I couldn't find any recent info on this in a search. I am wondering if I can use United Mileage Plus miles to upgrade to business class on the ANA flight from Bangkok to Narita? I know in the past you could not and had to fly in ANA's uncomfortable economy section. For that reason I switched over to EVA's premium economy. Anyone know if any changes have been made? I'd like to use up some of my UA miles.

You've always been able to upgrade Star Alliance flights with other Star Alliance member airlines miles provided you have booked into a fare bucket that is upgradeable.....and with certain exceptions. (On ANA, that exception is intra-Japan.) So for BKK-NRT, you should be able to upgrade with UA miles if the fare you purchased is upgradeable - some deeply discounted fares are not.

Looks like ANA requests must be made within 8 weeks of travel:

https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/mileageplus/awards/upgrade/saua.aspx

If it's the same rules as for BA Executive Club members, you can only upgrade to the next cabin class using miles or points, so if the airline has a premium economy cabin (as BA does) that's where you can upgrade to.

ANA is the best of the Star Alliance bunch....40K miles for a one way from BKK to the US...in economy. Would it really be worth it to spend that many miles to be in B-class for about 1/3 of the trip? Free drinks, good food, good entertainment system, hot-hot hostesses.....and some good cuban cigars at Narita...occasionally, you can lay down in economy.

Instead of asking the officially uninformed, why not call UA and ask? Seems to be the simplest way get a proper answer.

Instead of asking the officially uninformed, why not call UA and ask? Seems to be the simplest way get a proper answer.

If their call centre is as good as BA's, it will be a far from simple solution .

Instead of asking the officially uninformed, why not call UA and ask? Seems to be the simplest way get a proper answer.

If their call centre is as good as BA's, it will be a far from simple solution .

and anything done with a live agent will incur a fee (25 usd+). There would be a difference to upgrading it in advance, and upgrading on standby, which is a game a lot of business travelers play in the US. You see them in suits hovering around the desk at the gate. I can use miles to buy tickets at www.ual.com, even for multiple Star Alliance flights. I used to have to call them for the connecting flights on Thai, and they would only let you bypass UA flights in rare circumstances.

At UAL.com, simply login, go to my reservations, then modify/change existing reservation, it will ask you if you want to use miles or cash.

Edited January 5, 201610 yr by bangmai