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Air Canada, TAM and US Airways now offer Star Alliance Upgrade Awards

Wednesday 2, February 2011

Frequent Flyers in the Star Alliance network can now use their miles for upgrades (change in class) when they travel on Air Canada, TAM and US Airways.

These member-companies will now be part of the Star Alliance Upgrade Awards Programme. This is the only programme that allows its customers to use miles or points accumulated in their respective Frequent Flyer Programmes (FFPs) to get upgrades on their journeys on regular flights operated by the member airlines who offer this product.

This means that passengers who are registered in Aeroplan ® (Air Canada), Fidelidade (TAM) or Dividend Miles ® (US Airways) can convert their miles into an Upgrade Award.  With this benefit, a booking that has been confirmed and issued can ensure an upgrade for the passenger prior to the flight. Customers simply contact their respective FFPs (Frequent Flyer Programmes) by calling the airline’s reservations office or by accessing the airline’s website (depending on the company). The class change of the booking is then processed electronically, eliminating the need to issue hard copies of the documents. These upgrades, as the name indicates, allow the passenger to go up one service class, either from Economy to Business or from Business to First Class*.  Some fare classes do not allow upgrades.

"Our frequent flyers have always said that getting an upgrade with their miles throughout the Alliance is one of the most valuable and sought-after benefits. With Star Alliance Upgrade Awards now being extended to all flights in the Americas, we have further strengthened the singularity of our alliance's product, says Christopher Korenke, vice-president, commercial, of Star Alliance. “We are continuing our efforts to ensure that the remaining members of Star Alliances will offer the product as quickly as possible.

Star Alliance is the first global alliance of airlines to offer a product of this kind, which is currently available to members of the Frequent Flyer Programmes 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 new participants in the Star Alliance Upgrade Awards (SAUA) programme, all (five) Star Alliance member-companies based in North and South America will be offering this product. 

Since its creation in 1997, the Star Alliance network has always given priority to the added value provided by the Frequent Flyer Programmes (FFPs) of each member airline by extending benefits to its customers throughout the alliance.  Star Alliance was, in fact, the first alliance of airlines to offer harmonisation of the benefits awarded to Gold and Silver card-holders throughout the network. These benefits include:  

Priority Check-In 

Star Alliance Gold members can use special check-in counters.  

Priority Waiting List 

Gold and Silver members have priority on the waiting list if the desired flight is already full. 

Priority on the waiting list at the airport 

Gold and Silver members have priority on the waiting list at the airport if they have no booking for a specific flight (subject to local regulations). 

Access to the Lounge 

Gold members have access to more than 970 lounges in airports around the world. 

Priority Baggage  

Gold members are entitled to priority baggage service throughout the network. 

Extra Baggage Allowance 

Star Alliance Gold customers are entitled to an additional piece of baggage (piece concept) or 20 additional kilogrammes (weight concept).

In addition, Star Alliance is the only FFP currently offering its customers a contact point for booking flights and issuing award tickets at all the other airlines in the Alliance. 

* Note: Not all participating airlines offer First Class. On some flights that offer only First Class and Economy Class seats, upgrades can be made from Economy to First Class.

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