Thanks to frequent business trips to the West Coast as well as a couple of MRs using the DM Visa promotion, I've now made Gold Preferred status...and will probably be Chairman's by the end of the year if US is still around.

I just booked an award trip leaving this evening from DCA-PIT-LAX and returning next week via LAX-CLT-IAD. I noticed that the rules of the unlimited E-Upgrades say that award reservations are not upgradeable unless explicitly booked in F class.

Has anyone been able to get around this rule and put their names on the upgrade wait list at the airport? I'm stuck in a middle seat in row 26 from PIT-LAX tomorrow---which, needless to say, doesn't make me too happy. Would the gate agents even have any way of knowing that my ticket is an award ticket?

Thanks for any suggestions!

I noticed that the rules of the unlimited E-Upgrades say that award reservations are not upgradeable unless explicitly booked in F class.

Has anyone been able to get around this rule and put their names on the upgrade wait list at the airport? I'm stuck in a middle seat in row 26 from PIT-LAX tomorrow---which, needless to say, doesn't make me too happy. Would the gate agents even have any way of knowing that my ticket is an award ticket?

Thanks for any suggestions!

Officially they are not upgradeable, they will not put you on the waitlist per se but if F is going out with empty seats the GA might smile on you.

Yes of course they can see you are on an award ticket, fare basis is X which means free ticket.

Next time consider booking a premium coach award - 40 K miles vs 25 K miles and is booked in Y class - meaning immediately upgradeable to F.

It depends on the agent. I have only been successful once and that was last September from Las Vegas. The counter agent even suggested that I ask the gate agent for an upgrade.

The other times were to/from SJU, AUA, and SAN and I was not able to.

Next time consider booking a premium coach award - 40 K miles vs 25 K miles and is booked in Y class - meaning immediately upgradeable to F.

The premium coach award is 50k (40k premium award is off-season, Sep15 - Feb28) and can be upgraded at the time of purchase IF there is inventory. I booked one recently and the agent was very helpful by letting me know that by taking a conncet thru PIT vs. CLT I would be able to upgrade right then. ^

As for regular awards - they are not upgradable but you may find a sympathtic GA. Take a box of chocolates and some flowers....

I haven't had any luck getting a standard award ticket upgraded via E-Upgrades.

Apparently they'll sell it to you though via GoFirst. :td:

I had a flight that went out fairly empty in both Y and F due to wx in PHL, but still no luck.

I can see how US doesn't want to give away F service for nearly totally free (miles vs some type of revenue), but that's really a bummer. I survived the ROC-PHL flight but still it would be a nice perk for Preferreds to have.

I haven't had any luck getting a standard award ticket upgraded via E-Upgrades.

Apparently they'll sell it to you though via GoFirst. :td:

I had a flight that went out fairly empty in both Y and F due to wx in PHL, but still no luck.

I can see how US doesn't want to give away F service for nearly totally free (miles vs some type of revenue), but that's really a bummer. I survived the ROC-PHL flight but still it would be a nice perk for Preferreds to have.

I was on that flight and tried to use my CP pull (low key) to get jcooke upgraded, but to no avail. They did say for $50 they would do it. Since it was a 45 minute flight he sat in the back - but I did have an extra drink while I thought of him.

I was on that flight and tried to use my CP pull (low key) to get jcooke upgraded, but to no avail. They did say for $50 they would do it. Since it was a 45 minute flight he sat in the back - but I did have an extra drink while I thought of him.

Have an extra drink while I'm riding in back - smart .... :) It was OK, short flight and an exit row.

Much kudos to mileshound for giving the valiant attempt for the upgrade.

Since becoming a CP I've had over a 50% upgrade rate on standard awards by just going up to the gate agent with my BP (or BP's if I had a companion) and stating nicely "I know technically these aren't upgradeable, but do you have any empty FC seats you could upgrade us to?"

I've also received one unsolicited upgrade (Coach was not full) on a standard award.

I'm currently waiting for my LAX flight at the PIT US Airways Club, where the agent at the desk has put me on the upgrade standby list without even mentioning my award ticket. Currently I'm #1 on the list, as she says F is wide open as of this point.

We'll see what happens once I get to the gate...the aircraft is late coming in from LGA and departure is scheduled for 9:20.

One of the friendly ladies at the PIT club just printed out my new boarding pass...seat 2F! (with a warning not to tell anyone at the gate where I got it...haha)

I'm listed as a fare class "E" on the BP.

:cool:

So even as a Gold, upgrades on award tickets are possible. It must just depend on the generosity of the employees you talk to.

Wahooflyer, you may want to pick up a box of See's Candies from the See's cart at LAX before heading to the club for your return flight. :D

Years ago you could pay the upgrade fee on day of departure to upgrade a standard award to First. Remember in the early 90s when the fee was $15/30/45? Then it doubled to $30/60/90. After it increased again, I refused to outlay the cash.

