I have questions about using a SWU to go PVD-PIT-CLT-LGW (gold challenge and 3x miles) that I haven't seen answered. I am 7th on the waitlist with 10 days to go and 18 seats open. I remember reading that they may clear some people 3 days before. However, what happens if I am still waitlisted the day of travel- most likely scenario.

1) Can the orininating city agent put me on the waitlist on the international portion? I'll be at the airport 12 hrs before the international portion - just not the gateway city. This would help up me on the list.
2) If the envoy portion has not cleared, do I have to use 800 mile certs for the connecting flights? Ny guess is yes.
3) If envoy clears at the gate, do I get reimbursed for the certs used for the connecting flights? My guess is no.
4) Should I request the upgrade for the connections as normal for a domestic flight. I'm silver so 1 day in advance. If envoy clears then I'm already there, if not I use the certs.

1. Yes - you may clear at check in in your originating city anyway.

2. Yes, it's standby upgrading day of departure. I wouldn't pull out the SWU until they say you are upgraded to Envoy.

3. Possibly. A friend of mine managed to clear his Envoy upgrade after he checked in for the connecting segment (he checked in 20 min. before I did, and I cleared at check-in). They gave him back his NAU - I think they didn't write on it at all just for this possiblity - or he was able to get 'em to issue a new one. But if you clear after your originating flight - you should ask for them to reissue the cert (perhaps they'll give you one of those special upgrades they have for customer service purposes).

4. Try. But as has been discussed before, the system may stop them since you're on a combo domestic-int'l ticket which is only supposed to let you standby for the upgrade day of deaprture (my GP agent gave the upgrade on the CLT-PHL sector about 5 hours prior to departure).

Good luck.

My advice is to call morning of the flight and ask if there are any upgrade seats available. The waitlist is not cleared by the computer on the day of the flight, and sometimes (often?) seats are opened up for upgrades the day of the flight, so even though there are folks on the waitlist, you can still grab one of those upgrade seats.

Your answers for #2 and #3 are correct.

US Airways system for clearing Envoy upgrades is strange. I also think it is confusing enough that the likelyhood of all the reservations and check-in agents giving you the same answers is next to nil. Right now you say you are #7 on the waitlist. Great. From what I have heard and experienced, that waitlist is active until the day of your trans-Atlantic flight. At that time the list supposedly transfers to airport control.... whatever that means.
I would call every few days leading up to your flight and ask if any seats have opened up in Envoy. If so, great. If you get to the day before and nothing has opened up, I would call your respective Preferred line (Silver?, Gold?) just after midnight and see if anything has cleared up then. If not, checking in early at your originating point may help your cause. I was waitlisted for a DCA-PHL-CDG upgrade last April and it never cleared in advance (despite my calls to the Gold desk) but when I checked in at DCA, the agent was able to get the upgrade and assign a seat on both the DCA-PHL and PHL-CDG flights, and collect the systemwide upgrade.
Whatever you do, don't surrender your systemwide upgrade until they actually have a seat for you in Envoy on the trans-Atlantic portion, even if that means using some of your 800 milers to get domestic First on your way to CLT.

CLTFlyers advice on upgrading the domestic portions of an international itinerary are correct. You are technically not supposed to be able to upgrade the domestic flights until the day of travel (and at the airport), regardless if you are Silver, Gold or CP. Odd, I know.

Good luck.

[This message has been edited by geo1004 (edited 07-12-2001).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">when I checked in at DCA, the agent was able to get the upgrade and assign a seat on both the DCA-PHL and PHL-CDG flights</font>

In fact, this is the usual chain of events for me too. I strongly suggest that you get to the originating airport early. Assuming your successful upgrade, enjoy your extra time with a complimentary visit to the Club. Don't forget to show your Envoy boarding pass and request the free drink coupons http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif.


[This message has been edited by TPA us ff (edited 07-12-2001).]

[This message has been edited by TPA us ff (edited 07-12-2001).]



[This message has been edited by TPA us ff (edited 07-12-2001).]

Thanks evryone for the advice. I am going to be in 3 airports before my outbound ticket starts at the orininating city and 5 airports total during the day. I agree the odds of getting the same answer all the time is nill. Someone may be willing and able to upgrade me if it is highly likely that I will be upgraded at the gateway city anyways. Why not just do it in the morning will be my argument. That way I save the SWU and get club access. Some of the agents in the smaller cities (not PHL or LGA) may see the logic of putting me in Envoy early. If they have to put me in J instead of O then so be it. Last week an agent routed me thru an invalid route since F was available there but not on the valid routing. I love the smaller cities and am getting to know the agents.

Hi guys...

I'm fairly new to the world of upgrades (just became DM silver) and I thought this would be the place to ask questions.

When you're attempting to upgrade, what's the whole process? Could you call up beforehand with a coach reservation and ask for an FC? Could you go to the gate and do the same thing? What would you have to give up in return: would have to give up your certs? Would there be a fee? Or if there are empty FC seats and you asked at check-in, would they just give you an upgrade? Any guides on this?

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dreadmon:
When you're attempting to upgrade, what's the whole process?</font>If you are using your complimentary 800 mile certs (DMUP01), as a Silver Preferred you can call at midnight (eastern) the day before your scheduled flight. If there is G inventory, the seat is yours. They will ask you what kind of cert you will use. They will ask for these certs when you check in. Being in SEA you will only need 3 for any destination in NAmerica.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Could you call up beforehand with a coach reservation and ask for an FC?</font>See above

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Could you go to the gate and do the same thing?</font>Yes

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">What would you have to give up in return: would have to give up your certs?</font>If you are upgrading w/ 24 hour notice, you should use your Complimentary NA Upgrades. SWUs are upgradeable at anytime in advance, same as mileage awards.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Would there be a fee? Or if there are empty FC seats and you asked at check-in, would they just give you an upgrade? Any guides on this?</font>You can buy 4 800 mile certs for $120. Recently it seems that US agents have become stricter in collecting certs for the FC seat, so "free" operational upgrades are harder to get, but not impossible.