Star Alliance adds Air Canada, TAM and US Airways to upgrade awards product
Frankfurt, GERMANY – Frequent flyers on the Star Alliance network can now also use their miles to upgrade when travelling on Air Canada, TAM and US Airways. These member carriers are now participating in the unique Star Alliance Upgrade Awards programme, the redemption option enabling customers to use 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.
Travellers enrolled in Aeroplan® (Air Canada), Fidelidade (TAM) or Dividend Miles® (US Airways) can exchange their collected miles for a Star Alliance Upgrade Award. With this award, a confirmed and ticketed booking can be upgraded to a higher class prior to travel. In order to redeem the award, customers need to contact their FFP, either by calling reservations or logging onto the web (depending on what is offered by the carrier). 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*. Upgrades from certain types of fares are not possible.
“Our frequent flyers have always told us that upgrading using miles across the entire alliance is one of the highest sought after benefits. Hence, by now offering Star Alliance Upgrade Awards across all flights in the Americas we further increased the attractiveness of our Alliance product,” said Vice President Commercial, Star Alliance, Christopher Korenke. “We are working on getting the remaining Star Alliance member carriers into the product as soon as possible.”
Star Alliance, the way the Earth connects, is the first global airline alliance to offer such a product, which is now available to the FFP members of Air China (PhoenixMiles®), Air Canada (Aeroplan®), Air New Zealand (Airpoints®), ANA (ANA Mileage Club®), Asiana Airlines (Asiana Club®), Austrian (Miles & More®), Brussels Airlines (Miles & More®), Continental (OnePass), LOT Polish Airlines (Miles & More®), Lufthansa (Miles & More®), SAS (EuroBonus®), Singapore Airlines (KrisFlyer®), SWISS (Miles & More®), TAM (Fidelidade), TAP Portugal (Victoria®), THAI (Royal Orchid Plus®), Turkish Airlines (Miles & Smiles®), United (Mileage Plus®) and US Airways (Dividend Miles®).
With the latest additions, all five Star Alliance member airlines based in the Americas now offer this product.
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 970 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. On certain flights offering First and Economy Class only, upgrades from Economy to First are possible.
