On some carriers if you're one of their preferred customers you can ask for and often receive an upgrade to FC by simply asking. Particularly if you're paying full-fare. Have people successfully done this on US? I'm a SP flyer (a dime a dozen i imagine), and am wondering what success I'll have in getting an upgrade w/o a certificate and/or w/o paying full fare? thx tls

I'd say your chances are probably pretty slim. Maybe a sympathetic gate agent will bend the rules, but those are hard to come by nowadays, since they all want to keep their job.

If you get it, great. If not, you can always pay for the coupons ($40 each or 4 for $120).

Anyone ever have any success upgrading DM miles tickets with NAU's? Similar idea.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by catwood:
Anyone ever have any success upgrading DM miles tickets with NAU's? Similar idea.</font>

Technically, Z tickets (coach award) are non-upgradable and most gate agents know about it and enforce it, in my opinion. However, never say never... (I managed one a few months back on a PHL-SJU flight, not on the return).

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Arrzee:
Technically, Z tickets (coach award) are non-upgradable and most gate agents know about it and enforce it, in my opinion. However, never say never... (I managed one a few months back on a PHL-SJU flight, not on the return).</font>

It seems to me that this should be the very bottom of the list, but if elites, with certs are travelling on award tickets, and there are seats available, it should be ok.
I'm on a 767 PHL to CLT flight, that is wide open in first, i'd happily use a NAU, but I will probably be in coach.

Award ticket PIT-LGA (last minute ticket)

On way out, checked in up front with first class agents. Said no way, even if there were seats available (there wasn't).

On way back, checked in at LGA club. Didn't ask. Was paged back to desk later and were given first class seats. Was told I should mention I was Chairman's Preferred next time.

How did we get to talking about award class (Z) tickets? The original post asked about getting upgrades on paid tix..

Anyway, while its not available in all markets, there are 'go first' (A class) fares that are basically Y full fare tickets, but actually give F seats. No certificates, etc, needed.

shark - if you're SP, why are you out of NAUs? you need to fly more! ;-)

Personally, and even though I have benefited in the past from 'comp' upgrades, I'd be much more interested in seeing the upgrade rules applied as they are written by US Airways. If you educate all the agents to these rules and get to a point where Preferreds know that the rules are applied with equity across the system, we will all benefit in the long run.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by hscottm:


shark - if you're SP, why are you out of NAUs? you need to fly more! ;-)</font>

So true, so true . . . tls