Upgrading to Australia - Options?
 

I am looking into a flight from either ATL-MEL, or ORD-MEL. Certainly for a flight of this length, I will need to buy an upgradeable fare using UA miles. Is my only option to purchase an H fare on UA and upgrade on UA metal? Is there a way to buy an H fare with a codeshare on NZ, and upgrade with miles on them? How about on SQ? Do I have any options for upgrading using UA miles on any *A carriers? I thougth I ready in the sticky FAQ's that this was a new option?

I would consider buying a cheaper fare, and seeing if you can trade for a SWU in the Coupon Connection. I'm not sure what fares SWU's are valid for, but I'm sure the UA experts would be able to help you out. One important note though, before you buy any tickets I would check and see if there was available seats in J for upgrades. UA flights to Australia tend to be very packed in J, although you might have better luck routing SFO-SYD vs LAX-SYD

Good luck!

Using UA miles to upgrade *A flights is "coming soon", and has been for several months. But don't expect upgrades to anywhere be as cheap as upgrading UA metal.

Absolutely - I will check to make sure upgrades are available. I certainly wouldn't spend additional money on H fares if I can't get upgraded!

Isn't buying someone else's SWU a bit dodgey? I've read stories of how various airlines wouldn't honor the SWU even when it was with the person who earned it!

So no other way on any *A carriers? Funny, the H fare I priced out on UA metal was around $2500, I can't imagine what it would cost to upgrade on *A if an H fare is "cheap"!

Currently to upgrade on NZ you need NZ airpoints, or NZ elite upgrade vouchers.

Currently to upgrade on SQ you need SQ or DL or LH or NH miles.

*A-wide mileage upgrades have started rolling out but so far only a few airlines.

For more information please see the how to upgrade on *A carriers thread (link found in the *A forum sticky *A useful reference links) and www.united.com/starupgrade

I was able to confirm at reservation time an upgrade using miles for SEA-LAX-SYD-LAX-SEA. But the flight is way out (Feb/Mar) and that H fare ($2300) hurt!

I would have used SWUs on an S fare and saved $800 but I can't afford to let UA tie up two of my SWUs for that long. Once I requalify for 1K, I'll check into refaring into a lower class and using SWUs instead.

FYI SWUs don't work on S (or T or K) fares. Minimum of W fare required.

Coupon Connection ;)

Just as much a grey area.