When to play the Alliance-Upgrade Game (and when to pass) in order to save up to 72% to Asia
Who would think that a single loyalty program would have three different types of upgrades? Trying to figure out when which works best can be a full-time job. Here’s the blueprint to Star Alliance’s least-known upgrade option, and when it’s a real opportunity instead of the better-known other two.
The Three Basic Mileage Upgrades
- Upgrade Opportunity #1: An airline’s own upgrade from the lowest economy fare, the upgrade most people use. With United’s loyalty program, for example, it involves using MileagePlus miles to upgrade a low economy fare, plus a cash surcharge (better known as a ‘co-pay’), plus miles. This could be referred to as the Discount-Fare Upgrade (DFU).
- Upgrade Opportunity #2: An airline’s own upgrade from a higher fare, usually referred to as (B and Y) a full-fare upgrade. It’s not often used by leisure travelers and not often enough by business travelers. On United, for example, it means purchasing a higher economy fare—which DOES NOT require a cash surcharge. This could be referred to as a Full-Fare Upgrade (FFU).
- Upgrade Opportunity #3: An airline’s partner upgrade offered via its alliance partners. This upgrade is rarely used because it generally means paying for a B or Y fare. (Let’s say, for the focus of this article, on a United partner like All Nippon or Thai Airways.) It doesn’t require a cash surcharge and you might refer to it as a Full-Fare Alliance Upgrade (FFAU).
Due to the obvious complexity issues (for you and me, admittedly), so as to not overwhelm, this month we will be focusing on the partner upgrades for the Star Alliance—to Asia.
[aside headline="Take Special Notice" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]
You need NOT be traveling to Asia—or be a United MileagePlus program enthusiast—to reap huge cash discounts from employing this (if advanced and little-known) upgrade opportunity, for two reasons:
Special Notice #1: If you are not traveling to Asia, you can benefit from FCF’s analysis specifically here: Because many of the SAME principles apply to non-Asian destinations! (e.g. Europe, South America, Inter-continental, et al.)
Special Notice #2: If you are not a United or other Star Alliance loyalty program enthusiast, it often doesn’t matter: Because ANYONE can buy miles directly from the (many different) airlines (or multi-currency point programs) which can be used —in combination with this deep-discount methodology—to destinations the world over in many cases.[/aside]
General Concepts:United Star Alliance Upgrades to Asia
Applicable Fare (Codes): Star Alliance upgradable fares are mostly B or Y, with a few exceptions: Air China (W), Air Canada (O), All Nippon (E), and Singapore (S).
Average Applicable Fares: Most airlines’ B and Y fares are well over $4,000, depending on the route, making the use of miles often not considerable unless you know the airlines and routes that offer unusually low upgradeable fares.
The Nucleus of the Unusual Opportunity:Star Alliance Airlines with Low B Fares to Asia
Air China, All Nippon, Singapore, and Thai Airways offer some of the lowest applicable Star Alliance Upgrade Fares (B and Y). Air China, Singapore, and Thai Airways ALSO carry a mere $100 cancellation fee; All Nippon’s is $300. There’s also a $100 change fee ($300 for All Nippon) on Air China and Thai, none on Singapore. While we researched like #$%^&* to figure this out, you can leverage this research in mere minutes—so you can go straight to where the opportunities are:
Where the Low Mileage Upgrade Awards Are
One might think that all airlines within the alliance would use the same Star Upgrade Chart prices and rules, right? That’s not as often the case as most are so well trained to think. For example, United charges 50,000 to 70,000 miles r/t depending on the country in Asia, while , on the other hand, charges 50,000 miles r/t to all its Asian routes. (If you’re an Amex Membership Rewards program member, you like Air Canada opportunities at times, lest we forget, even more so than United.)
Getting the Miles: Air Canada is a credit-card point-transfer partner with Amex Rewards (allows members to buy up to 500,000 points per year) and Starwood. You can also buy up to 50% of the miles required if you have 50% already in your account
More Reasons to Pay Close Attention to this Opportunity
- Avoid co-pays: Star Alliance B fare upgrades do not have a co-pay, which on some airlines (like United) can be as high as $1,100.
- Lower change/cancellation fees: Many low economy fares have high cancellation/change fees whereas B fare fees range from nothing to $100 on most airlines ($300 on All Nippon). This is great for business travelers, mind-changers, and hedgers—which describes many of you (and me as well).
- More partner opportunities: The Star Alliance Upgrade provides access to upgrade availability on seven + airlines to Asia vs. an airline’s own upgrade program (exactly one).
- Last minute travel: Star Alliance B fares are great for the business or last-minute leisure traveler, who are already paying a higher fare.
- Earn miles back: B fares on partners earn 100% base miles on both United and US Airways as well as others, whereas free award travel does not.
- Earn Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs): B fares also earn 100% EQMs on both United and US Airways as well as others, whereas free award travel does not.
Sample Routes with Low B Fares to Asia with Star Alliance Airlines Which Net Savings Up to 72%- Using 50,000 Miles on Air Canada **
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