Premier 1K members earn six GPUs each year after qualifying, plus an additional one for every additional 25,000 Premier Qualifying Miles (PQMs) or 30 Premier Qualifying Segments (PQSs) flown during the year that the 1K status was earned. Take some time to research your options and consider the best one for you, including choosing the best travel credit card from United. From now on there are additional upgrade options available for you to make yourself comfortable in Business Class on board United Airlines. If the seat is available at the time of booking, your request will be confirmed immediately. Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. However, if you already have Premier status, most of the best airline credit cards from United make it possible to get Premier upgrades even on award tickets — meaning you don’t have to pay out-of-pocket for the base fare. Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Upon qualifying for United Premier Platinum status, members will receive two Regional Premier Upgrades (RPUs) and another two are awarded after qualifying for Premier 1K status — a notable drop in quantity that took effect as of Jan. 1, 2019. To There are other levels in between. I booked the cheapest, non-basic economy ticket I could find, which ended up in the T fare class. Redeeming miles for award tickets is one of the most common uses of United miles. See, Reminder: You don’t have to be on the ‘No Fly List’ to receive an airline ban, Marriott reinstates elite benefit guarantees effective immediately, Check your American Airlines accounts: 2021 rollover elite miles, dollars and segments now posting, The Platinum Card® from American Express, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Request an upgrade online through your MileagePlus account. Here are some things to keep in mind: If you already know you’re going to request an upgrade while you’re booking your flight, now’s the best time to do it. The best part about earning miles is using them for the things you love. For United planes equipped with Premium Plus, the following rules apply: United is rather generous in making Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs) available to members with every tier of Premier Elite status, and this includes one companion traveling on the same reservation — even for lowly Silver elites like myself. This may not be confirmed until a few days before the flight or may even happen at the gate just before departure. For requests on the waitlist, United will clear them in the following order of priority: Obviously not all of these factors will come into play on any given flight, but if multiple passengers with the same tier of elite status are requesting an upgrade, United will move down the list and use fare class as a tiebreaker. United Airlines | MileagePlus - How to upgrade with UA miles on Star Alliance carriers - Originally Posted by jsloan Neither. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. United also allows you to redeem miles for an upgrade. You can get a United upgrade with miles during the booking process or after you’ve already paid for your ticket. We have not included all available products or offers. Call United’s reservation line at 1-800-864-8331 or your designated Premier line if you have Premier status. The United Explorer Card, for instance, offers 2X miles at restaurants and eligible delivery services, hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel, and eligible United purchases; and 1X miles on everything else. Based on the award chart, an upgrade would cost 20,000 miles each way, and this is confirmed when I log in to my account: The $75 upgrade copay that would usually be required on a flight like this is waived because I have Premier Silver status, but in this case, there’s no actual availability, so I’d be left on the waitlist. This could actually represent a good deal, depending on how much the underlying S … Well, United Airlines provides the chance to the passengers to go for an upgrade of the flight ticket with the use of miles. By submitting this form you agree to receive emails from FinanceBuzz and to the privacy policy and terms. I have been on a number of flights this month which were completely booked - every seat. United Airlines | MileagePlus - How to upgrade with UA miles on Star Alliance carriers - Let me repeat, I was there when the TK agent was explaining to the UA agent that they work with other star alliance members, these are not Ultimately, you are responsible for your financial decisions. Premier 1K members earn six GPUs each year after qualifying, plus an additional one for every additional 25,000 Premier Qualifying Miles (PQMs) or 30 Premier Qualifying Segments (PQSs) flown during the year that the 1K status was earned. Here’s what you need to know. Each certificate is valid for a one-way, one-cabin upgrade, though if you have a stopover (generally over four hours in the US/Canada or over 24 hours internationally), you’ll need to use another certificate. After enabling this hidden feature, you’ll be able to see how many seats are available in each fare bucket when searching for revenue flights on United. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). 6 Surprisingly Simple Moves To Boost Your Credit, 5 Must-Have Apps That Will Completely Change How We Invest, How to get a United upgrade with miles during the booking process, How to get a United upgrade with miles after booking, How United credit cards can help you earn upgrades faster, Your Premier status at the time of the request. We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. while not Enter the details of your itinerary and choose “MileagePlus Upgrade Awards” for your upgrade type. United-branded credit cards can make it easier to get an upgrade, primarily because they give you the chance to rack up miles faster than if you were just flying regularly with the airline. In addition to award miles, you can also redeem an eVoucher to book These upgrades also require a co-pay that ranges from $0 to $250. For example, booking Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Frankfurt (FRA) on a United Airlines plane cost 60,000 United miles while a Lufthansa-operated flight on the same route would cost 70,000 miles. