Consolidated "Lufthansa Upgrade With UA SWU Questions/Experiences" Thread [2010/11]
 

A little update:
Tried to use SWUs to go C->F at SEA on Sunday. The incident at BOS mentioned above is true. LH NYC (HQ Americas) has sent a circular to all 17 stations in N. America instructing DMs to only approve upgrades using the paper SWU issued by UA if the sponsoring member is physically present and approves the use of the instrument (the same procedure as if you would sponsor a M&M miles upgrade at the airport for someone else). The reason cited in the circular was that United noticed an active trading of the paper SWUs on ebay. The statement on the SWU clearly says 'Certificate is transferable but void if bartered or sold.' The DM said they have no way of verifying the statement unless the owner of the cert approves its use in person.

It seems the inflation of SWUs in last years DEQM promo has caused a flood of these to be used. :(

[Moderator's Note - Older posts on this topic may be found here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...d-archive.html

Krk - muc -ewr :
 

I'm flying LH on a CO ticket number. Hoping to use a UA SWU to upgrade both legs. Question is - Will they be able to process this in KRK or will I have to wait until I reach MUC (which is a tight connection)? Also, will I have any issues because it's a CO ticket?

Thanks!
AZ

It has been reported in this forum that it does not work online, but does work at the gate, and it has been reported that it can be made to work online.

You need two paper SWUs, one per leg.

It is unlikely they will process MUC->EWR at the KRK station because it is a standby at the station instrument.

The terms and conditions clearly say that flights on LH metal marketed by other airlines are applicable to the UA paper SWU for LH.

the only way is that KRK contacts the Flight Manager of the MUC->EWR flight, which is not very likely ;). that worked for me in NUE for an upgrade FRA->JFK

Thanks for the update. Do you have any sense of whether this is a hard and fast rule? Or do the agents retain discretion if a letter is present from the assigning friend or if the upgrade cabin is wide open?

Is there any way to get a LH PNR comment entered in advance to avoid this?

Just an anecdotal experience, but I posted earlier a query regarding upgrading from an outstation (I was flying TLV-OS-VIE-LH-FRA-LH-BOS). I went to the HON desk (there was no line) @ TLV and they did it on the spot (FRA-bOS, there were a bunch of seats open though...). So, YMMV..

Just ask at check in. I didn't have a problem for WAW-FRA-EWR, received upgrade in WAW, however that was LH ticket.

That's unfortunate. But what if you 'suddenly remembered' at the gate you had an LH SWU, and ask the GA to apply the upgrade? your companion obviously can't be present post-security to be next to you. Lounge agents and GAs should be able to apply it right?

In Europe at least, they never had a probably applying it at the gate. Hope N.Am. agents can do it gate-side.

United doesn't know about this yet, if true
 

Just got off the phone with both Mileage Plus and the 1K desk. They told me they have no such news about the in-person requirement for printed SWU's. The 1K agent said her supervisor called LH while I was on hold, and was told there was nothing like this in effect. All they suggested is that the name of recipient be written on the certificate.

However, since it sounds like this might be a very new policy, they simply may not have disseminated it yet.

Pretty ridiculous policy if it's true, and thoroughly impractical for those us that don't reside in an LH gateway city!

I gave my 2 most recent SWU's to my dad for LH C > F and he successfully used one for ORD-FRA-SIN on Monday. I gave a note with my signature just in case they had that requirement and he said the LH person heard a rumor of a new policy but said my note with my signature would be good enough for them.

I'll hear on his return tomorrow afternoon on his return to ORD whether it worked or not.

can you ask the 1K supervisor for a written statement that states that LH supervisor is not aware of any such policy / and that a signature is sufficient? FTers would all want a document like that to avoid further confusion when checking in at an LH desk...

Did he get upgraded all the way from ORD to SIN via FRA? If so, that seems new to me, as I understood that all SWU upgrades on LH were one segment only and such a trip would require 2 certs.

If he was upgraded all the way, is this a change or did he get lucky?

I don't see why such tricks are necessary. They can make any rules they want, but they can't announce surprise rules at check-in. If it is not announced in advance that the original member must be present, then he/she will likely not be present, either before or after security.

Any other recent reports from US gateways would be appreciated.

Such a rule is getting a little to zealous. So if that rule was in place and I wanted to upgrade my parents flying to or from somewhere, I am not, I wouldn't be able to do it. Or if my wife is flying in after a conference that I'm attending, we can't use the SWUs. How nice...Thanks United/LH. I would also suggest as customers, we don't pay you for your services, until they are rendered. Seems like a good mtching principle. I've seen a lot of cancelled flights, delayed, etc. That's really not what I entered into the deal expecting. So I'd like the right not to pay you until after the flight. :)

Seriously, United needs to loosen up a little bit. I personally think they can cut back on the number of SWUs but need to loosen all the rules around them. They should appy to all fares. SWUs are supposed to be a perk - United needs to make them appear to be a perk.

actually they can -- read the program rules. Rules can change at any time. May not be good customer relations but advance notice os not required.

for instance in the MP Rules it states