but does anyone have any ideas what's going on?
I think it had to do with with voiding the ticket and PNR and starting over from scratch
Oct 5, 23, 6:56 pm
#1329
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 1,192
This has been going on for months - the UA system is broken, and no one is willing or interested in fixing it, regardless of how many complaints I filed or who I involved in the discussion including escalating through my sales rep. I think I was able to defeat this error somehow, but I can't remember how - go check the EVA upgrade/*A thread here in the United forum where I posted details of my last adventure dealing with this.
I think it had to do with with voiding the ticket and PNR and starting over from scratch
I think it had to do with with voiding the ticket and PNR and starting over from scratch
Last edited by jd2000; Oct 5, 23 at 8:43 pm
Oct 5, 23, 8:43 pm
#1330
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 41,515
I did see that post, but voiding the ticket is not an option unless I dont understand what that means. I dont really care whether the self serve web tool works, I care that theres some way for agents to do it when the tool is broken. But like you said, so far no one cares.
Basically you would need to cancel/refund the ticket and start over with a new reservation and new ticket. How did you issue the ticket? This is why using an brick and mortar agent is almost essential for making this process work smoothly, although I've honestly lost too much hair dealing with it.
Oct 6, 23, 10:43 am
#1331
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 1,192
The self serve tool is the only option - United has not provided any tools for agent to search for, or process *A upgrades. This is pretty consistent with most members, they seem to offer up *A upgrades very grudgingly and have no interest in making it easier for consumers to grab these.
Basically you would need to cancel/refund the ticket and start over with a new reservation and new ticket. How did you issue the ticket? This is why using a brick and mortar agent is almost essential for making this process work smoothly, although I've honestly lost too much hair dealing with it.
Basically you would need to cancel/refund the ticket and start over with a new reservation and new ticket. How did you issue the ticket? This is why using a brick and mortar agent is almost essential for making this process work smoothly, although I've honestly lost too much hair dealing with it.
Oct 6, 23, 10:49 am
#1332
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 41,515
I would just keep calling UA over and over and complaining until you get someone willing to escalate. Its not a great use of your time but the only option - however dont let them transfer you to the web help desk, these folks are overseas and across quite a few hair pulling conversations, they actually do not speak English competently, have extreme difficulty comprehending the actual problem, generally work off a script and will not be able to help.
Oct 6, 23, 4:02 pm
#1334
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,217
Oct 6, 23, 5:20 pm
#1335
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 1,192
I would just keep calling UA over and over and complaining until you get someone willing to escalate. Its not a great use of your time but the only option - however dont let them transfer you to the web help desk, these folks are overseas and across quite a few hair pulling conversations, they actually do not speak English competently, have extreme difficulty comprehending the actual problem, generally work off a script and will not be able to help.
i suppose if I call the op carrier and they say why are you calling us, thats a UA issue Ill have a good excuse to call UA back
