Sep 21, 2016, 7:13 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
How to upgrade a partner flight using UA MileagePlus miles:
See UA's Star Alliance Upgrade Awards Page
Key points:
- Only a few fare classes (and expensive) are eligible -- depends on the carrier (see the UA page)
- Needs to be native flight numbers, codeshares are not eligible
- Generally no waitlisting but ANA allows waitlisting
- Most can be requested after ticketing (NH/ANA & ET cannot be requested earlier than 8 weeks to departure -- still true??) and must be done at least 24 hours prior to departure
- Max of 4 passengers can be upgraded
- Generally the available of award space is a good indicator of upgrade space (but not guaranteed) - typically requires (I) inventory
- Upgrade request can only be made electronically
- Upgrade requests are per segment
- It may increase your chance of success to request only one segment at a time on the upgrade page, even though it allows you to enter two (YMMV).
- For mileage requirements, see Interactive travel destinations awards chart
As a general rule, with exceptions, SAUA need I space (for the partner) to have a chance of clearing.
See this thread for the no-longer-available award chart (disappeared from united.com as of October 2018): https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...d-website.html
Error codes
- "We were unable to complete your request due to a technical problem. In the U.S. and Canada call 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) within the U.S. or Canada, elsewhere use the local phone number. (Error code: 110).
- "We were unable to complete your request due to a technical problem. In the U.S. and Canada call 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) within the U.S. or Canada, elsewhere use the local phone number. (Error code: 118)"
- "The traveler has the same name as an existing traveler on this flight. Please contact the operating airline for the required information and try again. (Error code: 384)"
- "Upgrade not available (Error code: 511)."
- "The number of travelers indicated does not match the number of passengers in the reservation. Please correct your information and try again. (Error code: 528)"
- "insufficient MileagePlus Balance (Error code: 2001)"
Mileage required? Capturing here the last known information, as information is disappearing, no guarantees how long this will be true
For UA operated flights see Using Miles to Upgrade on United
Archive; How to upgrade with UA miles on Star Alliance carriers {Archive}
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Jun 26, 2024, 2:52 am
#391
bocastephen
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,811
Unfortunately none of the TPAC BR operated/BR flight number flights are showing up on United.com, so it's difficult to check for Z and I space in expert mode
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Jun 27, 2024, 6:20 pm
#392
Natush
Join Date: Jun 2024
Posts: 7
Hello, trying to upgrade a U class from the United star alliance upgrade request form (saua)
But keep getting the error "Please correct your information and try again".
There is nothing wrong with my info, and United's team has no idea what to do.
Any suggestions? it's so frustrating.
Thanks!
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Jun 27, 2024, 6:56 pm
#393
WineCountryUA
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 67,950
Originally Posted by Natush
Hello, trying to upgrade a U class from the United star alliance upgrade request form (saua)
....
What carrier?
Unfortunate UA personal does not handle SAUA, but rather an *A tool and the operating carrier does this.
Jun 27, 2024, 8:00 pm
#394
Natush
Join Date: Jun 2024
Posts: 7
Lufthansa.
UA helpdesk and web support do not know what to do.
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Jun 27, 2024, 8:06 pm
#395
WineCountryUA
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 67,950
Originally Posted by Natush
.
UA helpdesk and web support do not know what to do.
UA does not process the upgrade *A/LH does that.
Have you verified there is LH space available?
Is it a LH code flight number?
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Jun 27, 2024, 8:09 pm
#396
Natush
Join Date: Jun 2024
Posts: 7
LH says they cannot see info on alliance upgrade, and because it's a ticket purchased on United and I want to use United miles, they have nothing to do with it.
United said they see there is space.
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Jun 27, 2024, 8:35 pm
#397
jsloan
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 22,246
Originally Posted by Natush
LH says they cannot see info on alliance upgrade, and because it's a ticket purchased on United and I want to use United miles, they have nothing to do with it.
United said they see there is space.
Does your flight number start with LH or UA? It must be LH or you wont be able to apply an upgrade. If its UA, youll have to see if they can change it to the corresponding LH flight number first.
SPN Lifer and Xyzzy like this.
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Jun 27, 2024, 8:37 pm
#398
Natush
Join Date: Jun 2024
Posts: 7
It's LH flight number
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Jun 27, 2024, 8:50 pm
#399
WineCountryUA
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 67,950
This process has had a history of problems. It works fine for months and then it will break from time to time. Do to the nature of this -- Electronic request from UA, passes thru *A and then passed to operating carrier. There are multiple places it can break and none of the front line employees from UA or the operating carrier can do anything. The entry form is very touchy -- the smallest inconsistency will cause it to throw errors. Look very carefully at your name structure on the LH side.
jsloan and SPN Lifer like this.
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Jun 27, 2024, 8:58 pm
#400
Natush
Join Date: Jun 2024
Posts: 7
I had trouble using it in the past, but somehow eventually it worked.
This time around it's just not getting fixed. I guess it does not get priority with United's tech team.
My name is written correctly. Checked on LH website, it's identical.
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Jun 27, 2024, 11:48 pm
#401
dkc192
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 6,161
Other possible fixes: concatenate multiple first names into a single first name (e.g., instead of "John Paul" try "Johnpaul"), add or remove titles (e.g., Mr/Ms/Miss).
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Jun 28, 2024, 6:50 am
#402
nafrance
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: NW UK
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 49
Same-day SAUA possible on AC?
I have an SAUA-upgradeable fare (O) on Air Canada for a flight in < 24 hours. Of course subject to availability, but does anyone know if there's a way to do this in that timeframe? Call AC? UA probably can't help, I understand.
(I tried searching many threads but words like 'day' and '24' don't search well!)
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Jun 28, 2024, 7:23 am
#403
cfischer
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,879
Did you try the online tool and it failed? The online tool is AFAIK the only way this can work
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Jun 28, 2024, 8:44 am
#404
nafrance
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: NW UK
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 49
Thanks - yes, I tried the tool and it bombed out due to departure being < 24 hours. I guess if that's the only way, I'm stuck - but I'll survive this one!
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Jun 28, 2024, 3:06 pm
#405
zitsky
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,951
I found an old thread from 2010 about upgrading a Singapore Airlines flight with United mileage points. Is that still possible and is it possible if I purchased the flight through Singapore Airlines? What's the best way to find the fare basis on a SQ ticket? I'll look for the booking confirmation email.
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