Best way to get Altitude Points to United

[alien]

Hi All,

I'm trying to find out the best way to utilise my Altitude points on my RTW trip in September which is with United on the *A network. Trip is paid for and I would like to try and get upgrades from economy H to Business for the Aust to US leg.

I can transfer points to Airpoints, Enrich and QFF from Altitude

I have 355,589 Altitude points which allows me to transfer:

355,200 = 2,522 Airpoints
355,500 = 301,932 Enrich
355,500 = 301,932 Frequent Flyer

I've checked the *A and it would appear I can't use Airpoints on United

I'm a member of:

KrisFlyer (0)
Milage Plus (100 miles)
Airpoints (0)
Velocity (43,526 points)

Any advice/assistance in trying to overcome the issue I have would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Alien

[oz_mark]

I've checked the *A and it would appear I can't use Airpoints on United

Why not? Not that I have done it, but can't you redeem Airpoints for a Star Alliance award?

[Kiwi Flyer]

Why not? Not that I have done it, but can't you redeem Airpoints for a Star Alliance award?

The OP is looking to upgrade on United. As airpoints is not (yet) participating in the *A wide mileage upgrade program, cannot upgrade on UA flights. I don't know whether NZ will join this by the time you travel.

Can you switch your flights to go via AKL (will need to be on NZ flight number not the UA codeshare? 2500 airbucks is more than enough to upgrade to business premier (considered a double upgrade by NZ ), subject to availability (hint if flying to LAX NZ6 easier to upgrade than NZ2 and mid week easier than Friday through Monday).

[Kiwi Flyer]

According to Mileage Converter there isn't even a way to launder the points into one of the several programs that can be used to upgrade on UA.

[oz_mark]

The OP is looking to upgrade on United. As airpoints is not (yet) participating in the *A wide mileage upgrade program, cannot upgrade on UA flights. I don't know whether NZ will join this by the time you travel.

Ahh, my bad, I missed that little point.

[JohnK]

Can you switch your flights to go via AKL (will need to be on NZ flight number not the UA codeshare? 2500 airbucks is more than enough to upgrade to business premier (considered a double upgrade by NZ )

Is the 2500 Airbucks an upgrade for one sector AKL-LAX? Would be a real waste of 355,200 Altitude points.

Those points are enough for two economy RTWs or one business RTW on QF.

[Kiwi Flyer]

Is the 2500 Airbucks an upgrade for one sector AKL-LAX? Would be a real waste of 355,200 Altitude points.

Those points are enough for two economy RTWs or one business RTW on QF.

noooo - 2500 is more than enough I said

the amount to upgrade varies depending on if based in NZ or Australia, if upgrading from NZ or from Australia, if upgrading to business or premium economy, if on standby or confirmed basis - which is why I didn't want to go into all this

also points upgrades can be combined with elite upgrade vouchers (eg for airpoints member not based in australia 220 airbucks + 1 elite upgrade voucher is enough to upgrade one way from cheapest economy fare to business premium, on standby basis, for australian based member the 220 is in aussie airbucks - maybe 200?)

[Kiwi Flyer]

2500 aussie airbucks is more than enough to upgrade a round trip from NZ to London from the cheapest fare to business premium.

As with QFF, upgrades on NZ scheme are relatively expensive - it may be better value using for awards.

[alien]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I've searched the Malaysia Airlines site to see if I could find out if you can transfer Enrich points to any other FFP however to no avail.

Does anyone know if its possible?

[oz_mark]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I've searched the Malaysia Airlines site to see if I could find out if you can transfer Enrich points to any other FFP however to no avail.

Does anyone know if its possible?

Don't think so. Frequent Flyer schemes seem to be a general end point for a lot of these things.