Are *A Upgrades back?
Sep 2, 2008 | 7:41 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 582
Are *A Upgrades back?
So, I was googling around for UA Star Alliance Upgrades and came across the following site:
https://www.ua2go.com/starmua/starmu...Calculator.jsp
It takes you to the page on united.bomb to book a star upgrade.
Is this just an error, or are they back? I can't find any info on the actual UA web page?
I also found an article from InsideFlyer.com with Michael Schutzbank, Director Loyalty for Star Alliance Services GmbH who indicates they will be returning soon. It can be found here (scroll down) http://www.insideflyer.com/articles/...e.php?key=4753
Here's a quote:
"United launched Star Alliance upgrade awards for Mileage Plus members back in 2006 but after a year of dedicated work on both the UA and Star Alliance sides, we just could not get the product to an acceptable level of delivery. So about a year ago we agreed to switch off the product for Mileage Plus members. We have made some major enhancements and we believe we have fixed the problems we had with UA, and we are currently testing the system. If it works satisfactorily, I expect UA Mileage Plus members to be able to upgrade in the next six to eight weeks. I am also happy to report that all issues have been resolved between Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines so members of KrisFlyer can upgrade on Air New Zealand flights and AirPoints members can upgrade on Singapore Airlines flights. "
I hope they return soon!
https://www.ua2go.com/starmua/starmu...Calculator.jsp
It takes you to the page on united.bomb to book a star upgrade.
Is this just an error, or are they back? I can't find any info on the actual UA web page?
I also found an article from InsideFlyer.com with Michael Schutzbank, Director Loyalty for Star Alliance Services GmbH who indicates they will be returning soon. It can be found here (scroll down) http://www.insideflyer.com/articles/...e.php?key=4753
Here's a quote:
"United launched Star Alliance upgrade awards for Mileage Plus members back in 2006 but after a year of dedicated work on both the UA and Star Alliance sides, we just could not get the product to an acceptable level of delivery. So about a year ago we agreed to switch off the product for Mileage Plus members. We have made some major enhancements and we believe we have fixed the problems we had with UA, and we are currently testing the system. If it works satisfactorily, I expect UA Mileage Plus members to be able to upgrade in the next six to eight weeks. I am also happy to report that all issues have been resolved between Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines so members of KrisFlyer can upgrade on Air New Zealand flights and AirPoints members can upgrade on Singapore Airlines flights. "
I hope they return soon!
Sep 2, 2008 | 8:31 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: LAX
Programs: Alaska 75K
Posts: 489
Looks like they are back. I plugged in my return itin on LH in Z and it offered to upgrade for 45K UA miles. (I did not book at that rate).
Looks like the marketing machine is a bit behind or the IT is testing things out taking into consideration the previous attempt. Regardless if this does work - great! This is huge for non UA/LH upgrades, which so far was not an option.
Looks like the marketing machine is a bit behind or the IT is testing things out taking into consideration the previous attempt. Regardless if this does work - great! This is huge for non UA/LH upgrades, which so far was not an option.
Sep 2, 2008 | 8:38 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Too many
Programs: Lots
Posts: 5,765
They are not back. This page has been there all along since the last attempt at providing *A upgrades. If you try to book the upgrade, the page will error out.
Sep 2, 2008 | 9:33 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP, lowly UA 1K; Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold; National EC, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,227
Man, got me all excited as I am hoping to be able to upgrade a LH itin in Dec with miles. Is there any way to do this now?
Sep 2, 2008 | 10:30 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 582
You can use miles to upgrade on LH flights but there are restrictions / rules. Must by an LH flight ticketed by LH flight # (not UA flight #), and only YBMH fares for 30,000 miles.
Sep 2, 2008 | 10:57 am
#8
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,724
Sep 2, 2008 | 11:05 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM 1.7+MM, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Disc
Posts: 3,309