Thinking of going to London for Xmas with my wife. I can burn a lot of miles and get two premium Envoy awards, or I can buy a couple of discount fares (K class is available) and try to use my SWU's. I am currently CP and have a bunch of SWU's left over, including the main/companion set.

So, the question is: what are the odds of being able to use them? What sort of luck could I expect in upgrading?

$400 or so plus fees seems like a reasonable amount for an Envoy trip, but if I knew I couldn't get upgraded I can prpbably find cheaper deals in cattle class.

Any advice appreciated.

Maybe I'm dense, but as CP, aren't you and your companion upgraded if space in Envoy is available (provided you purchase an eligible fare)?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PHLbuddy:
Maybe I'm dense, but as CP, aren't you and your companion upgraded if space in Envoy is available (provided you purchase an eligible fare)?</font>

Uh,...,I don't think that applies international, otherwise, why give me the SWU's?

If I'm wrong, someone please let me know!

Your not wrong!

CP's need coupons to upgrade to envoy. I've upgraded this year twice already as a CP and have had no problem using some "day of" upgrades as a CP.

This fall, I am using my SWU's on PHL-LGW in November for a companion and I will be curious to see how others fared before the flight or "day of".

I called the CP desk, and they referred me to international res. She could give me no insight as to the upgrade possibilities, but she did locate a B fare (apparently by routing the return through CLT) which made it upgradeable on the phone! Hoo hah!

Now, I've got to talk my wife into going, since we just got back from two weeks in Europe...

But I do love the idea of using the certs instead of miles. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

General question? Are the holidays easier to upgrade internationally due to reduced business travel? Or is it more difficult due to more people upgrading?

I've flown internationally 3 times on US, so don't consider me an expert. (In particular, I've never flown US to LGW or near holidays.) However, I've never paid for Envoy and never been seated in coach.

But, FWIW:
Once I purchased a coach ticket to AMS a short time before traveling (likely a B or Y). Was able to upgrade to a confirmed Envoy seat immediately for 10K each way. Once as a Silver I was waitlisted for Envoy to/from CDG. Each segment cleared only on the day of departure. Once as a Gold I was waitlisted for Envoy to/from AMS. Each segment cleared only on the day of departure.


[This message has been edited by US_Usually (edited 10-06-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mileshound:
General question? Are the holidays easier to upgrade internationally due to reduced business travel? Or is it more difficult due to more people upgrading?

</font>

I have upgraded during the holidays with no problems to Europe and last year I bought a C special to FCO that was a fare match to AA. So it seems that the Envoy seats are available.

I have upgraded 6 legs over the pond with SWUs this year (I "worked up" thru the ranks to CP last year, ergo the surplus, in addition to at least one agent in PHL who professed "not to notice the difference" between a companion cert and the real deal). I'm a CP. 2 of these segs were to/from LGW, and 4 were to/from AMS.

With one exception, they did not clear until the day of departure. The exception was due to a call to the CP desk and a subsequent call to the inventory folks at the three day mark.

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