Star Alliance Upgrade Awards returning
Apr 6, 2009, 9:27 pm
#1
Company Representative - United Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: United Public Relations
Posts: 151
Star Alliance Upgrade Awards returning
Hello all,
We want you to be among the first to know that United is reintroducing Star Alliance Upgrade Awards. Beginning tomorrow, these will be available on Air China, ANA, Asiana, Austrian, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Shanghai, THAI and Turkish Airlines. We are also working to have them available on other carriers in the very near future. We appreciate your patience while we worked through some technical issues to ensure that this service consistently meets your needs. Happy upgrading!
Cheers,
United PR
[Additional Information, as Posted by Others]
We want you to be among the first to know that United is reintroducing Star Alliance Upgrade Awards. Beginning tomorrow, these will be available on Air China, ANA, Asiana, Austrian, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Shanghai, THAI and Turkish Airlines. We are also working to have them available on other carriers in the very near future. We appreciate your patience while we worked through some technical issues to ensure that this service consistently meets your needs. Happy upgrading!
Cheers,
United PR
[Additional Information, as Posted by Others]
and the rules are ...
http://www.united.com/page/article/0...eupgradeawards
# Star Alliance Upgrade Awards are available on all participating Star Alliance carriers from fares booked in C, D, Y, and B. (The following carriers offer upgrades off these additional fare classes: Lufthansa - J class and ANA - J and Z classes).
# One award is required for each upgraded segment.
# No stopovers are permitted.
http://www.united.com/page/article/0...eupgradeawards
# Star Alliance Upgrade Awards are available on all participating Star Alliance carriers from fares booked in C, D, Y, and B. (The following carriers offer upgrades off these additional fare classes: Lufthansa - J class and ANA - J and Z classes).
# One award is required for each upgraded segment.
# No stopovers are permitted.
This is in the e-mail about the reintroduction of *A upgrades but haven't seen it posted elsewhere, and I believe it deserves its own topic.
In the new co-pay structure, B fares had slightly reduced mileage requirements compared to the current levels. I wonder if we'll get the reduced level + no co-pay, or if rather everything will stay the way it is now for B fares.
CO never had copays for B fares, so this is yet another step in the alignment of CO and UA programs.
Originally Posted by Graham Atkinson
Change to co-pay structure for United Mileage Upgrade Awards
We heard your feedback on the new policy to collect a co-pay for United Mileage Upgrade Awards on a full-fare B class ticket. We recognize that many of you purchase full-fare B class tickets for greater flexibility. As a result, when United Mileage Upgrade Awards with co-pay goes into effect, we will not collect a co-pay on upgrades from full-fare B class tickets.
We heard your feedback on the new policy to collect a co-pay for United Mileage Upgrade Awards on a full-fare B class ticket. We recognize that many of you purchase full-fare B class tickets for greater flexibility. As a result, when United Mileage Upgrade Awards with co-pay goes into effect, we will not collect a co-pay on upgrades from full-fare B class tickets.
CO never had copays for B fares, so this is yet another step in the alignment of CO and UA programs.
As part of UA returning to the *A upgrade program, MP is discontinuing mileage upgrades for LH flights, effective July 1, 2009.
Until then, one can still upgrade H fares and above (excluding Z fares) using UA miles. But once the new policy takes effect, only *A upgrades will work, and that is only on BYDC fares.
"Effective July 1, 2009 paper certificates for mileage upgrades on Lufthansa will no longer be issued. However, certificates issued on or before June 30, 2009 under this program will be valid for travel for one year from the date of issuance.
Systemwide Upgrades may still be exchanged for paper certificates that can be used on Lufthansa operated flights. For more information, visit Systemwide Upgrades."
Until then, one can still upgrade H fares and above (excluding Z fares) using UA miles. But once the new policy takes effect, only *A upgrades will work, and that is only on BYDC fares.
"Effective July 1, 2009 paper certificates for mileage upgrades on Lufthansa will no longer be issued. However, certificates issued on or before June 30, 2009 under this program will be valid for travel for one year from the date of issuance.
