Q. I am ashamed to admit that in all of my years of mostly international travel that I have never once used my miles to upgrade, which I think is a mistake. I am very tired of economy class although economy plus is okay. My question is can I purchase a ticket to Bangkok from anyone & upgrade it with United or do I need to specifically purchase it from United? What to do?

A. You definitely need to purchase the fare from United or a United partner airline. The number of miles needed will depend on the date of travel and perhaps the routing, and also the fare you pay. It's sometimes a good idea to call the United MileagePlus helpline (1-800-421-4655) and consult a reservation agent to determine which fares and flights are eligible or available for upgrades.

Above image via Shutterstock

All products and services mentioned on Airfarewatchdog are independently selected by our team of expert travelers. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

More Stories You'll Love