EmailKid

LHR-LAX u/g is $550 + 20K miles IIRC, so in a word no.

No idea if you would get the differece.

jpan84

Thanks for the insight.

carlos.htx

I am looking to book Houston- Manila on Singapore Airlines via the Houston-Singapore (via Manchester)- Manila route and upgrade to Business class using my United miles.

Do I have to upgrade the Houston-Manchester and Manchester-Singapore separately and use about 30k miles each segment? Or am I able to upgrade to from Houston all the way to Singapore. I do not mind sitting in coach on the Singapore to Manila leg since it's only about 3 hours.

Thanks in advance for the help!

WineCountryUA

While upgrade request can span multiple UA operated flights, each partner operated flight upgrade request is made separately (and requires a very high fare class and can not be a codeshare)
For more on partner upgrades, see How to upgrade with UA miles on Star Alliance carriers

jsloan

In this particular case, I don't think it matters. As a rule, Singapore Airlines (SQ) does not open business class award space on its longhaul flights to partners, so while they technically participate in the Star Alliance upgrade program, OP won't be able to upgrade seats on IAH-MAN-SIN. (In fact, the rules listed on UA's website specifically exclude the SQ A350, A380, and 77W; IAH-MAN-SIN is operated by the A350).

Incidentally, I'm not sure if that route would require one upgrade or two, were it even possible in the first place.

OP: Taking SQ to MNL is truly the long way around -- it's 4200+ miles further than the hypothetical nonstop route would be. I would suggest looking at EVA Air (BR) instead. The upgradeable BR fare is $1986 RT, and it's only about 130 miles of extra travel instead of 4200.

gene2632

Many months ago I booked two of us RT EWR to LHR with MUA requests on both segments for mid May 2018. Fast forward to April 8 the return flight price for biz drops and I do a GGBUYUP for both us and UA quickly returns 40K miles and I get my co-pay and queen's taxes refunded to my Chase card within days. Comes time to fly to LHR and the outbound MUAs do not clear so we get to enjoy 8 hours of sitting on two boards aka slimline seats and now almost two weeks later no return of the 40K miles or the co-pay. Is it time for me to write to UA or does this typically take this long?

Kacee

If they haven't returned your miles and copay within a week of the flight, you should call MPSC (mileage plus service center).

akcae

Question on award bookings:

I booked a mixed-class, mixed-carrier award to get back from Europe this summer with intra-EU flight on partner (OU) in X (two-class aircraft, but no I available) with TATL leg on UA in Polaris. I know when UA segments only have X available, you can waitlist for I if space opens. What happens if OU opens up I space on its flight? Can I call up UA and change without a fee, since I paid for J award? Or will this incur a change fee?

Thanks.

EmailKid

Ya, you can't waitlist on partner awards. IIRC in this instance, you would have to redeposit miles and make a fresh booking - not necessarily in that order if you have enough miles, but non high status UA members will have to pay redeposit fees and possibly close in fee if Biz opens up.

But the main takeaway IMHO is that it's not worth it to bother with intra Europe Biz, as there is not even extra legroom, just middle seat blocked off in front of the plane @:-)

Kacee

If I opens, UA should be able to make that change. They might try to charge you a change fee, though I would tend to agree that's not appropriate since you've already paid for a business class award.

pinks

I'm flying UA46 in Polaris from IAH to FRA. Can I use the Lufthansa arrival lounge when I arrive in FRA?

mahasamatman

Yes. https://www.lufthansa.com/de/en/Lounge-types-and-access

WineCountryUA

Be aware last admission is 12:30 PM (closes 1PM). If you arrive on time, should be able to just make it.

JMBResona

I have about 6 months left on my passport, and I'm thinking of renewing it right now while I'm back home.

I still have a couple of reservations with United--one of which is still in progress--which I made with my current (soon to be expired) passport number. If I renew my passport right now, will I have any problems when I try to check-in for my upcoming flight? Do I have to call United or something to get my passport number on file changed?

StuckinITH

You will have no problems. This is a very common occurrence. Some passports expire in 5 years and others in 10 years (and for the US passengers who lost their passports in a foreign country they even give you US passports valid for one entry in the US). When you check-in online for an international flight, one of the pages of the process shows your passport number and asks if you are going to travel with that one. Just change the number to your new passport number and save the information.