United Airlines now Participating in Star Alliance Upgrade Awards

United Airlines has become the ninth Star Alliance member airline to offer Star Alliance Upgrade Awards.

The Star Alliance mileage redemption option is now available to the (FFP) members of ANA (ANA Mileage Club), Asiana Airlines (Asiana Club), Austrian (Miles & More), LOT Polish Airlines (Miles & More), Lufthansa (Miles & More), Singapore Airlines (KrisFlyer), TAP Portugal (Victoria), THAI (Royal Orchid Plus) and United (Mileage Plus).

“With United’s participation in Star Alliance Upgrade Awards, our customers have a much larger number of flights on which they can choose to redeem miles for upgrades, especially across the Americas as well as on transatlantic and transpacific routes,” said Jaan Albrecht, CEO Star Alliance.

“Participation in Star Alliance Upgrade Awards greatly enhances the benefits our Mileage Plus programme offers United frequent fliers. Our customers can now upgrade on other Star Alliance member airlines using miles from their United Mileage Plus account. This a benefit our customers have told us they want and it can only be achieved through United’s membership in Star Alliance,” said Graham Atkinson, senior vice president, Worldwide Sales and Alliances, United.

Star Alliance Upgrade Awards requires a confirmed booking prior to travel which can then be upgraded through the existing FFP redemption channels, in general, either through calling reservations or visiting a website (depending on carrier’s offer). The upgrade is processed electronically, eliminating the need to issue paper certificates to the customers. Both conventional paper tickets, as well as electronic tickets, can be upgraded under this new scheme. Upgrades are permitted for one class of travel, either from Economy Class to Business Class or from Business Class to First Class. Additionally, on United flights offering First and Economy Class only, upgrades from Economy to First are possible.

As with most FFP redemption products, capacity restrictions apply and upgrades from certain types of fares are not permitted.

Upgrade Awards between United and Asiana Airlines and THAI is now already available, and between United and the following carriers as of 24 July 2006: ANA, Austrian, LOT Polish Airlines and Lufthansa. Upgrade Awards with Singapore Airlines are currently only available with ANA, Austrian, LOT Polish Airlines and Lufthansa. The product is currently not available for TAP Victoria members upgrading on United Airlines.

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