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. GPUs can be used to upgrade any paid United economy fare (excluding basic economy) to move to Premium Plus or business class. Also, you can use your miles to request an upgrade for a friend or family member, whether or not they’re on your reservation. We strive to provide up-to-date information, but make no warranties regarding the accuracy of our information. transcontinental routes. A RED VENTURES COMPANY. United offers a number of different options for upgrading your flights to a more comfortable seat. Since 20,000 United miles are worth $260 based on TPG’s most recent valuations, paying is the better option — though still not a great choice based on the short length of the flight. However, if you plan to upgrade from economy t… If you’re tempted to burn some of your United miles on an upgrade with Turkish, you may be wondering where is open to book right now. Before you buy your ticket, you can use advanced search in order to filter out flights that have immediate award availability: If you’ve already bought your ticket, you can head to ‘manage trip’ … $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95, Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants, on hotel stays, and on United purchases, Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck™ fee credit, Check your first bag for free (a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip) when you use your card to purchase your ticket, Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary, Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants and eligible delivery services including GrubHub, Caviar, Seamless and DoorDash. Compensation may impact where offers appear. Nabbing a United upgrade with miles can be a lucrative way to spend your rewards. United’s upgrades are split into two categories: United elites traveling on the two highest-priced economy fare classes — Y and  B — are eligible for an instant upgrade at the time of ticketing on select flights (assuming PN inventory is available). For the time being, the carrier publishes a chart for this award option, though unlike American Airlines, it isn’t especially straightforward. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Use miles on flights with United and other airline partners Before you can even think about scoring a better seat on your next United-operated flight, you need to find seats that the carrier has designated for upgrades. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. Upgrade your seat on Star Alliance member airline flilghts. Like RPUs, GPUs can be confirmed at the time of booking if there’s upgrade inventory available, but if there isn’t, you can also waitlist and hope that space will open up closer to departure. You can use your miles to upgrade an economy fare to a Premium Plus seat in the main cabin or to the next higher cabin. United’s most valuable type of upgrade certificate is the Global Premier Upgrade (GPU). Because I had already booked the coach tickets for 30,000 miles a piece, we needed an additional 30,000 miles per ticket (90,000 United Airlines miles total) to waitlist for the Business Class seats. If you’ve already booked your flight and have since decided to upgrade, you have three options to request one: Once you submit your request, you’ll be automatically placed on a waitlist that will be cleared as upgrades become available. The primary benefit of RPUs over CPUs is that they can be confirmed at the time of booking, if there’s upgrade inventory available. Just finding upgrade inventory is only half of the puzzle; you also need to understand the order in which your upgrade will be processed, in case it doesn’t clear when you book. For example, you book a ticket in Economy Class on Lufthansa.com but CPUs will be automatically requested for you on all eligible flights, which are paid tickets on United- and United Express-operated flights (excluding basic economy tickets) in the following regions: If you’re traveling to Hawaii, complimentary upgrades are only available on flights from California — specifically Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO). PlusPoints are a new, innovative benefit that gives you the flexibility to upgrade however you choose. For 20,000 United miles, you can fly in economy on United or one of their Star Alliance partners from the U.S. to the northern part of the continent. You can request these upgrades when purchasing your ticket or after purchasing by clicking on “Manage your reservation.” MileagePlus upgrades are valid on most paid tickets on United-operated flights and select Copa-operated flights, excluding basic economy tickets. These upgrades are available on all flights, including both domestic and international routes. This is all based on United’s fare classes, which you can review in this comprehensive guide. Alternatively, users can call United's customer service line at 1-800-864-8331. Plus, you can earn up to 70,000 bonus miles: 60,000 after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months plus an additional 10,000 miles after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months, along with plenty of other travel perks. You’ll then see the price in miles and co-pay under the fare price and can compare different options. Use your award miles for an upgrade to a higher service class. However, it is a positive that all fares can be … That was easy to do because my mom always has a stash of Chase Ultimate Rewards points she earns with cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Freedom, that she simply transferred to … FinanceBuzz is an informational website that provides tips, advice, and recommendations to help you make financial decisions. Arrive at the airport relaxed and ready to enjoy all the benefits of the upgrade, from