May 10, 2017, 11:29 pm
Last edit by: MBS MillionMiler
Upgrading on flights operated by ANA
Each NH/ANA segment requires an unique GPU. A a single GPU can not be used for two ANA segment nor for a connecting UA segment
Summary of Practical Advice from this thread:
* If you have bought a ticket from United (e.g., cause you want PQDs), you likely have UA codeshares of NH-operated flights. However, only NH-ticketed flights can have upgrades requested. When you have these flights, you need to call United (e.g., the 1K desk) and tell them you want to use GPUs on this itinerary. What they will do is modify your ticket so that the codeshares are replaced with the native flight numbers. This takes 10-15 minutes. You will still need to separately request the upgrades using the United GPU request form (link below) for LH/ANA flights.
* The web form will ask for information from your ticket. You will need to enter the NH flight numbers. Also it will ask for your confirmation code and can use the United-issued confirmation code (not the NH confirmation code)
* You should be able to verify in advance whether the upgrade is going to clear based on NH inventory. I class is for Y->J upgrades and O class is for J->F. These are also the business and first 'saver' award buckets, and can be estimated by doing phantom bookings of award travel for the same flights. If saver awards are showing up the classes should be available.Expertflyer and other sites can also show the availability.
* The T&Cs suggest that you cannot request upgrades until 8 weeks before the flight, but various flyertalkers have confirmed upgrades beyond the 8 week window.
* If your upgrade is not confirmed, you can keep trying before the flight. Waitlisting is now an option (for NH/ANA)
* There seems to be mixed opinion on whether O and I class inventory is put back into the system as the flight gets closer, but several have reported finding inventory show up 2-3 weeks before the flight.
* Fare mapping from ANA to UA:
J/C/D/Y/B = J/C/D/Y/B
G/E = O/A
Below are various T&Cs from United relevant to the applicability of fares, etc, copied from the website.
Acrhive: Using PlusPoints on NH / ANA {Archive}
PlusPoints can be used on flights operated by All Nippon Airways (ANA) for one-segment, one-cabin upgrades on any multi-cabin international flight operated by ANA and marketed by ANA or United. Upgrades are subject to availability and valid for paid, published fares only. The following ANA fare classes are eligible for PlusPoints upgrades: B, C, D, E, G, J, M, U, Y and Z. PlusPoints can’t be used to upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy on ANA-operated flights. Please see the terms and conditions below for specific eligibility rules.
The PlusPoints upgrade system with NH/LH appears to be a slightly modified version of the star alliance upgrade award system (using PP instead of miles obviously). Given Z is a valid booking code on NH for a SAUA, not really surprising if there was an oversight in adapting the system to work for PlusPoints upgrades and someone forgot to either add Z-fare being allowed in the official T&C, or forgot to take Z-fares out when the upgrade request system validates the booking code.
Each NH/ANA segment requires an unique GPU. A a single GPU can not be used for two ANA segment nor for a connecting UA segment
Summary of Practical Advice from this thread:
* If you have bought a ticket from United (e.g., cause you want PQDs), you likely have UA codeshares of NH-operated flights. However, only NH-ticketed flights can have upgrades requested. When you have these flights, you need to call United (e.g., the 1K desk) and tell them you want to use GPUs on this itinerary. What they will do is modify your ticket so that the codeshares are replaced with the native flight numbers. This takes 10-15 minutes. You will still need to separately request the upgrades using the United GPU request form (link below) for LH/ANA flights.
* The web form will ask for information from your ticket. You will need to enter the NH flight numbers. Also it will ask for your confirmation code and can use the United-issued confirmation code (not the NH confirmation code)
* You should be able to verify in advance whether the upgrade is going to clear based on NH inventory. I class is for Y->J upgrades and O class is for J->F. These are also the business and first 'saver' award buckets, and can be estimated by doing phantom bookings of award travel for the same flights. If saver awards are showing up the classes should be available.
* The T&Cs suggest that you cannot request upgrades until 8 weeks before the flight, but various flyertalkers have confirmed upgrades beyond the 8 week window.
* If your upgrade is not confirmed, you can keep trying before the flight. Waitlisting is now an option (for NH/ANA)
* There seems to be mixed opinion on whether O and I class inventory is put back into the system as the flight gets closer, but several have reported finding inventory show up 2-3 weeks before the flight.
* Fare mapping from ANA to UA:
J/C/D/Y/B = J/C/D/Y/B
G/E = O/A
Below are various T&Cs from United relevant to the applicability of fares, etc, copied from the website.
updated May 2023
- Upgrades are valid only on ANA.
