Hello US FTers,

I was flying from SFO to CLT last Saturday and I noticed that a coworker was in the gate area. I did not have any paper 800 mile upgrade certificates with me as they were in my checked luggage.

Could I (I'm Gold Preferred) have asked the gate agent to let me use FF miles instead of the 800 mile certs. to upgrade the coworker (First Class was 'wide open' with only about 50% of seats taken) as my companion.

I had always called the Preferred Service Center to do this in the past. Thanks for any information.


Va.SquireFlyer

why would you want to "waste" miles on a gate upgrade? Upgrades using miles can be confirmed at booking, not in the 7/3/1 window. What I would have done was purchase 3 800mi upgrades for $40 each and used them to upgrade the companion.

markbach's right. Assuming your friend was on a non-full fare coach ticket, you would have had to burn 20,000 miles. Spending $120 for the upgrade certs at the gate is a much better idea.

Looking at it from the otherside: No you could not upgrade using miles on a Saturday at the last minute because you have to talk to the DMSC for deduction of miles anyway.

You should have:
(A) Just asked the gate agent to upgrade your colleague (stranger things have happened); and barring that:
(B) Purchase the 800 mile upgrade coupons as described.