Star Alliance Upgrade Awards
ANA Mileage Club members can use their miles for upgrades on Star Alliance airlines all over the world.
Eligible Flights
Star Alliance Member Airlines
- Aegean Airlines (A3)
- Air Canada (AC)
- Air China (CA)
- Air India (AI)
- Air New Zealand (NZ)
- Asiana Airlines (OZ)
- Austrian Airlines (OS)
- Avianca (AV)
- Brussels Airlines (SN)
- Copa Airlines (CM)
- Croatia Airlines (OU)
- EgyptAir (MS)
- Ethiopian Airlines (ET)
- EVA Air (BR)
- LOT Polish Airlines (LO)
- Lufthansa (LH)
- Shenzhen Airlines (ZH)
- Singapore Airlines (SQ)
- South African Airways (SA)
- Swiss International Air Lines (LX)
- TAP Portugal (TP)
- Thai Airways International (TG)
- Turkish Airlines (TK)
- United Airlines (UA)
- Even if the codeshare flight is operated by an eligible airline, it will not be eligible if it was not reserved under the operating airline's flight number.
- If you would like to use an upgrade award, you must have a reservation for an eligible booking class and have completed your payment (i.e., had your ticket issued).
- As for Avianca (AV), upgrade award is available for Avianca Airlines (AV), Taca Airlines (TA) and Avianca Costa Rica (LR) Flight.
- Upgrades are not available to the Suites class on Singapore Airlines (SQ).
- Depending on the operating airline, there may be restrictions regarding eligible routes and periods, as well as aircraft types and the number of available seats.
- Upgrades may not be possible due to IT system-related circumstances at the operating airline.
- Upgrade points can only be used to upgrade on United Airlines flights.
- Standby is only available for United Airlines flights.
Required Mileage
1-sector (one-way) awards can be redeemed starting from 12,000 miles.
The number of miles required for award redemption will vary depending on the basic sector mileage and the class of service.
After confirming your flight sector's "Basic Sector Mileage", please confirm the required mileage chart.
- Please apply by 24 hours prior to departure.
- Depending on the operating airline, there may be restrictions regarding eligible routes, periods, and the number of available seats.
- Please have a purchased ticket (with pre-upgrade classes of service) for all sectors on which you wish to use awards
Eligible Booking Classes
Business Class to First Class
| Operating Airline | Eligible Booking Classes |
|---|---|
| Air China (CA) | C/D/J |
| Lufthansa (LH) | C/D/J |
| Singapore Airlines (SQ) | C/Z/J/U |
| Swiss International Air Lines (LX) | C/J |
| Other airlines | C/D |
Economy Class to Business Class
| Operating Airline | Eligible Booking Classes |
|---|---|
| Air Canada (AC) | Y/B/O |
| Air China (CA) | Y/B/G |
| Air New Zealand (NZ) | Y/B/U/E/O |
| Austrian Airlines (OS) | Y/B/E/G |
| Brussels Airlines (SN) | Y/B/E/G |
| Ethiopian Airlines (ET) | Y/B/G/S |
| EVA Air (BR) | Y/B/K |
| Lufthansa (LH) | Y/B/E/G |
| Singapore Airlines (SQ) | S/T/P/L (aircraft configured with Premium Economy) Y/B/E (aircraft configured without Premium Economy) |
| Swiss International Air Lines (LX) | Y/B/E/G |
| Shenzhen Airlines (ZH) | Y/B/G/M/U |
| United Airlines (UA) | O/A/Y/B/M/E |
| Other airlines | Y/B |
- Eligible fares will differ depending on the operating airline. Please check the booking class of the ticket to confirm eligibility.
- Star Alliance Upgrade Awards cannot be used in conjunction with ANA flight awards.
- Upgrade awards cannot be used for package tour fares and inclusive tour fares.
- It is not possible to upgrade directly from Economy Class to First Class. However, exceptions will be made for some flights which only offer two classes of service (Economy Class and First Class). In this instance, the mileage required will be that for upgrading from Economy Class to Business Class.
- When using upgrade awards, mileage accrual will be based on the booking class of the originally purchased ticket.
Using ANA Upgrade Points
About Using ANA Upgrade Points
ANA Diamond Service Members, Platinum Service Members, Bronze Service Members, and Super Flyers Card Members may also use upgrade points for redemption.