priority check-in and lounge access to a more personal level of service onboard. FinanceBuzz and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. United didn’t change the number of miles required for an upgrade. United upgrade award chart. In addition, RPUs can be used to sponsor another member, meaning you can gift your upgrade to a friend or family member, even if you aren’t traveling with them. Also consider whether a potential co-pay could put you over your budget along with checked bag fees and other costs. Back About United Products & … There’s no one right answer to how you should use your miles — you’ve earned them, so do what’s best for you and your situation. Any MileagePlus member can use miles to upgrade on United ® or Star Alliance flights. United Airlines | MileagePlus - Using Miles to Upgrade on United - “There is no true social distancing on an airplane.” This is 100% accurate. However, you may not upgrade for trans-Atlantic basic economy fare or economy. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies. FinanceBuzz is reader-supported. Speak to a United representative at the check-in counter or the gate at the airport — this works only if it’s within 24 hours of your scheduled departure time. United MileagePlus Upgrade Awards come with a lot of terms and conditions, so it’s important to know what to expect when you’re requesting a United upgrade with miles. The co-pay ranges from $0 to $75 but can be as high as $250 if you’re upgrading on one of United’s p.s. Plus, an additional 10k bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months. You’ll be pleased to hear that Turkish is one of the airlines that was quickest to ramp up its international services following initial lockdown, and has been developing one of the most robust schedules to the USA of any international airline. 2X miles on United purchases, restaurants, and delivery services. If you’re traveling on United’s 11-hour flight from Newark (EWR) to Honolulu (HNL) or departing from any of the carrier’s other hubs, you’d need to either redeem miles or apply an upgrade certificate (discussed below). Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Continental US (excluding premium, transcontinental services), Premier 1K: 96 hours/4 days before departure, Premier Platinum: 72 hours/3 days before departure, Premier Gold: 48 hours/2 days before departure, United MileagePlus Presidential Plus Business Card, Flights in South America on Copa Airlines. Use your miles or points to upgrade your travel experience With a Star Alliance Upgrade Award you can use accumulated miles or points to "pay for" an upgrade, allowing you to fly in a class of travel that is one higher than your original booking. Upgrading With Miles It is possible to upgrade your flight using United MileagePlus® frequent flyer miles either while you’re purchasing a ticket or on an existing reservation, but it is not always the best value. But on a flight from Los Angeles to Berlin, upgrades from economy to business class cost as much as 20,000 miles and a $550 co-pay each way on a discounted fare. As an example, take a look at the following flight from Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) to Shanghai for tomorrow: Note that PN6 means that there are six Polaris seats available for Global Services travelers, while PZ4 indicates that there are four seats available for mileage and certificate upgrades (this flight doesn’t have a Premium Plus cabin). See what you should know before trading in your miles for a United upgrade. I’m also given the option to pay $189 for this one-way upgrade. For example, upgrading a one-way domestic flight within the Continental U.S. will cost 7,500 miles for a Y fare or 20,000 miles for a S, T, K, L, G, or N fare. Just be sure to check upgrade inventory first as the carrier is notoriously stingy at opening up inventory — especially in advance. If you’d like to be considered for a move to a Premium Plus seat or for an upgrade to the Polaris business-class cabin, United will move you to the first available seat. As an example, I have a trip booked with United from Washington-Reagan (DCA) to Houston (IAH) in August. More often than not, your upgrade won’t clear at the time of booking, which means you’ll end up on the waitlist for an upgrade. That is very easy to do with our upgrade offer. On international routes, a typical upgrade between the U.S. and Europe costs 20,000 miles and $550. United Airlines offers four different types of upgrades: MileagePlus Upgrade Awards, which you can earn using miles on United or Star Alliance flights, are available to all United members, regardless of whether you have a special status with the airline. Leveling up to a higher fare class can be expensive, though, and learning how to get a United upgrade with miles can save you hundreds of dollars. Although United’s Polaris business class is certainly a huge upgrade over its previous product, you’ll likely get a much better value using your GPUs on carriers like ANA and Lufthansa instead. In fact, the number of ways to earn miles with the United MileagePlus program is almost overwhelming, but the following is a simplified list to get you moving in the right direction. If the first available seat is a Premium Plus seat, United will continue to look for space in the Polaris business-class cabin. If you have some flexibility with your trip and haven’t already booked it, consider researching a few different itineraries to see if you can get a lower price. It’s becoming harder to score upgrades on flights and at hotels, thanks to growing numbers of elite members and new options for casual travelers to bump to a better class of service. © 2021 THE POINTS GUY, LLC. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Redeem your MileagePlus miles for a one-segment,one-cabin upgrade on flights operated by participating Star Alliance carriers. Today we’ll walk through everything you need to know about upgrade eligibility, priority and more for United Airlines. