LAX to JFK Transcontinental Upgrades
Oct 31, 2014, 1:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 20
LAX to JFK Transcontinental Upgrades
How do they fill all the seats in First? I know all the seats in Business get filled by elites getting upgraded, but can you get upgraded to First as a result of your status? What are the ways to get into first using upgrades?
Oct 31, 2014, 2:39 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,171
They fill them by people who pay for them.
Oct 31, 2014, 2:53 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 20
Guess I should have stated the obvious..."how do they fill the seats that they cannot sell?"
In the case that the flight is about to go out with open seats...do they just stay open?
In the case that the flight is about to go out with open seats...do they just stay open?
Oct 31, 2014, 3:42 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
They don't and are fine flying out with empty F class cabins.....want F? Buy into J and use 15K miles or buy miles for a decent conversion.
Oct 31, 2014, 5:35 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
Programs: AA PLT (2.9+ MM), HH GLD, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLT
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Oct 31, 2014, 7:37 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,590
Are Y-->J upgrades tough on these flights? Connecting EXP booked about a month out and now heading down to the wire. I waitlisted SWU at booking but am now inside the upgrade window and sweating it out. Down to J3 now!
Oct 31, 2014, 8:27 am
#7
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Oct 31, 2014, 9:13 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,676
I think these flights are often oversold in Y, as most of my flights have included last minute op-ups from C-F for 1-2 lucky folks (presumably people who actually paid for C) as well as 1-2 Y passengers who didn't pay for upgrades, but got to ride in C (they always seem more excited than the C-F passengers - wonder why
).
So you can get into F by paying for C and hoping for an op-up, but they won't do it to fill F, they'll only do it to make room further back.
).So you can get into F by paying for C and hoping for an op-up, but they won't do it to fill F, they'll only do it to make room further back.
Oct 31, 2014, 9:51 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
As others have noted, an upgrade to F is unlikely unless you buy a business class fare and use miles or SWU. While lucky exceptions exist, double upgrades don't happen, unsupported upgrades (just 'cause you have status) don't happen and operational upgrades can't be predicted.
One great way to sit in F is to redeem a MileSAAver award for a mere 32,500 miles, which is cheap no matter how you value miles. For today, LAX-JFK, several flights are showing Z class (MileSAAver) availability. Some have several seats available.
Oct 31, 2014, 10:00 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,171
Oct 31, 2014, 10:14 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
Right now, C inventory is available on several flights today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday). Upgrades can be tough, but not impossible. Flexibility always helps.
Oct 31, 2014, 12:11 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: AA Plat,AS MVP Gold, Hilton Gold, Accor Plat, Amtrak(all routes, VIA same, AUS 90%)
Posts: 382
Business Extra
Using BXP-1 on a SJU-JFK-LAX-HNL all F except AA 3 out of JFK got me up front. Only three pax, FA for each, just superb. BTY, total booking cost less than $800 last January-total EQP in excess of 13K. Great run...