Years ago you could pay the upgrade fee on day of departure to upgrade a standard award to First. Remember in the early 90s when the fee was $15/30/45? Then it doubled to $30/60/90. After it increased again, I refused to outlay the cash.

Earlier this year I gave away my last upgrade from the old US Air coupon books (bought in 1992) . They were $30 each or a book of 11 for $300. You could use those paid upgrades to upgrade an award ticket - even with no status.

Mrs l4pi and I fly to SJU next week. I'm on a paid fare and she is on an award ticket. I'm hoping to get an upgrade for her as I would hate to see her have to fly the PHL-SJU leg in the back of the bus. :p

Since becoming a CP I've had over a 50% upgrade rate on standard awards by just going up to the gate agent with my BP (or BP's if I had a companion) and stating nicely "I know technically these aren't upgradeable, but do you have any empty FC seats you could upgrade us to?"

I've also received one unsolicited upgrade (Coach was not full) on a standard award.

I echo these sentiments. I've actually had around a 40% success rate simply by asking nicely (assuming that there are seats available). I think it largely depends upon the agent, although I know that US has been cracking down on the ability of their frontline people to do things that make sense in terms of building customer loyalty with gestures like this (at least according to the gate agents at PIT and PHL and the 2 whole people who actually work for US in LGW).

I will be trying this en route to the islands in a few months. I'll report back as to how it goes. I figure I might as well try--I've done little but burn thru a 150k miles this year, and probably won't requalify for anything at the rate I'm going....

Has anyone flying on a paid ticket been able to upgrade a companion who's traveling on a regular coach award ticket? I am taking the DCA-LGA Shuttle in a few weeks on a Sunday evening and am buying my ticket and am traveling with a colleague who'll be on an award ticket.

Thanks for any feedback.

Mrs l4pi and I fly to SJU next week. I'm on a paid fare and she is on an award ticket. I'm hoping to get an upgrade for her as I would hate to see her have to fly the PHL-SJU leg in the back of the bus. :p

Assuming you are preffered, wouldn't you be able to upgrade her as your companion?

KIM

...but I did have an extra drink while I thought of him.

you didn't say whether you had to pay for the drinks or not, but if you did, try this next time.... lower your tray table and lay your CHP (or any Preferred) ID card beside the money. i did and got my drinks comped. :)

Mrs l4pi and I fly to SJU next week. I'm on a paid fare and she is on an award ticket. I'm hoping to get an upgrade for her as I would hate to see her have to fly the PHL-SJU leg in the back of the bus. :p

if the Mrs is booked in 'x' class, it's not SUPPOSED to be upgradeable under any circumstance. however, as has been pointed out several times in this thread, the FINAL decision is left up to the gate agent. some are comfortable making an 'executive' decision themselves.

also, just to emphasize something that was brought up earlier.... a 'premium' award (50 or 40k miles booked in 'y' vs 25 or 20k award booked in 'x') is upgradeable at the time of booking complimentary.

btw.... hope the hurricanes are all done and y'all have a wonderful vacation! :)

Assuming you are preffered, wouldn't you be able to upgrade her as your companion?

KIM
No. I'm a CP, but the only way your are going to upgrade a free ticket as preferred or a preferred companion is to have a gate agent who is willing to do an op upgrade or find some other reason to give it to you. US appears to be really cracking down on this.

I would imagine that the entry sequence normally used to upgrade pax is inhibitted on an X class ticket? Does the agent have to sell the new F/E/P seat in the system, and then revalidate the eticket, since the upgrade process won't work? I have asked for X class upgrades on short flights as Gold, but was politely shot down but they did say it made sense to ask :). I wonder also how often they just let's say seat 2D is empty, tell the pax to sit in 2D, but never change anything in the system and perhaps just tell the FA when they close the door? So this way the accountants show the pax in 25B, but they actually sit in empty 2d?

Also L4P, have you heard recently the company is cracking down on this?

Also L4P, have you heard recently the company is cracking down on this?
Yes. But only from the frontline T/A's, G/A's and some friends who work in a couple of stations. They have been told they will be written up if they upgrade a free ticket. The only work around suggested is to ask to F/A once the door is closed. If the G/A likes you they will make this request of the F/A for you. No paper work that way.

The only work around suggested is to ask to F/A once the door is closed. If the G/A likes you they will make this request of the F/A for you. No paper work that way.That's the way it worked for my wife on a free ticket when I had already been upgraded on a paid ticket. They didn't do anything for my wife before the door closed (and we never asked them for anything for her), but after the door was closed the FA told my wife that her "upgrade" had come through and she could take the (empty) 1st seat next to me.