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
Dec 25, 2023, 3:13 pm
#241
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
NH requires a minimum of a U fare to use PlusPoints to business, might find discount (N) PE cheaper. But NH N is not upgradeable, E is.
Dec 25, 2023, 9:19 pm
#242
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,451
Dec 25, 2023, 11:56 pm
#243
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,279
Dec 28, 2023, 3:57 pm
#244
Join Date: May 2013
Location: west coast best coast
Programs: TINDER GOLD, STARBUCKS GOLD, COSTCO EXECUTIVE!!
Posts: 3,989
Some newbie questions, apologies:
Is there a list of how many PP are required? I can add this to the wiki as it's not obvious. I see someone in the thread previously used 40PP for HND-SYD.
Is there a list of how many PP are required? I can add this to the wiki as it's not obvious. I see someone in the thread previously used 40PP for HND-SYD.
Dec 28, 2023, 5:58 pm
#245
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
All partner segments are 40 PlusPoints. Remember each partner segment requires a separate set of 40 PlusPoints
Jan 1, 2024, 10:33 pm
#246
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Tel Aviv (TLV), Chicago (ORD)
Programs: United Premier 1K, Starwood/Marriott Gold
Posts: 248
Flying on January 4 HAN-NRT redeye. Have PP waitlisted. Flight is 36 hours out and J9-P9. If I haven’t received an upgrade already am I unlikely to from this point out?
Jan 1, 2024, 11:26 pm
#247
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,019
Jan 3, 2024, 8:29 pm
#248
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: UA GS, AA ExP
Posts: 124
I have a flight coming up from ORD to NRT. Operated by ANA, sold as UA code share. I am booked in business on a P fare. While technically P is not upgradeable to First, I wanted to give it a shot. Have called the GS desk couple of times and the agents have been extremely courteous and knowledgeable, which isnt working to my advantage lol. Both times I asked them to convert to native NH flight numbers, they proactively checked my booking class and advised it is not upgradeable.
Any ideas on how to get past this hurdle to get the native flight numbers and try my luck with online upgrade request?
Any ideas on how to get past this hurdle to get the native flight numbers and try my luck with online upgrade request?
Jan 3, 2024, 8:41 pm
#249
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,019
I have a flight coming up from ORD to NRT. Operated by ANA, sold as UA code share. I am booked in business on a P fare. While technically P is not upgradeable to First, I wanted to give it a shot. Have called the GS desk couple of times and the agents have been extremely courteous and knowledgeable, which isnt working to my advantage lol. Both times I asked them to convert to native NH flight numbers, they proactively checked my booking class and advised it is not upgradeable.
Any ideas on how to get past this hurdle to get the native flight numbers and try my luck with online upgrade request?
Any ideas on how to get past this hurdle to get the native flight numbers and try my luck with online upgrade request?
Jan 3, 2024, 9:19 pm
#250
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
Are you aware of this ever working? It does not work for LH either.
Is P even available as a NH flight?
Is P even available as a NH flight?
Jan 3, 2024, 11:33 pm
#252
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
as a UA codeshare, to change it must also show as an NH flight number -- which as NH11 is P9
Worth noting NH Z is eligible for SAUA (mileage upgrades using UA miles) and for PlusPoints.
But as mentioned, P is ineligible for PlusPoint upgrade and is also listed ineligible for SAUA
Seem consistent. And provides little hope for success.
Worth noting NH Z is eligible for SAUA (mileage upgrades using UA miles) and for PlusPoints.
But as mentioned, P is ineligible for PlusPoint upgrade and is also listed ineligible for SAUA
Seem consistent. And provides little hope for success.
Jan 4, 2024, 6:26 am
#253
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: UA GS, AA ExP
Posts: 124
as a UA codeshare, to change it must also show as an NH flight number -- which as NH11 is P9
Worth noting NH Z is eligible for SAUA (mileage upgrades using UA miles) and for PlusPoints.
But as mentioned, P is ineligible for PlusPoint upgrade and is also listed ineligible for SAUA
Seem consistent. And provides little hope for success.
Worth noting NH Z is eligible for SAUA (mileage upgrades using UA miles) and for PlusPoints.
But as mentioned, P is ineligible for PlusPoint upgrade and is also listed ineligible for SAUA
Seem consistent. And provides little hope for success.
Mar 14, 2024, 8:51 am
#254
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
A few weeks ago, I cleared an upgrade on ORD-NRT using PP on NH metal and since then, my UA itinerary online shows:
A modification has been made to your itinerary.
Please reach out to United Reservations, or contact your travel agency to have your ticket reissued.
I know that's normal for LH but is that also the case with NH, or should I call to have the ticket reissued? I got burned by this last year (didn't get the ticket reissued and couldn't check in at the airport) and don't want to experience that again.
A modification has been made to your itinerary.
Please reach out to United Reservations, or contact your travel agency to have your ticket reissued.
I know that's normal for LH but is that also the case with NH, or should I call to have the ticket reissued? I got burned by this last year (didn't get the ticket reissued and couldn't check in at the airport) and don't want to experience that again.
Mar 14, 2024, 10:57 am
#255
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,038
A few weeks ago, I cleared an upgrade on ORD-NRT using PP on NH metal and since then, my UA itinerary online shows:
A modification has been made to your itinerary.
Please reach out to United Reservations, or contact your travel agency to have your ticket reissued.
I know that's normal for LH but is that also the case with NH, or should I call to have the ticket reissued? I got burned by this last year (didn't get the ticket reissued and couldn't check in at the airport) and don't want to experience that again.
A modification has been made to your itinerary.
Please reach out to United Reservations, or contact your travel agency to have your ticket reissued.
I know that's normal for LH but is that also the case with NH, or should I call to have the ticket reissued? I got burned by this last year (didn't get the ticket reissued and couldn't check in at the airport) and don't want to experience that again.