I was told this when I called for an upgrade this AM--no S fares are upgradable, regardless of status or type of upgrade used. It did not seem right.

Not True

This from USAirways site

http://www.usairways.com/dividendmiles/programinfo/eupgrades.htm


Eligible Paid
Fare Class
E-Upgrade Time Frame

Dividend Miles Silver Preferred Gold
Preferred Chairman's Preferred
Unrestricted:
Y, B, U and N Anytime In Advance Anytime In Advance Anytime In Advance Anytime In Advance


Restricted:
M, H, K*, Q, V,
L, W, S, and T
Not Permitted Within 1 day
of departure Within 3 days
of departure Within 7 days
of departure

I was told this when I called for an upgrade this AM--no S fares are upgradable, regardless of status or type of upgrade used. It did not seem right.

Unless you're requesting the upgrade within the 7-3-1 upgrade windows they were right in stating you cannot upgrade the S fare.

BUT....

Most res agents are intuitive enough to see if you have something to support the upgrade (ie: Preferred). If they see you're preferred then they will add you to the "upgrade list" which gets processed during the 7-3-1 upgrade window.

I've run into this before as well when I call up after making an advance reservation on a roach fare and saying "I'd like to upgrade my reservation". The better approach that has always worked to get me added is to ask "I'd like to put my name on the upgrade list for my flights".

Good luck!

Can't you use a transatlantic space available upgrade?

Transatlantic -- not unless you get lucky
Domestic -- shouldn't be a problem (with status)