Oftentimes it’s smart to forget about free mileage awards, because they don’t earn elite credit and are difficult to find anyway. Instead, consider using miles to upgrade because availability is much greater and the ticket earns miles and elite credit, to boot.

The savings can be as much as 72%.

UNITED’S UPGRADE PROGRAM TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC

To upgrade to Business Class to the South Pacific, United requires 30,000 miles plus a co-pay of $600 each way on the lowest upgradeable economy fares (S, T, K, L, and G). When Business Class fares are high, which is almost always the case when flying to Australia or New Zealand, using miles for an upgrade can offer a great return. 

HOW TO SAVE 72% ON HIGH-FARE ROUTES

Say you’re traveling Houston to Sydney, often an expensive Business Class route, even when booked way in advance. The lowest United economy fare is currently $1,178, while Business Class is $8,594 ($7,416 more). So, even with the $1,200 co-pay, you can save $6,216 (72%) off the published fare by using 60,000 miles.

See chart below for upgrade award availability survey.

United.com screenshot showing fare difference between economy and Business Class plus Upgrade Math:

LOW ECONOMY ROUTE SAVES 66%

Los Angeles to Melbourne is one of United’s lowest economy fare routes, currently starting at $777 round-trip, while Business Class starts at $5,779. Even with the $1,200 co-pay you can save $3,802 (66%) off the published fare by using 60,000 miles to upgrade.

United.com screenshot with 66% savings opportunity:

BRIDGE ROUTE CONNECTIONS CAN SAVE UP TO 64%

Smart travelers use the long-haul Business Class flight as a “bridge,” which means getting the premium seat on the international leg and using economy to reach the gateway(s).

From the U.S., that means you should consider buying an economy through-fare ticket that includes the entire itinerary on one ticket. Then use miles just to upgrade from the gateway to your international destination. If upgrade space is available on the domestic segments, grab it, as the cost is the same.

Example: On Kansas City-Sydney, the lowest through-fare ticket (connecting via San Francisco) costs $1,241 in economy versus $6,806 in Business Class. Even with the $1,200 co-pay to upgrade the San Francisco-Sydney leg, you save $4,365 (64%) off the published fare by using miles.

Use our survey below to get an idea of upgrade availability on the long-haul segment.

WHAT TO DO WHEN AN UPGRADE IS ONLY AVAILABLE ONE WAY?

United lets you combine economy and Business Class fares, so you can upgrade the flight-segment that has upgrade space and book the one that doesn’t in Business Class. On Los Angeles-Sydney, the combined coach-Business Class fare is $3,476, while round-trip Business Class is $6,091. So, even with the $600 one-way co-pay, you can still save $2,015 (33%) by using miles one way. 

TRAVELING ONWARD IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC,
BUT NOT ON UNITED?

It’s easy if you stick to United’s partners and book the entire trip on one ticket, either coach or Business Class. Just upgrade the United transpacific segments. Book the routing in coach based on the availability of Business Class upgrades.

Air New Zealand: Flights to other destinations in Australia and New Zealand from Auckland: Adelaide, Cairns, Christchurch, Perth, Queenstown, and many more.

HOW TO BOOK MILEAGE UPGRADES ON UNITED

Determine availability date-clusters online using our survey below.

• Confirm that the flights/dates you want are available for the upgrade using miles by requesting upgrade award space on the “All search options” page.

• Make sure you have the miles required in your account.

• Click on the “Upgrade type” search in the middle of the page.

• In the “Fare preferences” section, select the “Buy Economy and upgrade” option to search for upgrade space in Business Class. Your search result will not only show fares and flight schedules, but also the flights offering an upgrade and the cost.

• Click on “Details” to find out if the upgrade space is available.

• Select your flights and book your ticket.

This can all be done online. (For detailed screenshots of the steps go here.) If you want to book over the phone, call 800-421-4655.

By the way, many of these tactics also work for anyone who can’t find a low Business Class fare and for those who don’t even have many American or United miles.

HOW ANYONE CAN PLAY THIS UPGRADE GAME

Don’t have any or enough United miles? No problem. Just buy United miles when they go on sale (recent opportunity here), or transfer Marriott points to redeem points with Marriott’s Travel Packages (for more information go here), or transfer points from Chase to United.

OTHER RECENT UPGRADE REPORTS

Just look at these similar examples with American and United. In the past eight months, FCF has written eight special reports for oneworld (American) and Star Alliance (United) members looking to deploy miles to achieve or maintain elite status while flying up front.

In December, we focused on American to Europe, in January to Asia on American, in February to South America on American, in March on American’s Transcon, in April to Hawaii on American, in May to Asia on United, in June to South America on United, and in July to Europe on United.

Sweet Redeem Survey: United Mileage Upgrades to the South Pacific