I tried searching the forums for this before posting but had no luck finding my answer.
My husband have been flying on Air Tran back and forth every 2 weeks since June so that he could undergo chemotherapy up at the NIH in Bethesda, MD (we fly into BWI). We have been collecting points of course which has been nice. Well in 2 weeks we fly back for his very last chemo trip *crossing fingers* and I'd like to use up some of our points to upgrade us both to business class for the flight there and the flight home. I researched this and it appears that you need 4 points to upgrade one-way and that's fine because we both have 9 right now.
How do I go about upgrading us? Do I just call Air Tran and do it? Can it be done online? Once we are upgraded there is no way they can kick us back to Coach right?
Programs: AA Platinum; AirTran Elite; Choice Privileges Diamond
Posts: 157
Quote:
Originally Posted by FSUSammy
I tried searching the forums for this before posting but had no luck finding my answer.
My husband have been flying on Air Tran back and forth every 2 weeks since June so that he could undergo chemotherapy up at the NIH in Bethesda, MD (we fly into BWI). We have been collecting points of course which has been nice. Well in 2 weeks we fly back for his very last chemo trip *crossing fingers* and I'd like to use up some of our points to upgrade us both to business class for the flight there and the flight home. I researched this and it appears that you need 4 points to upgrade one-way and that's fine because we both have 9 right now.
How do I go about upgrading us? Do I just call Air Tran and do it? Can it be done online? Once we are upgraded there is no way they can kick us back to Coach right?
Thanks! Sorry if this was a stupid question.
As far as I know, you have to call in to upgrade with flight credits. You can do it anytime beginning midnight the day before the scheduled flight.
Once you have upgraded, you have Business Class. No way they can then downgrade you, unless, I suppose, if they give your seat to a FAM. (On some airlines, if there is a change in equipment resulting in fewer Business seats they can. But AirTran only flies 717s and 737s and they all have 12 Business seats.)
Last edited by Drummer; Sep 10, 09 at 1:15 pm.
Reason: Add info
You can also request the upgrade at OLCI, just login to your account to burn points, but calling in at the midnight mark is the best way I've found to ensure your upgrade clears at the window.
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Then answer above is correct. Just call AirTran after midnight the day before your departure and you can get the Business Class seats for 4 credits per person each way.
You will then have a confirmed business class seat. With business class in hand, you will be the first to boad, and you can also use the Elite security line at the airport.
It will all work out just fine. Enjoy the experience!
Programs: AA Platinum; AirTran Elite; Choice Privileges Diamond
Posts: 157
Quote:
Originally Posted by UNHBuzzard
You can also request the upgrade at OLCI, just login to your account to burn points, but calling in at the midnight mark is the best way I've found to ensure your upgrade clears at the window.
Where does that show up? When I use OLCI, I am always offered a $49 UG, but not a credits UG. And in AirTran's Terms and Conditions, I see this:
"Getting free Business Class Upgrades: Call us at 1-888-3-A-PLUS-8 (1-888-327-5878) to reserve your upgrade to Business Class anytime beginning midnight the day prior to departure. Four (4) A+ Rewards credits are required to redeem for a one-way Business Class upgrade."
No mention of an on-line way of doing it (though they may have upgraded the system without yet updating the T&C).
Last edited by Drummer; Sep 10, 09 at 2:55 pm.
Reason: Add more info
It's been about a year since I last used this but I was thinking My Account > My Rewards > Redeem Other Rewards, then in the grid at the bottom you enter in the # of upgrades you want to cash in. Although you may be right, this may just create an upgrade voucher that you have to call in... not have the ability to apply the voucher towards a particular segment.
Where does that show up? When I use OLCI, I am always offered a $49 UG, but not a credits UG. And in AirTran's Terms and Conditions, I see this:
"Getting free Business Class Upgrades: Call us at 1-888-3-A-PLUS-8 (1-888-327-5878) to reserve your upgrade to Business Class anytime beginning midnight the day prior to departure. Four (4) A+ Rewards credits are required to redeem for a one-way Business Class upgrade."
No mention of an on-line way of doing it (though they may have upgraded the system without yet updating the T&C).
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My cat's breath smells like cat food.
Location: Westchester Co, NY or Rio Grande Valley, TX or ???
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Posts: 490
I am 100% certain that an upgrade is 4 credits per one-way, even if your one-way consists of two segments. I do this all the time, "paying" 4 credits to upgrade HPN-ATL-HOU, HPN-ATL-JAX, HPN-ATL-LAS etc.
I am flying DTW-MCO on Thursday and I have an upgrade voucher that I want to apply to that flight. Since I am working overnight tomorrow, I will be up at midnight and I should be able to call it in.
One other question...
My friend is flying with me. I have another upgrade voucher (from my 6-year old daughter's account) that is going to go to waste. Can I allow my friend to use it? If so, can I call in and upgrade us both, even though we booked separately? I have her confirmation number, if that helps. She would rather not stay up until midnight and we would prefer to get seats together.
I am flying DTW-MCO on Thursday and I have an upgrade voucher that I want to apply to that flight. Since I am working overnight tomorrow, I will be up at midnight and I should be able to call it in.
One other question...
My friend is flying with me. I have another upgrade voucher (from my 6-year old daughter's account) that is going to go to waste. Can I allow my friend to use it? If so, can I call in and upgrade us both, even though we booked separately? I have her confirmation number, if that helps. She would rather not stay up until midnight and we would prefer to get seats together.
TIA!
You probably can, unless it's restricted to a ticket in your name only. I say give it a shot when you call.
Just call AirTran after midnight the day before your departure and you can get the Business Class seats for 4 credits per person each way.
You will then have a confirmed business class seat. With business class in hand, you will be the first to board, and you can also use the Elite security line at the airport.
I've not done this before so I wanted to check -
When calling right after midnight to secure an upgrade with credits - is that midnight at origin or midnight in a certain time zone (such as AirTran HQ location)? Flight is at 10:55pm on a Saturday.
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