*A upgrades using MP Miles?
Nov 28, 2008 | 7:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SCL
Programs: UA 1K, LATAM Comodoro, SPG PLT, WOH Globalist, *G, OW Emerald
Posts: 369
*A upgrades using MP Miles?
Does anyone know if UA will restore upgrades on *A? I wonder why almost all other *A programs honour upgrades and UA doesn't.
Nov 28, 2008 | 7:47 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1.5 Million Mile flyer, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz 5* and PC since 1985
Posts: 5,611
Doubt it
Nov 28, 2008 | 7:49 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat, SPG Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 1,970
You can use Star FF miles to upgrade on United.
Dec 2, 2008 | 9:25 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New York, London, Sydney
Programs: United GS/2MM, DL*P, VS*G, AA*EXP, Avis CHM, Hertz Platinum, Sixt*D, HH*D, HGP*P, Starwood*P
Posts: 9,879
Theyyyyyyyyyy're BACK!
Coming January, UA miles can once again be used for * upgrades, so says the GS desk (who apparently just had a meeting on the subject).
Last edited by stevenshev; Dec 2, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Dec 2, 2008 | 9:29 pm
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: D.R.E.A.D. Gold card holder
Posts: 53,210
Dec 2, 2008 | 9:34 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New York, London, Sydney
Programs: United GS/2MM, DL*P, VS*G, AA*EXP, Avis CHM, Hertz Platinum, Sixt*D, HH*D, HGP*P, Starwood*P
Posts: 9,879
No details, sorry.
Dec 2, 2008 | 11:08 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Near SEA
Programs: UA MM, AS MVPG75K, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,990
Hmm.. I think I'd rather have no *net blocking rather than have *A upgrades... if I had the choice 
Dec 2, 2008 | 11:31 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,019
I think UA would love this *A upgrade scheme. It is a VERY POOR use of miles. So if UA has agreed a decent rate for *A upgrade redemptions with the other *A carriers then it would make great sense. Get people to redeem miles for really poor value awards. I would expect that if they do come back to require lots of miles and have extreme fare requirements (i.e. Full fare coach etc to prevent Ma and Pa redeeming for them).
Dec 3, 2008 | 3:04 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Programs: NZ Elite
Posts: 6,518
My understanding is that *A upgrades are poor value generally...
They certainly are if done with NZ Airpoints.... AND they require Y/B booking classes.... so if UA goes that way they won't be on their own!
They certainly are if done with NZ Airpoints.... AND they require Y/B booking classes.... so if UA goes that way they won't be on their own!
Dec 3, 2008 | 4:17 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 41,216
OZ for example has a plethora of cheapo B fares as it is not a full fare for them.
Dec 3, 2008 | 6:26 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SCL
Programs: UA 1K, LATAM Comodoro, SPG PLT, WOH Globalist, *G, OW Emerald
Posts: 369
...back hopefully soon!!!
Thank you for the info! I will try to do my research as well...flying *A with the option to use UA miles to upgrade make flying RTW much better.
Jan 1, 2009 | 6:34 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: BWI, MNL
Programs: UA*G, 1MM
Posts: 172
Upgrading Non-UA Metal Using MP Miles?
Apologies if there is an existing thread on this topic, not sure how to find it. If there is, please point me in that direction.
I'm planning my travel for 2009 and would like to use other *A airlines like LH, SQ, ANA. If I buy an economy class ticket on these airlines, how I do use my MP miles to upgrade to C? Can that be done at the gate? Or is there some sort of thing I need to arrange before travel?
Thanks
I'm planning my travel for 2009 and would like to use other *A airlines like LH, SQ, ANA. If I buy an economy class ticket on these airlines, how I do use my MP miles to upgrade to C? Can that be done at the gate? Or is there some sort of thing I need to arrange before travel?
Thanks
Jan 1, 2009 | 6:54 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: No longer loyal "over-entitled" 1K
Posts: 3,825
Rumor has it that star alliance upgrade program might come back this month.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-upgrades.html
Until then, you can only upgrade LH flights using UA miles.
You need to call UA to arrange for the upgrade.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-upgrades.html
Until then, you can only upgrade LH flights using UA miles.
You need to call UA to arrange for the upgrade.
Jan 24, 2009 | 9:33 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P, HH DMD, SPG PLT, Hertz 5*
Posts: 640
Just got off the phone with UA... To upgrade an LH flight, you have to book in H or higher and it has to be an LH code. It costs 30K miles.