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 29, 2022, 2:44 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,395
Note that you're still talking about an expensive ticket here. The deepest discount PE bucket isn't eligible for PlusPoint upgrades. For those dates, the cheapest upgradable fare I see is about $3800. And that's still with two very, very long flights in a non-upgradable economy seat.
Meanwhile, you can book SQ in Premium Economy for 90% of the trip for $2000. Sure, you can't upgrade with PlusPoints, but it still feels like you're coming out ahead to me, especially if your PlusPoint upgrades don't clear.
For $4100, you can fly on Philippine Airlines the whole way in business class, or $4500 for Asiana or $4800 for Cathay.
The upgradable NH seat feels like the worst option of all to me.
Aug 29, 2022, 2:53 pm
#32
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Sonoma, CA
Programs: United 1K UA, MM *G for life
Posts: 19
Yes, you probably need to set this up with a multi-city search. The price you get should be the same as you'd get otherwise.
Note that you're still talking about an expensive ticket here. The deepest discount PE bucket isn't eligible for PlusPoint upgrades. For those dates, the cheapest upgradable fare I see is about $3800. And that's still with two very, very long flights in a non-upgradable economy seat.
Meanwhile, you can book SQ in Premium Economy for 90% of the trip for $2000. Sure, you can't upgrade with PlusPoints, but it still feels like you're coming out ahead to me, especially if your PlusPoint upgrades don't clear.
For $4100, you can fly on Philippine Airlines the whole way in business class, or $4500 for Asiana or $4800 for Cathay.
The upgradable NH seat feels like the worst option of all to me.
Note that you're still talking about an expensive ticket here. The deepest discount PE bucket isn't eligible for PlusPoint upgrades. For those dates, the cheapest upgradable fare I see is about $3800. And that's still with two very, very long flights in a non-upgradable economy seat.
Meanwhile, you can book SQ in Premium Economy for 90% of the trip for $2000. Sure, you can't upgrade with PlusPoints, but it still feels like you're coming out ahead to me, especially if your PlusPoint upgrades don't clear.
For $4100, you can fly on Philippine Airlines the whole way in business class, or $4500 for Asiana or $4800 for Cathay.
The upgradable NH seat feels like the worst option of all to me.
Sep 24, 2022, 1:50 pm
#33
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH, YYC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 753
UA agent can’t see ANA upgrade space
I have an expert flyer alert set for an ANA flight. This afternoon I got the alert that it became available so I booked the flight on ANA.com. I went to upgrade the flight on UA.com. It sees the upgrade is available and it took me right through to the very end and then gave me an error and told me to call united.
I can see on EF that the upgrade is still available (1 spot left). UA and AC searches are showing availability with miles. So I’m quite sure it is available.
I’ve tried to call three times to united now and have run into three agents who have absolutely no clue what they are doing. Two of them told me flat out they can’t upgrade ANA flights. One of the aforementioned agents put me through to the web support desk who also told me they can’t upgrade ANA tickets.
The third time I asked to be put through to the 1k desk. That agent was more helpful but had clearly never done this before. She also transferred me to web support to someone who has no idea what they are doing. I am now on hold with him.
how can I get through to someone who can actually help me with this and get it done? Im up against a 24 hour ticket cancellation deadline with ANA if I don’t get the upgrade by 1:50pm Athens time tomorrow. Im also traveling right now and have very limited time to deal with this. Would appreciate any help in routing to the correct department.
I can see on EF that the upgrade is still available (1 spot left). UA and AC searches are showing availability with miles. So I’m quite sure it is available.
I’ve tried to call three times to united now and have run into three agents who have absolutely no clue what they are doing. Two of them told me flat out they can’t upgrade ANA flights. One of the aforementioned agents put me through to the web support desk who also told me they can’t upgrade ANA tickets.
The third time I asked to be put through to the 1k desk. That agent was more helpful but had clearly never done this before. She also transferred me to web support to someone who has no idea what they are doing. I am now on hold with him.
how can I get through to someone who can actually help me with this and get it done? Im up against a 24 hour ticket cancellation deadline with ANA if I don’t get the upgrade by 1:50pm Athens time tomorrow. Im also traveling right now and have very limited time to deal with this. Would appreciate any help in routing to the correct department.
Sep 24, 2022, 3:19 pm
#35
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Posts: 66,844
Need to remember, UA does not process the upgrade for ANA flights. Using the electronic interface, a request is forward to ANA to request ANA to process the upgrade. No UA agent can do anything. And generally will have no knowledge about how it works since they are never involved.
