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
Nov 10, 2022, 3:47 pm
#46
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, AA Gold, HH Dia, PC Plat, ALL Sil, MR Gold
Posts: 4,550
As I think was mentioned upthread, or somewhere else in this forum, I'm searching for flights from US to TYO on UA metal in premium economy, then TYO to BKK on NH in PE. I can find NH-NH flights in PE-PE, but every UA-NH flight books into PE-Y. In other words, I can only get PE on TYO-BKK if I book NH metal on the leg before. The reason I want to book UA metal over the water is I'd like to apply PP for a possible upgrade.
I've tried various combinations on the ANA site, UA.com, and ITA but nothing has worked so far. Does anyone know a workaround for this, or is there some marriage of segments that can't be worked around? Thanks in advance.
I've tried various combinations on the ANA site, UA.com, and ITA but nothing has worked so far. Does anyone know a workaround for this, or is there some marriage of segments that can't be worked around? Thanks in advance.
Nov 10, 2022, 4:30 pm
#47
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,277
As I think was mentioned upthread, or somewhere else in this forum, I'm searching for flights from US to TYO on UA metal in premium economy, then TYO to BKK on NH in PE. I can find NH-NH flights in PE-PE, but every UA-NH flight books into PE-Y. In other words, I can only get PE on TYO-BKK if I book NH metal on the leg before. The reason I want to book UA metal over the water is I'd like to apply PP for a possible upgrade.
I've tried various combinations on the ANA site, UA.com, and ITA but nothing has worked so far. Does anyone know a workaround for this, or is there some marriage of segments that can't be worked around? Thanks in advance.
I've tried various combinations on the ANA site, UA.com, and ITA but nothing has worked so far. Does anyone know a workaround for this, or is there some marriage of segments that can't be worked around? Thanks in advance.
Though for what you're trying to do, it shouldn't matter, because you can go from Y-J ((unless you really want PE on the TYO-BKK NH flight)) on NH using PlusPoints (PP don't get considered for PE on NH). You just need to be in an applicable booking code, which based on the R discounted fare filings pushing into V or lower, you would need to get an A-fare with UA to get put in an M booking code on the NH flight.
Nov 10, 2022, 5:18 pm
#48
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, AA Gold, HH Dia, PC Plat, ALL Sil, MR Gold
Posts: 4,550
Without digging into all the fare rules probably booking code/flight applicability restrictions in the PE fare filings. Searching around what I'm seeing is NH is only making O-available on the UA codeshare flight (G on native flight number, you can use either to get access to the fare) when its combined with a UA US-TYO flight. So theoretically you can search for an O fare, and it looks like it will price PE-PE as an unrestricted mileage fare ($$$).
Though for what you're trying to do, it shouldn't matter, because you can go from Y-J ((unless you really want PE on the TYO-BKK NH flight)) on NH using PlusPoints (PP don't get considered for PE on NH). You just need to be in an applicable booking code, which based on the R discounted fare filings pushing into V or lower, you would need to get an A-fare with UA to get put in an M booking code on the NH flight.
Though for what you're trying to do, it shouldn't matter, because you can go from Y-J ((unless you really want PE on the TYO-BKK NH flight)) on NH using PlusPoints (PP don't get considered for PE on NH). You just need to be in an applicable booking code, which based on the R discounted fare filings pushing into V or lower, you would need to get an A-fare with UA to get put in an M booking code on the NH flight.
Nov 16, 2022, 12:44 pm
#49
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
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
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We recently used PP to upgrade an NH coded segment on an NH ticket on NH metal. We did this for two segments. While each showed that the upgrades cleared a couple of days before the flights, we were not able to do any form of electronic check-in. Furthermore, at the ticket c
unter we were told -- both times -- that there was no upgrade and that this was an economy ticket. After pushback (including showing screenshots of the NH site showing the upgrade) they completed check-in with J seats. So, it works but it was not easy.
unter we were told -- both times -- that there was no upgrade and that this was an economy ticket. After pushback (including showing screenshots of the NH site showing the upgrade) they completed check-in with J seats. So, it works but it was not easy.
