US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - What are my chances?

My wife and I used our 20,000 RT upgrades to fly FC from RDU-PHL-SAN-PHL-RDU. The problem lies that when I was trying to let miles hit, availability pooped out for the return SAN-PHL flight this Saturday morning. We're confirmed FC the rest of the way and waitlisted for that leg.

Our return flights are this:

US Airways 86
Airbus A319 7:00 am
San Diego, CA (SAN) 2:56 pm
Philadelphia, PA (PHL)
and
US Airways 903
Boeing 737-300 3:35 pm
Philadelphia, PA (PHL) 4:57 pm
Raleigh/Durham, NC (RDU)

What are the chances that when we check in on Saturday morning for the return flight, they'll let us switch to

US Airways 88
Boeing 757-200 7:40 am
San Diego, CA (SAN) 3:02 pm
Pittsburgh, PA (PIT)
and
US Airways 108
Airbus A320 4:00 pm
Pittsburgh, PA (PIT) 5:14 pm
Raleigh/Durham, NC (RDU)

Same starting and finishing point but the PIT flight is wide open on a 757 while the first return flight is an 319.

My wife and I are only Silvers but we thought if we begged and promised our first born they might switch us. What do the experts think?

It's risky since you are standing by for a LATER flight. I don't think they'll let you standby for first on your original flight and standby for first on the later flight at the same time.

Your original flight then might leave and then you get middle coach seats on the latter flight or worse, no seats at all. Good luck but I'd give you 30% odds.

JetTroop,

Flight 86 (the early SAN-PHL flight) looks totally full in first, and I would think that your chances of getting upgraded off the wait list on that flight are pretty slim. I have to disagree somewhat with pitflyer, however, and I think your chances are really good for upgrading on the later flights (88/108) via PIT. Checking availability on itn.net, right now 16/24 first class seats on flight 88 are open, and G class is wide open. Flight 108 is similar with 13/16 first class seats available (wide open G class too). Unless these seats fill up quickly for some reason (which I highly doubt because you're flying on a Saturday when a much smaller percentage of travelers are elite flyers), here's what I'd suggest:

-Continue checking availability on itn.net up until the night before or morning right before departure (if possible) to get an idea of how full the later flights via PIT are.
-On the morning of departure, make sure you get to the airport early enough to make the PHL flight (just in case you get cleared off of the wait list). I would suggest going to the ticket counter instead of the gate so you don't have to worry about standing in line.
-If first class to PHL is full, ask to see if they can upgrade you on the later flights via PIT. Since the flights are only 40 minutes apart, I am guessing that they can issue your tickets for the later flights via PIT right away if first class seats are available.
-If those PIT flights are full for some reason, you still have the option of taking your original flights via PHL, albeit in coach (unless you want to risk standing by for the PIT flights).
-One more tip: If you are put on an upgrade wait list, don't be afraid to be upfront and ask the ticket agent what he/she thinks about your chances of actually getting the upgrade are (you can/should do this before you give up seats and are actually put on a wait list). Most of them will be very honest about first class availability.

I've never actually tried to standby for a later flight, but I am pretty sure this solution will work since your flights are fairly close together. Honestly, I think your chances look excellent right now for the PIT flights. I hope it works out for you. Good luck! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by davohuang (edited 01-23-2001).]

is it possible to just pay the $75 change fee for peace of mind?

The odds I was giving him was the chance they WILL confirm him at all on the later flight before the first flight has even left.

I don't really know since I've never tried to standby for either a later flight or a flight with plenty of room (always going for that earlier, full flight). I think davohuang's flight plan is a good one though.

Originally posted by davohuang:
JetTroop,

Flight 86 (the early SAN-PHL flight) looks totally full in first, and I would think that your chances of getting upgraded off the wait list on that flight are pretty slim. I have to disagree somewhat with pitflyer, however, and I think your chances are really good for upgrading on the later flights (88/108) via PIT. Checking availability on itn.net, right now 16/24 first class seats on flight 88 are open, and G class is wide open. Flight 108 is similar with 13/16 first class seats available (wide open G class too). Unless these seats fill up quickly for some reason (which I highly doubt because you're flying on a Saturday when a much smaller percentage of travelers are elite flyers), here's what I'd suggest:

-Continue checking availability on itn.net up until the night before or morning right before departure (if possible) to get an idea

Thing to check is availability one or two days prior - after the Golds take their bites at the upgrade apple. One way to guess upgrade potential is to look at Y class and see how many of the Preferred seats are booked up. If only a couple, you're in great shape.

For what it's worth, last Saturday, I was booked on the 2PM from SAN to PIT and decided to pay the $75 to move up to #88 SAN to PIT at 740 due to the imminent snow storm in the East. While I was using SWUs, there was "plenty" of room in first when I called on Friday afternoon to make the switch. In fact I know at least one, if not more, upgrades went to a Gold on standby for an upgrade.

So, at least my recent experience with #88 was that first was not completely full. I can't comment on #108.

Good Luck. Go for it.

Just call and make the switch now. You'll pay the $75 change fee per ticket, but it should give you sounder chances of upgrading - especially if F is showing full on your flight now.

Your other alternative is to call the morning of your flight, or the night before since it's after midnight back east at US operations, and request standby. That won't cost you anything if they have the seats.

I'm baaaack and here's what happened. I was originally on the 7:00 a.m. flight 86 from SAN to PHL and then into RDU. My problem was availability on the A319 was next to zero. So I resorted to waiting until the day of my return to fix things. I figured I would give it a shot at switching flights to flight 88 to PIT (not PHL) and then flight 108 to RDU.

I got to SAN airport at 6:10 a.m. and there was a line. I was definitely glad I wasn't in the general check in line. My wife and I waited for a few passengers ahead and then were helped by Tim A. I explained to Tim the flight we were on and what I wanted to do and why. I told him that we had spent 20,000 miles for our RT upgrade, waited for our miles to clear and then we missed the upgrade availability. I also asked if there was any way he could switch us to flight 88 leaving at 7:40 a.m. I told him I saw that the availability only had 1 in G class left but I figured since it was a 757 we might have a good shot at clearing the wait list.

Tim listened (I didn't take as long as it sounded above) and was extremely polite and said, "Let me see what I can do." I thanked him in advance and stood there smiling the entire time...be pleasant (that's my key, I'm always very, very nice...even when I get crapped on and that's a bad thing).

After a few minutes Tim looked up and said, "Not a problem, I've got you and your wife FC all the way to RDU. You'll be 2AC from SAN and 2DF from PIT."

So not only did Tim switch the flights for us, didn't charge anything extra, he confirmed us with boarding passes and didn't make us fly standby for any legs. Sounded great to me and my smile got even bigger. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif Good thing he looked out for us, the 757 from SAN was packed...all of FC was full. I really think being nice and friendly goes a long way.

Thanks! Sean (sorry it's so long) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

P.S. U.S. Airways will be getting a nice letter from me about Tim. He was just all around pleasant, happy and loved his job.
P.S.S. Thanks for all the help on the boards from everyone! I love FlyerTalk and the folks on the boards, especially the US Airways boards are the reason.
P.S.S.S. Lord, please don't let United by US Airways.

JetTroop, I'm glad all worked out for the best.

Thing to remember about SAN is that most all US SAN types are ex-PSA. They are VERY nice to work with.

Glad it all worked out, JetTroop.