Please refer to the About Upgrade Points (ANA Premium Member Services) page for details.
Eligible Flights
United Airlines (UA)
Required Number of Points
Available from 4 Points for a One-way Trip (1 Sector)
After confirming your flight sector's "Basic Sector Mileage", please confirm the required mileage chart.
Please purchase a ticket with reservations for all sectors on which you wish to use awards.
- Please apply by 24 hours prior to departure.
- Depending on the operating airline, there may be restrictions regarding eligible routes, periods, and the number of available seats.
Upgrade Award Expiration Dates
Upgrade awards are valid only on the flights for which the reservations have been made.
Usage Policy for Infants and Children
Infants
The following airlines stipulate that Star Alliance Upgrade Awards cannot be used by an adult who is accompanied by an infant that is not occupying its own seat: Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, Asiana Airlines, Avianca, EgyptAir, EVA Air, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines. Please contact other airlines for details of their respective policies regarding infant fares.
Children
When redeeming an award for a child (defined as 2-11 years of age for international flights*1), the same amount of miles is required as an adult.
-
*1.Age on the day of departure.
Notes
- Even when the upgrade application procedures have been completed, an upgrade ticket and reservation number will not be issued. Please make sure to confirm the reservation with the operating airline.
- This award is used for flights which are operated by Star Alliance member airlines. There may be cases when awards cannot be used due to IT system-related circumstances at the operating airline.
- The number of seats available with upgrade awards varies by airline. Furthermore, the number of seats available is subject to change without notice.
- Board the upgraded class with the purchased ticket on the day of departure.
- ANA International Upgrade Awards, however, not in the same flight.
- Miles combined through the ANA Card Family Miles service cannot be redeemed for Star Alliance Upgrade Awards.
- Customers who had requested their seats or special services (wheelchair assistance, special meals, etc.) in their original reservations must contact the operating airline to convey these requests again after applying for the Star Alliance Upgrade Award. Information for such customer requests are not automatically transferred when changing the class of service.
- After applying for an upgrade, the seat in the originally reserved class of service will be canceled automatically.
- Up to 4 passengers can be upgraded at the same time with 1 application.
- The UK's Air Passenger Duty and France's Air Passenger Solidarity Tax will also be applicable to upgrades made with mileage and the exact amount will depend on the class of service. For tickets which have already been issued, any differences with the tax for the upgraded class of service must be paid at the airport.
For tickets which have already been issued, any differences in taxes and fees for the upgraded class of service must be paid at the airport.- The UK's Air Passenger Duty: Applicable to all passengers departing from airports in the UK.
- France's Air Passenger Solidarity Tax: Applicable to all passengers departing from airports in France.
Required Mileage / Points Chart
Basic Mileage and Required Miles for a 1-sector (One-Way) Itinerary
| One-Way (1-Sector) Mileage (Basic Sector Mileage) |
Economy Class to Business Class (1-sector) |
Business Class to First Class (1-sector) |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2,000 | 12,000 | 20,000 |
| 2,001 to 2,500 | 18,000 | 30,000 |
| 2,501 to 3,000 | 22,000 | 35,000 |
| 3,001 to 3,500 | 24,000 | 40,000 |
| 3,501 to 4,000 | 26,000 | 45,000 |
| 4,001 to 4,500 | 28,000 | 45,000 |
| 4,501 to 5,000 | 30,000 | 50,000 |
| 5,001 to 5,500 | 32,000 | 50,000 |
| 5,501 to 7,000 | 34,000 | 50,000 |
| 7,001 to 9,000 | 36,000 | 55,000 |
| 9,001 to 10,000 | 38,000 | 55,000 |
| Over 10,001 | 40,000 | 60,000 |
Example of Required Mileage Confirmation When Using Miles to Upgrade
Example: Upgrading from Business Class to First Class
The required mileage to upgrade from Business Class to First Class on a SQ itinerary from Tokyo to Singapore (itinerary distance for outbound journey: 3,312 miles) is 40,000 miles (1 sector).
- "SQ" refers to Singapore Airlines.
Example: Upgrading from Economy Class to Business Class
The required mileage to upgrade from Economy Class to Business Class on an LH itinerary from Tokyo to Frankfurt (itinerary distance for outbound journey: 5,928 miles) and Frankfurt to London (itinerary distance for outbound journey: 396 miles) is 46,000 miles (2 sectors; 34,000 miles + 12,000 miles).
