How To Upgrade To Business Class In 3 Steps (and it’s a game-changer for families flying to Asia)

Long-haul flights with family is no small feat. A 13+ hour journey between North America and Taiwan can feel endless in economy class, especially when traveling with kids or elderly parents. Finding business class award availability for the whole family can be a challenge, since the availability is limited, peak travel times get booked up fast, and waiting for last-minute openings isn’t always an option.

EVA Air, a Taiwan-based airline and a member of Star Alliance, operates both regional and long-haul routes from Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport to destinations worldwide. It is particularly popular among travelers flying between North America and Asia. 

Fortunately, upgrading your cash ticket can be a highly effective strategy. Last October, I’ve used this approach to secure my sister-in-law a lie-flat business class seats when award space wasn’t available without paying full price. Upgrading is a great way to make family travel more comfortable and enjoyable, but the first step is purchasing the right type of ticket (i.e. booking classes). Here’s how to set yourself up for success.

In my latest post, I break down:

• ✔ The 3 smartest ways to move from Economy / Premium Economy to Business Class (including EVA air upgrade cost)
• ✔ How to check upgrade space before you book
• ✔ Which cash tickets work for upgrades (and which ones don’t!)

Step 1: Make Sure You Have An Upgrade-Eligible Ticket

Not all cash tickets can be upgraded. A common mistake I hear from families is:

“I tried to upgrade, but EVA Air told me my ticket wasn’t eligible.”

In most cases, they booked a deeply discounted economy class fare, which doesn’t allow upgrades. To avoid this issue, make sure your ticket falls under the upgrade-eligible booking classes. Here are eligible booking classes:

• Economy class → Upgradeable to premium economy class or business class

• Standard Economy Class – Q, H, M class
• UP Economy Class – B, Y class

• Premium economy class → Upgradeable to business class

• Standard Premium Economy Class – L, T class
• UP Premium Economy Class – K class

If your ticket is not in one of these booking classes, you will not be able to upgrade, even if you have miles or upgrade certificates. Once you have the right ticket, you can choose from the best way to upgrade.

Related Reading: Why EVA Air Premium Economy Class Is The Best Value For Family Award Travel

Step 2: Choose Your Upgrade Method

(A) Upgrade with EVA Air Miles

If you are the member of EVA Air’s loyalty program – Infinity MileageLands Program and have EVA Air miles (or transferable credit card points like Citi ThankYou Rewards or Capital One Miles), you can use them to upgrade an eligible cash ticket to EVA Air business class (i.e. Royal Laurel Class on Boeing 787 / Boeing 777-300ER fleets.). Upgrading on EVA Air might seem complicated at first, but once you understand how it works, it becomes a powerful tool for securing business class seats (or premium laurel class) without overpaying.

EVA Air offers three upgrade paths:

• Economy class → Premium economy class
• Premium economy class → Business class
• Economy class → Business class (direct upgrade)

The miles required depend on your route and original ticket type, which is why choosing the right fare is key. While the chart may look complex, once you know the system, upgrading becomes a straightforward and rewarding way to fly in comfort. Here are some examples:

• Los Angeles (LAX) → Taipei (TPE)

• Upgrade from premium economy class (T class) to business class → 35,000 miles (one-way)
• Upgrade from economy class (Q Class) directly to business class → 60,000 miles (one-way)

I’ve personally used this method on multiple occasions. For a round trip, I purchased a premium economy class (T class) ticket for $2,130 and used 70,000 EVA Air miles to upgrade to business class. The cash price of a business class ticket was $5,350, which means I got $3,220 in value from my miles. In this case, upgrading from premium economy class (T class) to business class using EVA Air miles is one of the best-value upgrade options available. It requires fewer miles compared to booking a business class award outright, making it a smart and strategic way to enjoy a premium experience without overspending.

Here are pros and cons of this method:

• ⭕️ Reliable upgrade method if award availability is limited
• ⭕️ Requires fewer award miles than booking a business class ticket outright
• ❌ Must purchase an upgrade-eligible ticket which would be expensive
• ❌ Upgrade space is still subject to availability

(B) Upgrade With EVA Air Electronic Upgrade Certificates

If you have access to EVA Air’s electronic upgrade certificates, they can be an incredibly valuable tool for securing business class seats. These certificates are primarily available to Taiwan residents who hold certain co-branded EVA Air credit cards issued from Taiwanese banks, such as:

• EVA Air co-branded American Express Platinum
• Cathay United EVA Air Visa Infinite Card

Pro Tip:

• If you hold the EVA Air co-branded American Express Platinum issued in Taiwan (annual fee: 36,800 NTD, which is equivalent to $1,200 USD), you will receive two electronic upgrade certificates each year by meeting an annual spending requirement of 1.2 million TWD (equivalent to $37,000 USD)
• Alternatively, if you have the Cathay United EVA Air Visa Infinite Card (annual fee: 20,000 NTD, which is equivalent to $610 USD), you can redeem one electronic upgrade certificate for 25,000 EVA Air award miles with a maximum of two certificates per year.
• More information is available on EVA Air website (Information is only available in Traditional Chinese).

