With UAL, I can purchase a ticket and use miles for an immediate confirmed upgrade. Does USAir have the same option - I tried it once a few years ago, was told to purchase the ticket and then call an 800 number for the upgrade transaction. I did that, but was told that it was on WAIT LIST (this was at least 8 months in advance) and they deducted the miles right away. On the day of the flight, the upgrade never came through so I had to call back that 800 number to get the miles back into the account. The UAL process is much simpler and straightforward - has USAIR modified their process in any way? Thank you!!

With UAL, I can purchase a ticket and use miles for an immediate confirmed upgrade. Does USAir have the same option - I tried it once a few years ago, was told to purchase the ticket and then call an 800 number for the upgrade transaction. I did that, but was told that it was on WAIT LIST (this was at least 8 months in advance) and they deducted the miles right away. On the day of the flight, the upgrade never came through so I had to call back that 800 number to get the miles back into the account. The UAL process is much simpler and straightforward - has USAIR modified their process in any way? Thank you!!

Welcome to the new USAir regime. Why would you expect cowboys from Tempe to employ an efficient or user friendly system. :D

Welcome to the new USAir regime. Why would you expect cowboys from Tempe to employ an efficient or user friendly system. :D


Please refrain from adding comments if you won't even answer the OP's question.

Back to the original question, you can use miles to upgrade in advance on any published fare when flying US Airways within the continental US and the Caribbean, but upgrades, as in any other airline, are subject to availability. Perhaps your flight was really booked in F and all the upgrade seats had already been taken. Next time, call before you buy the ticket to make sure there are spaces available for upgrades. Do note that US Airways' current domestic First Class is pretty weak, I wouldn't waste 20,000 miles there.

Please refrain from adding comments if you won't even answer the OP's question.

Who are you, the thread police? A little humor never hurt anyone. :rolleyes:

As to the OPs question, my understanding is that you can confirm your upgrade when making your reservation - assuming that upgrade inventory is available. Personally, I would only consider a mileage upgrade if it's confirmed at reservation.

One trick I have used to check for mileage upgrade availability prior to booking is to try and book FC saver award seats for the desired flights. If the system shows that saver awards are available for first class travel on those flights, then I would assume that mileage upgrades are also available (I think both the saver award and mileage upgrade seats come from the E bucket). I then book coach online and then call for the upgrades.

Of course, that was in the days of the 24 hour cancellation policy which meant zero risk if the upgrade was vital (and for a transcon, it is). Today, with the 24 hour risk-free window gone, it would be more of a gamble. I would hate to book in coach assuming an upgrade and then get stuck in US coach. If I have to travel transcon in coach, I greatly prefer UA E+.

Please refrain from adding comments if you won't even answer the OP's question.

Hello Randy,

I hadn't realized you are now using a screen name! OH Wait you're not Randy! My bad.

Speaking for myself, I'll post what I want, when I want, where I choose. If/When I go over the line the moderators and or Mr Peterson will kindly explain the error of my ways. Until then kind Sir or Madam have a nice day and MYOB thanks

A question of a related topic. Using Miles to upgrade a purchased International Ticket. I'm curious to know the prioity sequence of upgrades. CP's have the certificates, Upgrading with miles on a paid ticket and of course the Envoy Award Tickets. Does anybody know how that works?

The international stuff is the great mystery. I decided to burn my remaining miles with 2 Business (Envoy) seats in mid October. First I tried doing it on the website. Every time I clicked what appeared to be an open date, it went red. I then called the CP desk, and cleared what I wanted, which suggests the upper tier elites may be getting seats as the result of a manual override process. This may extend to upgrades.I believe mileage based upgrades come out of the basic "promotional" inventory. I would guess that when they overhaul the DM program, some sort of "reward" system will be used to prioritize. In addition to status, and check in, it will likely take revenue and past patronage into account. A word about humorous (or pejorative) references to Arizona. I lived in Phoenix for 4 years, and continued to be responsible for a business there for a number of years. It is not a headquarters town, and the main draw is lifestyle. A great many people who live and work there are "underemployed". They settled for a lesser job. That does not make them second class, but it does produce a "second city" mentality. I always found the local business community a bit defensive when it came to "out of town" ideas. Most corporate managers, if they are promoted, leave town, and out there, "back east" means Omaha. Like most folks west of the Hudson, they aren't real crazy about Northeasterners, in general. I live and commute between both coasts. There can be no doubt the view from the other side, whichever one, is quite different. It can be little things. I fly Alaska, another west coast regional, regularly from Newark to Seattle. Granola bars for chocaholics, and coach entrees featuring pork (hardly a staple in those latitudes) are a couple of things that come to mind, when I recall that service start up. I would be very surprised if some of the unilateral thinking, no matter how well intentioned, that is coming from a headquarters 2400 miles from its largest customer base, doesn't come back to bite them on the saddle. You can't run a business if you don't know how the customer thinks, whether or not you agree with them.

... Using Miles to upgrade a purchased International Ticket. I'm curious to know the prioity sequence of upgrades. CP's have the certificates, Upgrading with miles on a paid ticket and of course the Envoy Award Tickets. Does anybody know how that works?

For transAtlantic Q or higher fares, upgrades with Miles can be confirmed on booking many months out, if there's availablility.

CP certs for Envoy upgrades also require Q or higher fares, and confirmed at the 7-day window if there's availability.

If not cleared before, I think the priority sequence at the international gate is the same as domestic, where status and check-in time rule.