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
Sep 9, 2023, 10:36 am
#166
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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.
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.
Sep 9, 2023, 10:57 am
#167
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 13
Well, if you're not upgraded and on the right 777 aircraft you'll be in The Room. The Suites is the NH F product on those aircraft. Sadly, Z is n
t upgradeable.
t upgradeable.
Sep 9, 2023, 11:20 am
#168
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Sep 9, 2023, 12:12 pm
#169
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That's good to know because 
n the UA page for ANA upgrades it says, "The following ANA fare classes are eligible for PlusPoints upgrades: B, C, D, E, G, J, M, U and Y."
n the UA page for ANA upgrades it says, "The following ANA fare classes are eligible for PlusPoints upgrades: B, C, D, E, G, J, M, U and Y."
Sep 9, 2023, 12:22 pm
#170
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That's good to know because n the UA page for ANA upgrades it says, "The following ANA fare classes are eligible for PlusPoints upgrades: B, C, D, E, G, J, M, U and Y."
n the UA page for ANA upgrades it says, "The following ANA fare classes are eligible for PlusPoints upgrades: B, C, D, E, G, J, M, U and Y."
Sep 11, 2023, 2:44 pm
#171
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 3
"Since you have a duplicate reservation, this reservation can only be viewed. Please contact the travel agency through which the reservation was made to change your reservation and register your information...."
I unfortunately now show 2 confirmed segments! I tried calling ANA but was on hold for 1.5 hours and gave up! Does this resolve itself? Any advice?
I unfortunately now show 2 confirmed segments! I tried calling ANA but was on hold for 1.5 hours and gave up! Does this resolve itself? Any advice?
Sep 11, 2023, 4:46 pm
#172
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"Since you have a duplicate reservation, this reservation can only be viewed. Please contact the travel agency through which the reservation was made to change your reservation and register your information...."
I unfortunately now show 2 confirmed segments! I tried calling ANA but was on hold for 1.5 hours and gave up! Does this resolve itself? Any advice?
I unfortunately now show 2 confirmed segments! I tried calling ANA but was on hold for 1.5 hours and gave up! Does this resolve itself? Any advice?
Yes, you'd want to ultimately get this cleaned up - is the first flight on ANA?
Sep 11, 2023, 4:54 pm
#173
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 3
the upgrade cleared subsequent to booking so now I have 2 "OK", before it showed "waitlisted" - first flight is United, this means I am going to get ping pong between the two carriers I think - i have a segment in Z and another in O
I have upgraded with Z a few times even though UA page says, "The following ANA fare classes are eligible for PlusPoints upgrades: B, C, D, E, G, J, M, U and Y."
I have upgraded with Z a few times even though UA page says, "The following ANA fare classes are eligible for PlusPoints upgrades: B, C, D, E, G, J, M, U and Y."
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 11, 2023 at 8:07 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts by same member
Sep 16, 2023, 12:39 pm
#174
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Thanks — based on your reply, I tried again and this time the agent was able to do it, after a 20 min hold with the "support desk". The previous 3-4 agents I called all cited the same rule though, that there needed to be at least one UA-marketed flight on the ticket. (In the past, I've also gotten pushback from agents that there needed to be one UA-operated flight on the ticket... which is obviously untrue.)
Sep 16, 2023, 1:13 pm
#175
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the upgrade cleared subsequent to booking so now I have 2 "OK", before it showed "waitlisted" - first flight is United, this means I am going to get ping pong between the two carriers I think - i have a segment in Z and another in O
I have upgraded with Z a few times even though UA page says, "The following ANA fare classes are eligible for PlusPoints upgrades: B, C, D, E, G, J, M, U and Y."
I have upgraded with Z a few times even though UA page says, "The following ANA fare classes are eligible for PlusPoints upgrades: B, C, D, E, G, J, M, U and Y."
It might be o.k. checking in with UA - where and how are you connecting? I had a different problem that NH was able to resolve at the airport (took 1/2 hr), but I have not yet needed to resolve a 2 'OK' segments problem with NH. The closest I have seen was an old segment (prior to ticket change; flight was cancelled) persisting on the NH side ... and they were able to take care of it at check-in.
Thanks — based on your reply, I tried again and this time the agent was able to do it, after a 20 min hold with the "support desk". The previous 3-4 agents I called all cited the same rule though, that there needed to be at least one UA-marketed flight on the ticket. (In the past, I've also gotten pushback from agents that there needed to be one UA-operated flight on the ticket... which is obviously untrue.)
Sep 16, 2023, 3:22 pm
#176
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Just to support the experience that "more and more untrained agents..."
