Air China and Shanghai Airlines are the latest member airlines to offer Star Alliance Upgrade Awards, the unique redemption option enabling customers to redeem miles or points from their Frequent Flyer Programme (FFP) accounts for one-class upgrades on scheduled flights operated by the participating Star Alliance member carriers. At the same time, United will resume offering Star Alliance Upgrade Awards to their FFP members.
With immediate effect, travellers enrolled in PhoenixMiles (Air China), Crane Club (Shanghai Airlines) or Mileage Plus (United) can exchange their collected miles for a Star Alliance Upgrade Award. With this award, a confirmed and ticketed booking can be upgraded prior to travel for a higher class of travel, 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. Upgrades are permitted for one class of travel, either from Economy Class to Business Class or from Business Class to First Class*. Additionally, on Air China, Shanghai Airlines and 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 possible.
Star Alliance, the way the Earth connects, is the first global airline alliance to offer such a product, which is available to the FFP members of Air China (PhoenixMiles), Air New Zealand (Airpoints), ANA (ANA Mileage Club), Asiana Airlines (Asiana Club), Austrian (Miles & More), LOT Polish Airlines (Miles & More), Lufthansa (Miles & More), SAS (EuroBonus), Shanghai Airlines (Crane Club), Singapore Airlines (KrisFlyer), SWISS (Miles & More), TAP Portugal (Victoria), THAI (Royal Orchid Plus), Turkish Airlines (Miles & Smiles) and United (Mileage Plus).
With Air China and Shanghai Airlines now participating in Star Alliance Upgrade Awards, all seven Star Alliance member airlines based in Asia and the South Pacific now offer this product, with more carriers set to join in the near future.
Since its inception in 1997, emphasis has been placed by the Star Alliance network on adding value to each member carrier’s FFP by offering alliance-wide benefits to customers. For instance, Star Alliance was the first airline alliance to offer harmonised benefits for both Gold and Silver Card holders across the network, which include:
Priority Check-In
Star Alliance Gold members can make use of separate check-in desks.
Priority Waitlist
Star Alliance Gold and Star Alliance Silver members receive priority waitlisting if the desired flight is already fully booked.
Priority Airport Standby
Star Alliance Gold and Star Alliance Silver members receive priority standby listing if they arrive at the airport without any reservation for a specific flight (subject to local regulations).
Lounge Access
Star Alliance Gold members have access to more than 805 lounges at airports around the world.
Priority Baggage Tags
Star Alliance Gold members are entitled to priority baggage service across the network.
Increased Baggage Allowance
Star Alliance Gold customers are entitled to one additional piece of checked baggage (piece concept) or an additional 20 kilos (weight concept).
Moreover, Star Alliance is currently the only alliance that provides customers with one point of contact to book and ticket award travel on all other Star Alliance carriers.
* Note: not all participating carriers offer First Class
Note: Star Alliance Upgrade Awards are currently not available between the following parings:
United – Air New Zealand and United – Singapore Airlines as well as for United Mileage Plus members on flights operated by Scandinavian Airlines.