- "LH" refers to Lufthansa.
Basic Mileage and Required Points for a One-Way (1-sector) Itinerary
| One-Way (1-Sector) Mileage (Basic Sector Mileage) |
Economy Class to Business Class (1-sector) |
Business Class to First Class (1-sector) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 1,000 | 4 | 8 |
| 1,001 to 2,000 | 6 | 12 |
| 2,001 to 4,000 | 8 | 16 |
| Over 4,001 | 10 | 20 |
How to Request This Service
Applying via the ANA Website
- * Applications can only be made through the website. Applications cannot be accepted over the phone.
- After logging in, select Star Alliance Upgrade Reservation in the Partner Flight Awards menu to apply.
- * If you have any questions, please contact us via ANA Mileage Club inquiries.
Application Period (Deadline)
Applications can be made up until 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of the relevant flight.
- After applying for an upgrade, the seat in the originally reserved class of service will be canceled automatically.
- Please contact the operating airline to confirm the details of your application.
Waitlisting
Waitlisted upgrade applications, which cannot be confirmed, will be cancelled by the operating airline 24 hours before departure.
- Upgrade applications at the airport on the day of departure are not accepted.
- The amount of miles that is required to redeem a Star Alliance Upgrade Award is deducted upon application of the waitlisting. However, a mileage deduction does not guarantee a confirmation of the application and might be cancelled depending on the number of available seats of the operating carrier.
- Upgrade Points cannot be carried over to the following fiscal year (from April 1) and have to be used within the same fiscal year.
- Miles of unconfirmed waitlisting applications (applications, which were cancelled by the operating airline) will be refunded within 10 days after the departure date. Miles, which are expired between application and departure date will be not refunded if the waitlisting cannot be confirmed by the operating carrier. ANA is not responsible for expired mileage.
- Depending on the operating airline, upgrades may not be available on certain routes and during certain periods, and restrictions may be imposed on the aircraft types and number of seats available.
- An email will be send to the "registered email address" once the application is confirmed. For any inquiries, please contact the operating airline.
- Pressing "registered email address" will take you to the members-only page.
Eligible Flights
United Airlines (UA)
Changes
If you would like to change your application details, please contact the operating airline before the departure of your reserved flight. Please note that canceling a Star Alliance Upgrade Award reservation will also result in the cancellation of the original reservation (for the pre-upgrade class of service).
Cancellation of Only the Upgrade
It is not possible to cancel only the upgrade. When canceling a Star Alliance Upgrade Award, the original reservation for the pre-upgrade class of service will also be canceled.
Changing an Itinerary
- If you would like to change an itinerary containing a Star Alliance upgrade, you must cancel your Star Alliance Upgrade Award regardless of whether or not the flight you would like to change contains the upgrade.
Make another reservation for your new itinerary, and then apply for the Star Alliance Upgrade Award again through the ANA website no later than 24 hours prior to departure. - The above procedure must be completed prior to the departure of the originally reserved flight in order to cancel an unused Star Alliance Upgrade Award. Mileage used for award redemption will be refunded and refund charges will be waived only if cancellation procedures are completed prior to departure. (This policy is the same as the one which governs mileage refunds for ANA international flight awards.) However, miles that have expired at the time of refund processing will not be refunded. Miles will not be refunded if the reservation is not canceled prior to the departure of the originally reserved flight.
Refunds for Unused Awards
Mileage refunds will only be given for Star Alliance Upgrade Awards which have not been used. The refund charge will be waived and the miles used for redemption will be refunded to the mileage account. Customers who wish to request a refund must contact the operating airline directly prior to the departure of the originally reserved flight. Please note that such refunds cannot be processed by contacting the ANA Mileage Club Service Center or the ANA Mileage Club Star Alliance Upgrade Award Inquiries phone numbers.
Mileage for Refund Charge
None
Reception period
Please contact the operating airline prior to the departure of the originally reserved flight.
Expiration Dates for Refunded Miles
The expiration dates for refunded miles will correspond to the expiration dates of the miles that were used for award redemption. Please note that expiration dates cannot be extended.
- Miles expired at the time of refund procedures cannot be refunded.