Unfortunately, these credit cards aren’t available to travelers from United States, but if you or a family member has the access to them, they can provide an efficient and cost-effective upgrade method.

Here are pros and cons of this method:

• ⭕️High upgrade value – They allow you to upgrade with fewer miles than a traditional mileage upgrade.
• ⭕️More availability – Upgrade space with certificates tends to be more consistent than using miles alone.
• ⭕️Streamlined process – The upgrade request is easier and faster than booking a Business Class award ticket.
• ❌Difficult to obtain for North American residents – These certificates are only issued through Taiwan-based credit cards.
• ❌Requires significant spending – Earning these certificates requires high annual spending on eligible credit cards.
• ❌One certificate is only for one segment – If you have flights from San Francisco to Hong Kong (HKG) on EVA Air, which is San Francisco – Taipei (TPE), transit in Taipei, then flies from Taipei to Hong Kong (HKG). You need two certificates plus the mileages required.

(C) Upgrade Using Star Alliance Partner Airlines Award Miles

A few years ago, using Star Alliance partner award miles to upgrade EVA Air flights was a hidden gem. Back then, travelers frequently used the programs such as United Airlines MileagePlus, All Nippone Airways (ANA) Mileage Club, or Avianca LifeMiles to upgrade economy class or premium economy class tickets to business class. But in recent years, this method has become more unpredictable. Many families have tried it, only to find upgrade space unavailable or their ticket class ineligible. However, for those willing to navigate the complexities, this can still be a viable upgrade strategy.

How It Works: Star Alliance Upgrade Pricing For EVA Air

• United Airlines MileagePlus: 30,000 miles one-way (North America → Taiwan)
• ANA Mileage Club: 34,000 ~ 36,000 miles one-way, depending on flight distance
• Avianca LifeMiles: 40,000 miles one-way

It sounds great, doesn’t it? But there’s a major catch: Not all tickets qualify for a Star Alliance upgrade award. To be eligible, your original ticket must be a “full-fare” economy class or premium economy class fare, which is typically B, Y, or K class tickets. Discounted economy class fares (such as Q, H, or M) are not eligible.

I’ve attempted Star Alliance upgrades multiple times with mixed success. Here is my experience:

• Scenario 1: Successful Upgrade With Avianca LifeMiles

On one trip, I needed to fly from Los Angeles to Taipei and found that business class award seats were completely unavailable. Since I had a B class economy class ticket and 40,000 LifeMiles to spare, I decided to request for an upgrade. Here is the breakdown of the value for upgrade:

• Original Economy Class Fare (B Class): $1,950
• Business Class Cash Fare: $5,260
• Miles Required For Upgrade: 40,000 LifeMiles one-way (80,000 round-trip)
• Savings From Upgrade: $3,310
• Better yet, LifeMiles frequently go on sale, and I had purchased 80,000 miles for just $1,040 during a promotion. That meant I essentially fly business class for a fraction of the price.

🟢 Success! This was a fantastic way to maximize miles and save money.

• Scenario 2: Failed Upgrade Attempt With United Airlines MileagePlus

I have once tried by using United Airlines MileagePlus (30,000 miles per segment) to upgrade my family’s flights. Even though we had full-fare economy class tickets, the upgrade space was completely unavailable for our dates. I have called EVA Air customer service multiple times, checked every possible route, and even waited until the last-minute upgrade window. Unfortunately, I still had no luck.

🔴 Failed! Unlike EVA Air’s own program for mileage upgrades or electronic upgrade certificates, Star Alliance partner upgrades don’t always follow a clear pattern. Upgrade space isn’t always aligned with award availability, making it difficult to predict.