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. To see the rate that applies to you, visit the page with the interactive award chart and enter your origin and destination. Although there are lots of opportunities to optimize Turkish Airlines miles, we’ll first go over some of the pros and cons before deep-diving into all the sweet spots. Finally, this upgrade inventory isn’t available on ExpertFlyer, which only displays award and revenue fare classes. However, the sooner you request your upgrade, the more your chances are of getting it. It’s also worth noting that upgrade inventory is different than regular award inventory; if you wanted to use miles for this flight, there’s only a single seat available (I1 in the blue box). Then click the Upgrade Awards tab at the top. Most of these options are given as benefits for Premier elite members — as you would expect — but even if you don’t fly United frequently enough to earn elite status, you should still be able to upgrade your trip with cash or miles. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Simply view your reservation on United.com and select the Upgrade Reservation link. Use your MileagePlus miles for United Star Alliance Upgrade Awards. For discounted tickets, you may need to use miles and co-pay with money to upgrade. You can even For Premier 1K members, this extends to M fares as well. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. However, if you plan to upgrade from economy to business, fare classes S, T, L, K and G may only be upgraded on flights within the continental US, or between the continental US and Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Oceania (except Tahiti). The process can be simple, but the rules are complicated. As you can see, the … In addition, United has also expanded the reach of GPUs, allowing you to use them on two of its closest and most luxurious Star Alliance partners: ANA and Lufthansa. Miles can help when you are short of money and is a good way to use the points that you have earned. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Make sure you’re logged into your MileagePlus account first, then select “Advanced search.”. RPUs will be deposited to your account when they are earned, and they’re valid through the end of the following Premier program year (i.e., the same amount of time as your elite status). United’s award chart splits South America into northern and southern regions. As noted above, select elite members are eligible for instant upgrades when booked into the highest fare classes, as long as there’s upgrade inventory available. If not, you’ll be placed on a waitlist. Simply pull up your reservation and submit your request through that page. In the past, United would tack on a 10,000-mile surcharge for Star Alliance partner awards. But if you’re looking for a touch of luxury as you get from Point A to Point B, upgrading your ticket might be the way to go. Europe - Using United Airlines miles to upgrade on Lufthansa - So, I bought my ticket from Newark to Paris on Lufthansa (via Frankfurt). Upgrade terms and conditions for United Airlines flights Flights between Europe and India, North America, South Africa Travel class booked Booking class Upgrade in Miles … 60k bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. United … Generally speaking, you’ll have the most luck finding upgrade inventory very far in advance or very close to departure. Upgrades are not impossible, however, and when it comes to United Airlines passengers, there are a number of different ways to land a better seat. United Premier 1K members receive six Global Premier Upgrades (GPUs) upon requalified for status each year, and can earn an additional two for every additional 50,000 elite qualifying miles earned. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. The cost of a MileagePlus Upgrade Award is based on several factors, both in terms of miles and the co-pay including: For example, I searched for a flight from Los Angeles to Chicago and could upgrade from economy to first class with as little as 15,000 miles and a $75 co-pay each way (with a discounted fare). If that doesn’t work, the system will continue on to credit card status, spending and finally the time the request was submitted. MileagePlus members can upgrade using miles on most United or Copa flights. On ANA, this is only available on flights booked into C, D, J, Y, B, E and G fare classes, while Lufthansa limits upgrades to tickets booked into the B, C, D, E, G, H, J, M, Q, U and Y fare classes (and US government fares are not eligible for upgrades). Members requesting a MileagePlus Upgrade Award to a Premium Plus seat only will not be waitlisted for United First on portions of their itinerary that do not contain Premium Plus. Miles Needed to Upgrade (One-way): Domestic upgrade, including the US Mainland, Alaska, and Canada (but not Hawaii) – 7,500 to 20,000 United Airlines miles International upgrades take up to 35,000 United Airlines miles. FinanceBuzz has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Whether it's for your next getaway or everyday life, you get to decide where your miles will take you. Whether you’d like to upgrade your seat to Delta One, Delta Premium Select, First Class, Delta Comfort+ or want to select a Preferred Seat or Exit Row Seat on a Delta flight, it’s easy to do on delta.com. Then determine whether you truly want to upgrade or save those miles for a free flight. If you paid the full fare on your original reservation, there is no extra cost when using your miles other than taxes. This restriction doesn’t apply to upgrades from economy to Premium Plus or from Premium Plus to Polaris. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). To upgrade using your MileagePlus miles, please select your flight(s). So in addition to the $1,485 ticket, you’ll need to shell out 25,000 United miles in each direction to upgrade to business class. , non-basic economy ticket i could find, which you can get a United upgrade your chances of... 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