That electronic interface to ANA goes to thru the *A system and occasionally breaks. Again other than to report the issue, no UA agent can process the upgrade. To complete the upgrade ANA needs to request "payment" for upgrade per agreement with UA and UA will debit your account for the PlusPoints
That electronic interface to ANA goes to thru the *A system and occasionally breaks. Again other than to report the issue, no UA agent can process the upgrade. To complete the upgrade ANA needs to request "payment" for upgrade per agreement with UA and UA will debit your account for the PlusPoints
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 24, 2022 at 3:27 pm Reason: phrasing
Sep 24, 2022, 3:43 pm
#36
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
david_oz I'll assume you booked an eligible fare class for the upgrade and the flight is a native NH flight number.
The other thing that bites me sometimes when "Traveling" is countries not matching - if I have a problem with the website, I change my VPN to the US and 90% of the time that solves the problem - but not always
The other thing that bites me sometimes when "Traveling" is countries not matching - if I have a problem with the website, I change my VPN to the US and 90% of the time that solves the problem - but not always
Sep 24, 2022, 8:29 pm
#37
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH, YYC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 753
After speaking with a combination of 6 reservation and web support agents I eventually gave up. I refunded the fare and booked the itinerary using miles. Yes, I was booked in U so it was upgrade eligible.
unfortunately this isn’t really what I wanted because it doesn’t get me any PQP and leaves me with unused plus points, but the main thing is I’m in J over the pacific.
unfortunately this isn’t really what I wanted because it doesn’t get me any PQP and leaves me with unused plus points, but the main thing is I’m in J over the pacific.
Sep 24, 2022, 8:54 pm
#38
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,771
After speaking with a combination of 6 reservation and web support agents I eventually gave up. I refunded the fare and booked the itinerary using miles. Yes, I was booked in U so it was upgrade eligible.
unfortunately this isn’t really what I wanted because it doesn’t get me any PQP and leaves me with unused plus points, but the main thing is I’m in J over the pacific.
unfortunately this isn’t really what I wanted because it doesn’t get me any PQP and leaves me with unused plus points, but the main thing is I’m in J over the pacific.
Oct 5, 2022, 12:53 pm
#39
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
Programs: UA Global Services 3.2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 2,505
Just waitlisted on NRT-LAX from "The Room" to "The Suite" using 40 Plus Points. This seems like a "can't lose" outcome. 
Definitely the best thing about PPs (apart from, or maybe equal to, manually clearing at T-72 when available).
Definitely the best thing about PPs (apart from, or maybe equal to, manually clearing at T-72 when available).
Oct 5, 2022, 1:18 pm
#40
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,998
Did you purchase Z-class and then apply the PPs? Or is there another, better path?
Oct 5, 2022, 1:33 pm
#41
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
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Once the NH flight was confirmed, I went to the UA.com upgrade form for LH/NH/CM and got on the waitlist.
Oct 5, 2022, 1:56 pm
#42
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,998
I booked on the NH website and while I didn't search for a particular fare class (not sure if that's even possible on NH), the NH web site showed a "biz flex" or "regular biz" option, only the latter of which said upgrades to first were permitted. (Presumably that is a reference to NH's own upgrade criteria but I assumed "flex" would not allow Plus Points since those don't work on discounted NH biz fares). So I chose the "regular biz" option.
Once the NH flight was confirmed, I went to the UA.com upgrade form for LH/NH/CM and got on the waitlist.
Once the NH flight was confirmed, I went to the UA.com upgrade form for LH/NH/CM and got on the waitlist.
Oct 5, 2022, 2:35 pm
#43
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
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Oct 12, 2022, 11:27 am
#44
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH, YYC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 753
Can you try again with a fresh reservation and see if it works ( then cancel the award ticket) or is availability gone? I had a not dissimilar issue last week and there was just something quirky in the reservation that would not allow the upgrade go through (in my case wait-list) and three agents couldn't figure out. I ended up having them reissue fresh ticket and it worked (was 016 stock and not direct from NH like your case so a bit different).
Oct 18, 2022, 6:12 pm
#45
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
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So my reservation on the ANA app (I booked through ANA) shows that my PP upgrade from C>F on NRT-LAX has cleared (i.e., I only have the F segment in the itinerary; I no longer have a J segment with a separate O segment waitlisted). I was also able to select a seat (1K on "The Suites" 773). So all seems fine. But, I never received a confirmation email from UA (ccntra to what the UA PP upgrade page says will happen once I clear), and the corresponding reservation on the UA app (I have LAX-IAH on UA after the NRT-LAX flight on ANA) still shows two segments for the NRT-LAX ANA flight -- the first segment still says business, but the second segment, which appears out of order at the end of the reservation after LAX-IAH, says first (although it no longer says waitlisted as it did before).
So am I in the clear (no pun intended)? It seems I should feel confident in what the ANA app is showing, despite the still-somewhat-confusing picture on the UA app.
So am I in the clear (no pun intended)? It seems I should feel confident in what the ANA app is showing, despite the still-somewhat-confusing picture on the UA app.