I'm planning a weekend hop to LGW in the next few weeks and I'd like to use SWUs to upgrade. I'm only Silver (hence the hop). I'll probably leave Thursday and return Monday. Are there better flights (esp. outbound) or fare selections? Thanks for your expertise.

Have you looked at the loads in Business right now? check:

http://www.flyaow.com/classavailability.htm

Tuesday and Wednesday are better days if you can swing it. Friday and Sunday are the worst days... fare selections don't make a difference, just make sure you check-in early and get yourself on the list as early as possible because generally, silvers can only clear at the gate and the airport standby list is governed by time of check-in.

of the three hub cities, i'm not sure which one has the best upgrade possibilities to lgw, but whatever city you connect through, make sure you book an airbus 330 as it has 36 Envoy seats as opposed to the 24 on a 767.

Thanks. It looks like I'll try PIT, partly because the connection requires me to get there very early.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by kv99:
Have you looked at the loads in Business right now? check:

http://www.flyaow.com/classavailability.htm
</font>

This is a great link, but can to share what the codes between F and Y represent. I know they must be some type of upgrade, or discount but have not idea. TIA

Here's a sample of the capacity for flight 126 on 9/27. That's an A330 from PHL-LGW. Since the A330 is a 3 class plane, you have F(First) as one of the fare buckets:

F4 J7 C7 Y7 B7 M7 H7 K7 Q7 V7

F= Paid Full Fare First class
J= Paid Full Fare Envoy class
C= Paid Discount Envoy class(if there is such a thing)
Y,B,M,H,K,Q,V= all varying levels of coach fares. V is usually the cheapest. Y is always the full coach fare.

For flight 89 on the same day, you have a similar fare listing:

J7 C7 Y7 B7 M7 H7 K7 Q7 V7

Notice the only thing different is the lack of F. This is not because F is sold out, but instead it's because this flight is operated on a 767, where there are only 2 classes of service - Envoy and Coach.

While there may be more than 7 seats left in a particular fare "bucket", you won't ever see more than 7 on this listing. You will start to see the numbers go below 7, however, when they get close to selling out that class, or overselling it. I don't believe they oversell F,J or C.

To use an SWU for an international trip, you need to have availability in O class. That's something that's not listed. But neither are FF awards and a multitude of other class designators for special types of tickets.

You can't get O class availability unless you call Intl. Reservations. Is your SWU the new one (DMUPSYS02)? If so, then as a Silver you of course have to wait until 1 day prior to the trip to even request the upgrade.

Therefore, if you continue to see J and C at 7's or something close to it, then the prospects might be okay, although you just won't know until you call.

If there is no O availability when you call, then get to the airport early and get on the list - especially if there are still good numbers in J and C on the day of travel. Since you are competing with Golds and Chairman's, you could be knocked down a notch or two, or three, or four....

Here's a question I have wondered recently about the code-number combo seen for availability (eg F7, G4).

Why is the max 7, as opposed to 9? I assume the single digit is a carryover from days past when it was convenient and efficient to only report a single digit (even if 24 seats were available in the bucket). That being said, why 7 and not 9 (to give more detail)?

I can see why giving only the glimpse as opposed to the full detail could be good sales practice - ie just tell the customer there might only be 9 seats left - hurry and buy before its gone - rather than letting them know there are 24.

Not sure why they use 7, but I thought that if you really wanted more than 9 seats, you should be contacting group sales.

Yes, I've got the new ones (DMUPSYS02) and I even noticed the fare class restrictions for Europe (Q okay, no V). I haven't booked yet, but probably this weekend.

Thanks for all of the help.

I'm CP and considering a DFW-PHL-LGW trip in the next few weeks. I can book in Q due to BA competition for around $400 including taxes round trip (is this such a great price).

I have DMSYS02 certs and would want to use them, but I don't have any experience upgrading internationally... I'm definitely looking at PHL-LGW LGW-PHL and am wiling to fly out on wednesday and return on a Tuesday to maximize chances of upgrading.

My question to those with experience in this area - what is the general likelihood that I will clear with a DMSYS02 for a trip around November 10... how about early December? Would you say HIGH chances for CP to clear in 3 day or 7 day or low??? I really want to fly Envoy but don't want to blow 40,000 miles to do so...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Daniel:
I'm CP and considering a DFW-PHL-LGW trip in the next few weeks. I can book in Q due to BA competition for around $400 including taxes round trip (is this such a great price).

I have DMSYS02 certs and would want to use them, but I don't have any experience upgrading internationally... I'm definitely looking at PHL-LGW LGW-PHL and am wiling to fly out on wednesday and return on a Tuesday to maximize chances of upgrading.

My question to those with experience in this area - what is the general likelihood that I will clear with a DMSYS02 for a trip around November 10... how about early December? Would you say HIGH chances for CP to clear in 3 day or 7 day or low??? I really want to fly Envoy but don't want to blow 40,000 miles to do so...</font>

You'll clear if there's not availability already ... I wouldn't even worry about it personally.

FWIW, I was upgraded both ways. I flew PIT-LGW on an A330 (I think they're using 767s now) and I, a lowly Silver back then, got a confirmed upgrade one day ahead for the flight over (Thursday, 9/26). My fare class coming back was V (I didn't notice this when I bought the ticket) but, even then, I was upgraded at the gate (on a Monday). I'd guess that a CP wouldn't have much trouble. But try to find an A330, because they have 36 Envoy seats vs. 24 for the 767.

All I can say is that you should NOT fly on Friday. Very full flights outbound on that day.

I'm thinking of doing a Thurs-Mon soon from the New York area, where I'm at right now, to London.


Is it worth it to pay $460 and do a connect through PHL for the possible upgrade vs. a $306 R/T on UA from JFK/EWR nonstop.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ITRADE:
All I can say is that you should NOT fly on Friday. Very full flights outbound on that day.</font>

I've taken four trips to LGW on Friday's as a Gold and never had a problem clearing, including two on 767's.

As a CP, my advice would be to book on whatever days you want and not worry about it, I'd be confident you'll clear.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by kv99:
I'm thinking of doing a Thurs-Mon soon from the New York area, where I'm at right now, to London.


Is it worth it to pay $460 and do a connect through PHL for the possible upgrade vs. a $306 R/T on UA from JFK/EWR nonstop. </font>


I would do the non-stop daytime flightin E+ on UA. Avoding the redeye and not having the hassle of a connection certainly outweighs flying business when E+ is available.

I'd avoid PIT outbounds for the Friday upgrade. I've been Golds (me) and CPs in the back, due to Envoy being full.

PHL and CLT, particularly CLT, might be an easier upgrade.

------------------
Saving the world, one clue at a time.

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

I would do the non-stop daytime flightin E+ on UA. Avoding the redeye and not having the hassle of a connection certainly outweighs flying business when E+ is available.</font>

is it really that much better to do the daytime flight? i just hate to lose a day...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by kv99:
is it really that much better to do the daytime flight? i just hate to lose a day...

</font>

If you have the day to spare, yes. Having to spend the day on a plane is much easier than the night. You get in, go to bed, and wake up rested the next morning.

The alternative involves sleep (if you are lucky) and then getting off the plane at what feels like the middle of the night and having to stay up all day. Never fun, even if you are in Envoy.

YMMV.

-Noah

I have done daytime in E+ last couple of times to London and I felt as right as rain the next day. Your body does not need any adjustment. You arrive at your destination by 11 pm and you are fast asleep by 1 am.

I find the next day after a transatlantic redeye flight to be quite miserable and puts you on the wrong track for the weekend. Note that I cannot sleep on airplanes including C class -- well maybe in F class but have never had the pleasure.