I had called earlier about converting to NH codes on a RT LAX-TYO 016 ticket and the agent at the time and the help desk had said I had to call my travel agent and that the travel agent would have to re-issue the ticket with native NH numbers. Upon contacting the travel agent, he said "at least one leg must be on UA metal".
Calling UA again (long live HUCA), a different agent and help desk combo easily did the conversion in five minutes. Now the waiting game begins.
I had called earlier about converting to NH codes on a RT LAX-TYO 016 ticket and the agent at the time and the help desk had said I had to call my travel agent and that the travel agent would have to re-issue the ticket with native NH numbers. Upon contacting the travel agent, he said "at least one leg must be on UA metal".
Calling UA again (long live HUCA), a different agent and help desk combo easily did the conversion in five minutes. Now the waiting game begins.
Sep 16, 2023, 3:37 pm
#177
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Just to support the experience that "more and more untrained agents..."
I had called earlier about converting to NH codes on a RT LAX-TYO 016 ticket and the agent at the time and the help desk had said I had to call my travel agent and that the travel agent would have to re-issue the ticket with native NH numbers. Upon contacting the travel agent, he said "at least one leg must be on UA metal".
Calling UA again (long live HUCA), a different agent and help desk combo easily did the conversion in five minutes. Now the waiting game begins.
I had called earlier about converting to NH codes on a RT LAX-TYO 016 ticket and the agent at the time and the help desk had said I had to call my travel agent and that the travel agent would have to re-issue the ticket with native NH numbers. Upon contacting the travel agent, he said "at least one leg must be on UA metal".
Calling UA again (long live HUCA), a different agent and help desk combo easily did the conversion in five minutes. Now the waiting game begins.
Sep 19, 2023, 7:30 pm
#178
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I put in a PlusPoints upgrade request online for an ANA flight from NRT to ORD. Space was not available so I was added to the waitlist. The upgrade cleared about 8 days before departure (yesterday), and today I posted about it here. I received an E-mail that I cleared the waitlist and was able to select seats on the ANA website. I was quite pleased.
An hour ago, I received an E-mail from United of a schedule change. Nothing seemingly changed (flight times, flight number, or equipment) except I was moved back to coach. It shows this downgrade both on UA.com and ANA.com. I just called United and they (the agent and her supervisor) can't figure out what happened and can't do anything either. The PlusPoints were automatically refunded.
My only recourse is to reapply for the upgrade. Has this ever happened to anyone else? Pretty disappointing!
Update: 15 minutes ago, the upgrade was not available. I just checked again and the upgrade was available and cleared. Sure hope it sticks, very bizarre.
An hour ago, I received an E-mail from United of a schedule change. Nothing seemingly changed (flight times, flight number, or equipment) except I was moved back to coach. It shows this downgrade both on UA.com and ANA.com. I just called United and they (the agent and her supervisor) can't figure out what happened and can't do anything either. The PlusPoints were automatically refunded.
My only recourse is to reapply for the upgrade. Has this ever happened to anyone else? Pretty disappointing!
Update: 15 minutes ago, the upgrade was not available. I just checked again and the upgrade was available and cleared. Sure hope it sticks, very bizarre.
Sep 25, 2023, 5:34 pm
#179
Join Date: May 2019
Programs: United Mileage Plus 1k since 2010
Posts: 6
Hi I’m trying to request a PlusPoint upgrade for an ANA-operated flight NH889 departing on 2nd December (HND-SYD). When I fill out the form, it gives me the following message confirming the availability of upgrade.
However, when I click on “Confirm upgrade”, it then gives me this following error message:
I tried this numerous times and called 1k premier support desk and talked to several agents, none of them able to assist me and have given me all sort of random guesses. I also called ANA support team (horrible wait times of more than an hour each time I call) and they blamed it on the United's system. Has anyone had a similar issue or know what the solution is? It seems unfair that I am not allowed to use Plus Points due to the technical error.
However, when I click on “Confirm upgrade”, it then gives me this following error message:
I tried this numerous times and called 1k premier support desk and talked to several agents, none of them able to assist me and have given me all sort of random guesses. I also called ANA support team (horrible wait times of more than an hour each time I call) and they blamed it on the United's system. Has anyone had a similar issue or know what the solution is? It seems unfair that I am not allowed to use Plus Points due to the technical error.
Sep 25, 2023, 7:12 pm
#180
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Not sure ... upgrade space doesn't seem to be available for that flight according to EF. Maybe a glitch? And because it thinks it is available it doesn't go to the WL option?