Last edited by Xyzzy; Nov 16, 2022 at 2:27 pm
Nov 16, 2022, 2:11 pm
#50
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: SBA
Programs: UA MM etc
Posts: 62
Plus Points for ANA codeshare upgrade on UA ticket
What's written in the wiki worked today. I have a UA ticket with an NH leg listed as a UA codeshare; the UA agent changed the UA codeshare in the record to an NH flight (this took 10 minutes and some persistence from me for the agent to realize that this was necessary and to do it). After that, when I pulled up the flight record, chose "Upgrade your trip" and chose the NH segment, it showed "no upgrade available". But, when I went to https://www.united.com/loyalty/partn...points/request instead, I WAS able to get the upgrade request.
So, once the UA codeshare flight has been changed to an ANA flight, the specific way that you request the upgrade matters.
So, once the UA codeshare flight has been changed to an ANA flight, the specific way that you request the upgrade matters.
Nov 16, 2022, 2:29 pm
#51
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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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Posts: 35,373
What's written in the wiki worked today. I have a UA ticket with an NH leg listed as a UA codeshare; the UA agent changed the UA codeshare in the record to an NH flight (this took 10 minutes and some persistence from me for the agent to realize that this was necessary and to do it). After that, when I pulled up the flight record, chose "Upgrade your trip" and chose the NH segment, it showed "no upgrade available". But, when I went to https://www.united.com/loyalty/partn...points/request instead, I WAS able to get the upgrade request.
So, once the UA codeshare flight has been changed to an ANA flight, the specific way that you request the upgrade matters.
So, once the UA codeshare flight has been changed to an ANA flight, the specific way that you request the upgrade matters.
f the upgrade. Please let us know what happens!
Last edited by Xyzzy; Nov 16, 2022 at 3:20 pm
Nov 16, 2022, 4:51 pm
#52
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Join Date: Aug 2005
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We recently used PP to upgrade an NH coded segment on an NH ticket on NH metal. We did this for two segments. While each showed that the upgrades cleared a couple of days before the flights, we were not able to do any form of electronic check-in. Furthermore, at the ticket cunter we were told -- both times -- that there was no upgrade and that this was an economy ticket. After pushback (including showing screenshots of the NH site showing the upgrade) they completed check-in with J seats. So, it works but it was not easy.
unter we were told -- both times -- that there was no upgrade and that this was an economy ticket. After pushback (including showing screenshots of the NH site showing the upgrade) they completed check-in with J seats. So, it works but it was not easy.
Nov 16, 2022, 5:01 pm
#53
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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Indeed. The first time was when we were at checkin at NRT and NH denied the upgrade and insisted we talk to UA. We had already spoken t
UA about this clearing when we saw "I" space and it hadn't cleared. UA told us that it was all on NH. So, when it did clear and we were denied at checkin NH of course told us it was all on UA. 🙄 We insisted they call UA and after about 10min or so, during which we showed NH the UA app & such showing the upgrade, they suddenly reversed course and produced a J boarding pass. The key was being insistent as we were apologetically denied at least 5 times.
UA about this clearing when we saw "I" space and it hadn't cleared. UA told us that it was all on NH. So, when it did clear and we were denied at checkin NH of course told us it was all on UA. 🙄 We insisted they call UA and after about 10min or so, during which we showed NH the UA app & such showing the upgrade, they suddenly reversed course and produced a J boarding pass. The key was being insistent as we were apologetically denied at least 5 times.
Nov 16, 2022, 9:07 pm
#54
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Join Date: Oct 2003
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Indeed. The first time was when we were at checkin at NRT and NH denied the upgrade and insisted we talk to UA. We had already spoken t UA about this clearing when we saw "I" space and it hadn't cleared. UA told us that it was all on NH. So, when it did clear and we were denied at checkin NH of course told us it was all on UA. 🙄 We insisted they call UA and after about 10min or so, during which we showed NH the UA app & such showing the upgrade, they suddenly reversed course and produced a J boarding pass. The key was being insistent as we were apologetically denied at least 5 times.
