Personally I have never felt that F service Domestically was worth much at all. Admittedly I have only flown it a few times, but on a 3 hour flight from PIT-IAH I don't even get food. What's that about? I barely think that the upgrade on such a flight is worth the 1500 miles I could exchange e-upgrades for. I would never spend $120 to upgrade that flight. Does anyone out there think its worth $40 for a 500 miles upgrade.
Boraxo
Dec 17, 03, 1:44 am
depends on the flight.
i have paid $120 to upgrade a 3-hour flight, and a bit more to upgrade transcons and transatlantics. probably not worth it for the shorter flights, but definitely worth it for the longer ones.
not sure if i would do this on US as their biz class product is nothing to brag about.
fried
Dec 17, 03, 6:27 am
I bet the only people who do know their company will reimburse them.
Does anyone pay for US upgrades out of their own pocket? I'll be surprised if someone responds in the affirmative.
kreeft
Dec 17, 03, 8:30 am
Prepare to be surprised. While I don't make a habit of it, I've paid out of pocket before for some short flights to upgrade. I realize FC service isn't the same as it was a while ago, but for me, I love the extra legroom, but more importantly, the extra width in the seat. I don't feel crammed next to the person sitting by me. Call me stupid, but comfort's more importnat to me than the amenities. Also, I love the snack basket. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Beckles
Dec 17, 03, 8:32 am
I had purchased upgrades several times in the past when they were $30 each for 800-milers (when you bought 4 at a time), but at $40 each for 500-milers I would not do it.
I would however exchange 10,000 miles for 6 of them if I needed some.
rtpflyer
Dec 17, 03, 9:31 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
I would however exchange 10,000 miles for 6 of them if I needed some.</font>I WILL however exchange 10,000 miles for 6 of them WHEN I need some (probably late next year at current usage rates). I don't care much about anything but the seat width, but for me, that makes all the difference.
bfunkjeep
Dec 17, 03, 9:44 am
When they used to serve meals in FC, sometimes I would purchase an 800-mile certificate or two when going on vacation and didn't have enough coupons. FC used to be a lot better.
Today, I would definately want to upgrade on long flights just for the room.
If I wasn't a CP, I would burn miles, but never would I pay $200 for 5 e-upgrades to get across the country.
us2
Dec 17, 03, 12:41 pm
I used to buy upgrades back in the day when F was worth it and I was short on certs. It was, I thought, a good deal for me and for US who gained some extra revenue. It's not worth it anymore.
tcollins33
Dec 17, 03, 12:43 pm
To me, burning the miles makes more sense for long trips. For short trips, upgrading a flight within 500 miles for $80 R/T makes somewhat reasonable sense, even if it's my own coin. I guess the "pay" cut off for me is anything longer than 500 miles.
Heinrich
Dec 19, 03, 12:38 pm
Last year before I was CP I had only enough paper upgrades for CLT->ORF so I paid for one for RSW->CLT. I had intended to use the upgrade for RSW->CLT but I had a full flight in a middle seat. Typically on a Dash-8 or if I am forced to fly the pretend airline called Southwest I am usually surrounded by obese people. The obese rate in Hampton Roads (Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach) leads the nation. I do suggest upgrading if you fly in or out of here even if you have to pay for it; you definately risk the chance of having part of someone's buttock in your lap.
Major motivation to pay for upgrade.
[This message has been edited by Heinrich (edited Dec 19, 2003).]