There are no direct methods to transfer between any of the *A programs. With UA miles, you are locked into what UA offers and inventory its partners release to UA. Availability on partner flights at other programs does not necessarily equate to same availability at UA.

Your best bet would be transfers from credit card currencies into airline and hotel programs. Most of these programs transfer at 1:1.

You might want check AC and review its inventory of SQ (hint hint). AC and SQ play much nicer than the tumultuous relationship between UA and SQ.

It seems Untied is not passing the MileagePlus number to SQ's system (nor the e-mail). I can't modify it on the SQ side - it says:

***Your email address is needed to make changes to your booking.

How to add your email address:

• If you had booked through a travel agency, please contact your travel agency directly.
• If you had booked through other channels, please update it during online check-in 48 to 1.5 hours before departure.

Alternatively, you can add your email address during check-in at the airport.

***

Usually I try to clean these things up before the trip. What is the easiest way to do it?

The same UA PNR also has a VA flight and they didn't get the MileagePlus number either. I don't think UA passes it to anyone (even Air Canada).

Thanks.

Contact VA via their website. They have been able to add it for me and assign seats

I booked an NH flight using MP miles on united.com about three weeks ago and my MP number was sent through to NH. Maybe because of the close alliance with UA & NH? <shrug>

OK, so I am exploring booking the SQ flight LAX-NRT using UA MP points on United.com.

I see that SQ 11 is bookable in Economy for 60.4K points (quite steep when compared to 33.9K points on UA as a Saver Award), but there is nothing offered for Business or Premium Economy. I read somewhere upthread that SQ does not release Business award inventory to UA, is that correct?

If I call the !K desk, will they be able to book me an award seat in Business on SQ 11?

They have occasionally opened up business class award seats -- that was how I learned that I much prefer Polaris to SQ J on the 359. But when I say occasionally, I don't mean "keep checking," I mean "I think it happened twice in the past ten years, and it was pretty much systemwide when it did."

SQ does not release Business award inventory to UA, so no.

I fly Polaris regularly and it sucks when compared to J on SQ on any aircraft!

To each his own. I would fly UA 10 times out of 10 when compared to the SQ 359 -- it was by far the least comfortable lie-flat seat I've ever flown anywhere. I'd take angle-flat seats over it.

None of that is relevant, though -- fly whom you want. :) but unless you get very lucky, in that they decide to do another massive inventory dump and/or somebody in SQ IT makes a mistake -- don't expect to fly SQ long-haul J on a MileagePlus award ticket.

Yes to each his own. I am a big United supporter, but Polaris is (for now) at the BOTTOM of the heap for international J. May be things will improve in the future.

Besides, SQ 11 LAX-NRT is on a B777-300ER.

I do not expect to fly SQ long haul J on MP award ticket! I will transfer AMEX points to KF to book J on SQ.

FWIW, they also release some inventory (generally 2-4J on long-hauls) to aeroplan under a fairly new special agreement, so you can also search there and compare availability and pricing before transferring to KF/AP. Probably too late now!

Thanks and it's not too late at all! Just that I don't want to have to create an AC account! It could be a pain but may be I should :rolleyes:

You can search without an AC account, just to get an idea for pricing & availability. Then decide!