UA about this clearing when we saw "I" space and it hadn't cleared. UA told us that it was all on NH. So, when it did clear and we were denied at checkin NH of course told us it was all on UA. 🙄 We insisted they call UA and after about 10min or so, during which we showed NH the UA app & such showing the upgrade, they suddenly reversed course and produced a J boarding pass. The key was being insistent as we were apologetically denied at least 5 times.MileagePlus® members can redeem PlusPoints for upgrade awards on select Star AllianceTM partner airlines. Sign in to your MileagePlus account and use the tool below to check for upgrade availability on any upcoming flight. Once you’ve found and confirmed your upgrade, you can arrive at the airport relaxed and ready to enjoy all your benefits, whether it’s priority check-in and lounge access or a more personal level of service onboard. Upgrades are based on the operating carrier’s availability.
-RM
Nov 17, 2022, 5:51 am
#55
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Join Date: Aug 2005
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Indeed. The first time was when we were at checkin at NRT and NH denied the upgrade and insisted we talk to UA. We had already spoken t UA about this clearing when we saw "I" space and it hadn't cleared. UA told us that it was all on NH. So, when it did clear and we were denied at checkin NH of course told us it was all on UA. 🙄 We insisted they call UA and after about 10min or so, during which we showed NH the UA app & such showing the upgrade, they suddenly reversed course and produced a J boarding pass. The key was being insistent as we were apologetically denied at least 5 times.
UA about this clearing when we saw "I" space and it hadn't cleared. UA told us that it was all on NH. So, when it did clear and we were denied at checkin NH of course told us it was all on UA. 🙄 We insisted they call UA and after about 10min or so, during which we showed NH the UA app & such showing the upgrade, they suddenly reversed course and produced a J boarding pass. The key was being insistent as we were apologetically denied at least 5 times.
Nov 22, 2022, 2:16 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Sonoma, CA
Programs: United 1K UA, MM *G for life
Posts: 19
Priority using Plus Points or Miles?
Anyone know if there is priority for an upgrade clearing whether using miles or plus points on ANA metal? I put in for an upgrades using plus points on NH7 and NH835 from premium economy/econ on Jan 17th/18th using plus points. Curious to my chances of it clearing. Thanks!
Nov 23, 2022, 10:34 pm
#58
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,759
Nov 24, 2022, 6:01 am
#59
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 13
Some places on the internet say ANA rules out the 777-300 and the 787 from *a upgrades, so pretty much can only upgrade on little domestic routes. I fly HKG<>HND/NRT all the time and have never been successful using plus points or miles to upgrade an ANA leg.
Why not ANA form, it's very specific to partner airline and United, ANA and Lufthansa have a bit of a tighter bond than the other *A carriers. Also, ANA's own website for upgrade requests is filled with broken links or is in really choppy english if at all
Not hating on ANA, I love flying them even in economy, wonderful airline, amazing FAs
Why not ANA form, it's very specific to partner airline and United, ANA and Lufthansa have a bit of a tighter bond than the other *A carriers. Also, ANA's own website for upgrade requests is filled with broken links or is in really choppy english if at all
Not hating on ANA, I love flying them even in economy, wonderful airline, amazing FAs
Nov 24, 2022, 6:23 am
#60
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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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Some places on the internet say ANA rules out the 777-300 and the 787 from *a upgrades, so pretty much can only upgrade on little domestic routes. I fly HKG<>HND/NRT all the time and have never been successful using plus points or miles to upgrade an ANA leg.
Why not ANA form, it's very specific to partner airline and United, ANA and Lufthansa have a bit of a tighter bond than the other *A carriers. Also, ANA's own website for upgrade requests is filled with broken links or is in really choppy english if at all
Not hating on ANA, I love flying them even in economy, wonderful airline, amazing FAs
Why not ANA form, it's very specific to partner airline and United, ANA and Lufthansa have a bit of a tighter bond than the other *A carriers. Also, ANA's own website for upgrade requests is filled with broken links or is in really choppy english if at all
Not hating on ANA, I love flying them even in economy, wonderful airline, amazing FAs
Last edited by Xyzzy; Nov 24, 2022 at 7:49 am