- Requests for upgrades can be made after you have purchased your ticket. Upgrades can be requested until 24 hours prior to departure. Your MileagePlus account number and password are required to complete the request.
- PlusPoints upgrades may not be requested when you travel on industry discount, agency discount, deeply discounted promotional tickets, award tickets using miles, or tickets purchased on websites where you don’t know the exact flight itinerary or airline until after you’ve paid for the ticket.
- ANA may impose blackout periods where upgrades are not permitted.
- You may request PlusPoints upgrades for up to four people traveling on the same reservation. The amount of PlusPoints required is listed per passenger for each itinerary and deducted at time of request; to upgrade additional people, you’ll need to use additional PlusPoints. (If the reservation has more than four travelers, you will need to call the operating carrier.) You do not need to be traveling with the passengers to request the upgrades and you can request upgrades for travelers with a different last name than yours.
- While you can only request upgrades for one segment at a time, you may upgrade more than one eligible segment on the itinerary.
- Double upgrades from Economy to First are not permitted on three-cabin aircraft.
- Standby is not permitted, but waitlisting is permitted. Waitlisting is now an option (for NH/ANA)
- An upgrade may be confirmed within eight weeks of departure, if a seat is available.
- Mileage accrual is based on the original ticketed booking class, not the upgraded class of service.
- Requests for seat assignments, special meals and amenities should be made directly with the operating carrier.
- If you wish to make changes or cancel your PlusPoints upgrade request, please contact ANA.
- If an ANA segment of your itinerary is canceled, the upgrade request for that segment will also be automatically canceled. Your PlusPoints will be automatically redeposited 24 to 48 hours after the cancellation.
- PlusPoints upgrades are not available through general selling agents.
How to request
Once the ticket has been issued, requests can be made online through the Global Premier Upgrade on ANA or Lufthansa request page. You can make upgrade requests for ANA-operated flights beginning eight weeks before departure until up to 24 hours before departure. You can make upgrade requests for Lufthansa-operated flights beginning 331 days before departure until up to 10 hours before departure.
You may request Global Premier Upgrades for up to four people traveling on the same reservation. You will need one Global Premier Upgrade for each traveler. (If the reservation has more than four travelers, you will need to call ANA or Lufthansa.) You do not need to be traveling with the passengers to request the upgrades and you can request upgrades for travelers with a different last name than yours. While you can only request upgrades for one segment at a time, you may upgrade more than one eligible segment on the itinerary.
If upgrade space is available at the time of the request and the requester chooses to confirm the upgrade, United will automatically deduct Global Premier Upgrades from the requester's MileagePlus account.
How to request for codeshare flights
If you are traveling on an ANA- or Lufthansa-operated codeshare flight with a United flight number, upgrades may be available and can be requested by calling 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) within the U.S. and Canada, elsewhere call your local United Customer Contact Center.
Once the ticket has been issued, requests can be made online through the Global Premier Upgrade on ANA or Lufthansa request page. You can make upgrade requests for ANA-operated flights beginning eight weeks before departure until up to 24 hours before departure. You can make upgrade requests for Lufthansa-operated flights beginning 331 days before departure until up to 10 hours before departure.
You may request Global Premier Upgrades for up to four people traveling on the same reservation. You will need one Global Premier Upgrade for each traveler. (If the reservation has more than four travelers, you will need to call ANA or Lufthansa.) You do not need to be traveling with the passengers to request the upgrades and you can request upgrades for travelers with a different last name than yours. While you can only request upgrades for one segment at a time, you may upgrade more than one eligible segment on the itinerary.
If upgrade space is available at the time of the request and the requester chooses to confirm the upgrade, United will automatically deduct Global Premier Upgrades from the requester's MileagePlus account.
How to request for codeshare flights
If you are traveling on an ANA- or Lufthansa-operated codeshare flight with a United flight number, upgrades may be available and can be requested by calling 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) within the U.S. and Canada, elsewhere call your local United Customer Contact Center.
Using PlusPoints on NH / ANA
Aug 10, 2023, 9:07 pm
#151
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,279
I see the list of classes that will allow me to upgrade an ANA ticket with Plus Points from Economy to Business, but I dont see that an "R" fare is valid, which confuses me because R is Premium Economy (ok, discounted) but surely that should be higher tier than Economy...
So is this correct? No upgrade from R?
Thanks, K.B.
So is this correct? No upgrade from R?
Thanks, K.B.