If you already have the award miles of any Star Alliance member airlines, and you’re booking a full-fare ticket, this could be an excellent way to fly business class without paying cash. However, because of the unpredictable nature of upgrade availability, I strongly recommend:

• Only using award miles you already have (rather than transferring them from credit card points on speculation).
• Checking upgrade availability immediately after booking and being prepared to cancel within 24 hours if needed.
• Looking out for Avianca LifeMiles sales promotion, which allows you to purchase miles with discount and makes this strategy far more valuable.

While this method isn’t as reliable as EVA Air’s own upgrade options, it can still be a powerful backup strategy, especially if business class award availability are unavailable.

Step 3: Check Upgrade Availability Before Booking Your Ticket

One crucial step that many travelers overlook when planning an EVA Air upgrade is checking availability before purchasing a ticket. Unlike some airlines, EVA Air does not allow passengers to check upgrade space online on EVA Air’s website. The only way to confirm availability is by calling EVA Air’s customer service center directly. EVA Air has streamlined its global customer service center, making it easier than ever to check upgrade availability. Now, you can call 24/7, no matter where you are in the world.

• How To Check EVA Air Upgrade Availability

To avoid disappointment after booking, always check upgrade availability first. Follow these steps to confirm before purchasing your ticket:

1. Make a phone call to EVA Air customer service center (global call center +1 800 695 1188)
   • Or EVA Taiwan at +886-2-2501-1999 (Opening hours start at 8:30 AM Taipei Time)
2. Press “2” for English to connect with an agent faster.
3. Ask for upgrade award availability and confirm the number of upgradeable seats for your preferred travel date(s).
4. Confirm your ticket class: Only premium economy class “Standard” (T class) or premium economy class “Up” (K class) are eligible for upgrades.

By taking a few extra minutes to check upgrade availability before purchasing your ticket, you can save yourself the frustration of booking an ineligible fare or missing out on an upgrade due to lack of availability.

Best Credit Cards For Earning EVA Air Miles

For travelers from United States, earning transferable points is one of the best ways to secure EVA Air seat upgrades. Both Citi Bank and Capital One are transfer partners, allowing you to earn points that can be used for any listed seat upgrade option. These credit cards allow you to accumulate points that can be transferred directly to EVA Air program or used for Star Alliance partner upgrades:

• Citi ThankYou Rewards – transfer to EVA Air with 1:1 ratio
• Capital One Miles – transfer to EVA Air with 1:0.75 ratio
• Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards (for Star Alliance upgrades via United MileagePlus, ANA, and Avianca LifeMiles)

Choosing the right credit card can significantly accelerate your ability to upgrade to business class while keeping your travel investment in check. Here are some of the credit cards you can consider:

• Capital One Venture X

Capital One is a transfer partner of EVA Air. The sign-up bonus offer is 75,000 Capital One Miles = 56,250 EVA Air miles

• Capital One Venture X Business

The sign-up bonus offer is 150,000 Capital One Miles = 112,500 EVA Air miles

• Citi Strata Premier

Citi Bank is another transfer partner. The sign-up bonus offer is 75,000 Citi ThankYou Rewards points = 75,000 EVA Air miles

The Best Upgrade Strategy For Families

For families who want to fly in comfort and luxury without relying on business class award availability, upgrading is one of the most effective strategies. Here’s a quick recap of the best upgrade strategies:

• Best Overall Strategy: Upgrade premium economy class (T class) to business class by using miles, which is a reliable way to secure a lie-flat seat when business class awards are unavailable.
• Best For Taiwan-based Travelers: Use electronic upgrade certificates, which offer exceptional value and require fewer miles.
• Best Alternative: If you have award miles from United MileagePlus, ANA, or Avianca LifeMiles, you may be able to upgrade through Star Alliance upgrading rule, but always confirm upgrade availability with EVA Air before transferring points to avoid disappointment.

Final Thoughts

Securing business class award seats for families is always competitive, especially EVA Air as an important and popular Asia-based star alliance member airline between North American and Asia. When business class award seats on international flights are impossible to find, Eva Air seat upgrades is often the most practical and strategic alternative. Whether you use miles, upgrade certificates, or Star Alliance partner program, this smart 3-step strategy for families can help you and your family enjoy business class comfort without paying full price.

Instead of searching endlessly for award seats that may never open up, you can take control of your travel plans by booking the right tickets (i.e. booking classes), which could secure your seat upgrade option on EVA Air, and ensure a seamless journey for your family. So next time you’re planning the long-haul flights and struggling to find business class awards, consider an upgrade strategy instead. It might just be the best way to turn a stressful trip into a comfortable, premium family travel experience.

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