Systemwide Upgrades may still be exchanged for paper certificates that can be used on Lufthansa operated flights. For more information, visit Systemwide Upgrades."
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Apr 7, 2009 at 8:25 am
Apr 6, 2009, 9:29 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
wow great news, thanks for sharing that. Can I ask do you have any more details, like booking class that would be required and the number of miles required? or do you know when that will be available?
thanks
thanks
Apr 6, 2009, 9:33 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 644
Great News Indeed! Thanks for letting us know.. United PR 
Apr 6, 2009, 9:33 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Since the BoSox and ChiSox won it, now it is the Cubs turn to take the Series. Go Cubs Go!
Posts: 3,685
This is welcome news.^ Is there a web page that you can direct us to visit?
Apr 6, 2009, 9:34 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 681
Uhhh
Well, one would hope that since the awards will be available tomorrow, the rules will be as well?@:-)
Or perhaps they'll update the website overnight.
It seems likely the program will be the same as when the upgrades were first available (before they were pulled), which, as I recall, were not a terrific bargain.
Still, thanks for the heads up United PR!
Or perhaps they'll update the website overnight.
It seems likely the program will be the same as when the upgrades were first available (before they were pulled), which, as I recall, were not a terrific bargain.
Still, thanks for the heads up United PR!
Last edited by Potreroflyr; Apr 6, 2009 at 9:46 pm Reason: too slow on the keyboard
Apr 6, 2009, 9:36 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914
Great news, hoping my MRs miles in May will help me accumulate more miles for these Star Alliance upgrades 
Apr 6, 2009, 9:40 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 2P
Posts: 814
^
Uniformly positive announcement!
Uniformly positive announcement!
Apr 6, 2009, 9:40 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SNA
Programs: UA 1MM, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 189
That is really great, but I hope by other carriers, somehow Air Canada ends up on that list!
Apr 6, 2009, 9:42 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2008
Location: SFO / SJC
Programs: UA 1P
Posts: 391
^^^ Cheers right back at you United PR. We are glad you are here, and I for one appreciate that you have stuck out, seem able to put up with the inevitable demands and critiques that we tack on to your posts.
I love that you continue to value letting us on FT know this stuff "first". I hope that you will continue to think of ways that UA can utilize FT and the internet (twitter?, like AA, B6, DL, AS) as a resource.
I love that you continue to value letting us on FT know this stuff "first". I hope that you will continue to think of ways that UA can utilize FT and the internet (twitter?, like AA, B6, DL, AS) as a resource.
Apr 6, 2009, 9:52 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
Great news and thanks for the heads-up. ^ I have an upcoming flight from LHR-MXP on LH where I will test out the *Alliance upgrade feature.
Apr 6, 2009, 9:55 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: San Francisco
Programs: 1K 2.2MM
Posts: 2,352
MERCI!
Apr 6, 2009, 9:57 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MBS/FNT/LAN
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Mariott Gold
Posts: 9,630
^^^^
Excellent news.
Side question to PR: Is it actual UA corporate policy to announce good news on a Monday and bad news on a Friday?
Excellent news.
Side question to PR: Is it actual UA corporate policy to announce good news on a Monday and bad news on a Friday?
Apr 6, 2009, 9:59 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: CA, USA
Programs: UA1K, AAPlat, SPG-G
Posts: 506
Thanks, great news! ^^^
Please also add Air Canada, please, please!
Please also add Air Canada, please, please!
Apr 6, 2009, 9:59 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: ORD, HKG
Programs: UA*G, AA Emerald, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 10,276
I bet it is using the same booking code as before, Y and B only. They never offer a cheap upgrade on *A flights, hence only small amount of people can benefit at all. Miles will probably the same like on UA from Y to C.
Apr 6, 2009, 10:00 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2008
Location: SFO / SJC
Programs: UA 1P
Posts: 391
I wonder if any of the recent changes on United.com, upgrade process, itineraries, seat-map, and online boarding passes, are related to this news? Maybe part of a larger wave/package of changes that United has been investing in? Certainly has been an interesting three weeks or so of changes.