R is the "deeply discounted" equivalent buckets for the PE fares.
Aug 17, 2023, 10:49 am
#152
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 23
S code?
Are the fare codes above for UA or for NH? I am trying to apply pluspoints for a friend flying on NH but booked through UA. the UA fare code is S. Is it therefore ineligible? No process at all? The 1K agent made it seem like I could do it but I needed to 'keep checking'
Aug 17, 2023, 10:54 am
#153
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
Are the fare codes above for UA or for NH? I am trying to apply pluspoints for a friend flying on NH but booked through UA. the UA fare code is S. Is it therefore ineligible? No process at all? The 1K agent made it seem like I could do it but I needed to 'keep checking'
Aug 17, 2023, 10:59 am
#154
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,023
Aug 17, 2023, 1:12 pm
#155
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,048
Are the fare codes above for UA or for NH? I am trying to apply pluspoints for a friend flying on NH but booked through UA. the UA fare code is S. Is it therefore ineligible? No process at all? The 1K agent made it seem like I could do it but I needed to 'keep checking'
Aug 21, 2023, 12:27 pm
#157
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
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Also consider posting here: PlusPoints Polaris flight upgrade SUCCESS 2023
Aug 27, 2023, 2:20 pm
#158
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,552
I have a few options to fly in Z class in 4 weeks. It looks like only 1 F seat is for sale on a 773 with the Room business seats and 3 F seats for sale on a 773 with the old J seats. Considering the F cabins are quite full, should I assume an F upgrade with PlusPoints is highly unlikely in both cases? A few posts up thread suggest they may not clear upgrades to the last seat.
Aug 27, 2023, 5:23 pm
#159
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,048
I have a few options to fly in Z class in 4 weeks. It looks like only 1 F seat is for sale on a 773 with the Room business seats and 3 F seats for sale on a 773 with the old J seats. Considering the F cabins are quite full, should I assume an F upgrade with PlusPoints is highly unlikely in both cases? A few posts up thread suggest they may not clear upgrades to the last seat.
Aug 28, 2023, 2:10 am
#160
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
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I have a few options to fly in Z class in 4 weeks. It looks like only 1 F seat is for sale on a 773 with the Room business seats and 3 F seats for sale on a 773 with the old J seats. Considering the F cabins are quite full, should I assume an F upgrade with PlusPoints is highly unlikely in both cases? A few posts up thread suggest they may not clear upgrades to the last seat.
rious.
Sep 7, 2023, 8:30 pm
#161
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 13
Sep 7, 2023, 10:28 pm
#162
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
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Posts: 35,426
t upgradeable.
Sep 9, 2023, 1:56 am
#163
Join Date: May 2022
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 27
Does anyone have experience applying Plus Points to an ANA-operated flight with the UA codeshare flight number? I know the consensus here is that you should call to convert the flight numbers, but I have a round trip itinerary on 016 stock where both segments are ANA-operated, and UA won’t let me change the ticket such that none of the segments have UA flight numbers; they only let me change one segment. (This was true across multiple agents.)
The website says that “upgrades may be available” for codeshare flights if you call, but I’m curious if anyone’s done it before.
The website says that “upgrades may be available” for codeshare flights if you call, but I’m curious if anyone’s done it before.
Sep 9, 2023, 2:48 am
#164
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,279
Does anyone have experience applying Plus Points to an ANA-operated flight with the UA codeshare flight number? I know the consensus here is that you should call to convert the flight numbers, but I have a round trip itinerary on 016 stock where both segments are ANA-operated, and UA won’t let me change the ticket such that none of the segments have UA flight numbers; they only let me change one segment. (This was true across multiple agents.)
The website says that “upgrades may be available” for codeshare flights if you call, but I’m curious if anyone’s done it before.
The website says that “upgrades may be available” for codeshare flights if you call, but I’m curious if anyone’s done it before.
Sep 9, 2023, 3:30 am
#165
Join Date: May 2022
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 27
Must be on the true flight number to upgrade, the "may be available" is that they will convert from the codeshare to true flight number if booking code is available. However ticketing policy still requires, outside of IRROPs, that at least one UA flight number be on the ticket in some form. So you would need either a UA/UA* connection on one of the directions, or have to book direct with ANA to get the NH flight numbers for both segments if those are the only flights on your itinerary.
Personally, the policy of only being able to upgrade native flight numbers feels counterintuitive; wouldn’t UA want to incentivize booking NH/LH flights via united.com rather than via the operating carrier? I assume they get some cut of the revenue that way.