I will be flying the A330 from PHL to MIA in the next couple of weeks. Schedules show it operating with 2 classes of service. Is it reasonable to assume that I would get one of the first class seats if I upgrade, and if I am just in coach as a preferred member I would be in the Envoy cabin?

Just wondering how it's handled.

Thanks

Regards from ISP

Wow, I don't know.

I did a random ITN check of US2 MIA-PHL 1200-1444 for Feb 21. ITN shows F2 J7 C7 Y7 B7 M7 K7 H7 Q7 V7, so it looks as though they are selling this flight as three classes.

The ITN coach seatmap shows rows 8-36, which is the standard coach cabin. Business has a separate seatmap with 2-7. First class has row 1, with only two seats open.

So I don't know how it works, but since we are within the 7-day CP window for this flight and there are only 2 seats left in the six seat FC cabin, I'm guessing preferred upgrades go into First Class. Whether Envoy Class is premium coach; or if envoy/first are all First Class with the F seats left for premium customers, I can't say.

Give Preferred reservations a call.

They told me that a paid coach gets upgraded to Envoy(row 2-7).

The FC seats are for those passengers who are on board for the Rome segments.

Alternatively, she told me she could actually sell an F seat, they are not upgrading coach passengers to it, keeping with the one class upgrade policy.

Originally posted by Art234:
I will be flying the A330 from PHL to MIA in the next couple of weeks. Schedules show it operating with 2 classes of service. Is it reasonable to assume that I would get one of the first class seats if I upgrade, and if I am just in coach as a preferred member I would be in the Envoy cabin?

Just wondering how it's handled.

Thanks

Regards from ISP

I would think that you get one class upgrade on the trip - Y to C; C to F.

I do wonder what the domestic F class service is like in the A-330. It must be a shocker to the passengers to find a full reclining seat on a domestic flight. Not to mention the lilacs.

Well I wanted to experience domestic Envoy service and found that the 330 service from MIA to PHL ends the end of March. Is there another domestic 330 service out there?

biggs:

Try PHL-San Juan, though it might be weekends only.

Originally posted by BizJet:
biggs:

Try PHL-San Juan, though it might be weekends only.

PHL-SJU is being flown with the A330 on select weekday mornings in April also.

RZ

Slightly off-topic, but worth mentioning in this thread, is the 'Domestic Envoy' service on the 767 that is the extra leg of the PIT-LGW transatlantic trip that goes from PIT-SFO (yes, the one where they found the body in the wheel-well yesterday!).

I have started to use this plane (#741/740) for my PIT-SFO trips. Its the next to last flight out from PIT-SFO, and is first out from SFO-PIT. If nothing else, it has maximum upgrade chances since its a 767 compared to the usual 757 service.

In terms of 'domestic Envoy', while the 767 service pales in comparison to the A330, this is very much a domestic flight. The only remnant of Envoy is occasional multiple movie viewing options available. [This comes from the switchable Envoy video system on the 767s, and is not the Passport system available on A330]. But multiple movie options seems random. I have noticed several movies playing at the same time going TO SFO, and also FROM SFO, but there seems to be no pattern).

Originally posted by hscottm:
If nothing else, it has maximum upgrade chances since its a 767 compared to the usual 757 service.

While I certainly agree the 767 Envoy seats would be better for a transcon flight vs. the 757, the upgrade chances are actually worse on the 767 vs. the 757. Both the 757 and the 767 have 24 seats in the "front" cabin. The 767 has 179 in the coach section while the 757 has 158. With the possibility of 21 more folks booked on the 767 you stand a higher percentage of having more Preferreds trying for upgrades... hence lower chances of an upgrade on the 76 vs. the 75.

Touche - hadnt thought of it that way. Ok, so the only benefit seems to be comfy seats.. No wonder I can't upgrade coming home next week!

Hey hscottm,

Getting the multiple video selections on the 767 domestically is a crapshoot. Technically, they are not suppossed to have it, jsut the 1 movie option. However, depending on who is the lead F/A, you could end up with it. I was on the 767 from PIT-LAX on January 1, and I asked for it and got it.