May 10, 2017, 11:29 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
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
Nice job logging those complaints, everyone!
Aug 12, 2025 | 5:33 pm
#467
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 335
Hello everyone, I recently found out that the new ANA website starts to show waitlist information. This information can be accessed while booking a revenue ticket under fare type selection. I hope this tool provides a more accurate estimate of upgrade chances for anyone who wants to use pluspoints/miles to upgrade on ANA.
In addition to looking at several flights and routes, I also checked the same flights as a current reservation I have where I am on the waitlist for a PlusPoints upgrade, as is visible in the ANA Manage Reservations page. That page also simultaneously says my upgrade is waitlisted and "Upgrades Not Available" but that's a whole other story...
Aug 12, 2025 | 5:38 pm
#468
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: United 1K
Posts: 128
Aug 12, 2025 | 6:23 pm
#469
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 2MM 1K
Posts: 16,594
Aug 12, 2025 | 6:46 pm
#470
Join Date: Aug 2025
Posts: 4
Wondering how to see upgrade avail on ANA flt using PP
Hello all - after hours of searching I couldn't find any insight on how to see if an ANA economy to biz upgrade is available. I want to use PP and I understand the flight number issues etc. Does anyone have any insight on how to see availability before booking a ticket? If you sign up for the ANA rewards program then search, there is "some" information when you go to book a flight but the codes used are PY and C and its not clear if its available or waitlisted.
Aug 12, 2025 | 6:56 pm
#471
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 2MM 1K
Posts: 16,594
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Aug 12, 2025 at 7:15 pm
Aug 12, 2025 | 7:01 pm
#472
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 73,160
The following ANA fare classes are eligible for PlusPoints upgrades: B, C, D, E, G, J, M, U, Y and Z.
G, E, Y, B, M & U for Business
ANA PlusPoints Upgrades | United Airlines
Aug 12, 2025 | 7:01 pm
#473
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 25,725
ANA cabins eligible for upgrade requests are B, C, D, E, G, J, M, U,Y and Z. The amount of points needed to upgrade depends on you original ticket, the requested upgrade, and your destination. Double upgrades from Economy to First aren't allowed on 3 cabin planes.
https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/mil...-upgrades.html
I'm not saying it's cheap, or a particularly good idea, but it's certainly not impossible.
Aug 12, 2025 | 7:15 pm
#475
Join Date: Aug 2025
Posts: 4
its certainly possible. Buy United economy ticket operated by ANA. Call United get them to change the flight number to ANA. Then use plus points to upgrade.
the question is nuanced, how to search and see if the upgrade will be available on ANA BEFORE buying the ticket and using United’s Plus points. United system only tells you availability after purchase.
Aug 12, 2025 | 7:38 pm
#476
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 335
Aug 12, 2025 | 7:47 pm
#477
Join Date: Aug 2025
Posts: 4
I could make a guess at all of this but I am betting someone has the knowledge in their head.
Aug 12, 2025 | 7:50 pm
#478
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 25,725
this is very similar to the question I was asking! How do you know if the upgrades are available? I have seen a few different messages. Also what does the PY and C symbols mean? In your image you only have PY, but in the search you can find it where it’s PY and C.
I could make a guess at all of this but I am betting someone has the knowledge in their head.
I could make a guess at all of this but I am betting someone has the knowledge in their head.
Aug 12, 2025 | 7:53 pm
#479
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 335
I think PY refers to Premium Economy, C refers to Business Class, and F refers to First Class.
The type of fare you select when searching can determine which cabin class you are eligible for an upgrade. Mid-range Economy fares may only show PY, but higher-end Economy may show PY and C.
Anyway, here are the messages I've seen and my interpretation of them:
The type of fare you select when searching can determine which cabin class you are eligible for an upgrade. Mid-range Economy fares may only show PY, but higher-end Economy may show PY and C.
Anyway, here are the messages I've seen and my interpretation of them:
- "[#] person(s) waiting" >> No upgrades are available, but shows the number of people on the waitlist, including if 0 people are on the waitlist.
- "Seats available" >> An upgrade to the relevant class of service is available.
- "Waitlisting" >> I have no idea how this differs from "0 person(s) waiting" which is a version of #1 above
Last edited by elitelite; Aug 12, 2025 at 7:56 pm Reason: Added a new message
Aug 12, 2025 | 8:07 pm
#480
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 335
- "[#] person(s) waiting" >> No upgrades are available, but shows the number of people on the waitlist, including if 0 people are on the waitlist.
- "Seats available" >> An upgrade to the relevant class of service is available.
- "Waitlisting" >> I have no idea how this differs from "0 person(s) waiting" which is a version of #1 above
Last edited by elitelite; Aug 12, 2025 at 8:08 pm Reason: clarity